From Hawick
Founded by Bob Fish. Jimmy Shepherd and Roy Cairns in 1960. I Bob played in a skiffle group called "The Bluestreaks" but with the advent of "Shadows" type groups coming to the fore, Bob decided to strike out on his own and form a group playing more R'N'R style utilising electric bass guitar, instead of skiffle T/chest type bass. Bob was a member of Trinity Church youth club, which met every Sat. night in Trinity Church hall conveniently across the road from his house in Hawick. It was there he met Jim and RoyAnother friend called Adam Robson at this club and where they all professed a liking for this more electric style of R'N'R, so after a couple of weeks Bob, Jim and Roy started to rehearse this new (to them) style we invited Adam to join them on vocals, so these people were the founding members of this group They later added Alec Farmer on drums. -
Original lineup 1960 -1963
Bob Fish lead guitar
Jimmy Shepherd bass guitar
Roy Cairns rhythm guitar
Alec Farmer drums
Edith Graham vocals
Adam Robson vocals replacing Edith Graham
Tom Mitchell vocals replacing Adam Robson
reformed line up 1963 - 1966
Eric Deans drums replacing Alec Farmer
Bob Fish lead guitar
Roy "Big Sid"Cairns bass replacing Jimmy Shepherd
Walter Armstrong rhythm guitar replacing Roy Cairns
Loudon Temple vocals replacing replacing Tom Mitchell
Walter Robson harmonica/trumpet
The original line up auditioned for Duncan McKinnon "Border Dances" Feb. 62 at the Newton Grange Miners welfare Club, passed the audition and worked for Duncan until 1966. After travelling extensively the length and breadth of the UK playing as far away from home (Hawick) as Fleetwood - Stockton - Barnard Castle in the south to Perth - Dumfries - Glasgow -Edinburgh, quite something back then as Roy Cairns was only 14 years old!. Another was to represent Hawick, on Border Television's "Cock O' the Border" inter town talent contest, and scoring the highest number of points for any group appearing, quite a feat considering the opposition.
The reformed lineup travelled even further afield to Liverpool at the height of the Merseybeat/Beatles era. To the Midlands Sheffield/ Manchester etc,then winning the Borders heat of the "Macbeat" contest run by the Scottish "Daily Record" to find the best group in Scotland, to achieve 3rd place in the competition with such groups as the fledgling "Nazareth", and to be judged by the Beatles recording manager, George Martin no less, were the only group, although not winning the contest outright, to be offered a major recording contract and fully professional career by the "Hollies" manager who saw the potential that the "Diamonds" offered. All of that was a long way from the first audition for Duncan McKinnon, but all the success was achieved by Duncans' guidance, and belief in the group. ie. No Duncan - no Diamonds.
Represented the Borders in the final of the 1964 Daily Record "Macbeat" contest at the Kelvin Hall in front of 3000 people
Founded by Bob Fish. Jimmy Shepherd and Roy Cairns in 1960. I Bob played in a skiffle group called "The Bluestreaks" but with the advent of "Shadows" type groups coming to the fore, Bob decided to strike out on his own and form a group playing more R'N'R style utilising electric bass guitar, instead of skiffle T/chest type bass. Bob was a member of Trinity Church youth club, which met every Sat. night in Trinity Church hall conveniently across the road from his house in Hawick. It was there he met Jim and RoyAnother friend called Adam Robson at this club and where they all professed a liking for this more electric style of R'N'R, so after a couple of weeks Bob, Jim and Roy started to rehearse this new (to them) style we invited Adam to join them on vocals, so these people were the founding members of this group They later added Alec Farmer on drums. -
Original lineup 1960 -1963
Bob Fish lead guitar
Jimmy Shepherd bass guitar
Roy Cairns rhythm guitar
Alec Farmer drums
Edith Graham vocals
Adam Robson vocals replacing Edith Graham
Tom Mitchell vocals replacing Adam Robson
reformed line up 1963 - 1966
Eric Deans drums replacing Alec Farmer
Bob Fish lead guitar
Roy "Big Sid"Cairns bass replacing Jimmy Shepherd
Walter Armstrong rhythm guitar replacing Roy Cairns
Loudon Temple vocals replacing replacing Tom Mitchell
Walter Robson harmonica/trumpet
The original line up auditioned for Duncan McKinnon "Border Dances" Feb. 62 at the Newton Grange Miners welfare Club, passed the audition and worked for Duncan until 1966. After travelling extensively the length and breadth of the UK playing as far away from home (Hawick) as Fleetwood - Stockton - Barnard Castle in the south to Perth - Dumfries - Glasgow -Edinburgh, quite something back then as Roy Cairns was only 14 years old!. Another was to represent Hawick, on Border Television's "Cock O' the Border" inter town talent contest, and scoring the highest number of points for any group appearing, quite a feat considering the opposition.
The reformed lineup travelled even further afield to Liverpool at the height of the Merseybeat/Beatles era. To the Midlands Sheffield/ Manchester etc,then winning the Borders heat of the "Macbeat" contest run by the Scottish "Daily Record" to find the best group in Scotland, to achieve 3rd place in the competition with such groups as the fledgling "Nazareth", and to be judged by the Beatles recording manager, George Martin no less, were the only group, although not winning the contest outright, to be offered a major recording contract and fully professional career by the "Hollies" manager who saw the potential that the "Diamonds" offered. All of that was a long way from the first audition for Duncan McKinnon, but all the success was achieved by Duncans' guidance, and belief in the group. ie. No Duncan - no Diamonds.
Represented the Borders in the final of the 1964 Daily Record "Macbeat" contest at the Kelvin Hall in front of 3000 people