In The Times 2, Friday March 18th there is an interesting article by Pete Townshend entitled `The Mod in Me`. It stems from the recent SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas where they were debating the world wide importance of Mod culture. The event is called `This is Mod`. Amongst other things he mentions the Dungeon in Nottingham and Pete Stringfellow's "extraordinary record collection".

Keith.........................................no mention of Dinky Dawson then ??????.

Ricardo.

No, but he does mention a notorious Mod gang from a pit village called Hemsworth. They were led by someone with the nick name `Uncle Mort`. Apparently he's still at large and lives in North Wales somewhere.

No, but he does mention a notorious Mod gang from a pit village called Hemsworth. They were led by someone with the nick name `Uncle Mort`. Apparently he's still at large and lives in North Wales somewhere.

If I am not mistaken Keith , a member of that same gang was the late Stan Spencer , who was affectionately known as " Mad Stan the Hatchet Man " .

Malc

Malc, did you know Stan then?

Malc, did you know Stan then?

Yes I did Peter .

I got to know him around '72 , well after his association with the Hemsworth gang , following running into him at various

places .

Malc

Keith,

'Uncle Mort' alias Bob Foster is alive & well and presently living in Fitzwilliam (near Hemsworth.) In the mid to late sixties he was Stan Spencers right hand man, and assisted Stan in supplying the Twisted Wheel M/Cr with various types of 'Uppers.' Stan has unfortunatly now passed away, and is burried in Hemsworth Cemetery, his headstone has the epitaph "Shine on you crazy Diamond." Stan was the youngest member of the notorious Hemsworth gang, originally known as the Crosshills Teddyboys, when he joined @ the age of 13 years. He is best remembered for dispensing 'Hemsworth eyeshadow' to "Divvies" in the chip shop after closing time. Dinky Dawson was of course Mr Stringfellows "sidekick" at the Mojo Club in Sheffield.

Regards Ricardo.

Keith,

'Uncle Mort' alias Bob Foster is alive & well and presently living in Fitzwilliam (near Hemsworth.) In the mid to late sixties he was Stan Spencers right hand man, and assisted Stan in supplying the Twisted Wheel M/Cr with various types of 'Uppers.' Stan has unfortunatly now passed away, and is burried in Hemsworth Cemetery, his headstone has the epitaph "Shine on you crazy Diamond." Stan was the youngest member of the notorious Hemsworth gang, originally known as the Crosshills Teddyboys, when he joined @ the age of 13 years. He is best remembered for dispensing 'Hemsworth eyeshadow' to "Divvies" in the chip shop after closing time. Dinky Dawson was of course Mr Stringfellows "sidekick" at the Mojo Club in Sheffield.

Regards Ricardo.

Dinky Dawson currently lives in the USA , where he is involved in the music industry .

Malc

Pete Townsend - The mod in me.

There's a joke in there somewhere,but for the life of me,can't see it.

Forum followers of South Yorkshire mining village gang culture may wish to know more about the various references to this genre in this thread. Bob Foster led the notorious gang in the early 60s but after seeing Spencer Davis at Doncaster Odeon he became the top Mod in Hemsworth, also enjoying football fame at Hemsworth Grammar where he was spotted by a Burnley FC scout. but had to settle for Frickley Athletic seconds. Anyhow, I digress, the following letter was published in Soul Notes magazine in November 1997 -

"Dear Editor. While waiting for my two Standard Poodles to be washed and clipped at Posh Paws, Gravesend I thumbed through the usual waiting room mags.....Reader's Digest, People's Friend etc and came across Soul Notes Sept '97. Although I am not really into Soul, my wife is - she had the stage name of Prescilla Page and did a few recordings for a label called Topper when we lived in Michigan, USA in the 60s. Our favourite track is of course with Pepe the Poodle, a B side if I recall - `Throw the Poor Dog a Bone`.

Anyway, I digress. I quite enjoyed the mag until I came to the Bob Foster Column and at that point my whole past life flashed in front of me upon seeing two nightmares from my past. Bob `Stylo` Foster was, in my youth, the notorious leader of the Cross Hills Teddy Boy Gang who hung out at the Kings Head, Hemsworth. After many beatings I had to leave the UK for America. Then, when I returned in the 70s, I thought I was safe by moving to Old Colwyn but, to my horror, I was trapped on a Crosville bus one night by a hooded conductor and an ugly skinhead called `Pants`. I again received a beating and my poodle got a right seeing to. I now live in Kent - away from the violence of the North".

I was the person who submitted the letter and although it is fourteen years ago I am still frightened by Foster and the other bloke who I understand now lives in Llandudno.

Forum followers of South Yorkshire mining village gang culture may wish to know more about the various references to this genre in this thread. Bob Foster led the notorious gang in the early 60s but after seeing Spencer Davis at Doncaster Odeon he became the top Mod in Hemsworth, also enjoying football fame at Hemsworth Grammar where he was spotted by a Burnley FC scout. but had to settle for Frickley Athletic seconds. Anyhow, I digress, the following letter was published in Soul Notes magazine in November 1997 -

"Dear Editor. While waiting for my two Standard Poodles to be washed and clipped at Posh Paws, Gravesend I thumbed through the usual waiting room mags.....Reader's Digest, People's Friend etc and came across Soul Notes Sept '97. Although I am not really into Soul, my wife is - she had the stage name of Prescilla Page and did a few recordings for a label called Topper when we lived in Michigan, USA in the 60s. Our favourite track is of course with Pepe the Poodle, a B side if I recall - `Throw the Poor Dog a Bone`.

Anyway, I digress. I quite enjoyed the mag until I came to the Bob Foster Column and at that point my whole past life flashed in front of me upon seeing two nightmares from my past. Bob `Stylo` Foster was, in my youth, the notorious leader of the Cross Hills Teddy Boy Gang who hung out at the Kings Head, Hemsworth. After many beatings I had to leave the UK for America. Then, when I returned in the 70s, I thought I was safe by moving to Old Colwyn but, to my horror, I was trapped on a Crosville bus one night by a hooded conductor and an ugly skinhead called `Pants`. I again received a beating and my poodle got a right seeing to. I now live in Kent - away from the violence of the North".

I was the person who submitted the letter and although it is fourteen years ago I am still frightened by Foster and the other bloke who I understand now lives in Llandudno.

First Class!!