Celebrity Gatecrasher, by David Metcalf (Bank House Books, £9.99) The Fifties and Sixties were the musical years of Dave Metcalf’s youth, and his debut book, Celebrity Gatecrasher, pays tribute to his idols from that period.

They include the performers he was fortunate to meet through his role as stage manager of former Manningham club Penningtons.

Dave, who grew up in West Bowling, proudly admits to gatecrashing parties “in the nicest possible way”. In his book he describes the military-style procedure – he left the Army after nine months after realising it wasn’t the life for him – that he adopted to secure meetings with his music idols.

He clearly took something away from his Army training, planning his manoeuvres with precision.

Black and white images of Dave with the many performers who took to the stage at Penningtons adorn the pages of Celebrity Gatecrasher.

It is like a ‘Who’s Who’ of the big names that came to Bradford in the Fifties and Sixties. There are images showing Dave shaking hands with Chuck Berry; arm-in-arm with Peter Noone, of Herman’s Hermits fame, and with Marty Wilde.

Meeting and greeting the stars and attending to their every need – he recalls scouring Bradford for a soda syphon for Gerry Marsden – was part of Dave’s role, which was one he clearly relished.

He writes fondly about his pal, the rock ’n’ roll pianist Dave Lee; of veteran Bradford rock band Smokie and the many other stars he had the pleasure of meeting, such as David Essex, Jerry Lee Lewis and Smokey Robinson.

Dave met the Motown legend when he appeared at St George’s Hall. He recalls waiting on Drake Street for the American star to arrive, as he did, in his limousine with blacked-out windows.

“When he got out of the car and went into the hall I collared his manager, telling him I had a copy of Smokey’s recently-published autobiography that I would like him to sign – and maybe have a picture taken with him,” recalls Dave.

“His manager was very pleasant and suggested I leave the auditorium just before the last number and move round to the wings where he would meet me. And, sure enough, when Smokey came off stage, I was led into his dressing room to get my book signed and for a picture.

“We had a wonderful chat, so much so that Smokey told his manager to tell any waiting fans that he wouldn’t be seeing anyone else.”

A Beatles fan, Dave also entertains readers with his vivid recollection of tracking down the original Beatles drummer Pete Best, and of dressing in a costume based on the Sgt Pepper album cover to see Paul McCartney perform at Liverpool’s Albert Dock.

And he recalls tracking down Sir Paul’s home in London when he went to see him perform at Wembley.

Dave’s book is a wonderful read, particularly for those familiar with the music of that era.

It is available from bankhousebooks.

com.