Vocalist Farran Kristy was in fact Neil Lakin who took his stage name by combining two names, taken from a grocers shop (Farrands on Main Street, Bulwell) and a hairdressers (Kristy’s) in Hucknall.

Prior to putting his group together he had a short stint with Farran Kristy and The Jaybirds fronting them for about five months. Before that, in 1961, he fronted his own group the Sapphires.

Highlights: Touring with Brian Poole and The Tremeloes. Auditioning at Abbey Road studios in 1964 and meeting The Beatles who were recording The ‘Beatles for Sale’ LP. Winning the regional heat of The Coombes National group talent competition.