Marmalade were never the brightest stars flying high in the marshmallow skies, but they still notched up worldwide number ones with the melancholy Reflections Of My Life and their cover of The Beatles’ Ob La Di, Ob La Da, not to mention top 20 hits like Rainbow, Lovin’ Things and Cousin Norman.

Bass player Graham Knight, the only original member in the band’s current line-up, reflects: “People still go on about whether it was a mistake to record a nursery rhyme (Ob La Di, Ob La Da), it wasn’t much to do with who we were back then, but it got us to number one.

“It also got us a monster record deal with Decca, and we had as much studio time as we wanted... although we didn’t know until later we’d have to pay for it. We were signed by Dick Rowe, Uncle Dick, the man who turned down The Beatles.”

Graham, who lives in Broad-stone, says: “I don’t write new songs any more, there’s no point. Nobody wants to hear it and it won’t get recorded. Even if it was, nobody would buy it. That’s just the way it is.

“Everyone who comes wants to hear the old sOngs, so we always do Ob La Di and Reflections.

“It’s easier if it’s a seated audience, but if it’s a dancing audience we might throw in Born To Be Wild or some old rock and roll to get them going.

“I’ve got the hang of this now! I know all the notes and where the bass is – it’s the bottom of the band and it gives the sound its oomph. You never used to hear the bass on records – we used to have to play 45s at 78 in order to hear the bass line when we were working out new songs from records.”

Graham moved from Bristol to Dorset to be with Barbara three years ago: “I love it here, it’s been a breath of fresh air in more ways than one.

“I’ve got bookings up to the end of next year, but life can be pretty boring when I’m not working. I need a haircut but I can’t be bothered – my daughters tell me I look like an old hippie, but what the hell? I’m enjoying myself.

“I go down to the Lord Nelson at Poole and watch bands on a Sunday afternoon, have a pint.

“Swanage is only 25 minutes away so we go down there for our fish and chips.

“They want to do a big reissue thing next year with TV advertising so that’ll boost the bookings, but I suppose the work will naturally slow down – it can’t go on for ever.”

•Marmalade line up with The Tremeloes and The Dreamers in the Sensational Sixties Experience at Bournemouth’s Pavilion Theatre on Friday, October 23.

•See The Magazine, with the Daily Echo on Saturday, October 17, for more on Graham’s life in Broadstone – and discover where the band’s original drummer lives, also in Dorset.