8T8 SKIFFLE GROUP, THE

Lead Vocals: Malcolm Hooper

Lead Vocals: Terry Wickham

Guitar: Ivan Zagni

Guitar: Mel Fuller

Washboard: Freddie Wyer

Tea Chest Bass: David Mobbs

??: Ralph ??

Early adverts had this band playing regularly at The George IV and The Blue Bell Pubs in Norwich. They were also advertised as The Double Eight SG. Wickham recalls an early gig at The Morning Star PH, Nch, “At the end of the night, you would do a collection by passing around a cup. When it came back it contained more than double what I was earning in a week! This can’t be a bad profession I thought."

Other popular venues for the boys were The Roe Buck PH in Southwell Road, Nch now converted into offices and the now demolished Spare In Hand PH that once stood in Vauxhall Street.

In June 1958 the group appeared in the final of Norman Guest’s Skiffle Of The Year Contest at The Orford Cellar, Nch but were unplaced. The band progressed and became The 8T8 Rhythm Group and hosted their own 8T8 Rhythm Club weekly at The Ailwyn Hall, Nch. "We would invite a guest band to come along every week and take turns to play," said Wickham. The event was short-lived as band members left to form numerous spin-off groups.

Zagni linked up with his brothers in the The Jailbirds SG. During the life of the band many members were also playing in other pick-up style groups, such as The Sinners SG, The 4D SG and The Zodiacs, however, by December 1958 the only surviving band appears to be The Zodiacs.

(Wickham - The Zodiacs) <> (Hooper - The Toffs) (I.Zagni - The Jailbirds)