This week Mike Day and Ray Dony remember The Frantics...

The band The Frantics formed at the Catholic Youth Club in Tenby in 1963, with the original line-up featuring Mike on drums, Peter Griffiths on bass, Cliff Ormond on rhythm Guitar, Alan Ormond on lead guitar and Ray Craig on vocals.

As the band developed and popularity increased, a van was purchased driven by Clive Lewis, and gigs were plentiful with a twice weekly contract at Kiln Park.

Personnel changes involved Cliff moving to bass guitar to replace Peter and Dave ‘Nobby’ Upham coming in as main vocalist with the Band moving into more of a soul leaning.

Several personnel changes took place between 1963 and 1967, which saw Stuart Farrow (rhythm), John Brett (keyboards), Dai Wyn Jones (vocals), and finally Maggie Hanlon ‘Andrews’ as the final vocalist come in.

“Maggie left to become a semi-pro singer in 1967 and we stopped playing at that time,” explained Mike.

“Over the years we supported bands such as The Troggs, Pinkertons Assorted Colours, The Searchers, Billy J Kramer, Amen Corner, as well as top jazz artists such as Chris Barber, Kenny Ball and Acker Bilk.

“We also supported The Teen Beats, Simon Dupree, The Swinging Blue Jeans, and Dave Dee Dozey Mick and Titch.”

The band then reformed in 1996 as Frantic 5 and Friends for an RNLI sell out charity gig at Tenby’s De Valence Pavilion.

The lineup included Mike on drums, Cliff Ormond (keyboards, Alan Ormond (lead guitar), Pete Griffiths (bass guitar) with ex-Dragon Graham Hughes (rhythm and vocals), Ray Craig (vocals), John Butland (ex-Deep Joy on guitar and vocals), along with Rod Hill (vocals and guitar), and Maggie Hanlon (vocals).

The final gig took place at Kilgetty’s RAOB Club on August 11, 2018 as a testimonial to the sad loss of Alan and Maggie.

From 1996 to 2018 the Frantics raised thousands of pounds for national and local charities with their performances.

Ray Dony continues: “Up and down the country many pop groups came and went laving a legacy of happy days and unfilled ambitions for stardom.

“Not so with the Frantics, with a few guest players and reamed as ‘the Frantic Five and Friends’ they embarked on a fundraising pursuit.

“having lost two of their members Alan Ormond and Maggie Hanlon, their final performance at the RAOB Club was a celebration of two lives who had played a huge part in the success of the Frantics.

“Alan’s son Barry played bass that night and he played like a seasoned pro in an atmosphere charged with remembrance and respect.

“So thanks to the Frantics and friends for putting so much enjoyment into the community of in and around Tenby,” he added.