Surrey wrinkly rockers 'still swinging at 70'

Mar 31 2010 By Tammy Hughes

Wonder Years poster

A PENSIONER rock band has dreams of performing at Glastonbury after landing their biggest gig yet at Guilfest this summer.

Conductor David Thomas who retired on Tuesday from Runnymede Borough Council set up the band called the Wonder Years two years ago. It includes a choir of around 30 who are supported by a five piece rock band.

Mr Thomas, 60, who lives in Harpesford Avenue, Virginia Water, with his wife Pam, said: “The average age is 70 and our oldest member is 86. We sing rock, punk, and contemporary pop, songs like Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol and Fix You by Cold Play.

“We also do a lot of Rolling Stones songs and we do The Beatles as well.”

The wrinkly rockers who are still swinging at 70 have had previous gigs at small scale functions but now they are looking forward to their first high profile performance at Guilfest a music festival in Guildford in July that attracts thousands of visitors.

However it seems the silver singers have their sights set even higher than this.

Mr Thomas said: “It would be great to perform at Glastonbury, we would very much like to perform there...it would feel amazing.”

Mr Thomas set up the group in 2008 after watching a TV programme about an American group who had set up a band, he said: “I was inspired by a Channel 4 programme about a group of Americans called Young at Heart, I found it so inspiring that I wanted to see if there was any interest for a similar thing over here.

“Now we are at full capacity, we've had to close the women's waiting list because there are six women on it and no sign of anyone leaving...too many people want to join.

“When we started the group I decided to call it the Wonderyears because I thought that name explained the spirit of what we were trying to do. When people get to a certain age...these are the wonder years.”

Now that Mr Thomas has retired from his work as Runnymede's Personal Manager after over three decades of service he intends to spend a lot more time working on The Wonderyears.

He said: “I've been at the council 31 years and I've had a brilliant career but it is time for a change and I am looking forward to spending more time with the band.”