What does Oxford have that makes it attract the great pop acts of four decades ago to the New Theatre year after year? Last week, on its 24th annual veterans’ outing, the Solid Silver ’60s Show swung through town and the audience had a great time.

Frank Allen of The Searchers said: “We always get a warm feeling when we come to Oxford.” I could swear he meant it. He’s not quite an original band member – only joining in 1964 – but the great John McNally was in at the start in 1960 and still makes those wonderful jangling sounds with his Rickenbacker guitar. They closed the show with a splendid version of Rockin’ All Over The World.

The evening opened with The Dakotas, none of whom were in the original group backing Billy J. Kramer. Then came Wayne Fontana – the only person on the night to look his age (and why not?). He did a few annoying old-man jokes, but showed he still has a strong voice, with his hits The Game of Love and Pamela, Pamela – then traded naughtily off the huge success A Groovy Kind of Love, made by The Mindbenders after he had departed.

There are, thankfully, two original Merseybeats left, Tony Crane and Billy Kinsley, and they powered through a very professional set, playing as well as their own hits a really excellent version of Live And Let Die (with all associated effects present).

If Fontana was the wackiest artist on show, the one with most genuine star presence was John Walker, of The Walker Brothers (none of them either brothers or Walkers!). These days, he looks like an angular university professor, and his speaking voice is uncannily Clint Eastwood. After a quavery start, he launched marvellously into those ballads: Make It Easy On Yourself, My Ship Is Coming In and, of course, The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore. He also plays a mean guitar and did a storming Unchain My Heart.

Then, The Searchers. The first single my wife bought was Sweets For My Sweet, and my son was, amazingly, once on stage with them (briefly). They are timeless and a special remin