It was near Christmas at The Black Raven, I was down stairs getting a pint when a brick came through the window, hitting one of the girls on the head. Not ten minutes before somebody tried to set alight to the trimmings. I called the lads upstairs, Vic was bopping, and six of us piled into a Mini and tried to look for the b******s, no joy. It was a joke as the police station was across the road, nearly.

Sent in by Dave Chapman

I named my second son Gene Vincent, in Gene's memory. I'm glad I did. Back in the 60's I always thought I was born too late (1949) my heart always yearned to hear the songs, and music from my very young days again and again, I could never get enough of what I thought I nearly missed. The music is always whirling round in my head (even now, I can't help but sing along to all our favourite bands). I was born and raised in a small village in Oxfordshire, and was always a bit of a rebel at heart. I had an unhappy childhood and thus married and had children very young, to escape the horrors of home. I remember at the end of the 60's at approximately the time when BBC2 (or was it colour telly?) was being introduced, a program was screened, entitled "Where Have All The Teddy Boys Gone?" I watched with great interest and shortly after that hitched a lift to London to look for those other people who loved the same things that I do. Shortly after that - I think, the 'Sunday Times' article (you have the front cover of on your web site) ('Mean Streets' Memorabilia 14) was printed.

I hitched to London again, Rock 'n' Roll was calling me. I found the 'Black Raven', and my life begun. I walked away from my rotten marriage and moved away from Oxfrodshire, and settled in Battersea, South London, from where I have never looked back. It was hard at first, I had nothing and had to start life again, but I knew that this was the life for me.

Over the last thirty four years I have met many, many, fabulous people on the Rock 'n' Roll scene, I regard everyone as like an 'extended family'. The Rockers / Ted's, the whole lifestyle has been my whole world, and I could not imagine trying to live any other kind of life. We had many good rockin'' parties at Battersea, and hope to have a few more before we get too old. We do keep in touch with everyone we can. Like us, many of the old Teds / Rockers have moved away from London, but we try to stay in touch and travel up and down, and go to as many weekenders as we can, so that we don't lose touch.

Love your web site - and thanks to everyone who has contributed to it. Brilliant memories. Keep on Rockin'' and keep on livin'

Sent in by Angie

Seen Roy Orbison shows in Ireland about thirty times between 1965 - 1970. Yes I traveled with Roy for four days and saw him do four shows in Northern Ireland in one night 2/09/69

Sent in by Dessie

My earliest memories of gigs were The Swan in Kinston, St. Helier Arms in Carshalton and The Star in Guilford in the late 70's and early 80's Seeing Jack Scott, Marvin Rainwater, Sonny Fisher and Cavan to name but a few.

Sent in by Bob Davis

I was a Ted from 1979 - 1984. We had our own club in Belfast, where we played fifties Rock 'n' Roll and stuff from the Flying Saucers, Crazy Cavan and The Jets. I only made it to one Rock 'n' Roll festival in England, and that was in Perranporth, Cornwall, 1982. Favourite boppin'' songs were - James Dean / The Jets & Gonna Type a Letter / Billy Fury and many more! I was too young to see many of the great's, but have seen Jerry Lee Lewis and Everly Brothers in Belfast, and Fats Domino in Dublin. Got Fats Domino to sign the back of my ticket, kept it for many years but think I've lost it now.

Sent in by Tom Hagans

Some crazy times at Belle Vue Manchester, especially the all dayer, after the Teds march on the BBC in 1975, Rockin' at The Midland, The Oak’s and too many places to name (well try harder) Still in the scene, you know it will never die!

Sent in by Paul Dean

I remember going on holiday to Hastings with my girl one year and we decide to go into the town for the Bank Holiday Monday...as soon as we got off the bus I know it is a bad move...we were greeted by hundreds of Skinheads who have the same idea...and boy did they make us welcome...not...we are the only Ted’s there...talk about 'only the lonely'...but we kept our heads high and we walk the entire seafront...the skinhead women did call my girl a slag once and she naturally objects (is she mad???) and disagreed with them in her normal 'friendly' manner by telling them they are the slags and to f**k off...don't know who is more shocked...me or them...ha ha.

The picture of Toni (page 11 old site) was taken at the Lyceum and she tells me the drape was the one she is wearing in the ‘B’ Movie 'Blue Suede Shoes' filmed at the first ever Caister Rock 'n' Roll Weekend and shown as support to 'Grease' at a cinema in Bromley...guess that must be a claim to fame then

Speaking of drapes...I took my girl (same one as Hastings) to the Adam & Eve...her first time and she insists on wearing a drape and...drainpipes...bootlace & quiff et al...of course I object but I was wasting my time...she is new to the scene and didn't understand it might cause (me) problems...well of course it does...but only when she gives me a kiss at the bar and two of the biggest Ted’s there come over to inquire of me in a real 'friendly' fashion if 'he' is a 'girl'...now I wasn't going to lie...'that's all right then' they say (mucho relief!!)...'we all thought you were a couple of geezers'...not one of my best moments...give me Hastings anytime...

Sent in by Dave Gibson