Roaring Jelly

Clive met Derek Pearce in 1970 at Nottingham Art College, which was about to be swallowed up by Trent Polytechnic (now Nottingham Trent University). The college then had a thriving folk club, packed to the rafters every week. Clive and Derek were regular solo performers but got on well and soon teamed up as a duo, to good response. They specialised in lively instrumentals, music hall songs and anything else they fancied (Me And My Teddy Bear was a favourite!). The college also ran regular talent contests which Derek had won several times. The duo entered – and won. Money. Something like seven quid each. In those days seven pounds would feed a student for at least a fortnight. So they entered again, and won again. Good game! To cut a long story short, they won the talent contest so often they got banned by the social sec, but in the same conversation he sweetened the pill by offering them a paid gig. “What are you going to call yourselves?” he asked. Derek replied off the top of his head “Roaring Jelly” – the title of the Irish jig he was currently learning to play. “Good name,” thought Clive. So Roaring Jelly it was. For that first paid gig in 71 Derek suggested drafting in a mate of his, Mick Hennessy. He sang and played bass with Derby folk band The Druids, who had a strong following and a record contract with Argo (folk subsidiary of major label Decca!). Derek had played a bit with them and guested on one of their albums. The expansion to a trio was intended as a temporary arrangement, a one-off for that first gig. The line-up lasted for 16 years and an estimated 1500 gigs.