ONE of the pioneering groups of the 1960s and 1970s Lancashire folk revival, The Pendlefolk, will reform for a one-off gig to celebrate 50 years of Burnley Folk Club on Thursday.

They will perform at the Ighten Leigh Club, which as Mullards Social Club was both the first venue for the folk club and the venue of the first public performance of lead singer Roger Westbrook.

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The original line-up have been rehearsing hard for the reunion which will include their famous anthem Old Pendle.

Burnley-born Mr Westbrook, now 72, will be joined by his former wife Christine Edwards, Jean Douglas and Peter Ashworth, who used to perform as Peter Nash, for the gig.

Virginia “Gin” Crewe, from support act Brillig, who has helped Mr Westbrook organise the concert, said: “It will be a major event.

“The Pendlefolk played a key role in the folk revival in Lancashire in the 1960s and 1970s.

“They were a really great act and I am looking forward to a great night.

“We have just a handful of the 150 tickets left.”

Former civil engineer Mr Westbrook — who after a successful solo career in the North West now lives in Blackpool — said: “We are all looking forward to it.

“It will be a great, nostalgic and emotional occasion for us.

“Most of us still live in Lancashire but Peter has been coming up from Winsdor, in Berkshire, to rehearse.

“The folk club started in the old Mullards club where I was asked to sing in public for the first time.

“The late Brian Osborne, of the main act The Blackpool Taverners, who rewrote the words and tune of the version of Old Pendle we sang, told me to get a group together.

“That is what I did and The Pendlefolk were born.

“We were the resident act at the Burnley Folk Club (which moved to the cricket club), Accrington Folk Club and the club at Colne.

“The Pendlefolk made an album which we shall sing tracks from and lasted until 1972.

“This the first time we have performed and sung together since we broke up.”

The proceeds from admission will go the British Heart Foundation, and from CD sales to the Rosemere Cancer Fund.

The Burnley Folk Club is currently at the Woodman pub in Todmorden Road on Friday nights.