THIS year, the Temperance Seven celebrate their 60th anniversary - Derek Galloway from Glebelands Road, Sale. has been their vocalist for 37 of them.

They got their name after Dougie Gray of fellow band, The Alberts caught them after a heavy night’s drinking and said, “My goodness, it's the temperance seven, is it?”

This was an understatement because the Temperance Seven were, for many years. Nine – one over the eight!

Derek, 70, said: “We are only eight now because we never replaced the pianist who died in 1988.”

Their greatest hits in the 1960s were Home in Pasadena and You’re Driving Me Crazy.

Nowadays Derek, known as "The Colonel", always sings the former as the second tune and the latter just before the encore.

“People like us because we take them down memory lane,” said Derek. “They also appreciate our humour - oy is light humour without innuendo.”

Their leader, "Captain" Christopher Buckley, who originates from Timperley, is the longest serving member having joined in 1977. His real name is Christopher Hook but they couldn’t really call him Captain Hook.

Derek recalls his first gig. “I stood up to sing and all the microphones failed so I sang two tunes with the megaphone!” Fortunately, the acoustics in the Theatre Clwyd in Mold were perfect.

The most exciting gig was a function at Blenheim Palace attended by Princess Diana.

Derek, also a talented trombonist, plays with four other bands including his own, Bunter’s Imperials.

* Four of them play in the Altrincham Garrick theatre bar from 12.30pmto 3pm on the second Sunday of the month.