Cambridge Historian

25/09/2026

The Story of PYE – Tune in this Sunday at 5pm!

I had the great honour of meeting Tony Dugdale and Roger Crabtree at the Cambridge Museum of Technology, where I recorded this wonderful interview with them.

Hear their stories of working at PYE, discover more about the fascinating history of the company, and learn all about the PYE Museum and the incredible collection that keeps its story alive.

This really is one not to be missed!

Tune in here: https://tinyurl.com/ThePYEstory

I’ll be there, I hope you are too! 😊

23/09/2026

I really enjoy looking through old photographs of Cambridge and seeing how familiar locations have changed over the years. It’s fascinating to imagine what life might have been like back then and how different the city would have felt.

This photo shows Robert Sayle on St Andrew’s Street in the 1900s. I remember going there myself before the area was redeveloped for the Grand Arcade. It certainly brings back memories!

Do you remember Robert Sayle, or have any memories of going there?

16/09/2026

This is Dean ‘David’ Parker and the Redcaps.

The name came from Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps. Dave’s name was changed to Dean in an attempt to appeal to the American market.

This is actually the correct speed at which these songs should be heard, as the original Decca release was issued at the wrong speed. Dave was a good friend of mine, as was Mick Brown, who corrected the speed on these recordings.

The B-side is the better of the two tracks, and I remember Dave sitting on a park bench with his acoustic guitar, singing Blue Eyes and Golden Hair, before we went in to record for a TV programme.

Dave eventually walked away from fame to be a father and put his family first. He used to joke with me that his claim to fame was that he got a Decca contract when The Beatles didn’t!

See more of Dave Parker and many other 1960s Cambridge musicians an...

11/09/2026

It’s been a while since I’ve posted!

It’s been a pretty manic summer, with lots of my time taken up supporting an exciting new community project. It’s been busy, but really rewarding, and I’ve loved being involved.

Things have finally slowed down a little, so I’ve got more time to get back to sharing posts again. I’ve really missed sharing memories of Cambridge, and it’s wonderful to be back.

So, what better way to return than with one of my cool finds?

I spotted this little toy Cambus bus and just had to have it. It definitely brings back lots of memories of travelling on Cambus buses over the years. There’s something rather special about finding an old item that instantly takes you back in time and brings those memories flooding back.

Sometimes it’s the little things that bring back the best memories.

18/07/2026

What an amazing evening at The Artyst for our sold out Cambridge 60s Music Scene talk!

It was fantastic to welcome Michael Richardson and his wife Cheryl from the band Forever Amber, along with Rob Parker, whose father, Dave "Dean" Parker, was the lead singer of Dave "Dean" Parker and the Recaps.

A huge thank you to everyone who came along and made the evening so special. We had a wonderful time sharing stories, memories, and chatting with so many of you. Your support and enthusiasm made it a night to remember!

07/07/2026

Twenty years ago today, we lost Syd Barrett, a founding member and the original lead singer of Pink Floyd. Born and raised in Cambridge, Barrett became one of the city's most influential musical figures. He died on 7th July 2006 at the age of 60. An English singer, guitarist and songwriter, he helped shape the sound of psychedelic rock before withdrawing from the music industry and living a largely private life.

29/06/2026

🚨 LAST 5 TICKETS REMAINING! 🚨

Tickets are selling fast, so don't delay, secure your place today before they're gone!

🎸 Relive the Music, Memories & Venues of 1960s Cambridge! 🎶

Join us for a fascinating journey into Cambridge's vibrant 1960s music scene. Discover the local bands, legendary venues, chart-topping acts with Cambridge connections, and the stories behind them.

Featuring rare photographs, recordings, and memories that bring this exciting era back to life.

📍 The Artyst, 54 Chesterton Road, Cambridge CB4 1EN
📅 Saturday 18 July 2026
⏰ 5:00pm
🎟️ £7 per person

Food and drinks available to purchase.

Every ticket helps support Cambridge history projects.

If you love music, nostalgia, and local history, don't miss this unique event!

🎟️ Get your tickets at: www.cambridgehistorian.co.uk/talks

17/06/2026

Continuing our look back at Cambridge’s record shops, today we turn to Andy’s Records.

Andy Gray began selling second hand 45s and vintage 78 rpm records on Felixstowe Pier in 1969. After five years, he acquired a stall on Cambridge Market, which quickly became hugely successful. In 1976, he opened the first Andy’s Records shop on Mill Road, Cambridge. Other shops followed in the years that followed, and Andy’s Records became a well known name for music lovers across the UK.

These photos show the Mill Road shop in 1982, along with a classic Andy’s Records carrier bag.

08/06/2026

Over the last few months, I’ve been working on project ideas in partnership with The Museum of Cambridge’s . One of those projects is a series of short videos showcasing some of the fascinating stories, objects, and exhibits you can discover there. My hope is that these videos will inspire more people to visit and support this incredible local resource.

This is the first in a series of short videos featuring Museum Director Alex Smaridge, who offers a glimpse into the museum and the many fascinating stories, objects, and experiences it has to offer.

To find out more about the Museum of Cambridge, including opening times and visitor information, visit www.museumofcambridge.org.uk.

07/06/2026

Yesterday marked the 51st Strawberry Fair on Midsummer Common.

As we celebrate another year of this much loved event, it's wonderful to look back at Strawberry Fairs gone by. These stills are taken from a film by the late Alan Winfield-Chislett in 1977 and were shared on YouTube by my good friend Mick Brown, who also sadly passed away a few years ago.

The film captures the unique spirit and sense of community that have made Strawberry Fair such a special part of Cambridge life for generations.

You can watch the full film here:
https://youtu.be/q0VoMJvF9gI?si=kSJO85aS0M_FJ9H9