The power of the airwaves may have got to the bottom of the music mystery of when Elton John performed at Narberth’s Queen’s Hall venue!

Recently the Hall’s manager Sue Lewis, put out a plea in the local media to establish when the ‘Rocket Man’ played his legendary concert at the venue, asking if there was any one out there who remembers going along.

The Queens Hall trustees are working to get a refurbishment grant package together – and Elton’s concert (played under his real name Reg Dwight it is believed) is one of the high profile events in the hall’s glorious 60 year history, but even though there have been a lot of verbal reminiscences, efforts to find physical evidence of the gig had so far drawn a blank.

Observer reader Lawrence Hourahane contacted his BBC Wales colleague Mal Pope on the matter and the presenter put out a plea for information on his programme on February 20, and as a result, Mal received a reply from Hywel Jones, which he read out the following day on his show (which you can listen in to between 32 to 45 minutes in, on the programme page on BBC Sounds).

Hywel explained on Elton’s gig: “I was there at that concert with some of my school mates from Carmarthen grammar. Not sure of the correct date 1970/71-ish.

“A few beers in Narberth rugby club then off to the concert.

“We lost one of the lads and found him later sleeping in a hedge after too much vodka and lime, a drink of the time, awful! We had no idea who he was but we recognised his talent,” he added.

Sue from the Queen’s Hall who is still on the search for any one with any memories of the concert - or even better some memorabilia, said: “Wow! What a great story! We know there are plenty more Queens Hall memories out there - we’d love to hear them!”

IT’S 1966 and 14-year-old Janet Rowlands (pictured) has seen something life-changing.

Top pop band Amen Corner played at the Queens Hall, Narberth, and the young teenager was one of hundreds of local youngsters who were completely spellbound.

“It was simply amazing,” said Janet (now Mason) of Narberth Bridge.

“The hall was packed, it was so hot that condensation was dripping off the ceiling. There were about 1,000 people in the hall – no health and safety then of course. We just couldn’t believe our luck that these bands who had been playing in London were playing here in Narberth!”

The bands – which included such names as Status Quo, Deep Purple and the Average White Band - were brought to the town as part of fundraising efforts by the local football club, led by the far-sighted Ivor Badham.

Over the next few years Janet took advantage of the roll call of rock bands that graced the Queens Hall stage, compiling a scrap book with tickets, flyers and autographs plus momentos such as Rick Parfitt’s guitar string.

“My husband has always been on at me that I’m a hoarder, but now I’m glad I kept the scrapbook,” said Janet, who is supporting the Queens Hall £500k refurbishment bid.

One of her favourite memories is Ivor Badham popping into the local accountants where she worked and asking which band she’d like to see play at the Queens Hall.

“I said Steve Ellis and Love Affair and a few weeks later Ivor came over to see me and said he’d got them! I was so excited but when they came to Narberth I was ill in hospital and couldn’t get to see them. Ivor came to see me in hospital and gave me a picture with their autographs – I was thrilled.”

The most memorable act she saw was Hot Chocolate.

“I remember the lead singer Errol Brown, he was dressed in a patterned silk outift with a mandarin collar and when he sang he dropped to his knees – I couldn’t keep my eyes off him!”

Do you have any souvenirs from the Queens Hall’s glory years? Let us know – contact manager Sue Lewis at [email protected]