But it is his words not music which have made him a best-seller.

His second book, Looking Back at Lynn, A Scrapbook of the 50s and 60s, has outsold more famous authors locally – just as his first release, King's Lynn in the 1930s, did last year.

Lynn-born Bob, once a familiar face behind the counter of his Bayes Recordium, has once again disc-overed or borrowed countless photographs of the town of yesteryear, including ones from the Lynn News.

It offers a fascinating insight into the town for the many who have been born or moved into the area in the past 30 and more years.

And it provides a trip down memory lane for the locals who were here in the '50s and '60s, including myself.

The book may have around 300 photographs for the readers, but it is Bob's thoughts in his foreword which offer thought-provoking views on the difference between the people and their lifestyles in Lynn then and now. More of that later.

Photographs range from views of streets now disappeared or dramatically changed, to people at work, the young and not-so-young at play, school groups, landmarks now gone, some for the better, some worse.

There are so many deserving of comment, that it is impossible to find or create the space. But I have my favourites.

Among them are inside and outside views of the old Whisky-A-Go-Go (Expresso Lounge and Italian Milk Bar), a coffee bar by any other name, which nestled on the corner of Broad Street, nearest the post office, before the street was demolished and re-aligned.

It was the place to go and attracted young people from all over the area.

We even skipped the occasional lesson at KES to go there in the afternoon. Occasionally school prefects would "raid" it to get us back to school. Other days were better, when some prefects were there themselves.

There was also the outdoor swimming pool in The Walks. It had a concrete water fountain which added to the attraction for local youngsters. The baths had opened in 1921, but were closed in 1973, Bob tells us.

Another favourite is a 1951 picture taken in Lower Canada, the name given to the area where roughly Matalan, Morrisons and industrial units now stand.

It shows youngsters hanging around outside the former Engineers Tavern, on the corner of Blackfriars Road and Coburg Street. At one point I thought my older sister might be in the group because we actually lived in the area at that time.

Another favourite is a view of the entrance to the Dodman's engineering works on Gaywood Road, not far from Littleport Street where I was born.

The firm's name still lives on in Lynn and locals still refer to the small rail bridge, over the old line to the docks, as Dodman's Bridge.

And finally, having mentioned Littleport Street, I can't miss a mention of the 1954 photograph of Chilvers cycle shop which stood on its corner with Austin Street. I had my first bike repaired and punctures mended there.

Back to Bob's foreword.

He says: "People no longer feel at home in their communities. The fifties was a gentler era when manners and people mattered.

"People were more important than possessions and they had time for each other, knew their neighbours and had a sense of belonging.

"The start of the sixties was a continuation of the 50s but the second half were the years of change – possibly the start of the steady decline!

"The catch phrase selfish society and consumerism, but those who lived through these earlier years still have affectionate memories of that gentler time."

Do you agreed with Bob's opinions on the '50s and '60s?

Tell us what you think.

Write to: Letters, Lynn News, Limes House, Purfleet Street, King's Lynn PE30 1HL; or you can send an email to:
malcolm.powell@lynnnews.co.uk or leave your comments below.

Looking Back at Lynn, A Scrapbook of the 50s and 60s, priced £11.99, is available from selected book shops.