TWO lifelong fans of The Beatles from Alloa are set to unveil a plaque to commemorate the Fab Four's first-ever Scottish gig at the town hall.

While the excessive flamboyancy of the swinging sixties was not sweeping across the world just yet, May 1960 – in hindsight – proved to be a memorable month for the Wee County.

On Friday, May 20, that year, a packed Alloa Town Hall welcomed to the stage pop singer Johnny Gentle and – as was billed in the Advertiser at the time – “his group”.

It was the first of seven stops on the Beat Ballad Show Tour and the then Silver Beetles, still a five piece, were lucky to get the job as the backing group.

It is said they were the only band available for booking at short notice, following a rather unimpressive audition in Liverpool to back legendary Billy Fury.

And so, before shooting to UK and worldwide fame, the Liverpool band adopted stage names and embarked on what is believed to have been their first-ever concert tour.

Fast-forward more than six decades, the Wee County's Robert Ferguson and Malcolm Robinson believe a plaque to commemorate the band's first-ever Scottish gig is “long overdue”.

With thanks to other fans from Clacks to Washington, they have crowdsourced funds to install the plaque and hope those who admire The Beatles to this day will make the pilgrimage to the site.

Malcolm told the Advertiser: “We just can't believe that nothing's been done since 1960 about it.

“They have a plaque everywhere else they played, but nothing in Alloa and it's just long overdue, it really is.”

The duo set up a Facebook page to secure the funds for the plaque, with nearly £500 donated to ensure the historic cultural event is remembered by fans local and further afield.

There is no set date for the unveiling yet, but Malcolm and Robert have thanked Clackmannanshire Council for working for assistance in the project.

Malcolm added: “The most important thing really about this plaque is that it was the very first time ever in the whole of Scotland that The Beatles played.

“They were known as the Silver Beetles at the time, although it wasn't advertised on the promotion flyer, which was originally in the Alloa Advertiser back in the day.

“It's a massive thing for the town.”

Indeed, just a short few years later The Beatles would go on to conquer the world with their iconic music.

Johnny Gentle, unfortunately, would be left behind in their wake and is best remembered for the brief tour which started in Alloa and ended eight days later at Peterhead's Rescue Hall.

The exact songs played on the tour are not known, but it is understood the Silver Beetles preformed before Gentle appeared on stage.

It is understood they were not well rehearsed and barely knew the tunes they were to perform.

George Harrison, who adopted the stage name Carl Harrison, would remember performing Teddy Bear and Wear My Ring Around Your Neck by Elvis.

Others report they also played the King's I Need Your Love Tonight as well as It Doesn't Matter Anymore and Raining in My Heart by Buddy Holly.

John Lennon, whose stage name was Johnny Lennon, reportedly contributed to I've Just Fallen For Someone – a song Gentle was writing.

Paul McCartney adopted Paul Ramon as a stage name, Stu Sutcliffe was Stuart de Staël and Tommy Moore appeared as Thomas Moore.

Malcolm hopes the plaque to commemorate the historic gig can be unveiled at Alloa Town Hall this spring.