Wallis, Noel – Bricklayer built his life on music

Noel Frederick Wallis (1931-2017)

Noel Frederick Wallis spent his early years in Queen Street and was a pupil at Spittlegate School.

He became an apprentice bricklayer at Fosters, becoming a master builder and later a civilian instructor in HM Prisons.

He enjoyed singing and was a vocalist in the early 1950s before moving into management with local group The Pontiacs.

When Roy Taylor (Vince Eager) moved to London and was signed up by Larry Parnes Agency, Noel was invited to join the organisation as road manager.

There he looked after the likes of Vince, Tommy Steele, Billy Fury, Marty Wilde and Joe Brown.

He became a close friend of Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent and the pair came to Grantham on private visits on several occasions.

He married Christina in 1963, whom he had met three years earlier at the Nottingham Palais.

In later years he organised many rock ‘n’ roll shows at both Grantham College refectory, the early Party in the Park events and for the Mayor’s annual gala at the Guildhall.