Memories of dance hall days

I was another reader interested in the 50 Years Ago column (Advertiser, November 5) about the annual dance for staff and friends of Warwicks and Richardson Ltd in the Newark Town Hall ballroom in November 1965.

The dance was, I believe, the last gig by my group, The Marksmen.

The name, as suggested by Mrs Betty Marsden (Dance Memories, News Views, November 26) was changed shortly afterwards because of the name of a beer made by Mansfield Brewery.

Having just acquired an agent in Lincoln, The Shapes was was thought to be a better name.

The singer at the dance was John Sam Louth and I was the bass guitarist. I think our new vocalist, Danny Bentley, also sang at the dance.

We played at most of the dance halls mentioned by Mrs Marsden.

The Town Hall was a great venue until there was trouble when a glass was pushed into a dancer’s face. The price of admission rose and young people decided not to attend.

The Blue Rooms is now a coffee house and the Elite Ballroom (above Burtons) is now part of the store.

We played there many times for local wrestler Pete Smith’s wrestling club.

Thanks for the memories.