On this day 28th June 1976, actor Stanley Baker passed away aged 48 from cancer
Best known and best loved as Lieutenant Chard in the film Zulu, Baker not only starred in the film but was the main driving force behind the creation of the film by raising the £3 million required.
Born 28th February 1928 at Ferndale, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Baker, apart from his obvious acting talent, formed 'Great Western Enterprises', which was involved in a number of projects in the entertainment field, notably music concerts.
Unfortunately, his commercial foray into pop music festivals was financially disastrous, with the Great Western Bardney Pop Festival in Lincoln ending up losing £200,000.
When Baker and his partners heard the Rolling Stones were touring Europe in 1973 and had dates available in September, concerts were hastily arranged for Cardiff Castle and Pembroke Castle. Sadly, to the disappointment of fans across Wales, neither of the events took place.
Pembrokeshire music journalist BB Skone, who was 24 at the time, said that unfortunately, due to council restrictions, as well as a problem arising from poor timing and assumptions on the part of organisers, they were forced to cancel the much anticipated concerts.
“They weren’t as well organised as the Rolling Stones tour management and they left it all too late to get the necessary consent.”
“What seems to have happened was the clerk (Pembroke) at the time gave them the nod and said that it would probably be okay but that it had to go to full council.” However, he went on to say that the council meeting saw a mixture of hysteria against the Rolling Stones and health and safety concerns.
A poster for the cancelled event almost 47 years ago is a much sought after piece of rock memorabilia.
