1956 - 1962
The year is 1956 and the film “Blackboard Jungle” is appearing at the Central Cinema in Kidderminster. In April this year “The Severn Valley “Skiffle Kings” (pictured below) are playing at the Thurston Hotel in Bewdley; the first young band of the time to play skiffle. But by October “ Rock Around the Clock “ is showing at the Central and causing such a sensation that soon rock ‘n’ roll is breaking out all over the area.
Kidderminster pianist Roger Lavern joins Joe Meek’s Tornados and has a number one hit in both the UK and the US with the record “Telstar “.
In other news Peter Collins from Shatterford (pictured left) won the Racing Driver of the Year award after winning both the Belgian and French Grand Prix’s. A contemporary of Sterling Moss, Peter drove for the Ferrari team before his untimely death at the German Grand Prix in 1958.
