OUR look back at the sound of The Shotguns at Darwen Co-op in the early sixties has brought a quick-fire response from their former leader Peter Yates.

The band, created by lads from around the Darwen area, had a regular Saturday night slot at the venue and once provided the support when Gerry and the Pacemakers took to the stage Said Peter this week: “I promoted ‘Saturday night dancing’ every week at Darwen Co-op Hall during 1962 and ’63.

“Discos hadn’t been invented then and all the music had to be live, with many of the local groups playing regularly. Sometimes big name groups appeared, Gerry and the Pacemakers being one of them. They were booked several months in advance – for the princely sum of £40 – on the assurance from Brian Epstein that ‘these boys are going to be big!’ Luckily, one week before their appearance in early April 1963, their hit ‘How Do You Do It?’ reached No.1 and everyone had a brilliant night!”

Peter continued: “The Shotguns were a great set of lads and we had so much fun in those days. I have lost contact with all the guys mentioned in the article, except Barry Forster. He now lives in Australia.”

l Just for the record, in our photograph from left to right are Jim Titterington, Frank Crompton, Gary Grimshaw, Barry Forster, and Donald Martin.

“Our drummer Alan Dearden does not appear in the photo. Drummers never did, they were always stuck at the back!” said Peter, who is not on it either.