A COUPLE came to Bournemouth in 1974 on the recommendation of three lads they met at a Dorset holiday camp.

And Dave and Janice Stocker must have liked it for they have come back every year since!

It was back in the late 1960s, when the couple were staying at the Pontins holiday camp at Osmington Bay, that they met up with the resident trio, The Conrads.

The Conrads were made up of Chris Conrad, Pete Hornby and John Perry who were all Bournemouth boys and they highly recommended their home town to David and his wife as a place to go for a holiday.

Dave and his wife Janice, who live in Brookfields Avenue, Mitcham, Surrey, took up the recommendation a few years later and have never looked back.

Dave wrote to Snapshots to say that Boscombe had seen many changes over the years but hotels, such as the Chine, retained their old-world charm.

"The photographic gallery of stars who have stayed there is a joy to behold," he said.

"The climate in Bournemouth must be at the top for the whole of the UK. We've come here for the first two weeks in August for the past 33 years and have had only one year of bad weather, 1977.

"The award winning beaches speak for themselves with the fastest deckchair attendants around - your bum only has to hover over a seat and they're next to you, ticket in hand!

"Car parking is a problem, as it is everywhere, but the reduction of the car park on Boscombe's sea front by some two thirds doesn't help matters. However, Bournemouth does operate one of the best and most reliable bus services.

"As for our recommendees', the Conrads, Chris still entertains and runs a successful entertainment agency and Pete continues the comedy under the guise of Justin Tyme.

John emigated down under' in 1972 but he recently flew back for a week or two.

"The three were reunited to talk about the old days' and old hairstyles!

"So, to Chris, Pete and John, thank you for your commendation all those years ago and to Bournemouth our gratitude for 33 years (and more to come) of being entertained by you."

And, just to jog the memory, Chris says the Conrads were the resident act at the Collegiate Club which they opened in the late 60s.

The club was renamed Winstons where they continued to appear along with performers such as Jimmy Tarbuck and Freddie Starr. They then went to Pontins and later on cruises, the last one being the Franconia Bermuda to New York after which John emigrated to Australia and another drummer joined them, Paul Stanfield.

They later became resident at the Neptune Bar on Boscombe seafront.