Each time these 60s music tours come through, there’s one individual who catches the eye. Earlier this year, it was Ray Ennis, the remaining Swinging Blue Jean; in 2009 it was John Walker of the Walker Brothers. Last Wednesday, it was . . . the one I least expected.

There were four acts on show. In Juke Box Jury style: HIT — The Searchers. Entrancing the audience immediately with Sweets For My Sweet and Mr. Tambourine Man, the two main group members (John McNally and Frank Allen) had a whale of a time – McNally is 69, but you’d never guess it and his magisterial Rickenbacker playing is a soundtrack to the Sixties. For 25 years, their lead singer has been Spencer James, extraordinarily able.

MISS — P. J. Proby. He’ll be 72 in November and was an iconic performer for six months in that decade. Resplendent in white suit and with a mane of white hair, there remains still a trace of that extraordinary voice that gave us Somewhere and Hold Me, but he occasionally forgot his words and is better in the remembering.

I really wanted to give Gerry Marsden (two days off his 68th birthday) a full HIT. The “cheeky chappy” persona grated a little — and he must drop an off-colour Afghanistan joke for the rest of the tour. But his voice is still recognisable and strong. Don’t Let The Sun Catch You Crying is beautifully wrought and the best song he wrote. Of course he had us all standing and swaying for . . . guess what?

And so to the palpable HIT: Chip Hawkes, who joined The Tremeloes just as Brian Poole departed in 1966. He opened proceedings and was very good indeed.

Sharp looking, strong-voiced and with an affable stage presence, he is an authoritative performer. I had forgotten one of the hits he wrote, (Call Me) Number One, but no one even half interested in 60s pop could forget Silence Is Golden, and Hawkes did not disappoint.