Bank Holiday Mayhem

Newark Mods in Skegness

By Tim Warner

In the 1960s London Mods fought with Rockers on the beach at Brighton.  From Newark the usual Bank Holiday destination for the town's Mods was the Lincolnshire coastal resort of Skegness.

Left: Alan Fletcher today, and (right), Dave Hill and Alan Fletcher in Stodman Street, Newark, 1965

The audio files on this page are extracts from the novel "Brummel's Last Riff" written by Newark-born author, Alan Fletcher.  The book centres around the Bank Holiday weekend of August 1965 when three Newark Mods, Don, Andy and Milt, head off to the coast to meet up with fellow Mods for a long weekend of fun, rhythm & blues and girls.

"They get up to hi-jinx then have to come back to their normal working day lives, as we all did in the 60s" says Alan. "You needed to work in the 60s to fund the lifestyle."

Copies of the book "Brummels Last Riff" and the two others in the triology ("The Learning Curve" and "The Blue Millionaire" are available from local book shops)

"Mod Crop" the musical, based on Alan's book, was produced at Nottingham's Lace Market Theatre 27th-31st July 2010.  For more details about Alan Fletcher and the Mod scene today visit the official ModCrop website http://www.themodcrop.co.uk 

("OurNottinghamshire" is not responsible for the content of external websites)

1. The Set Up

The Mods set out for Skegness

The Newark Mods arrive in Skegness

Don, Andy and Milt meet up with friends from Grantham, Nottingham and Lincoln in the Jolly Fisherman pub on Skegness seafront

3. An encounter with the 'Grease'

Mods set out in pursuit of the Rockers who have attacked their scooters