Roy and the Zeroes

Probably the most remembered Pocklington band was 'Roy and the Zeroes' and were mainly known as 'The Zeroes'. They were formed in 1962 and were the most 'Beatles-like' of all the local groups. *Their members were lead singer Roy Frear a plumber from Barmby Moor, Derek Dennington (Rythmn guitar) an architects assistant from York Road, Pocklington, Tony Walker (Bass Guitar) an electrician from London Street, Trevor Buttle (Drums) a railway clerk at Pocklington Station from London Street, Graham Barnet (lead guitar) and motor mechanic who lived in Dennison Road. In 1964 they entered the Northern Beat Group Contest in Keighley with only four days notice and played alongside Huddersfield's "Embers" qualifying for the finals on 10 June 1964. They also won the 1964 Hornsea 'Beat Contest. They practiced at the home of Derek Dennington each Thursday evening. They also recorded a record at Pollen Studios in Bishop Wilton. Steve Rolley took over from Tony Walker in 1965, and Derek Dennington was replaced by Kenneth Hanley also in 1965, for a few months, when Derek Dennington returned. Roger Pattison joined in 1984 when they reformed for a concert at the Zillertal and were later joined by Graham Harvey. Ken Hanley contacted me and said "During that time we also auditioned for Opportunity Knocks but didn't get anywhere. Graham was a really good guitar player but I think our choice of song let us down. It was my idea to use a Bob Dylan song from the Highway 61 Revisited album but it didn't impress anyone."

The Zeroes also rehearsed in a building in Pocklington Industrial Estate in an old RAF hanger. They supported top groups like the Who and the four pennies. The Zeroes played in most East Coast resort towns and had quite a following.

Roy and the Zeroes

Photograph by kind courtesy of the Pocklington Arts Centre and is their Copyright ©2020

The Pocklington Times dated 13th March 1964
[If anyone has a copy of the recording, please contact me]

Pocklington Times 19th April 1964

1964 held much excitement for local Beat Groups. Pocklington Gala Day in May had a festival of Beat Groups playing on the Rugby Club field. Local bands performing included The Targets (Pocklington) and so called because they practised up Target Lane in Pocklington, The Strangers (from Barmby Moor), The Corvettes (from Seaton Ross), The Zeroes (from Pocklington) and Jason and the Argonauts (Barmby Moor). The Corvettes won the event and Ken Mason accepted the prize. The Zeroes came a close second and were only pipped by the on-stage performance of the Corvettes. The judges were David Horner leader of the Dave-a-tones Orchestra, Mr Thomas Henderson, organist and choirmaster at St. Helen's church, York and Miss Wendy Floyd, the Melbourne vocalist.

The letter to Mr. Buttle was Trevor Buttle, the group's drummer and was in the possession of Roger Pattison and shows the tensions the beat groups were posing for the establishment in the town. The Saturday night referred to in the letter was reported in the Pocklington Times.

Photograph: Roger Pattison

The Sons of Witch

(formerly the Rockin' Helliots)

Picture by kind courtesy of Adrian Wilson

Sons of Witch back on stage at the Bridlington Spa after more than 50 years. They are Tony Fiddler (drums), Brendon Wilson (bass), Adrian Wilson (Rythmn), Barry Appleby (Vocals), George Harper, Clive Elliott (lead guitar).
(Picture from the Pocklington Post dated 22nd August 2014)

Clive Elliott was the lead guitarist of The Sons of Witch, formed in Pocklington by a bunch of local youngsters back in 1962. Along with bandmates Barry Appleby, Adie and Brendan Wilson, Tony Fiddler and George Harper, they made a name for themselves on the East Riding music scene, along with other rival Pocklington groups of the time such as Roy and the Zeroes, Jason and the Argonauts and The Targets (so called because they practiced in the chicken processing factory on Pocklington’s Target Lane). After playing to local fans at dance venues and village halls across East Yorkshire including Pocklington's Oak House and Driffield Town Hall, The sons of Witch quickly progressed for more upmarket venues such as York's Theatre Royal, Beverley's Regal Ballroom, Hull City Hall and Harrogate's Grand Hotel.

But the pinnacle of their music careers came as a backing group at Bridlington Spa where they performed on the same bills as the legendary bands The Who, The Kinks, Manfred Mann, Billy J Kramer, The Searchers and The Swinging Blue Jeans. Encouraged by their manager the late Brian Sellers, they also went on tour to Northern Ireland and were tipped for stardom. However, their attempt to reach the big time never quite got off the ground. They got an audition for TV's 'Opportunity Knocks', the equivalent of todays 'X-Factor', only for impressario Hughie Green to pull the plug after less than a minute when a technical hitch led to a disorganised opening.

The Rocking Helliots

From: Pocklington Times 18th December 1964

Prussian Blue

A folk band called Prussian Blue was started in Bishop Wilton by Dick Sefton and Roger Pattison in the early 1970's which led to the setting up of a recording and media studio Pollen Studio in the village which is still in business today.

The Crocker Brothers

The Crocker Brothers are a Bluegrass trio from Millington have been playing together for 40 years. They comprise of Alex Somerville (bass / Gorilla Glue), John (vocals / guitar / capo / small red flannel) and David Crocker (vocals / guitar / banjo / mandolin / dobro / harmonica / easel).

The Corvettes

References:

* Pocklington Times 12th June 1964
The Sounds of the Cities 'Nearly Famous' by Ray Moody
Pocklington Post 22nd August, 2014.
York - Bands of The Past (Facebook Group)