From Margaret Venn (nee Fylan, known as Tink), Lower Kingswood, Surrey:

I very much enjoyed John Hannam's article on the Cherokees recently.

I grew up in Bembridge but moved to Surrey in 1960.

I have very happy memories of Saturday nights ‘tottering along Ryde Pier in high heels hoping not to get the heels trapped in the gaps between the boards.

Read more: John Hannam's tribute to The Cherokees

It is hard to imagine now there was a dance hall at the end of the pier. The Cherokees were great. I think all the girls were in love with Brian, including me...from a distance I must add.

These were the happy carefree days of our youth.

I still have links with the Island as my son and family live in Bembridge and my life-long friend of 76 years and her family live in St Helens, so I make several visits ‘ back home’.

A message to Brian if he reads this letter, I still have a photograph of him in his ATC uniform with five of his friends.

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