Francis Payne

A few Australian female singers from the 60s. Little Pattie (Patricia Amphlett) was 14 when she recorded this. Performed for troops in Viet Nam aged 17. Saw her and Col Joye at the old Souths Leagues Club in Redfern about 25 years ago. An excellent night. youtube.com/watch?v=Gt3RVn…

Roger Harris, Auckland's oldest living FC cricketer, is 92 today. He opened the batting for @BLACKCAPS in both tests v England in 1959 with Bruce Bolton, who recently turned 90. These were the only tests played by both these two even though they played FC cricket into the 1970s.

Ben Stokes & Bruce Taylor are the only NZ-born players to make a 100 & take a 5-for in the same test. Both were born in & played for Canterbury. Stokes was playing his 198th FC game, Taylor just his 4th. The only player to score 99 & take a 5-for is another Cantabrian, RJ Hadlee.

NZ (and Canterbury)-born players to score a century and take a five-for in the same test: Bruce Taylor v India, Calcutta, 1965 Ben Stokes v India, Manchester, 2025 #ENGvIND

Normie Rowe, the living legend. Still performing. youtube.com/watch?v=DMF21r…

Another big hit for Ronnie Burns (1966) and also written by the Bee Gees youtube.com/watch?v=hcQUuZ…

A 'live' version of the legendary 'I've Been Everywhere' from Lucky Starr with help from Bandstand's Brian Henderson. Hank Snow did a US version and John Hore did the NZ one but it's an Australian original. youtube.com/watch?v=dpRvAn…

A few top Australian male vocalists of the 60s coming up. Great song by Ronnie Burns written by Barry Gibb and with the Bee Gees doing the backing vocals. youtube.com/watch?v=xXPJpj…

Not a hit at the time but a cult clip now. The group became mod band The Action and Sandra Barry had some interesting stuff in the 70s. Fashions of 1963, her hair and clothes and the band in suits - not sure about the bow ties though... youtube.com/watch?v=Iibayu…

John Sparling is 87 today. Top all-rounder and respected captain of Auckland. Would have been @BLACKCAPS captain after JR Reid retired in 1965 (and Graham Dowling was unavailable) but had to concentrate on his business. Played for Auckland until 1971 (captain 51 times).

Two wickets for @NeilWagner13 on Durham debut and another milestone reached. Most wickets by NZ bowlers in FC cricket Richard Hadlee 1490 @ 18.11 Clarrie Grimmett 1424 @ 22.28 Syd Smith 955 @ 18.08 Jeetan Patel 892 @ 32.77 Neil Wagner 851 @ 27.07

Kane Williamson's 100 for Middlesex broke a sequence of 26 FC 100s which were all scored in tests. Most 100s by NZ batsmen (test 100s in brackets) 103 Glenn Turner (7) 71 Martin Crowe (17) 59 John Wright (12) 44 Bert Sutcliffe (5) 44 Kane Williamson (33) 39 John Reid (6)

Kane Williamson has scored a 100 for Middlesex today. The last time he scored a 100 that wasn't a test century was Aug 2014 for Yorks. Prior to today, his previous 26 100s had all been in test matches.

Kane Williamson draws level with Bert Sutcliffe. Most FC centuries by NZ batsmen 103 Glenn Turner 71 Martin Crowe 59 John Wright 44 Bert Sutcliffe 44 Kane Williamson

Rosalie "Rosie" Hamlin, lead singer of Rosie and the Originals, was born OTD 80 years ago. Their iconic song "Angel Baby" was a John Lennon favourite and he recorded a version in his post-Beatle days. Rosie died in 2017 aged 71. youtube.com/watch?v=bu2dAQ…

Lynne Randell was Australia's most popular female performer for three years in the mid-1960s. At her very best with this big hit from 1967 when she was just 17. I bought this one at the time, so it must be good... youtube.com/watch?v=t1_mcN…

Adelaide's Bev Harrell had a #1 hit in 1966 with her first single. Another who went to Vietnam to perform for troops. youtube.com/watch?v=8ig9P2…

Judy Stone, from Granville in Sydney, had a huge hit on both sides of the Tasman with this in 1964. youtube.com/watch?v=cyW0SL…

Another great female vocalist died yesterday. Connie Francis (87) sold over 100 million records world wide. One of her biggest hits from 1959 also features an incredible guitar solo (and great backing vocals). youtube.com/watch?v=uZ6_Jb…

Another from Daphne Walker who died yesterday aged 94. Probably her most well known song. youtube.com/watch?v=ekhlyC…