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The Swinging Sixties was the decade of brilliant music, great TV programmes, the first James Bond film, Vietnam, the moon landing, mini-skirts and fantastic nights out in Derby for Marilyn Clampitt and her husband, Michael, of Alvaston. Marilyn reminisces about those heady, youthful days.

Marilyn and Michael Clampitt

I was listening to Smooth radio the other day, a must for us oldies – especially me as a new member of the 60-year-old set.

Suddenly, the song Dancing In The Street, by Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, came on. Singing along to the words, my mind drifted back to the 60s when this song was very popular and I thought about the groups and singers of that era that are still going strong today – groups like The Rolling Stones, The Who, Cliff Richard and Diana Ross.

Even the music of people who have sadly died is still popular – such as Otis Redding, Marvin Gaye, Del Shannon and, of course the greats like Elvis Presley and Beatles John Lennon and George Harrison.

Rock and roll, the favourite dance of the 60s, was played and danced to in all the clubs and pubs round Derby. My favourite venue was the Chaddesden Park Hotel, where my boyfriend (now husband) and I, along with many friends, would cram into the glasshouse and dance along to many a rock and roll group.

The fashion for us girls was the shortest of mini-skirts and dresses. There were some great designs from the fashion houses of the day, cheap and eye-catching.

St Peter’s Street had many shops that sold the latest fashionable clothes and shoes. My favourites were Wilson’s and Trueform.

The town was a lovely place to go to socialise in the 60s. Saturday and Sunday nights could be a riot, going out with our friends. With our cavalcade of cars, we were like a modern-day wagon train. Remember that TV series?

We would go to places like the Blue Boy at Risley or the Festival Inn at Trowell, where they had great groups playing there. Many of us would meet at Ramsden’s, in the Corn Market, and then go on for a dance at Jimmy’s in St James’ Street.

Round the corner was the Bell Hotel, which had a smallish room where a group would often play some really good music. It was not a place to talk because the music was so loud but it was always a brilliant night, just being there, singing or toe-tapping along.

If only we still had places like the Locarno, on Babington Lane! It was a place where many a romance flourished, with many young Romeos and Juliets glancing at one another across the balconies.

The latest fashions would be on show as we girls danced in a circle with our handbags in the middle. The band was usually Ray McVay’s.

Entertainment on the television seemed to me to be a lot better than some of the rubbish we have today.

As a young married housewife of 20, in 1967, it was lovely to come home from work and, after cooking tea and doing my chores, relax in front of the television. There were Compact, Nearest and Dearest, The Saint, Ivanhoe, William Tell, Please Sir, Z Cars, No Hiding Place – not forgetting the long-running Crossroads – to name but a few. Family shows like Take Your Pick and Opportunity Knocks were also popular.

The 60s found us all in awe at the first space walk by Neil Armstrong. How we marvelled at the sight on the television! I was very sceptical in my youth when this mission was in the planning, thinking it was all hearsay. When it finally came off, I thought how brave Mr Armstrong was.

The 60s will also be remembered for the war in Vietnam and all the tremendous loss of life involved. Every day, the news would show you the atrocities and suffering in Vietnam. Nothing much seems to have changed in 2007 – except that the war has shifted to Afghanistan and Iraq.

The 60s saw the start of the James Bond films, Doctor No being the first one with the handsome Sean Connery. My favourite films were The Young Ones, Alfie, To Sir With Love and the smash hit of the time, West Side Story.

P L Felix and Sons

Like lots of people, I did my shopping in the Market Hall on my way home from work at Rykneld Mills. This was a very popular place, long before the opening of the Eagle Centre. Felix’s record shop was a must for the latest chart-stoppers. Over at the fruit and veg store, you would see the friendly faces of Avril and Barry Edmondson – and who could forget the late Joe Stone, who ran a butcher’s shop?

He was a lovely bloke, often singing away to his customers. His assistants were John (Butch) Eyre and Chris, who were all very friendly and jovial with their customers, as well as Joe’s wife, Beryl.

One thing I associate with the 60s is being much slimmer, actually having the legs for mini-skirts and short dresses. I also had lovely long brown hair, unlike today where a bottle of dye is often needed to cover the grey.

For me, the 60s was a real fun decade, a really special time for me. I was engaged at 18 to Mike Clampitt, married on my 20th birthday and will be celebrating our ruby wedding this year with many happy memories to look back on.

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