I was recently saddened to learn about the passing of two local musical legends, Tich Amey and Robin Gair.

Tich Amey was born and bred in Salisbury and as lead guitarist with Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky Mick and Tich, he enjoyed a succession of hit singles in the 1960s.

These included the chart-topper, ‘The Legend of Xanadu’ in which Tich played the fantastic Spanish guitar introduction with Dave Dee wielding a whip in close proximity!

My own introduction to Tich and Robin Gair was at the Duck at Laverstock in the 1970s where a band called Amey-Gair-Mason were performing. I had never experienced anything quite like it before as Robin remembered: “It was probably the happiest live performances I ever did. To sustain something week-in-week-out was quite incredible and the audience just seemed to grow – it didn’t diminish at all. Sometimes it was just unreal, you literally couldn’t get in the door - it was shoulder-to-shoulder stuff.”

SEE ALSO: Ian Amey of Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich fame dies aged 79

Robin went on to form the Southern School of Popular Singing, En Masse and two academies in Salisbury and Southampton.

By his own admission, Tich had become a much better guitarist by the 1970s and his love of American bands like the Eagles and the Doobie Brothers had influenced his style of playing. But Tich never forgot his Salisbury roots and he seemed to have time for anyone who wanted to stop and talk about the old days.

Reminiscing about the chart-topping days Tich told me: “We had some hit records which was the icing on the cake. I don’t think anyone got big-headed about it. I think you’ll find most people locally would say they still had a high regard for us and us for them – we just used to get on as mates.”

We thank them both for all the pleasure they gave us.