In addition to being an organist, Morgan Borthwick was an arranger and copyist and he was Secretary of Musicians’ Union Rhyl Branch 1954-57 and of North Wales Coast Branch 1971-2004.In the 1960s, Morgan’s band ‘The Rhythmaires’ featured his wife Shirley and included drummer Malcolm Jones from the group ‘The Dolphins’. (Malcolm became best known for creative writing; he passed away in July 2009.) ‘The Rhythmaires’ packed up at the end of the ‘60s.
Morgan and Shirley stayed busy and played frequently at Rhyl venues such as Derbyshire Miners’ Welfare Holiday Centre, Marsh Road, and the Labour Club in Bodfor Street. A snapshot above, taken in 1976 at the Labour Club shows, left to right: Morgan, Colin Smith (bass guitar), Shirley, Ken Pegg (drums).
In a long career, Morgan and Shirley played at all kinds of venues across North Wales and beyond, including seasons in Malta where Shirley had family connections. The couple retired in 2007, and the photo taken a week or two ago by Yours Truly shows them relaxing at their home in Rhyl with part of Shirley’s collection of soft toys which runs the gamut from Paddington to Meerkat.
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FRI 17th APR 2015 UPDATE: I regret to note here that Shirley passed away in July 2011.
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