Some old photographs and memories

I began music at an early age around 9 years of age when I joined the Salvation Army band; I learned the very basics of music and how to play the cornet. I was very proud of my uniform I still remember going up to Judd Street with our bandmaster to pick it up. The picture below was taken in the rear garden of my home in South London.

I am not sure how long I stayed with the Salvation Army but by the time I was 15 and going out to work I was no longer with them.

from left to right Chris Rae, Geoff Nutting and Stan Decker, Colin Hingstone is at the piano but you can't see him

I bought my first guitar from a catalogue. It was a Watkins Rapier 22 it had 2 pick-ups and as I am left handed I paid an extra 10%. I also had a Bird Amplifier 10 watts of shear distortion. I met Stan Decker and joined The Erstwhile few my first pop band. They knew a few more chords on the guitar than I did.

We used an old Bedford Dormabile van belonging to my brother as our group van. I'm standing with my girlfriend who later became my first wife.

Stan, Colin, me, Geoff, Chris

From "rocker" to "Mod" Ray 17 years old