On 8th March 1957, the West London Observer reported that: ‘A member of local Skiffle group, F. G. Trott, was on his way to his Norbroke Street, Shepherd’s Bush home, one day recently, when he called at the W. G. Stores, Shepherd’s Bush Market, to browse through their gramophone records.
Talking to the manager, the Skiffle-grouper mentioned that the group – they call themselves “The Sinners” – had just made a record privately, and that he had just collected the record from the studios.
The manager and staff wanted to hear it, and so instead of the usual business of staff playing records for customers to listen to, the order was reversed.
The customer played his disc – and so impressed the listeners that they immediately rang up the Phillips Record Company and told them about it.
Result: Phillips now have the disc and are shortly to announce their decision on whether to put it on the commercial market.
Extra result: The manager of W.G. Stores has told Phillips he is prepared to back his judgement by placing a large order for the disc if it is released commercially.
Until they hear the news, the group will continue with their regular routine, which consists of playing at a Fulham coffee bar and also just for their own pleasure.
They will also be hoping, however, for good news of the disc, and for chances to play at new places.
Already they have appeared at the Mecca of Skiffle groups “The 2i’s” coffee bar, Soho, the place where Tommy Steele started.’
Films showing locally around this time included: ‘The Girl Can’t Help It’ at the Essoldo, and ‘Oklahoma’ at the Gaumont.
Some further news appeared in the Observer the following week: ‘And to more news of “The Sinners” group, which I also wrote about last week. They have attracted the notice of Mr Mervyn Hughes, who runs the London Jazz Centre, at Archer Street, Piccadilly.
Having read what I had to say about them, he decided that he would like to hear them play – with a view of having them appear at the Jazz Centre.
Mr Hughes (that’s his professional name – he is actually Mr Tony Harrison of Sinclair Road, West Kensington), told me: “I run different styles of Jazz on different evenings, and one is devoted to Skiffle music.”
“From what I have heard this local group might be just right for one of the Skiffle evenings. I intend to hear them as soon as possible” he said.
So, this group of local boys, who began in a modest way for their own pleasure, now have a future full of promise – they can add to their hopes of having a record commercially released, the hope of appearing at one of the important Jazz spots in London. I wish them well on both issues.”
The Observer then reported in July that the group had appeared at an Acton hotel, but I don’t know what happened to them after that? And as far as I know the record was never released?
I would also like to know who the other members of the group were?
Fred was living at 55 Norbroke Street at the time and the family had previously resided at 3, Bannister’s Cottages and 75 Greenside Road before that.
Bannister’s Cottages were situated between Willow Vale and Adelaide Grove. They were later demolished under a slum clearance scheme and replaced by prefabs.
Steve Russell
(Thanks to Colin Woodley for sending me the newspaper article and thanks also to Peter Trott for his assistance)
