WEYMOUTH Carnival begins today, and with the main events featuring tomorrow it seems timely to look back to a flower power celebration at the event 50 years ago.

Alan Hodder of Weymouth dropped by the Looking Back offices with these photos of his former band Crystal Ship performing on Carnival Night 1967 at the Weymouth Steering Wheel Club.

Crystal Ship played between 1966 and 1969.

The group was once on the bill at the Middle Earth club in Covent Garden, London, with a band that went on to be superstars - T. Rex.

T. Rex, fronted by Marc Bolan, scored four number one hits in the UK - Hot Love, Get It On, Telegram Sam and Metal Guru. The band's 1971 album Electric Warrior received critical acclaim as a pioneering glam rock album.

They celebrated Carnival Night at the Weymouth club. Flowers from the Carnival Queen's float were gathered together at the end of the procession and hastily whisked to the club to decorate the stage.

Weymouth was known for its good quality of local bands performing in the early 1960s. There was a large amount of bands in the late 1960s and early 1970s

The local centre for much of the action was the Tavern in Dorchester run by Sam Fowler, who maintained a policy of live music and an aeroplane over the dance floor.

*Three of the original Crystal Ship line-up - Phil Biggs, Alan Hodder and Alan Morris - will feature in a special reunion gig at Weymouth Centenary Club on September 28 from 6.30pm. They will be joined by Bob Watling and Mick Martin on guitars and Mick Bell on bass.

Their special guest will be Denise Scott, who sang in the 1960s and 70s with The Soundsmen.

Tickets cost £6 and are available from Weymouth Centenary Club.