MAGIC ROUNDABOUT

Mic Rafferty, Rod Millgate and Kenny Allen - many years later and still young at heart. A reunion for Magic Roundabout members January, 2009 which was covered by Hartlepool Mail as part of their "Together Again" series on Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009. Photograph © Stan Laundon.

When The Toffees finally disbanded in mid-1967, the band members went on to other endeavours before inevitably coming together again in 1969 to determine their future plans. It wasn't too long before Magic Roundabout was born, and this is how they initially began performing together - just the three of them. This photograph, along with the many studio portraits on this page, and those on Seaton Carew beach, were taken by Harry Harland, a notable Hartlepool photographer and musician himself (harmonica player) and shows Kenny Allen, Robin O'Carroll and Mic Rafferty.

Kenny, Mic and Robin on Seaton Carew beach in 1969 - maybe the boys are indicating an SOS message here? Kenny appears to be letting everyone know how he sees things!

At last it appears the boys are getting down to business and performing new material. Or maybe they are huddling together for warmth? Cigarettes too!

Mic Rafferty, Kenny Allen and Robin O'Carroll nicely dressed for this studio portrait.

Another portrait taken in a Hartlepool studio late 1969 with Mic, Kenny and Robin.

A very casual look this time with another studio portrait from 1969.

This portrait of Mic Rafferty, Anna Sabré, Kenny Allen and Robin O'Carroll was taken in early 1970.

Kenny Allen, Robin O'Carroll, Mic Rafferty and Anna Sabré - the final photograph from the excellent work by Harry Harland.

Two studio portraits of Robin O'Carroll, guitarist and vocalist, taken at Hartlepool studio late in 1969.

Two more studio portraits - this time of Kenny Allen and Mic Rafferty.

This page is dedicated to Kenny Allen, Anne Buckwell (Anna Sabré), Harry Harland and Mic Rafferty always remembered and sadly missed. Kenny Allen passed away suddenly from suspected heart and medical complications on March 23rd, 2014 aged 68. Mic Rafferty lost his battle with cancer on December 8th, 2012 aged 65. Former Hartlepool Mail photographer, Harry Harland, passed away on December 21st, 2016.

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Magic Roundabout

When The Toffees finally disbanded in mid-1967, the band members went on to other endeavours before inevitably coming together again in 1969 to determine their future plans. It wasn't too long before Magic Roundabout was born, and this is how they initially began performing together - just three of them - Kenny Allen, Robin O'Carroll and Mic Rafferty.

Robin, Anna, Mic and Kenny in another studio portrait.

This article appeared in the Hartlepool Mail and shows Magic Roundabout with Rod Millgate - an organ player from Stockton who took over when Robin O'Carroll left the band. Rod also toured Germany with the show. In the centre is Anne (Anna Sabré) and directly behind her, and above, is Kenny Allen sporting a smart beard. The band's drummer Mic Rafferty is on the right. The photograph, as the slightly torn caption indicates, was taken at Hartlepool Odeon. Mic recalls that the band played there a few times on Saturday mornings and he tells us that the young gentleman to the bottom left of the photograph, and the guy between Anne and him, are her two boys. Hartlepool Mail ran this story again in their Memory Lane feature on October 9th, 2006. Rod Millgate is the only member still involved with the music business and now lives in France.

This photograph of drummer Mic Rafferty only came to light during April, 2013. Former Hartlepool Mail photographer, Harry Harland, who took many of the portraits of the band on this page, discovered it recently and offered it to me to be included on this page. Robin O'Carroll says: Those glasses actually belonged to me but Mic wanted a John Lennon look".

A selection of photographs showing Mic Rafferty, Mark Lewis, Robin O'Carroll and Kenny Allen in sunny Seaton Carew. They were taken about two years after  The Toffees disbanded for the final time with Kenny and Mark subsequently joining the Tony King Sound at the Rink. They all came together again in 1969 to discuss the new venture that was to be Magic Roundabout. The photograph of Robin on his own shows him with his proud 1969 Fender Stratocaster guitar - taken, of course, in 1969.

A couple of press cuttings from the Northern Echo, in December 15th, 1969 and from one of the group's many visits to Scotland in May, 1970.

Advertisement card for weekly shows. Part of a tour taken by Magic Roundabout in Scotland in March/May 1970. Home base was Elgin, in Morayshire, from where the group performed at various venues including this one at the Victoria Hotel in Forres.

Thanks to Robin O'Carroll for his contribution to this page and sharing his collection of photos and memorabilia.

All photographs on this page are copyright © to their respective owners and must not be used, or copied, in anyway without prior written permission.

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