IT is nearly 60 years ago that a Liverpool teenager got together with his mates and formed a skiffle group.

Little did John McNally think that it would sow the seeds for one of the biggest pop bands of the sixties – The Searchers.

Today the very youthful 72 year-old is still in the line-up and Frank Allen ( bass guitar and vocals) is marking his 50 th anniversary with the legendary Merseyside group.

One of the hardest working bands on the rock ‘n revival circuit The Searchers literally live out of a suitcase.

They were at Fareham’s Ferneham Hall after just hopping off a plane from a six week tour of Australia and a one night gig in Denmark. And they are currently criss crossing the UK before packing their cases again and heading to New Zealand.

With a total record sales of more than 50 million the secret of The Searchers’ sixties success was turning covers of American songs into instant hits.

The band’s glittering back catalogue of chart toppers includes remakes of The Drifters’ 1961 hit Sweets for My Sweet, Jackie DeShannon’s Needles and Pins and When You Walk In The Room.

They threw into this entertaining mix other classics like Sugar and Spice, Don’t Throw Your Love Away and Love Potion Number 9 as their fans were treated to a feast of rock ‘n roll which soon had them hand clapping and foot tapping.

Allen, a former member of Cliff Bennett and The Rebel Rousers, has become The Searchers historian.

With some witty one liners he took the audience on a rock ‘n roll trip down memory lane.

It stretched back to The Star-Club in Hamburg which became a spiritual home for a wave of British bands.

McNally surprised his bandmates by diverting from the Searchers’ script with his own rendition of Buddy Holly’s Peggy Sue. It was a chance for him to demonstrate his well honed skills on his unique 12 string guitar.

There were some impressive solos from lead singer and guitarist Spencer James and Scott Ottaway’s fine drumming was a driving force in this sizzling sixties package.

When You Walk In The Room has always been one of my favourites from The Searchers song book. And I am clearly not alone because it was the signal for sixties style disco fever to grip Ferneham Hall.

Those who remembered when it hit the charts might now be suffering from a few aches and pains. But it was worth it. You can catch The Searchers at Eastleigh’s Concorde on June 20.