This article is about the Reg Guest from Sutton in Ashfield, guitarist and group leader 193? – 2018.

Reg was a guitarist, leader of his group appearing on many TV and radio shows in the early sixties and playing the clubland circuit for four decades. He also teamed up with Phil Smith and Mick Parker to run the Nottingham music agency “City Enterprises” on Talbot Street in the early sixties. The two obituaries below have him dying at two different ages so I’m not sure as to his birth date yet.

First of all, I’ll draw your attention to the fact that there is another Reg Guest from the same era that you will find on further investigation so let’s just mention him first.

He was born in 1930 in Birmingham (I think) and was pianist, arranger and band leader. He was rated highly as a session player and among his recorded output is the now sort after 1966 album “Underworld” by the Reg Guest Syndicate with the title track being a fine example of that “Green Onions” style groovy 60’s sound.

So, back to our Reg Guest.

See some photo’s at the Playedinaband website.

Reg was born in the 1930’s in Sutton-In-Ashfield and began his musical career whilst serving in The Royal Navy. He was originally a solo performer, but formed a trio during the days of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Skiffle. The first mention in the press I can find is from “Disc” 17th Jan 1959 in it’s “Talent in your Town” spot. It is a poor quality file but you just make out the story which I’ve transcribed as best as possible.

“Singing personality Larry Page raves about a semi-pro instrumental group from Nottingham called REG GUEST and his Rhythm Combo. The Boys worked on a concert with Larry at Mansfield and he says they are as fine a musical team as he’s ever heard. Reg Guest and the group hope their chance will come after they make an appearance at London’s Nuffield Centre on Tuesday January 20th”

Larry Page would later in the sixties be better known as record label boss for “Page One” records and having the still remembered sixties “Wild Thing” group The Troggs on his books as well as lesser known Nottingham group The Nerve.

Like all those of his generation Reg had a large repertoire, firstly of pre Shadows and Beatles songs and instrumentals, sixties songs as they came along and a passion for Country and Western music.

Here is an obituary for Reg from Mansfield and Ashfield Chad which outlines his career. I’ve copied it below.

Family and friends pay tribute to Sutton legend Reginald Guest : “He could make his guitar talk”

Mr Guest, who sadly passed away on October 3 aged 85, had a long and varied career
DANIELLE ANDREWS Published: 10:42 Friday 26 October 2018

Mr Guest, who sadly passed away on October 3 aged 85, began his musical career whilst serving in The Royal Navy. He was originally a solo performer, but formed a trio during the days of Rock ‘n’ Roll and Skiffle.

Supported by Dave Austin on Bass guitar, Jim Cartwright and Bobby Charles on drums, they played all around Nottinghamshire with several residencies to their name. The band entertained as a resident at the Cherry Tree Pub on Collyer Road, Calverton on Wednesday nights.

Les Ambler, aged 81, was the bass player in Reg’s band throughout the 1960s, and then again in the 1980s and 90s. Mr Ambler said: “I knew Reg since my early twenties. “We had some really good times, he was very popular and loved spending time with his family. “We went all over the country and performed on 50 broadcasts in five years.

“We would play in the Grey Goose in Gedling, and you couldn’t move in there on a Friday night! “We were taking 11 bookings a week at one point.” Performing with musical legends throughout his career such as Bernard Herman and the Northern Dance Orchestra, and Wayne Fontana, Mr Guest was also interviewed by radio star Diddy David Hamilton. Mr Guest played on Opportunity Knocks and on TV for Sir Jimmy Young in his long and varied career.

Mr Guest’s widow, Eunice, aged 83, met him at the Golden Diamond Progressive club on Stoney Street, Sutton.

Although they met in their 20s, they did not marry until later on in life. Mrs Guest said: “Reg played proper music with no backing tapes. “Everybody knew Reg, he loved his music and he was very clever. “He had lots of Navy friends that stayed in touch, and he never let anybody down.
“He made his guitar talk. “He was a wonderful man, they don’t make them any better.”

Here is another obituary from the Nottingham Evening Post

Reg got onto a package tour with Eden Kane who had risen to prominence in 1961. The 1962 tour was cancelled when Eden pulled out of the remaining dates.

June 1962

17 – Spalding (Savoy)
18 – Matlock (Ritz)
19 – Burnley (Palace)
20 – Chorley (Plaza)
21 – Bolton (Lido)
22 – Leeds (Shaftesbury)
24 – Worksop (Regal)
25 – Mexborough (Empire)

The following were cancelled

26 – Newark (Palace)
27 – Sheffield (Abbeydale)
28 – Accrington (Princes)
29 – Brighouse (Albert)
30 – Doncaster (Windsor)

Thanks to Bradfordtimeline

Another early sixties date at one of their local haunts the Golden Diamond in Sutton. Nearby Kirkby-in-Ashfield group Vic Johnson and the Newtones also feature.

Reg was also involved in Phil Smith’s “City Enterprises” agency helping to handle some of the local groups.

Colin Horton was drummer with Reg for a while. He was the impetus for the Nottingham Sound Studio.

It was reported in Feb 1965 in Midland Beat of personnel change in the trio.

Les Ambler recalls his days with the group here and copied below.

I Love to Sing…..Les Ambler
POSTED ON 30TH APRIL 2017 BY MMVC

Les Ambler is a second tenor with our Choir with music in his blood. It would be impossible to give a full account of his musical career in these short little portraits. In his twenties Les earned his living as a touring musician and it would probably take several blogs to tell that particular story!

Les grew up in the town and left Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Mansfield in 1953 starting his working life at Raleigh, Nottingham in their home sales department.

“I soon realized that I was more suited to the entertainment industry”, said Les, “and formed my own skiffle group in the mid-1950s. We soon became very popular locally, performing at the local Granada cinema. We did our slot between pictures on Sunday nights”.

Just a word of explanation. Back then films were called “pictures” and there would generally be a “double bill” with two films showing of an evening with scope for more entertainment between the films. Good value for money, I’d say! The Granada cinema in Mansfield town centre was demolished in the 1970s but stood where Primark is now. It was a very popular venue for touring groups back in the day. The Beatles and the Rolling Stones amongst many others played there.

Les left the group who carried on and were later joined by Shane Fenton and became “Shane Fenton and the Fentones”. Shane Fenton, of course, was re-incarnated in the 1970s as Alvin Stardust.

“I then joined local Nottingham hero Reg Guest and played all around the country. We notched up more than 50 broadcasts on the BBC plus a TV appearance on the Jimmy Young TV show” said Les, “but at the age of 29 I realized that I was getting a bit too old for the Pop idol stakes and left the group”

Les went into the insurance business and stayed for 20 years including a spell in Kettering and Northampton for five years. “But I never forgot my music and played there in a local dance band”

After moving back to Mansfield in the late eighties it wasn’t long before Les re-joined his colleague, Reg Guest. They became a duo until Reg retired in the late 90s after 50 years as a professional musician.

But you can’t keep a good man down and after his retirement from insurance Les was persuaded by Walter Pitchford to join Mansfield & District Male Voice Choir. “I have always enjoyed mixing with some great friends and colleagues in the Choir”, said Les

The former Pop idol is also still very active, playing his bass guitar and entertaining the public with the Beeston Big Band.

“They will have to shoot me to get me to retire,” quipped Les

Reg recorded at the Nottingham Sound Studio. Here is one release. It was produced by Colin Horton who also played in Reg’s group in the early sixties before he left to build a studio in Nottingham.

Side 1

1. Something Stupid – I think this most likely the song we know performed by Frank Sinatra
2. The Wreck of the old ’97 – There are plenty of versions of this song. We can imagine that Reg heard the Johnny Cash version
3. I Can’t Help It – I think there is a fair chance this is the Hank Williams song who was a big influence in pre rock and roll Britain

Side 2

1. Gunfighter
2. More
3. Antie Maggie’s Remedy – This is a well known George Formby song. Here is another version by The Fourmost

Here is another Reg Guest Trio record on the Nottingham Sound Studio label. It is a poor quality image but I can just make it out. Both these records must date from either the late sixties or early seventies.

Cold Hard Facts of Life – A Country and Western song. Here is version by Porter Wagoner
?
Spanish Eyes – No doubt this is the much covered song. Here is the Elvis Presley version.