Dronfield Eye Issue 213 September 2023

Sudden death of rocker Roy
A familiar figure from Sheffield’s music scene
has passed away with the sudden death of
Roy Ledger. John Firminger pays his tribute
O
RIGINALLY from the Base Green area, Roy Ledger lived
in Dronfield for many years. As a guitarist he made a
number of important contributions to the city’s musical
legacy, beginning back in 1961 with teenage band Bobby
Dawn & The Twilights.
Showing further potential, Roy became lead guitarist with Pete
Fender & The Strollers who enjoyed great popularity on the local
scene. A lasting reminder of this band are the two demo tracks
recorded in Regent Sound studio, London, with ‘Whole Lotta
Shakin’’ coupled with ‘I Guess I Was Wrong’.
Roy’s next musical appointment came when he joined another
Young footballers
enjoy more backing
D
RONFIELD financial planners, Belmayne, are continuing
to back a top-of-the-league youth football team.
The independent Derbyshire firm is looking forward to a third
term as sponsors of Dronfield Town U16s, after the team’s run
of form saw them lose just three games last season.
They won the Sheffield and District Junior League in the final
game of the season, with a convincing 4-1 result. Home
matches are played at Gosforth Fields, where they remained
unbeaten all season.
Belmayne partner, Martin Birch, said: “We want to
congratulate the Dronfield Town boys on a fantastic league win
and we applaud the dedication they have shown throughout
the season. Grassroots football is an integral part of any local
community and plays a significant role in shaping the outlook
of the youngsters who participate. We are happy to continue
our association with such a stellar team for another season.”
dronfield EYE
popular outfit, Rotherham
rockers Johnny Silver &
The Thunderbirds, before
moving onto The
Chevrons, a Sheffieldbased
combo.
Roy’s first taste of
national recognition came
when he became a
member of The Sheffields
who had a succession of
singles released on Pye
Records. It was on the
mod-jazz opus ‘Bags
Groove (Scat Walking)’
that Roy was featured on
Roy Ledger
guitar and vocals.
After the band ceased as The Sheffields,
they briefly became The Monsters, the
backing band for horror-rocker Frankenstein
(Ray Stuart).
Roy was then called upon to fill the big
shoes of Frank White in Dave Berry’s
Cruisers in 1966 which he did admirably.
With the band, Roy performed in the UK and
Europe and can be seen playing with Dave
in Paris in a clip on Youtube. He also took
part in Dave’s one-off charity football match
in 1967.
Following a lengthy lay-off as a musician,
throughout the 1980s and 90s, Roy reappeared
a few years ago when he joined
Sheffield’s long-surviving rock ‘n’ rollers The
Hillbilly Cats, playing regularly at the Railway
Hotel, Hillsborough.
It was in Southport where Roy died
suddenly whilst attending a wedding. He is
survived by his partner Jackie, sister Mavis,
niece Elaine, nephew Kevin and cousin
Heather, and will be missed by all his music
friends.
Flashback to the 1960s and
The Chevrons, with Roy knelt
at the centre of the line up
Station display recalls
holiday favourites
T
RAIN passengers are being taken
back to summers of the past with a
display of full-size vintage seaside posters
mounted in both shelters at Dronfield
Railway Station.
The exhibition, provided by the Friends of
Dronfield Station (FoDS), consists of six
faithful copies of advertising posters originally
supplied by British Rail and some of the
earlier private railway companies, and mostly
predate the growth of foreign travel in the
1960s.
This year’s exhibition includes nostalgic images of holiday
coastal destinations such as Filey, Whitstable and Guernsey. The
posters will remain at the station until the autumn when it they be
replaced by a display of artwork from local schools.
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