By the time I was 12 I had formed a group and we were playing Skiffle (Lonnie Donegan style). We were called THE SYNDICATE, chosen after the American Gangsters. Tea chest Bass, scrubbing Board Drums, Wow. Our first Paid Gig was The Three Fishes in Kingston Surrey (opposite the Cinema there). Rough old place, fights most nights, but loads of willing girls, and man-o-man were they willing, especially if you were the bloke on stage singing and playing Guitar. We also played The Station Hotel (opposite Richmond BR Station, met Mick Jagger there, also 'Jammed' with him at The Bright Spot' Star And Garter Hill Richmond on a couple of occasions) The progression through the years were usual. We got better at playing and learning, the blokes in the band either moved on to other bands or just moved on. I would like to mention here I played and sang Cliff Richard's 'MOVE IT' in December 1958 at The Three Fishes Kingston Surrey and have played and sung Move It EVERY gig I have ever done since then. I consider 'Move It' to be the best British Rock 'n' Roll number of all time, and if you disagree then you're a wally, big time.
Moved to Merthyr Tydfil in the late 60's (ABERFAN actually. I lost 16 Cousins and 2 Aunts in the Aberfan Disaster 1966) I teamed up with a few blokes there, Cliff Cross and David Williams And Kenny. Was offered to join The Westerners there, but couldn't be arsed. We played through the 70's  doing Pubs and Clubs. I returned to London in 1976. I found Wales (The West side of the UK) wonderful but rained too much. The people were fantastic, friendly and very homely at all times. I still miss the friends I made there, and the Welsh Girls are second to none, just great. I returned to London in 1977. Met up with a London fireman friend of my brother's (Brixton Fire Station) named Jim Filkins (He Died Sept 09) We formed the group PARK LANE a 5 piece, Myself, John, Martin, Jim and Larry, playing Pubs and Social Clubs London and the South. And ANY of those group members can send in their Bio's  HERE and I'll put them up here so people will know more about you and where you are now. It was while playing with Park Lane I met my closest and most dear friend DAVE BRINKLOW. He was 12 back then, learning to play Drums.

By the time he was 14 he was OUR Drummer FULL-TIME and has remained my Drummer ever since and closest friend I have known or will know. Members came and went, some good, some bad, some a pile of shit (Sorry Ron).  We changed our name from Park Lane to The Raiders around this time, as we wanted to get on the Rock 'n Roll circuit. Peter Marsh joined us he was fantastic, superb, but he died very suddenly one Saturday night (before a gig in Croydon). Sadly missed, but he always said he will be glad when the end comes so he could be with his wife who had died 2 years before him. Then came John Butcher. Without doubt the UK's top Shadows Lead Guitarist excluding Hank Marvin himself. Yes I would place John above Colin Pryce-Jones playing Shadows covers and ANY lead break to any number we EVER did. I was, and am proud to have played with John Butcher (NO SEX INTENDED WHATSOEVER... YUK!) We made huge advancements and huge steps during this period. Toured Europe in our own right. Topped the bill over many top big names. Backed many famous artistes. Performed in front of 7000+ many times. Was Rhythm Guitarist Vocalist with The Fourmost for a year. 2008 arrived and we wanted to move on and do our own thing in our own way. John has moved on and joined THE HONEYCOMBS (Have I The Right etc group). Alan Peacock moved on to VERNON AND THE GI's. Alan Kendall re-married and being the superb musician he is went on to stage shows, tours, and backing famous names. Dave Brinklow, what CAN I say about this bloke, great Drummer, great backing vocals, Good Lead Vocals and my closest friend. He has his own Scaffolding company (doing very well). Still plays Drums for  famous names, also has his own Karaoke outfit, and he's good too.