Sandra ( Sandie) Anstey 1937 - 2022.

Sandra was part of the rock 'n' roll era from 1957, when she sang with Hayden Robinson of the Dunedin Place Band. Sandra sang not unlike Connie Francis and became very popular. After an article in the New Musical Express she was offered an audition at EMi in London. However, due to illness she couldn't attend. After much success, TV's Top Town and Fiesta clubs, she changed to the world of fashion. Unlike her cousin, Kiki Dee, Sandra missed out on what might have been a successful musical career. Sandie was my partner over 16, lovely years and very sadly missed by all who knew her.

It was Sandra who typed all the text over three years for the 'When Bradford Rocked'.

For Sandie's full biography see pages 308-310 in 'When Bradford Rocked'.

Eric Holroyd  1938 - 2016.

It was in his early twenties that Eric joined Dal Stevens and the Four Dukes, re-formed from the Blue Jays,  it was Eric who transformed it into a very professional rock 'n' roll group.

It was Eric's lead guitar performances that gave them  some success, for short  time. 

In 1966 he emigrated to Australia with his wife and children, and It was here that he became for over fifty years a world renowned  jazz musician with the trumpet, right up to his passing. 

Another Bradford lad,  who made it to the top.

Author. Far too good for our group! He deserved his success, it was a pleasure to have known him . Very professional and good friend

See full biography at When Bradford Rocked Pages148-149.

Ray Moore 1928 - 2012

It was Ray Moore who brought our Bradford rock n. roll years to Bradford. Ray knew what the teenagers wanted with a variety of special nights of comptitions, spot prizes and in most cases presented by some of our own Bradford celebritiescompetitions, all recorded in the next days Telegraph & Argus. He soon added Wednesday and Friday evenings to our rock n' roll nights, and was never short of local groups for those evenings.

Allt this was new and unique to the area. The rest of the week being modern dances.

After my group 'Dal Stevens and the Four Dukes' had moved on, I visited the ballroom one evening and Ray asked me if my group wanted a booking. I had to tell him that the group was no more then out of the blue, if I had thought about being a disc jockey, as he was doing this in between his managerial duties.

The rest is history and all recorded in 'When Bradford Rocked'.

Without Ray's offer on that night, the rock n' roll books would never have been written, leaving a void in Bradford's rock n' roll years.

Not so, for the likes, a dedicated gentleman, and friend, who in those early years, gave Bradford its rock n' roll beginning, and he was a Bradford lad.

Keith Artist  1941 - 2012.

Keith was one of Bradford’s original rock 'n’ roll musicians, well respected and known to everyone of that era and beyond.  An exciting, incisive, inventive drummer who could recreate parts perfectly that he had heard from early rock 'n' roll records.  His drum solos were memorable. He was quite shy, and a man of not too many words. I included him in both of my rock 'n’ roll books of 1991 and 2012. He had helped me with some of my research but was sadly too ill to attend  the launch of 'When Bradford Rocked'. He was a great talent and a good friend of mine over the fifty years I knew him.

For Keith's full biography see page 225  in 'When Bradford Rocked'.

ALLAN HOLDSWORTH (1946 - 2017)

Allan was born in Idle, Bradford in 1946. Aged 16 he began to play in local club-based groups. Later in his career he became best known as a jazz guitarist. In 1962 he joined Margie and the Sundowners and in 1963 formed Black Diamonds.  In 1964 he joined Mick Judge and the Jurymen. In 1965 he left The Jurymen and joined Dave Arran and the Crusaders and went on tour to Germany with the group. 

It's ironic that this Bradford-born guitarist is widely regarded by fans and fellow musicians as one of the twentieth century's most innovative musicians but is hardly known in his hometown. He settled in California in the 80's.

A long way from Thorold House, Thorpe Edge, Bradford. 

see pages 97-98 in 'When Bradford Rocked'.

HARRY FOSTER (1925 - 2017)

A modest Bradfordian, who was a popular member of one of Bradford’s iconic groups in the 1960s, ‘The Tomboys and Helen’. Then in his mid-thirties, Harry had already seen most aspects of life and war before some of the young teenage rock n’ roll group members of the sixties were born.

Harry’s talent was exceptional for rock n’ roll either as a soloist or vocal backing with the rest of the group and he was truly an asset.  

Although Harry didn't play an instrument, he was a good frontman for the group, at times backing the group by shaking ‘maracas’. For the five years with 'The Tomboys and Helen', it would be one of the best eras for Harry and it left many memories to the younger rock n’ roll group members of that time.

When the group folded in 1964 Harry went on with the second chapter in his life in entertainment and became a comedian.

Well into his eighties he attended the rock 'n' roll reunions at the Hilton Hotel.

A lovely man RIP. 

See Profile ages 201-202 'When Bradford Rocked'.

THOMAS BUTLER (1930-2016)

Another ageless icon of Helen and the Tomboys has passed on. Tommy rhythm guitarist and vocals was in his thirties when he helped to form The  Tomboys.

After which he played with a trio at the Listers Arms for a couple of decades, and in between played with most of our local trios and rock 'n' roll groups.

In the mid 1990'sTommy was forced to give up playing through illness, otherwise, he would still be playing today on his Fender Stratocaster.

Living in Wibsey he enjoyed his retirement with his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Affectionately always known as Tommy he made a long and lasting contribution to Bradford's rock 'n' roll days, and beyond.

For full detailed biography, see pages 353-355 'When Bradford Rocked' 

JOHN HARDING  (1946 -2022)

John Harding, the younger brother of Richard Harding became a very proficient guitarist playing with a few local groups. He was with the The Ray Kennan Combo until 1963 when he joined The Cresters for the next twenty years until the group disbanded in 1983. It had been a pleasure to play alongside his brother Richard. Sadly, after a few years of illness this  curtailed his playing until his passing in 2022 .

For his full biography see pages 264-265 of When Bradford Rocked.

Carl Gresham (1941-2023)

Carl Gresham was a Bradfordian like many of todays established impresarios he had a background steeped in show business. During the 1960s he signed up with many TV companies to work as an extra. Later he worked with large television companies such as Granada TV who, through their constant re-booking of his services eventually gave him the opportunity to meet many of the ‘stars’, who worked through his promotional and management company.

Morecambe and Wise, Pat Phoenix, Peter Wyngarde, Gordon Jackson and Dennis Waterman, to name but a few.

Reliability and professionalism did not abound in those days, but Carl had both.

Brenda Martin aka Brenda Martine 1945 -2024

Brenda and the Dominators were synonymous with Bradford's rock 'n' roll scene from the 1960s playing at  many venues, they became amongst the most popular groups  in the area, playing through to 1968. They are remembered with affection for their music and their style. After her time with the Dominators she continued in the music world singing round the Bradford area as Brenda Martine.

For the full biography please see When Bradford Rocked pg 123

DAVID MARSHALL  1944 - 2025

One of Bradford's many self-taught drummers, from 1959 with Vince Wayne and the Falcons. Four years with one of Bradford's top groups, The Caravelles, and finally The Hornets and Carolanne.  

Another Bradford lad who left his mark in our world of rock roll music

See the full biography in " When Bradford Rocked page 76