Last updated 09:14, Saturday, 17 May 2008

TODAY’S photo shows Billy Hartley, left, who was the main man of the group, Billy and The Rebel Men until his premature death. Alan Williams is on drums, the guy with the Framus Black Rose guitar is David Needham and the bass player with the Rosetti Lucky Seven was called Tony.

It was taken in The Royal Standard pub in Whitehaven (now called the Waterfront) and the date would be the late Fifties to early Sixties.

The band mainly played at The Standard two nights a week for seven shillings and sixpence each a night. It was a very popular venue and was nearly always full.

They also played at The Bush in Workington a couple of times, but as they were very short of equipment they generally stuck to The Standard.

Others members of the group from time to time included Ray Burns, Colin Atkinson, Dave Penrice, and Kenny Hailes. The songs they played included Running Bear, Three steps to Heaven, Cut across Shorty, Donna and What do you want to make those eyes at me for? The original photo has Emil Ford's autograph on the back.

Log on to Alastair Duncan and John Fisher’s website www.fenderstrat.co.uk for more Cumbrian bands from the Sixties and Seventies.