When The Beatles nearly came to Shields

Today we continue Stan Lodge's fascinating look-back at scouting in South Shields, with the revelation that one local scout troop came within a whisker of bringing a-then young and upcoming group to the borough '“ namely, The Beatles.
Brian Epstein's letter.Brian Epstein's letter.
Brian Epstein's letter.

Yesterday Stan told us how, in 1961, the 16th Simonside Scout Troop started holding fundraising dances at the Nook Assembly Rooms, before moving to a bigger venue at Brownsea Hall, in Imrie Street.

There, they held dances every two or three weeks, attracting lots of locals who were keen to listen and dance to such acts as The Strangers, Terry Lightfoot & His Jazz Band and Sounds Incorporated.

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During the three years that the scout troop held it dances at the hall, they were offered the chance to host a number of other musical groups, including the Fab Four.

Stan takes up the story.

“When we were dealing with the London and Liverpool agencies, Brian Epstein offered us the chance to hire a group called The Beatles for £250-£300.

“We were also offered Gerry and the Pacemakers for £100-£150.

“Another agency offered us Gene Vincent & The Outlaws for £130.

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“However, prices for these groups were just outside our price range, as our dance tickets were just six shillings (which is 30p).”

As well as missing out on the chance of bringing John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, and other such soon-to-be big names to Shields, the troop also lost out (but only just) in securing the services of a soon-to-be number one chart-topping band.

“A vote was taken to have the Swinging Blue Jeans here,” reveals Stan,” but it was lost by one against, so we hired another band.

“On the night of the dance, at the Majestic, the Swinging Blue Jeans were top of the pops.”

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Nevertheless, it’s clear that those who attended the dances in those days enjoyed the groups that were hired (were you one of them? If so, please get in touch with your memories.)

Stan continues his tale by saying: “Because of problems with new fire regulations and complaints from the professional dance hall owners we finally had to stop running the dances in Brownsea Hall at the end of December, 1963.

“The Strangers went on to support Joe Cocker, Humphrey Littleton and The Mersey Beats on stage at Newcastle.”

The era of the dances may have come to an end, but the money they helped raised was put to good use, as Stan explains.

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“The scouts’ parents suggested that we should use some of the proceeds from the successful dances to subsidise a holiday for the senior scout troop.

“We decided on a tour of Ireland.”

l On Thursday, Stan tells of the scouts’ time abroad, and how they ended up flying high in the cockpit of a Douglas DC4!

l Just a quick reminder that the South Tyneside branch of the Northumberland & Durham Family History Society meets tomorrow at St Hilda’s Church Visitor Centre, Market Place, South Shields, at 1.30pm, when the guest speaker is Vice Petrolino, who will be talking about a fatal fire at the Borough Dining Rooms. For more details contact branch secretary Gerry Langley on [email protected]