This Cambridge born Entertainer started out at fifteen years old as a Guitarist. His first instrument was a tea chest, you take a tea chest, one broom handle and a piece of string and bingo !!

One of his first microphones was made by his father, from an hearing aid. As you've probably gathered, there wasn't a lot of money floating about at the time, having six kids in the family didn't leave much cash spare to be extravagant, but that's Doug, make the most of what you've got, and get on with it, a big lesson learnt from his Parents, who were fully supportive.

Anyway back to the group, called "Matt Pawn and The Tremlows" Which got it's first big booking at "The Dorothy Ballroom" in Cambridge, playing at the Co-op staff parties to several Thousand people, with "The Reg Cottage Orchestra". To get to venues, they hired a mini bus, and from taking the odd passenger along, soon grew to having to hire a full size double Decker bus.

Playing at youth clubs, village halls parties, and even his local Sunday School "bless him".

Members at that time:

Tubby White,Robin Andrews,Freddy Wiles,Butch Lindsey, Tubby Rhodes,Graham Bavester,Noah Cox,Stu Stubbings,Billy White,Doug Beale,Eric Coulson,Nev Downs,Jacko, Richard Papworth,Paul(Cosh)Culpin,Andy Peters,John Walters.

Any Saturday night when the group wasn't playing he would take a stroll along Newmarket Road where every pub (about10-15) had a pianist and drums and  would invite singers  to sing then go on to the next pub. On one occasion he ended up at the Five bells and was invited to play the piano. It was a brilliant night and at the end the landlord offered to pay him with the piano. as he was getting a new one. He arranged to get it home and Mother was very pleased for him.

The group went on to play bigger venues like "The Carlton" Newmarket, "The Guildhall" Cambridge and University Colleges,etc, with the May balls being the highlight of the year, they were supporting big Rock n Roll names like "The Shadows", "Bill Haley", "Alan Price", "The Searchers", "Georgie Fame", "The John Barry Seven", "Leapy Lee", "Karl Denver" ,"Freddy & The Dreamers"  to name but a few.

The group performed their last gig together at Shelford Memorial Hall January 1976

In January 1976 Duggie moved to Bridlington and formed another band called "The Swinging Bluebirds", and was offered a job as bingo Manager in Hull for Jackson & Whitworth. At that time he also played at their South Shore Holiday Inn at Bridlington,and around Hull's Working men's clubs.

Members at that time:

Malcolm Allan, Mel Brown, Johnny Ember, Isabelle Mcgougan, Shaun Papworth, Lee Papworth, Jim Eccles.

In 1977 he changed his stage name to "Duggie Lea", became Ents/Manager at South Shore,and was offered a summer season in "The Michael Barrymore show" at the 3'Bs Theatre at Bridlington.

At this time, his two sons, Shaun aged 12 and Lee aged 9 were performing at South Shore as "The Boys", these two young lads were undoubtedly showing inherited talents of their father on guitar, and on the final night made a surprise appearance on "The Michael Barrymore Show". They went on to back their father until 1992.

During this time supported such acts as "Jerry Lee Lewis" "Johnny & The Hurricanes" " The Tremeloes" " Mr.Acker Bilk" "Kenny Ball" " The Rubettes" "Julie Rogers" "Susan Maughan" " The Bachelors" "Joe Loss" plus countless others.

That year Duggie found a new Bass player, Steve Moxon. The Drummer Stewart Stanley stayed on to form "The Duggie Lea Trio". They stayed together until 1998 when Duggie went solo with the help of Sooty.

Having been going for over 50 years Duggie has decided to finally start winding down in 2010, by just doing the Marine Bar in Bridlington.

Decided to call it a day with a final booking at the Marine Bar on December 29th 2010.

It's been a pleasure meeting all those people over the years. Thank you.