La Strada: Remember The Crusaders?

For I’ve been sent a wonderful selection of old photos and cuttings (along with images of associated memorabilia) that will whisk you back to the golden days of South Shields night-life, and the likes of such popular clubs as La Strada and the Latino.

The pictures, that capture such magical moments from the swinging sixties, come courtesy of David Golden and brothers Rob and Tom Quinn, who were (respectively) the road manager and group members of The Crusaders, who regularly played La Strada, along with those of Tommy Flynn, who was the nightclub’s official photographer. As mentioned in previous recent articles, La Strada was the first night club in South Shields, and a wonderful place to play, according to the brothers, who along with Dominic James, Ed Haws, and Len Singleton made up The Crusaders.

I will be featuring some of Rob’s, Tom’s and David’s memories in forthcoming articles, but for the most part I want readers to enjoy these and (during the next few days) lots more photographs that capture what it was like to perform, play and dance the night away at La Strada.