Arcade Framing Gallery in The Arcade showcases themed art from Newark artists

The ‘Mods’ have made a comeback in Newark as part of a shop’s striking window display.

Arcade Framing Gallery in The Arcade has created a window display with a Mods theme, showcasing themed art from local artists ­— and its centrepiece has sparked a search for a group of friends from the 1960s.

It is a photograph, owned by Steve Starbuck, who took it into the Gallery to be framed after displaying the photo on his wall for 25 years.

When he was in there, gallery owner Richard Pearson asked Steve if they could borrow his framed photo to go in the display, and now Steve and Richard would like to identify the remaining members of the group, and even have a reunion if everyone can be named and contacted.

In the photo taken in around 1967/68, there is a group of friends posing outside what was the Cross Keys pub (now Beaumond House hotel) near Beaumond Cross.

Steve believes he has named most of the Mods in the photo, but is struggling to identify the first three people on the left, as well as the two hiding behind others in the centre.

Shop owner Richard Pearson said: “It would be great if we could get everyone back together and recreate the photo.”

Mr Pearson said the display had gone down really well with local people.

“We have had some really positive feedback, a lot of people have shown an interest and some from the mods’ scene have come in too,” he said.

Mods and rockers were two warring subcultures of young people in the 1960s and 70s, with mods wearing fashionable, cleancut clothes and were often seen riding around on scooters, whereas rockers were keen motorcyclists who generally wore black leather motorcycle clothing and boots.

The Mods themed window will be on display for another month or so.

Anyone who can shed light on who the people in the photograph are can contact the Advertiser on 01636 688463 or call into Arcade Framing Gallery and speak to Richard.