The MerseyCats Committee
for 2009/2010
 Wally
Shepard - Chairman
Wally has been chairman for
the past five years.
There is
no one more
qualified for the
position, for
Wally
in addition to being one of the original
Merseycats played a major role in the
foundation of the
MerseyBeat as the bass player with
Liverpool legends Earl Preston
and the TTs.
Wally is pictured here on the left with Earl
Preston circa 1962
At many
venues
the
TTs topped the bill
ahead of the
Beatles. Wally recounts the day
they launched E
arl
Preston as
their
new lead singer, and
just
as he was about to begin the
act, a voice from the
balcony shouted "That's no bloody Earl
Preston, that's Joey Spruce from
Speke", The voice
was
non other
than John
Lennon.
The TTs started off life as
Johnny
Tempest and the Tornadoes, but
tragically lead singer Johnny
contracted
meningitis at just 21 and died. Wally's band
today is called Tempest
which I think
explains it all.
Contact Wally Shepard
on:
0151 220 1363
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Bernie
Prescott - Vice Chairman
Bernie, pictured here with his
vintage Les Paul, just missed out on the
sixties, but played in bands
throughout the seventies.
He
recently
retired from a long and distinguished career as
an officer in Her Majesties Coast
Guard and now
spends his
time helping his sons' business and playing
guitar with Tempest.
There is no truth in the
rumour that I have made the picture narrower
than the original!!!.
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Kay
Shepard - Treasurer
Kay handles all things
financial and is the driving force behind the
organisation of MerseyCats. Kay is married to Wally
and she tells me they met when she was
just 14,
engaged at 16,married at 18 and 44 years
later she is pictured here hugging
Frankie Connor
from Radio
Merseyside!!!. Kay and Wally are two of the
nicest people you could meet.
Kay's claim to fame was that
she was "kissed and cuddled" by Paul
McCartney, who
gallantly bought her a meat pie at the
Pierhead. Boy, did we know how to treat a lady
in those days.
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John
Clucas - Secretary
John has the thankless task of
handling all the administrative requirements of
the organisation. He is eminently
qualified for the role as his full time job is
acting as a Councillor for the Liberal Democrat
Party. John is an excellent guitarist and can
be seen most weeks playing with his band
The Boogeymen. He too was
there at the beginning of
MerseyBeat,
playing with The Blues
Angels.
John, in addition to an
impressive collection of
guitars has all the
latest voice and PA gadgets, which
he uses in his
one man
shows around the pubs and clubs in
Liverpool.
For all MerseyCats
correspondence please write
to:
John
Clucas,
209 Hunts Cross
Avenue,Woolton, Liverpool L25
9NB
Tel No: 0151 280
9206
John
centre
with The Blues
Angels at the
Hideaway
Club in 1965 (Incidentally
the bass player on the left is MerseyCat member
and current member of The
Bumblies
-
Keith Turner)
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Dave
Myers - Committee Member
Dave has been a committee
member for many years and had a spell as
Chairman. Another great player from the
sixties, Dave played at the famous Star
Club with The Pawns
and also played with Cliff Roberts and
the Rockers who were one of the top
ten bands of the era. Dave is also a member of
Tempest and is
regarded as one of the best technical
guitarists at Cats. This is the only decent
picture I have of Dave, which I have to admit
was taken a few years ago, but I can report
that the years have made little difference to
his lean, mean and moody
appearance!!!!
Dave on the left with The
Pawns at the Star
Club Hamburg
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Will
Mountain - Committee Member
Every committee needs
a straight talker and Will fits the role
perfectly. Will is a dedicated member of
Merseycats who works very hard in the
background to ensure the smooth running of the
organisation. Will also keeps an eye on the
website to make sure that the content is
in keeping with standards
of MerseyCats. Rumour has it that he is a very
accomplished guitarist, playing stuff from
Django Reinhardt that is way
above the capabilities of most of our
players. Perhaps one day we will get a chance
to see him playing. Will is also an avid
collector of guitars and has over forty in his
collection.
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Dave
Ferguson - Web Master
A newcomer to the
committee this year, Dave has been recovering
from a Heart
Attack following the
opening of his bank
statement.
Dave
played in the sixties with The
Bumblies who have
recently reformed, The
Politicians
and The
Countdowns making his last
appearance at the Peppermint Lounge in
1968 ironically singing a Beatles
song, "I'll Be On My
Way". Dave also appeared briefly
with a band called the Six
Foot
Four,
which was a bit of a
problem, as Dave checks in at
a little under 5ft 4ins.
When Dave
joined MerseyCats, Chairman Wally
Shepard was heard to say, At
last a member who's smaller than
me!!
Dave on the right with The Countdowns at
the OPB
1964
For all issues
concerning the website please contact
Dave at info@merseycats.com
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