FIFTY years ago a rock and skiffle group from Barnsley appeared on a TV talent show named "Bid For Fame."
The show was compered by MacDonald Hobley and, although the group did not win the contest, they had a great time at the TV studios at Didsbury, Manchester.
Barry Gooder, who was the group's vocalist, remembers the occasion well. "It was fantastic we had a wonderful time. My days of playing in the band were some of the best of my life."
The group of Geoff Almond, who lived at Monk Bretton and played rhythm guitar, Brian Panks from Pogmoor (lead guitarist) and Gordon Allen, of Kingstone (double bass) was already formed when Dodworth lad Barry joined them. "I heard they were looking for a vocalist and we had a practise together and we all clicked," said Barry.
The lads played at pubs and clubs in the Barnsley area and Sheffield, Leeds and other Yorkshire towns when rock and skiffle was a firm favourite with music lovers.
The band, named The Rock Chords, began playing together in 1954 and carried on until the mid to late 1950s.
Mr Gooder has a a photo of the group taken between 1955 and 1956. It shows from left to right: Brian Panks, Gordon Allen, Geoff Almond and Barry Gooder.
Several weeks ago, Memories featured another band who had the similar name of "The Rock Cords." They were formed after the Rock Chords and they also came in for special recognition when, in a national competition run by the Daily Herald newspaper, they were named as runners-up to Tommy Steele, a popular rock and pop star of his time.
A member of this group was a young man named Peter Webb. It is not known whether the two groups were connected, although it is possible one could have followed the other.
