Xplorer appearance at Royal Oak takes drummer Lol back to his youth

Jul 2 2009 by Nick Moreton, Ormskirk Advertiser

A 51-YEAR-OLD rocker from Ormskirk is to play a gig in a pub just yards from where he used to catch a bus to school as an 11-year-old.

Drummer Lol Critchley and his band Xplorer are playing at the Royal Oak pub in Aughton this weekend.

And the show will mark something of a homecoming for Lol as the pub is on Liverpool Road, where he used to wait in the mornings to catch his bus to what was then Wigan Road secondary school.

Lol, who works in a bank in Liverpool, has been playing the drums since the age of 18 and has played in a number of rock bands over the years.

Now he’s hoping to see some familiar faces in the crowd as they play their selection of classic rock, pop and blues.

He said: “It just seems strange having stood outside all those years ago, and having lived so close by with my parents and sister.

“It will be great to be playing a gig so close to my home town and I believe some old friends will be coming along.

“To say I am a veteran rocker would be about right .

“I’ve played all over the place but now I’ll be playing right by where I used to stand when I was a kid.

“The band has been going about 18 months now and we just play around local pubs, but we’ve never played in the Royal Oak before, so it’s going to be good fun. It’s great to be back in the area.”