CAVALIERS, THE (1)

Lead Vocals: Malcolm Goodson (2)David Wilson (3)Alan Cunningham

Guitar: Bob Smith

Guitar: John Watling (2) ??

Guitar: Lou Paston (2)David Cooper (3)Paul Williams

Bass: Eric Burroughs (2)Peter Bowden

Sax: ??

Drums: Albert Watling (2)Clive Monen (3)Trevor Lincoln

This band evolved from the skiffle group The Four Deckers at the hub of the groups connections are the Watling family. Albert Watling began the group with son John in the early skiffle days and remained at the helm when the group developed into the beat combo The Cavaliers. The Four Decker's regularly appeared at the Spread Eagle Public House on Sussex Street. Early guitarist Bob Smith recalls those gigs “There were sometimes as many as half a dozen guitarist, turn up. We got around thirty bob between us, We would then carry our gear home, usually to Albert's, often staying the night”

Albert was the groups manager he organised all the gigs. The group were officially advertised as Dave and the Gay Cavaliers but became known on the circuit as just The Cavaliers. Albert remembers an early gig played at the Norwich Prison next to Britannia Barracks. “We were very popular, many of the inmates wanted to get up on stage and have a go, playing with us, but were stopped by the wardens. When we left the gig our van was searched from top to bottom, there was only just enough room for the boys and our equipment, let alone anyone else.” he laughs.

In 196? [date required] The band entered a talent competition held at The Federation Club now The Talk, Oak Street, Norwich. The band played a great set say’s Albert and our best number was a cover of the Tornadoes, Telstar. To recreate the sounds of the sputnik taking off, as per the record Albert had recorded noise onto an echo unit. After complaints from other bands the group were disqualified for using this.

When vocalist David Wilson left in [date required] 1962 he was replaced by Eric Burroughs nephew Alan Cunningham. Fresh out of the Army, Alan fancied himself as an Elvis impersonator and jumped at the chance. Alan played his debut gig for the band at Pinebanks (Norwich Union Social Club) an open air concert on 15th August 1962 and became known as Alan Johns & The Cavaliers. Very few gigs were played with this line-up as Alan, David and Eric soon broke away from the band to form the Kriptones.

Undeterred by  the setback Albert & John set about putting together a new line-up of the band, within weeks they had recruited Paul Williams through work connections and from here new bass player Peter Bowden who had been at Costessy ?? School with Paul. Paul was a serious musician would take the band to its peak as The Trends.

The group were soon back on the road and coincidently enough backing The Kriptones on some occasions. The group lasted until [date required] 196?. The group had stepped up a level and Albert found it hard to keep pace and left to be replaced by Clive Monen who was shortly replaced by Trevor Lincoln. John Watling was then offered a chance to improve his job prospects and moved to Newmarket his replacement was [unknown musician]

The group now barely resembled the original Cavaliers and in February 1965 became known as The Trends. Albert Watling continued playing, making a brief appearance with the Swing Time Three before once again playing alongside Lou Paston in The Candlewick Three

The Cavaliers
Norwich                                                          M61-E65
 
LVox: Malcolm Goodson (2)David Wilson
(3)Alan Johns aka Alan Cunningham
Gtr: Bob Smith / Gtr: John Watling
Gtr: Terry Lou Paston (2)David Cooper
(3)Paul Williams
Bs: Eric Burroughs (2)Peter Bowden
TSax: Jack Kinson am lnr (Wilkinson?)
Drums: Albert Watling (2)Clive Monen
(3)Trevor Lincoln
 
[The Dynamic Cavaliers] This band evolved from The Fore Deckers SG and was put together by the father and son duo Albert and John Watling. The Fore Deckers regularly appeared at the Spread Eagle PH, Nch; guitarist Smith recalls those skiffle gigs, “There would sometimes be as many as half a dozen guitarists turn up. We got around thirty bob between us; we would then carry our gear home, usually to Albert’s, often staying the night.” Albert became the group’s playing manager and organised their gigs. The band were officially advertised as Dave & The Gay Cavaliers, and early photographs show the band performing in full period costume. Albert remembers a gig played at the Norwich Prison next to Britannia Barracks. “We were very popular there; many of the inmates wanted to get up on stage and play or sing with us but were stopped by the wardens. When we left, our van was searched from top to bottom! It was funny because there was only just enough room for the boys and the equipment, let alone anyone else,” he laughs and adds, “We once entered a talent competition held at The Federation Club, Nch; the band played a great set. Our best number was a cover of The Tornadoes’ Telstar. To recreate the sounds of the Sputnik taking off, as per the record, we had recorded various noises onto an echo unit, but after complaints from other bands, we were disqualified for using it.” We could not confirm this competition, although it could well be The Industrial Club’s Rock Band Contest of 1963.A2 Wilson appears to have left the band between late 1961 and early 1962, with his replacement being Burroughs’ nephew Cunningham. Fresh out of the army, Cunningham fancied himself as an Elvis impersonator and jumped at the chance to front the band and debuted at the Norwich Union Social Club, Pinebanks, on 15 August 1962. The band became known as Alan Johns & The Cavaliers, but very few gigs were played with this line-up, as Cunningham, Cooper, and Burroughs left and formed The Kriptones in early 1963. Undeterred by the setback, the band rebuilt, bringing in Williams through work connections, who in turn recruited school friend Bowden on bass. Albert found the pace of the beat era hard going and opted out, at first, for a brief spell with The Swing Time Three before he re-joined Paston. in The Candle Wick Three; his replacement Monen was soon replaced by ex-Meteor, Lincoln. However, the band changed when John Watling moved to Newmarket with his job, and Williams became the band’s leader. The group now barely resembled the original Cavaliers, and Williams reinvented them as The Trends in February 1965.

Mediography:
To help the hungry EEN 06/06/63 [p]

The Four Deckers <> The Kriptones / The Trends / (Paston - ??)