Led by Gina Way of The Eel Pie Club, along with co-organisers Linda Birch of The Church Street Association and Lauri Riviera of A Taste of Twickenham - Twickenham 60’s Day was terrific! These amazing ladies deserve every accolade for making this day so memorable. With local sponsors Fran Sturla of FSG Estate Agents, as well as The Fox, The Barmy Arms and The Eel Pie Pubs providing the food and live music, the whole of the quintessentially charming Church Street including its restaurants and shops, became the vibrant epicentre for this special Summer day!

The local church, the police, security, shop and stall traders, local residents, sound and stage technicians, bands, good-humoured bar tenders, restauranteurs, go go dancers and very crucially the crowds, all made this 60’s day the best of British Summertime 2026! Indeed, the local community and visitors all had their mojo’s working in overdrive to enjoy themselves, as there was really something for everyone.

With Church Street full of colour, vintage retro stalls and cars, I also loved the small KS Music Stage at the front, showcasing young teenage talent. Tables of diners and drinkers lined outside The Fox, as well as The Eel Pie Pub with its DJ and later live music sets. However, the Church Street car park was the Main Stage area, deliciously complemented by food stalls for German sausage, Indian food and crepe lovers like myself, not forgetting a very inviting outside beer tap being right next to the stage. Indeed, here you could stand or sit in your own seat and sample the music, as well as having a great time.

Wandering outside of the car park there were even more visual delights. A mini Jazz area awaited en route, with lots more stalls, as well as the wonderful retro Vespas parked up by the River Thames. The roots High Vibrations Stage on the terrace of the overlooking Barmy Arms, saw some excellent Folk, Blues and acoustic musicians, as well as more sound decks, outdoor beer, drink and food. Given its sunny setting, vibrant flowers and a proper party atmosphere, Gina and her Twickenham troops had indeed triumphed here!

Larger and more ambitious in scale than last year, the whole day was exhilarating and exhausting fun in the glorious sunshine. For the locals and for their families, friends, from near and far, food lovers, music goers and all who contributed, everyone had the best time. Although, quite frankly, it was impossible to cover all three stages due to the day’s crowd logistics, so please excuse me if I didn’t mention or did not photograph you all!

Indeed, my mission was the Eel Pie Club Main Stage which so delivered, as The Forty Fours opened, followed by The fresh and fab Hornets (think The Zac Schulze Gang with that special effervescence) who struck my sweet spot. MC’d by Warren Walters, next up were The Carnaby Army whose verve and energy enchanted the crowd. The Alix Anthony Band also scored with his fine Hendrix Rock infused set, before The Eel Pie All Stars closed proceedings with Alan Glen on harmonica, Dzal Martin and Tim Hain on guitars, Peter Miles on drums, plus Keith Grant on bass and vocals. Delighting the multigenerational crowds, their special guest vocalists included Rock star Peter French, local powerhouse Belinda Campbell and seasoned Blues and Soul man Paul Cox.

With local prizes generously donated, that no doubt pleased the winners, it was then time for the local living legend Bruce Welch of The Shadows to draw the raffle with warmth and wit, alongside Gina Way.

From the age defying dancing Fluff, to real-time Chelsea and Fulham socialite Eva Harold, to the Crawdaddy Club ‘s matriarch Julie Lewis, to Geoff Garbow somewhere in the crowd, Dave Stark from my neck of the woods, Dennis Dulhaney, celebrity trainer and his gal, to John Fiddler, James Hallawell, Sue Black and all the other musicians, young and old, the Mods, vintage car heads, fabulously dressed ladies and gents in 60’s attire, the cool t-shirted blokes , the groups that I met, the kids in Church Street Church dancing, I salute you all! Twickenham 60’s Day 2026 you were the tops!

Review, photos and video: Denise Lester