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Photos of Wigan
Photos of Wigan



Wigan Album

Groups from way back

18 Comments

The Blue Diamonds (around 1964-65 )
The Blue Diamonds (around 1964-65 )
Photo: Eric Johnson
Views: 3,262
Item #: 11621
From left to right,John Tinsley,Ross Raynor,Roy Davies,Richard Parkinson,Jimmy Hindley,Eric Johnson.
A Wigan based group in the 60's played many venues,also played the paradise club in vauxhall road scholes every weekend for about 18 months.

Comment by: John B on 23rd August 2009 at 19:51

Were you any good Eric - did you do any recording?

Comment by: Eric J. on 23rd August 2009 at 21:47

Hi John,we thought we were pretty good as we got plenty gigs but you would only know from others who had seen us perform, we never did any recordings.

Comment by: John B on 24th August 2009 at 15:41

Hi Eric, What make of guitar is that you're holding?

Comment by: Eric J. on 24th August 2009 at 16:19

Hi John, the guitar was a Musima made in Germany,my dad bought it for me when I was 15 yrs.old.It was purchased from a music shop in Darlington st.in 1963 but can't recall the shop name,if anybody can please let me know.

Comment by: Eric J. on 24th August 2009 at 17:16

After having a good think the music shop in darlington st. may have been Dawsons before they took over Grimes in king st.

Comment by: John B on 24th August 2009 at 18:30

Hi Eric. I used to gaze longingly at guitars in Dawsons (King St)in the late 60s. I've never heard of Musima though. I ended up (eventually) with a good old Strat.

Comment by: Joan Beckett(Wilding) on 24th August 2009 at 22:22

I am sure you could go downstairs in dawsons music shop and ask them to play a record for you and you had to go into a little booth to listen to it,

Comment by: B.B on 26th August 2009 at 10:43

The Stratocaster on the left would have been quite a catch back in 1964! it'd be worth a fortune now - even though it's a black and white photo I can tell its a fiesta red one; where did John Tinsley (?) get it from?

Comment by: Eric J. on 26th August 2009 at 11:35

Hi BB I think he got it from hawker& howarths in Bolton,He later had it sprayed white and sold it to Ross for £10.That's what you'd call the real deal.

Comment by: B.B on 27th August 2009 at 00:01

Pre 1965 Fender Stratocasters are now fetching £10k (and more) in original condition!

Comment by: Bernard on 28th August 2009 at 16:10

Dawsons used to be down Hallgate before moving to King St.

Comment by: david dowey on 1st September 2009 at 20:41

The shop in Darlington st.would be the small shop near Harrogate st. It had a great selection of guitars.In 1963/64 Fender strat-£168 Guild-£230 Gretch-£280

Comment by: Johny B on 4th September 2009 at 16:29

I rember the Blue Diamonds at the Paradise club I also remember going to watch them at Room at the top.and the Emp, and also at Bel vue Manchester good group!
Is the drummer Roy the same person who played drums in Pokie
in the late 70,s.

Comment by: Roy Davies on 4th September 2009 at 16:51

Yes the drummer in the Blue Diamonds and Pokie was me
My kit has been well updated ,than the one in the picture
Sadly Ross is no longer with us.

Comment by: Mike Dawber on 30th September 2009 at 15:49

The shop your thinking of I think it belonged to Bill Layland

Comment by: Ron Clark on 25th February 2010 at 21:28

The shop owned BY Bill Layland is that the same person that booked groups in to the Emp etc?.

Comment by: John Tinsley on 27th March 2014 at 09:01

The shop in Darlington St (East ) was Bill Layland and IIRC was called LE Sound. The Srat was from Harker and Howarth and cost 105 Guineas (you have to be old to remember those!LOL)

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