1960s memories from a Torquay record shop that sparked a lifetime love of music

Tony Srdinko was born in Torquay and grew up here, attending Torre and Audley Park schools.

After leaving school, he spent a year at Torquay Technical College studying catering. Keen to start earning and build a career,Tony entered the world of retail by joining Curry’s as a trainee manager at their Union Street store in Torquay.

By the age of 21 he had become a store manager in Haywoods Heath, Sussex.

Tony enjoyed a successful career with Curry’s before moving into the financial services sector. His experience across management and finance laid strong foundations for the next part of his working life.

For the past 25 years, Tony has successfully run his own blinds business in Torquay. He is married to Mary and is the proud father to two sons, Chris and Mike, as well as a grandfather to Olivia, Lottie and Romy. 

Tony loves living in Torquay, particularly in the St Marychurch area, and remains deeply connected with the town and local radio Torbay Radio.

The Paul Pinch record shop at the top of Union Street in Torquay wasn’t big, but to me in 1969, at the tender age of nine, it felt like the centre of the universe.

The bell over the door gave a tired little jingle as you went in. You could smell the electrical smell of TVs and radios as upstairs they sold all types of household electrical goods and downstairs was the record department.

I must have stood outside the shop for about five minutes before I went in, nervous and apprehensive about my first record purchase. It had taken a while to save up my pocket money. The coins were in my sweaty hand waiting to be used at any moment.

Downstairs in the record department the walls were covered in pictures of The Beatles and Jimmy Hendrix, and racks of albums glared back at me in every different colour imaginable.

There were booths on the left hand side where you could stand inside and  listen to any record before the big purchase.

I’d heard it on the radio a few nights before.That strange, hypnotic piano. That voice “Call out the instigator”. It didn’t sound like anything else. It didn’t sound safe or tidy. It sounded like the future, wow!

“Looking for something in particular lad?” asked the shopkeeper from behind the counter.

“Thunderclap Newman,” I said nervously. “Something in the Air.”

“That’s a good one,” he said with a slight nod, which felt great.

I handed over the coins, trying not to drop them in my excitement. When he slid the record across the counter towards me I felt like I’d just been handed a pot of gold.

The walk home was the longest and the fastest of my life at the same time. I didn’t want to run in case I fell.

Back at home I went to our old Decca radiogram and carefully placed the single on the turntable. The needle dropped gently onto the fresh vinyl. There was a faint crackle, then it began.

That was the moment I realised music wasn’t just something you heard. It was what you owned and carried with you forever.

Every time I hear Something in the Air I’m transported back to to the Paul Pinch shop in Torquay, coins in my pocket, the bell jangling above the door and the shop assistant nodding and saying: “That’s a good one.”

This was the start of a love affair with music and records.

Happy days.