AFTER a hard day’s night singing at gigs in the sixties, East Lancashire’s pop musicians made a beeline for much-needed sustenance.

And one of their favourite places for food was a fish and chip shop in Feniscowles, called Nicki’s.

It was owned by Rumanian Nicki Makarenko, who had been at the Preston Old Road chippy for three years.

One local band who regularly called in after dark was The Victors, who came from the Chorley area.

We’ve a photograph of them, taken in 1965 and sent in by the vocalist Philip Snape, who was then 18, and now lives in Burnley.

From the left is Frank Chaplin, lead guitar and vocals, Lynda Cottingham, rhythm guitar and vocals, fan Carol Swain, bass guitarist John McLaughlin, Philip and drummer Paul Boyd. Said Philip: “We were all aged between 14 and 18 and used to appear all over the North West with a very strong following.

“We would play at such venues as the Mecca, or Ribble Clubs in Blackburn, The Manor House Hotel, near Barnoldswick, which was a very big venue in those days, the Cavern Club, Accrington, or Burnley Casino, which is now the Mechanics.

“We would also travel further afield, such as to the Cubic Club, in Rochdale, or The Jimmy Saville Club, in Manchester.

"Afterwards we would call for fish and chips at Nicki’s on the way home and at 2am meet up with other local pop groups, including The Four Pennies and The Rev Black & The Rocking Vickers.”

He continued: “I used to work with Fritz Fryer, the bass player from the Pennies, at Star Paper Mills, in Feniscowles. He was a sheet tester, while I worked on the number 1 machine, making paper.

“I remember that The Victors were on contract with the Odeon cinemas and we used to play on Saturday mornings for the kids’ show at Blackburn.

“I think it was quite possible that only the Rolling Stones and The Victors ever played on stage there – although not at the same time!”

Drummer Paul Boyd recalled: “After one show I remember being pulled into a crowd of schoolgirls who then chased me through Blackburn, and Phil had to drag me into the moving van.

“I think people thought it was some kind of film stunt.

“When I went into work the next Monday I was told by one of my workmates, Bernard Dillon, that his daughter had come home with a pair of sunglasses which she had pulled from ‘a young lad in a group’. I never did get them back.”

Do you remember others who mixed music and chips in the early hours?

In our other photos, above right, are: top, Pete Lavell, lead guitarist and vocalist Frank Crompton, of The Crusaders, from Blackburn; centre, chip shop owners Nicki and Mrs Nicki and, bottom, enjoying a taste of chicken and culture is Billy Dean, who played with Accrington group The Dappers.

Phil would love to hear from anyone who recalls those days and particularly the rendezvous at Nicki’s. His address is 27, Shaftsbury Avenue, Burnley.