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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 the three of them. This photograph, like many portraits on this page, was taken at a local Hartlepool photographic studio, and shows Kenny Allen, Robin O'Carroll and Mic Rafferty.

Kenny, Mic and Robin at Seaton 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!

Two portraits taken in a Hartlepool studio late 1969 with Mic, Kenny and Robin.

Robin O'Carroll guitar and vocalist. Portrait taken at Hartlepool studio late in 1969

Kenny Allen, bass guitar and vocals, with drummer Mic Rafferty

Kenny Allen, Robin O'Carroll, Mic Rafferty and Anna Sabré.

 This portrait was taken in early 1970.

Mark Lewis, Robin O'Carroll and Kenny Allen in sunny Seaton Carew. It was 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.

Sunny Seaton Carew in mid 1969 with Mic, Kenny and Mark -above left - with Mark Lewis, organ; Kenny Allen, bass guitar and vocals and Mic Rafferty the drummer on the right.

Mic Rafferty, Robin O'Carroll and Kenny Allen with Robin O'Carroll with his 1969 Fender Stratocaster guitar - taken, of course, in 1969.

Another studio portrait of Robin O'Carroll taken in 1969

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 Ann and him, are Ann's 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 plays with the Steel River Blues Band who are based on Teesside.

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.

Northern Echo, December 15, 1969                Another trip to Scotland - May 1970

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