Rocking and rolling: Dynamite get the audience dancing at the recent Golden Years gig at Woodlands Leisure Park, Trimingham. PHOTO: COLIN FINCH
It was meant to be a one-off gig in 1996 but it has resulted in a rock 'n' roll revival which has raised more than £100,000 for charities and good causes all over Norfolk.

The “one and only” Golden Years concert at The Talk in Norwich was organised buy former Zodiac Terry Wickham and once the bands were up and running again, some for the first time since the late 1950s, there was no stopping them.

Since then many of the original Norfolk rockers have reformed and are back on the road while others have joined the bandwagon playing classic sounds which are now timeless.

And many of the bands have raised thousands of pounds playing at spin-off charity gigs and other functions in the city and county.

The first Golden Years gig at Woodlands Leisure Park, Trimingham, was another great night which raised money for Woodfield Special School at Sheringham.

This was the 11th show organised by Terry for the Rotary Club of North Norfolk. The others have been at Cromer Pier but it was moved to Trimingham to give people the opportunity to jive and twist the night away.

Bands taking part were Dynamite, making their Golden Years debut, The Offbeats, first formed in the late 1950s which reformed for the revival gigs, and Rollercoaster who have never stopped playing.

Top: Dynamite get the audience dancing. Below: Tribute: The Offbeats will be backing Elvis tribute Quinton Haverson at Hotel Wroxham. PHOTOS: COILN FINCH
“It was a good night at a good venue with an excellent atmosphere,” said Mike Lorenz, founder member of the Offbeats, who also played with various other groups during his musical career.

The Offbeats are one of the groups who have played at several gigs to raise money for charity and on Saturday November 14 at Hotel Wroxham they will be backing “Elvis.” The fun starts at 8pm.

This Mr Presley is Quinton Haverson, a talented singer, who has worked at the hotel for 11 years and is now operations manager,

He normally performs with backing tapes and this will be his first gig with a live band. His boss David Easter, who likes to be known as the Colonel has provided him with his first Elvis jump suit.

Quinton and The Offbeats will be sponsored by David Easter and Broadland Taverns Ltd., members of Norwich Inns, and money raised goes to Macmillan Cancer Support, the Norwich Inns charity for 2009. Last year the group raised more than £12,000 for Macmillan.

Tickets cost £5 and at available at The Hotel Wroxham and The Whalebone public house, Magdalen Road, Norwich.

A recent gig by 70s favourites Throb, who went down a storm at the Golden Years earlier this year, at Spixworth Village Hall raised more than £1,100 for breast cancer research.

The Witnesses, who reformed for the Golden Years after more than 40 years, have also raised thousands of pounds for Macmillan

Cancer Support and many of the other groups regularly turn out for charity gigs - Mervyn & The Starbeats for example have helped the Friends of Wells Hospital for many years.

Did You Know?

On this day in 1618 Sir Walter Raleigh, English seafarer, once a favourite of Elizabeth I, was beheaded at Whitehall, falsely accused of treason.

On this day in Norfolk of 1880 there was a tragic disaster at Wells when the lifeboat Eliza Adams was lost and only two of her crew survived. The boat capsized in heavy seas during a rescue attempt. The men who died left 10 widows and 28 children.

At the inquest Captain Thomas Kew, one of two survivors, said they all had cork lifebelts on. Once wet with heavy boots and lifeboat gear it was impossible for a lifeboatman to get back into the boat without help.

On this day in 1929 it was described as “Black Tuesday” when Wall Street crashed, leading to the Great Depression.

On this day in 1987 Thomas “Hit Man” Hearns won the world middleweight title, making him the first boxer to win a world title at four different weights.

See the full story from the EDP

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The Dynamite Band