A singer and musician from Canada has told of his teenage memories as a performer at the legendary Batley Variety Club.

Kevin Erwin, 58, played with Irish band The Young Fontana – billed as the UK’s answer to the Osmonds – in the 1970s and has never forgotten his welcome in West Yorkshire.

The Young Fontana were all under 16 when they were signed by record company Decca.

The five teenagers from Ballymena, Co Antrim, later went on to perform at Batley Variety Club with some of the biggest names in showbiz.

For 15 years The Young Fontana played across Britain but Kevin said Batley would always have a special place in his heart.

The teenagers were on the bill with the likes of Lulu, Dusty Springfield, the Hollies and the Grumbleweeds.

Divorced dad-of-two Kevin, who moved to Canada 32 years ago, still plays keyboard, bass and guitar.

Writing to the Examiner from Canada, Kevin told how the Fontanas played Batley as many as 10 times in the 1970s. He would have been about 14 at the time.

Kevin said club boss James Corrigan and his wife Betty treated them like princes, taking them out for meals in his Rolls Royce.

“While we were allowed to play the club we weren’t allowed to hang out there so we would have to sit in James’ office,” said Kevin. “I remember there was a drop down stage and the steak sandwich they made was to die for.

“James and Betty loved us as if we were their own and took us out in their Rolls all the time. We would go to their house and swim in the pool. It had Betty’s name on the bottom!

“We were only kids and we were hanging out with Lulu in her dressing room. It was unbelievable.

“We stayed in a bed and breakfast in Batley and James and Betty took us for meals at the Beefeater restaurant which wasn’t far away.”

James also used his contacts at Yorkshire Television to land the Fontanas spots on Stars on Sunday with Raymond Burr and Petula Clark. They also did Junior Showtime.

Kevin said the group won a talent contest in 1969 and were spotted by an agent from London.

“He took us to London and we were with him for years,” said Kevin. “We were known as England’s answer to the Osmonds.

“We were set to break into the States but the week before our agent was killed on the M1.”

Later the group was booked to appear for a six-week run at The Blarney Stone, an Irish club in Vancouver.

Kevin decided to stay and now lives in Edmonton, Alberta.

The original band members were Colm and Larry McLean, Derek McPeak, Rod McAuley and Kevin. Derek has since passed away.

“I don’t play much anymore,” said Kevin. “My health isn’t so good but I will do the odd festival and I have a little studio in my basement I mess around with.”

The group’s fan club was founded in Caerphilly, South Wales, in 1974 and a planned 40th anniversary reunion planned for last October had to be called off as Kevin and Larry were unwell.

Fan club secretary Jan Abbott is archiving pictures and material and runs a Facebook group The Young Fontana Fan Club 40 Year Reunion.

Jan said: “The slogan for the reunion which never happened was to be ‘in our memories for 40 years, in our hearts forever’ and that is so true.

“They were the first Irish boy band and oh so talented playing their own instruments and headlining at the biggest clubs in the country as young teenagers.

“They would take to the stage and you would expect cute children. Then they would open their mouths and out would come these incredible harmonies that sent shivers down the spine.”