George Hames

Diane Ayres

I well remember George Hames with the conclave window. They had little booths where you could listen to a record before buying it. Happy days.

lan Godber May 25, 2017 ·

Here's a piece of 1930s Loughborough; the Blue Diamond Carnival Band. Piano accordians were a big thing pre-war. There was also the George Hames' Accordian Band in the town. Mr Hames had a music shop in Market Street and my sister remembers the large concave windows. My mother learned the piano keyboard there and he was still trading post war. I'm sure some members will have memories.

Anyway, my mum, Joan Peberdy as was, played accordian in the Blue Diamonds and in the close-up of them marching past, she is the 3rd girl in the rank. My grandad was Secretary and of the two men in suits in the group seated centrally, he is on the left. My Uncle Geoff, who was a drummer, is also there seated in front of mum. I don't know where the gig pictured was but they went all over. How the girls marched and played an accordian strapped to their chests I don't know; they weighed a ton! Then the war came, the boys went away and the carnivals stopped. The band folded, never to return.

• George Hames and his partial namesakes seem to have played a big part in Loughborough's music. I've been in pursuit of him because I have a 1934 photo of an apparently jazz-influenced band under his name that includes my father ( a Nottingham man) on trumpet. Does this seem likely to be the shop owner? The band features not just brass but a couple of violins, saxes, double bass, guitar and xylophone, with the leader on clarinet. I'd be happy to share the photo if it's relevant.stjerome28 October 2023 at 22:59

• Hi Anonymous! Yes, it would seem very likely that the jazz band you have a picture of would be George Hames. He certainly had an accordian band in town in the 1930s at least, and may have teamed up with the manager of the original Odeon in promoting films. Lynne