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Twinkle Twinkle obituary
(35 minutes later)
A minor pop star and celebrity under the stage name Twinkle, Lynn Ripley, who has died of cancer aged 66, epitomised many facets of the swinging London ethos of the 1960s. She briefly dominated the headlines when her hit record Terry, with its tale of the death of a teenage motorcyclist, caused an outbreak of moral censoriousness in parliament and censorship at the BBC.A minor pop star and celebrity under the stage name Twinkle, Lynn Ripley, who has died of cancer aged 66, epitomised many facets of the swinging London ethos of the 1960s. She briefly dominated the headlines when her hit record Terry, with its tale of the death of a teenage motorcyclist, caused an outbreak of moral censoriousness in parliament and censorship at the BBC.
As the daughter of a well-off Tory family, Twinkle symbolised the classless appeal of the new pop culture and its look, with her long, blond hair, thigh-high “kinky” boots and leather peaked “John Lennon” cap. Two publicity shots of her in this outfit, taken by David Wedgbury, are in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery.As the daughter of a well-off Tory family, Twinkle symbolised the classless appeal of the new pop culture and its look, with her long, blond hair, thigh-high “kinky” boots and leather peaked “John Lennon” cap. Two publicity shots of her in this outfit, taken by David Wedgbury, are in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery.
She was born in Surbiton, then in Surrey, the younger daughter of Sydney Ripley, the owner of a printing company. During the 50s he rose through the ranks of local politics to become an alderman and Conservative chairman of Surrey county council. After local government reorganisation, Ripley was the representative of Kingston upon Thames on the Greater London council for more than 20 years.She was born in Surbiton, then in Surrey, the younger daughter of Sydney Ripley, the owner of a printing company. During the 50s he rose through the ranks of local politics to become an alderman and Conservative chairman of Surrey county council. After local government reorganisation, Ripley was the representative of Kingston upon Thames on the Greater London council for more than 20 years.
Growing up in the 20-room family home on Kingston Hill, Lynn showed an early aptitude for music, beginning piano lessons at the age of three. She was given the nickname Twinkle by her father and sister and attended the private Queen’s Gate girls’ school, in South Kensington, where her classmates included Camilla Shand, now the Duchess of Cornwall. Nearby was a club called Esmeralda’s Barn, where Twinkle occasionally sang with the resident beat group, the Trekkers.Growing up in the 20-room family home on Kingston Hill, Lynn showed an early aptitude for music, beginning piano lessons at the age of three. She was given the nickname Twinkle by her father and sister and attended the private Queen’s Gate girls’ school, in South Kensington, where her classmates included Camilla Shand, now the Duchess of Cornwall. Nearby was a club called Esmeralda’s Barn, where Twinkle occasionally sang with the resident beat group, the Trekkers.
Through her elder sister, a journalist for teen magazines, Lynn began to meet pop musicians. One of them, Dec Cluskey, of the Irish vocal group the Bachelors, recommended Twinkle to his manager. This resulted in her making a recording of her composition Terry, on which she was accompanied by session musicians including guitarist Jimmy Page, the future Led Zeppelin star.Through her elder sister, a journalist for teen magazines, Lynn began to meet pop musicians. One of them, Dec Cluskey, of the Irish vocal group the Bachelors, recommended Twinkle to his manager. This resulted in her making a recording of her composition Terry, on which she was accompanied by session musicians including guitarist Jimmy Page, the future Led Zeppelin star.
Twinkle had written Terry when she was 14. She told interviewers that she conceived it when her father’s chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce was overtaken by a pack of rockers. She scribbled down the lyrics during a French lesson at Queen’s Gate. The climax of the song found the female protagonist beseeching her deceased boyfriend to “please wait at the gate of heaven for me, Terry”.Twinkle had written Terry when she was 14. She told interviewers that she conceived it when her father’s chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce was overtaken by a pack of rockers. She scribbled down the lyrics during a French lesson at Queen’s Gate. The climax of the song found the female protagonist beseeching her deceased boyfriend to “please wait at the gate of heaven for me, Terry”.
The disc was released in late 1964, at around the same time as the Shangri-Las’ Leader of the Pack (a single on a similar theme that was also refused BBC airplay), and almost immediately BBC radio producers were ordered not to play it (although Top of the Pops did), while the trendy ITV show Ready Steady Go! took an equally moralising stance. The Labour peer Lord (Ted) Willis, creator of Dixon of Dock Green, weighed in, calling Terry “dangerous drivel”, ignoring its publisher’s explanation that it was really a “road safety record”.The disc was released in late 1964, at around the same time as the Shangri-Las’ Leader of the Pack (a single on a similar theme that was also refused BBC airplay), and almost immediately BBC radio producers were ordered not to play it (although Top of the Pops did), while the trendy ITV show Ready Steady Go! took an equally moralising stance. The Labour peer Lord (Ted) Willis, creator of Dixon of Dock Green, weighed in, calling Terry “dangerous drivel”, ignoring its publisher’s explanation that it was really a “road safety record”.
This notoriety was counteracted, or abetted, by the fervent support of thepirate radio stations London and Caroline. Their support was reciprocated – Twinkle was the only female artist allowed to stay overnight on the pirate ship Mi Amigo, home of Radio Caroline.This notoriety was counteracted, or abetted, by the fervent support of thepirate radio stations London and Caroline. Their support was reciprocated – Twinkle was the only female artist allowed to stay overnight on the pirate ship Mi Amigo, home of Radio Caroline.
Terry went on to sell more than 250,000 copies, peaking at No 4 in the hit parade. Twinkle went on tours of Britain, Ireland and Australia, as a support act for the Rolling Stones and Herman’s Hermits. In early 1965, Decca issued her second single, Golden Lights, a song she composed on her first visit to Blackpool, to see the Bachelors in concert. It was less successful than Terry, reaching only No 21. Four later singles for Decca failed to reach the charts and by 1966, the pop-star career of the 18-year-old Twinkle was over.Terry went on to sell more than 250,000 copies, peaking at No 4 in the hit parade. Twinkle went on tours of Britain, Ireland and Australia, as a support act for the Rolling Stones and Herman’s Hermits. In early 1965, Decca issued her second single, Golden Lights, a song she composed on her first visit to Blackpool, to see the Bachelors in concert. It was less successful than Terry, reaching only No 21. Four later singles for Decca failed to reach the charts and by 1966, the pop-star career of the 18-year-old Twinkle was over.
At the peak of her fame, her name had been linked with those of several male stars, including Mick Jagger, but she firmly denied any interest in sex or drugs. Instead, Twinkle formed a relationship with Michael Hannah, an actor. When they separated, she married Graham Rogers, best known for his television appearances as “the man in black” in a series of commercials for Cadbury’s Milk Tray.At the peak of her fame, her name had been linked with those of several male stars, including Mick Jagger, but she firmly denied any interest in sex or drugs. Instead, Twinkle formed a relationship with Michael Hannah, an actor. When they separated, she married Graham Rogers, best known for his television appearances as “the man in black” in a series of commercials for Cadbury’s Milk Tray.
She continued to write songs and made occasional forays into performing and recording. In 1982, there was a version of the Monkees’ I’m a Believer, and in 1993 a brief club tour. The most curious of her later attempts at a comeback was Smoochie, a recording with her father, as Bill and Coo, in 1975. The singer Morrissey was one of her fans and the Smiths paid tribute to her by recording Golden Lights in 1986.She continued to write songs and made occasional forays into performing and recording. In 1982, there was a version of the Monkees’ I’m a Believer, and in 1993 a brief club tour. The most curious of her later attempts at a comeback was Smoochie, a recording with her father, as Bill and Coo, in 1975. The singer Morrissey was one of her fans and the Smiths paid tribute to her by recording Golden Lights in 1986.
Lynn Ripley was also an ardent animal rights advocate. She is survived by her husband and by two children, Michael and Amber.Lynn Ripley was also an ardent animal rights advocate. She is survived by her husband and by two children, Michael and Amber.
• Twinkle (Lynn Annette Ripley), singer and songwriter, born 15 July 1948; died 21 May 2015• Twinkle (Lynn Annette Ripley), singer and songwriter, born 15 July 1948; died 21 May 2015