The Largs man who was Scotland's answer to Hank Marvin

Now, as almost all of my readers will know, Hank, still going strong, was lead guitarist with The Shadows, who backed pop icon Cliff Richard in the 60s when we were The Young Ones (nostalgia, sir and madam, nostalgia).

Well, in the same era of floral shirts and hipsters - and, of course, The Beatles, Rolling Stones etc - Ian Sommerville (82) was playing with The Drumbeats group all over central Scotland, from Biggar to Fife.

Although the Largs resident is known for his fine baritone voice in local musical circles, he only did vocal backing for The Drumbeats, because the lead singer was the spitting image of Cliff.

Ian Sommerville with the powder blue suit he wore on stage with The Drumbeats. (Image: Drew Cochrane)

However, what makes his story so remarkable is that his 63-year-old powder blue suit, with gold lame collars (pictured), is destined for a Hall of Music Fame collection.

It centres round a regular band night they did in Coatbridge Town Hall, in the early 60s, when 600 folk would birl around what was known as 'The Palais' on a Saturday. As The Drumbeats played such Shadows hits as Apache and Wonderful Land, a certain Coatbridge couple swooned.

Although Ian, of Laverock Drive, hung up his showbiz suit to embark on a successful career in newspaper distribution, supplying a mind-boggling 720 shops, he held on to the glitzy garment over six decades.

Lo and behold - as writers like to say - Ian recently met up with a Coatbridge lady of his vintage on one of his regular visits to Port Bannatyne, on Bute. She had been one of the hundreds who danced to The Drumbeats a lifetime ago.

The lady, who wishes to remain anonymous, has a private musical collection at her Rothesay home which includes a six-foot fibreglass figure of Elvis Presley.  She asked if she could place Ian's suit in a glass case, with a photo of The Drumbeats and appropriate notes about her beloved Coatbridge dancing days. 

Ian joked: "The suit had a 28-inch waist and I didn't know too many Teddy Boys. I didn't have the heart to throw it out. 

"I have two daughters and a son, living in New Zealand, and the lady will offer the suit to them when I'm not here."

Another claim to fame happened a few years ago when he stopped off at a chip shop in Harthill and noticed, next to a framed photo of famous acting couple, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, an old photo of The Drumbeats.

A young Ian Sommerville on stage with The Drumbeats. (Image: Contributed)

"It looked like Burton turning to Taylor and saying 'is that no' a picture of The Drumbeats?'" he said. 

"It had been up on the chip shop wall for 50 years!"

Ian, a long time performer with Largs Players and the Operatic Society, had to give up playing guitar because of arthritis in his left hand. But he still sings with the local Upbeats choir, and this Christmas will appear in Scrooge at the Beacon Arts Centre in Greenock.

As Cliff Richard used to sing: "Congratulations; Good Times, Better Times." As someone on tv used to say: "Ian, you've been framed!"

Thought for the Week: As seen on Largs Facebook - I have a doctor's appointment, looking to swap for an Oasis ticket.

"Where are the police when you need them?"

That's not my question. Surprisingly, it was asked by a local police officer, who was speaking about the British Transport Police at a recent meeting of Largs Community Council.

The discussion took place when members expressed concern at the apparent soaring incidents of crime in the town.

Police in Largs say more help is needed from their colleagues in the British Transport Police. (Image: Police Scotland)

It seems that youths from West Kilbride and beyond come in free on the train and conduct themselves badly, including shoplifting which is on the rise.

One of the police officers told the meeting that there is no respect from children any more. He added that the CCTV cameras at Morrisons were not effective.

"We need help from the transport police. You rarely see them."

Councillors agreed that children and teenagers were emboldened knowing that adults couldn't "touch" them, even if they were caught stealing.

The community council have called for a summit meeting to set out a strategy to tackle local crime. The birch comes to mind.