Former Newtown musician dies

A former Newtown musician has died at his home in Shropshire.

Dave Curtis has been ascribed as a stalwart of the Newtown entertainment scene in the 1970s, as well as the wider Mid Wales and Shropshire areas.

Alan Crowe, from Welshpool, told MyNewtown: "Born near Harlech and having spells of living in Manchester and Australia, Dave moved to Newtown in early 70s and having previously sang at local eisteddfods and then with a skiffle group.

"Having visited the Anchor Inn at Kerry to see Tony Hughes perform, Dave took up playing guitar and entertained audiences far and wide along with a recording career of three albums on Tank Records.

"In 1977 he beat off strong opposition to win television's "New Faces" (1970s version of Britain's Got Talent) scoring 107 points out of a maximum of 120. The only criticism he received from the panel of judges consisting of Lionel Blair, Jack Parnell, Shaw Taylor and Geoff Love was that of his dress code - he sang a country music song wearing a dress suit bow tie and velvet jacket.

"Following his New Faces win and due to the extra work load that it brought Dave moved to Shropshire to be more central to the work but still continued to entertain audiences in Mid Wales."