The Home Of Billy Ternent

Dear Mr. Wappat,

Discovering this website was a welcome surprise! I have always known of Billy Ternent since I was a child because my father told me that he was a relative, some sort of Uncle or cousin. Unfortunately my father passed away five years ago so I am unable to find out what the exact connection was but I am curious to know. My father's name was Michael Ternent, he was born in Chorley, Lancashire in 1936. He was the eldest of five children to his mother Olive (who was a hairdresser) and his father John. I know that his father died in WWII from war wound complications. Does any of this ring a bell to you? You seem to have known Billy's family very well.
Any help would be much appreciated. I know that I still have some old vinyl records of Billy Ternent albums!
I'm looking forward to listening to his music very soon!
Many thanks,

Lindsey Ternent

I discovered your website only today - and have been a big band fan since the 1950's.
I'm disappointed that you don't show any lists of musicians who were band members.
I seem to recall David Lindup - who was John Dankworth's arranging partner having told me he was with Billy Ternent. Was that so?
And I wonder if Barbara Jay met Tommy Whittle through that band?
( they're still about - I could ask them.)

I am so happy to have found this site. I am a huge fan of music in general, however Jazz has a special place in my heart. I just have a little stoy to tell about an old lady friend that I have. I was a young girl living in a small town in Ontario Canada. Cornwall to be exact. This nice little old lady walked by my house several times a day with her fiesty little Welsh Corgi named Gwyneth. Everyday, as she passed by my house, I would run out to see her and her personable canine friend. As the years went by, this mysterious lady and I became close, as if she were my own Grandmum. Her name - Eva Howard - nee Eva Beynon! Wow, I thought - there is way more to learn about this lady than she is letting on. I had heard that she sang in an orchestra and at one time, she was in the opening act for
Frank Sinatra. Out of all the places in the world she has travelled, she has chosen to live in my hometown. I am glad we are friends and perhaps I will uncover some more mysteries about the once famous Eva Beynon.

My grandfather, whom I never knew, worked with Billy from 1939 onwards I believe. Currently I am researching his life and would be grateful for any information you might have. My understanding is that he was Deputy Conductor, or at least he certailnly was when Stanley Black took over. He played violin and trombone,arranged and conducted. Prior to joining the BBC Dance Orchestra he was with Debroy Somers.

My mother is still alive and remembers much of her fathers life but we have precious little professional detail. Can you help? Lorayne

Hi Lorayne
Sadly, Frank Wappat the society founder has suffered a stroke so we are unable to obtain any information from him, however, if its ok with you, we'll post your email on the Billy Ternent Fan site and hopefully people who knew, worked with and were fans of Billy's band will have some information about your grandfather - let me know if you want me to do this.
Regards Susan

I am sorry to hear that news. please DO post my email on the fan site. I would be very grateful.

Where will you post the email? Is there a section for communication which I have not found?
Hope all is well with Frank Wappat.
Lorayne

Hello Mr. Wappat,
I was with a good friend of mine Michael Leader..( Father Harry Leader ) We work together on the bbc soap East Enders and are always chatting about the good days of real music and talent plus exchanging stories..I came up with one and he said go internet and do some searching here goes..Back in 1969/70 I was travelling back from Australia after a 4 years emigration period taking a 3 month cruise heading home to uk. On board naturally you make many friends one was a family of 4, although I was at this time only a musician eg Accordion Player although I always yearned to sing, something that I manage to fullfill from 1972 to this day. During this trip I met a wonderful guy who introduced himself as Denny Peters but I am not sure perhaps his real name was Denis Pester, He like me emigrated to Aus with his family and loved it but his wife always wanted to return home. During our friendship onboard he said that he was a singer and when in UK sang with the Billy Ternant Orchestra, I have always remembered this meeting as being very interested in music, I remember the orcheatra. Well I felt very honoured to have met him and his family. Now of course I have no way of confirming whether or not all this is true but have no reason what so ever to dis-believe it. I guess perhaps by now he may have died as it has been close to 40 years ago and I am no chicken anymore. l would be really gratefull if you can help with any info about what I am asking as I still have a number of photos and movie of us all together and you never know his two children would be more than happy to see them.
I enclose my web site details for you to check me out, please ignore the email address this has changed.
Many Thanks for your time.
Regards
Roger Layton

Hello Roger
Please accept our aplogies for the delay in replying - sadly Frank has been in hospital for a couple of months, and whilst he is home, he has a steady stream of nurses tending to his every need and it may be some time (if ever) he will be able to return to work.
Having said that he has a lot of research and papers which he inherited from Billy Ternent's wife (and was indeed a close friend of Billys' - I have gone through some of his research and can find no reference to your friend, but I have since spoken to Jo Marney who sang with Billy's band and she has agreed to check this out for you - She'll keep digging and if we come up with anything we'll let you know.
Regards
Susan Wappat

Many Thanks Susan,
Sorry to hear Frank has been unwell I wish him a speedy recovery. Re the info I asked about, who knows whether the names I gave were slightly off. However I do remember the name Billy Ternent and as I always had the ambition to sing was very much into listening to records in my younger day, then to meet this person who l assume sang with Billy was nice for me. I dig out occassionally photos of Denny or Denis and have him with his family on them, so after many years and now myself fulfilling the ambition to sing profeesionally for many years felt how nice it would be to see where he , his wife and children might be today. Anyway again Thank You for you time in replying and who knows news of something or somewhere they may be will crop up one day.

Kindest Regards

Roger ( Layton )

How about sending us a picture of him and we can post it on the Billy Ternent Fan site and I'm sure someone will have some information.
Let me know if you want to do this.
Regards
Susan

Good Idea...I will do it at the w/end as I am Filming a TV programme tomorrow. Thanks for that thought ..
Roger

Not a problem - Colin will be uploading some new stuff to the site next week, so it will give us a chance to drop an email to members and hopefully get some information.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Susan

Hello Susan
Well are the photo's I promised, it would be great if some light can be shone on them..As I did say for what ever
reason, I can still remember the name of Denny Peters/Denis Pester or maybe even Denny Pester. but it still is in my mind for the first one Denny Peters and specially the name Billy Ternants Orchestra.
How strange certain things stick in your mind. Anyway it was the very last trip on board the Shaw Savill Line " NORTHERN STAR " before they broke her up and the year I'm pretty sure of was 1968/69 or 1969/70 as we had Christmas and the New Year on board.
Good Luck Susan, I shall be forever gratefull should we get some success out of it.
Best Wishes Roger


Shoes being cleaned I think Lisbon


Can't remember pity about the sign not coming out


The children in fancy dress parade


The children on a beach, sorry can't remember


Party time on board


Enjoying drinks together

I am studying my family tree and recently visited my aunt in Dumfries. She was kind enough to lend me a number of family photos one of which is of Billy Ternent and his band (it is different to the ones on your website). On it is written: To my friend H Gray with best wishes Billy Ternent. I understood that my grandad Henry Gray sold Billy his first motor car in the 1920s. My grandad lives in N Shields and was a partner of Gray Brothers motor traders on the Tynemouth Rd. If you would like a pdf of the photo I'd be glad to send it to you.
Best wishes
David Gray (Guildford, Surrey)

Hello David
That would be great - would it be ok to display on the webiste with the info you have about buying the car?
Regrads
Colin Emerson

Hi Colin
No problem about the car story - in fact the car is likely to have been am American cadillac because that is what Gray Bros specialised in. Will send you the photo in a couple of weeks. Am in S Africa at the moment, watching the World Cup.
Cheers
David

Dear Colin
Sorry for the delay in replying - I've been travelling quite a lot. Hope the photo is clear enough for your web site. Have added advert for Gray Bros garage and possible the kind of car Billy might have purchased from my grandad, Henry Gray.
Best wishes
David Gray

Hello Frank/Susan

I have volume: 1,2 & 3.

Now these give the B.P.M
Also the information on the jacket tells me if it is: A waltz, Foxtrot, Rumba etc, etc.

Does any other of your albums provide this information?

I would be using them for Ballroom Dancing.

Please advise.

Most kind regards

Thomas

hello, can you give me any info on the above teddy Higham who was a drummer in Billy's band,i believe ha passed away in june 1943. any help would be most appreciated.kindest Regards Brian Higham.

I knew John Powell, when he used to come over to our shop "Rex Radio" every Thursday for a few years. His visits were to use our 1/4" tape recorders and cassette machines for transfering John's copies of recordings of Billy Ternent Radio Broadscasts from 1/4 tape and also to make audio cassette copies as well. I had not heard from John for many years. I just wondered what had happened to him. I met Billy when John brought Billy over to our shop to purchase a Bang and Olufsen television receiver in 1974. We were the very first shop in the world to sell exclusively the Bang and Olusfsen TV and HiFi equipment from 1971, and were the first shop to be presented with the Bang & Olufsen Dealer of the Year for 1973/74 award. It was through Bang and Olufsen that we were introduced to John for servicing his Bang and Olufsen Tape Recorder. John then purchased TV and HiFi equipment from us.
During John's many visits he would go through some of the musical scores an edit them where required.
Well that is all for now
Best wishes from Russell Medcraft

Hello
I understand Pat O'Regan sang with the Billy Ternent Band. Can you please tell me if he made any recordings with the band? Any details would be appreciated
Thank you
Cheers,
Mick.