MEET the musical car makers. The Happy Wanderers Harmonica Band delighted audiences on many occasions in the 1970s.

Most of the musicians worked in the trim shop at British Leyland’s car body plant in Cowley, Oxford. The band was formed after one worker, obviously feeling pleased with life, burst into song.

Some of his mates put down their sandwiches and joined in and before long, a sing-song became a regular feature of trim shop lunch breaks.

One night, one of the group, Ted Walton, searched his home and found an old ukelele banjo and three mouth organs. Next day, when the hooter went, Bill Sherlock grabbed the banjo and Charlie Aspinell, Stan Goodson and Jim Powell picked up the mouth organs.

Ted supplied the vocals and soon the trim shop was resounding to the soundof music every lunch hour.

Before the week was out, three ladies – Jackie Sillence, Ella Walker and Valerie Ward – had joined the ranks and soon afterwards, three more signed up – Maurice Bradbury, Charlie Roberts and Les Jennings.

The reaction of their non-musical colleagues was predictable – “When are you going on the telly?” and “When are going to reach the top of the hit parade?”

Much to everyone‘s surprise, the Happy Wanderers were no flash in the pan. They went from strength to strength.

After weeks of lunchtime practice, they felt confident enough to start giving public performances – and they were much in demand.

Bill Sherlock, who became the group’s manager, said at the time: “We started in a modest way giving little shows for old age pensioners, but it was amazing how quickly word got round.“ Before long, they were giving two or three shows a week. Everywhere they went, they received a rousing reception and invariably, an invitation to return.

Any memories of the Happy Wanderers? Where are they now?