THE rumours had been circulating among teenage fans. But now the concert was official. News that Cliff Richard and The Drifters, as they were originally called, were to appear at the Halifax Odeon was released on September 12, 1959. The date would be Wednesday October 7 and there would be two shows. Our gang, made up of members of Thorpe Church Youth Club and King Cross Under 18s Football Club, went for the second house with seats in the front circle. The best we could afford.
Two lucky teenagers, Diane Walker and Eunice Stephenson, met Cliff before the concert and had their photographs taken with him by Courier photographer Jim Walker, the father of Diane.
She cherished the picture and carried it for the rest of her life. When she died at the frighteningly young age of 42, the photograph was still in her handbag. I was impressed with Cliff's performance and that of his backing group, who were advertised as The Drifters but were introduced on the night as The Shadows. Cliff stayed at the White Swan Hotel and I skived off from work next morning to see him leave and get my sheet music of Living Doll autographed.
The announcement that Dusty Springfield was to be added to the Freddie and The Dreamers concert at the Odeon was made in the Courier on October 19, 1963. The tour would also feature Brian Poole and The Tremeloes. It must have been the greatest ordeal of her life for 24-year-old Dusty, as it was the first time she had sung alone on stage, before an audience without the other two members of the trio we all loved, The Springfields. She finished her act with I Only Want To Be With You, which she dedicated to the Halifax audience and later said: "It was one of the greatest moments of my life."
Show promoter Bernard Hinchcliffe was rightly proud of his booking of Shirley Bassey for her first ever appearance in Halifax to perform at the Victoria Theatre in 1960. She was backed by Ken Mackintosh and His Orchestra. After queuing round the block, the Halifax audience was treated to a spectacular show... a magical performance by the Sultry Tigress from Tiger Bay, as she was dubbed by the Courier. After the show, while smoking a menthol cigarette – "it's good for the throat and soothing for the nerves" – she said the audiences were great "and she would return to Halifax when this hall has been done up."
The announcement that PJ Proby was to perform in Halifax was made on Monday February 8 1965 and a spokesman for the singer said: "Mr Proby had been banned from the major tour circuit because of his infamous trouser-splitting incidents. So we are commencing a tour of smaller, independent theatres, starting in Halifax." He added: "There will be no trouser-splitting." What a pity, was the view of most Halifax girls. But it didn't stop them buying tickets to ensure a sell-out concert at the Victoria. After queuing for tickets at Nichol, Brown and Coyle, the sports shop in Commercial Street, it was choice side circle seats at a cost of 10/6d. Compare Brian Freeman asked the audience to put their hands together for PJ and to a tumultuous reception the controversial entertainer took to the stage. Wearing a hand-sewn, specially reinforced blue velvet smock outfit with tight trousers, buckled shoes and hair tied back in a big bow, 'Jim' performed all his hit records. His version of Somewhere was a showstopper. Before the show two lucky 15-year-olds from St Thomas More School, Holmfield, were lucky enough to go backstage. They were Mary Cullen and Jean Wharvell and their picture appeared in the Courier as PJ signed their autograph books.
