Thanet council chairman Margaret Sheldrick has revealed she was part of the Mods and Rockers era that has become part of the town’s pop culture heritage.
She told how she was once involved in the infamous seaside confrontations when she officially opened the Margate Meltdown rally of motorcyclists and scooter riders on Bank Holiday Monday.
She said: “I remember the Mods and Rockers days when I used to come down from London. I was a rocker then and we would come to Margate to sleep on the beach and duff up some Mods. It was all a long time ago.”
She told the bikers gathered around the harbour piazza area that they were welcome to the town and reminded them that “Margate really knows how to party.”
Monday’s rally was a far cry from the Mods and Rockers era, with motorcyclists and scooters riders peacefully enjoying the seaside sunshine as an estimated 15,000 roared into town.
Hundreds of gleaming bikes and scooters lined up from the harbour arm - where there were trade stalls - to the clocktower and beyond.
Ace Cafe spokesman Mark Wilshore said: “It was a great day. The weather was fabulous until the heavens opened in the late afternoon and poured down but by then most people were on their way home.
“The people of the town made us so welcome and the council and other groups and organisations went out their way to be supportive. We loved it here and Margate will become one of our regular trips.
“Our first visit last year was a real washout with terrible weather - this Bank Holiday it was sunshine and smiles all round.”