Mods And Rockers Fighting For Fashion And Fun In 1960s England

Were you a Mod or a Rocker? Fashion mattered in the 1960s. This gallery features photographs of fighting at the seaside. The fights in Brighton, Bournemouth, Margate and more fearture flying deckchairs, a few knives and stabbings, kickings and many arrests.

This gallery also features one of my favourite photographs of all time. Scroll down to see the family sheltering behind a windbreak undeterred by the invasion of Mods descending on Margate beach.

 

 

Interested onlookers watch from the promenade railings as police shepherd a large crowd of youths from the beach at Brighton on Bank Holiday Monday. Mass fights between Mods, Rockers and police erupted in seaside resorts throughout the summer of 1964, as intense rivalry between the motorcycle-based Rockers and the moped-riding Mods led to violence. Ref #: PA.5581335  Date: 19/04/1965

Interested onlookers watch from the promenade railings as police shepherd a large crowd of youths from the beach at Brighton on Bank Holiday Monday.
Mass fights between Mods, Rockers and police erupted in seaside resorts throughout the summer of 1964, as intense rivalry between the motorcycle-based Rockers and the moped-riding Mods led to violence.
Ref #: PA.5581335
Date: 19/04/1965

Mods and Rockers arrive on Brighton beach, Sussex, April 19, 1965, before being routed by the police. Thousands of youths from London and the surrounding areas invaded Brighton, but police were waiting for them in force and quickly moved in to prevent a repetition of last year's rioting. (AP Photo) Ref #: PA.8656450

Mods and Rockers arrive on Brighton beach, Sussex, April 19, 1965, before being routed by the police. Thousands of youths from London and the surrounding areas invaded Brighton, but police were waiting for them in force and quickly moved in to prevent a repetition of last year’s rioting. (AP Photo)
Ref #: PA.8656450

Police arrest a youth in Brighton, Sussex, April 19, 1965, during disturbances when thousands of Mods and Rockers invaded the resort. Police were on duty in large numbers to deal with hooliganism. (AP Photo/Str) Ref #: PA.8648554

Police arrest a youth in Brighton, Sussex, April 19, 1965, during disturbances when thousands of Mods and Rockers invaded the resort. Police were on duty in large numbers to deal with hooliganism. (AP Photo/Str)
Ref #: PA.8648554

Police officers watch a large crowd of mods running along the beach in Brighton, a scene repeated a number of times at the Sussex resort, where gangs of mods and rockers clashed during Bank Holiday periods. Ref #: PA.1309168  Date: 17/04/1965

Police officers watch a large crowd of mods running along the beach in Brighton, a scene repeated a number of times at the Sussex resort, where gangs of mods and rockers clashed during Bank Holiday periods.
Ref #: PA.1309168
Date: 17/04/1965

British Crime - Civil Disorder - Mods and Rockers - Hastings

Extra police were required at Hastings, after outbreaks of trouble between Mods and Rockers, who descended on the Sussex resort. Ref #: PA.1929907  Date: 02/08/1964

Extra police were required at Hastings, after outbreaks of trouble between Mods and Rockers, who descended on the Sussex resort.
Ref #: PA.1929907
Date: 02/08/1964

Extra police were required at Hastings, after outbreaks of trouble between Mods and Rockers, who descended on the Sussex resort. Ref #: PA.1929853  Date: 02/08/1964

Extra police were required at Hastings, after outbreaks of trouble between Mods and Rockers, who descended on the Sussex resort.
Ref #: PA.1929853
Date: 02/08/1964

Extra police were required at Hastings, after outbreaks of trouble between Mods and Rockers, who descended on the Sussex resort. Ref #: PA.1929723  Date: 02/08/1964

Extra police were required at Hastings, after outbreaks of trouble between Mods and Rockers, who descended on the Sussex resort.
Ref #: PA.1929723
Date: 02/08/1964

"Rockers", traditional enemies of the scooter-riding "Mods", seen riding along the sea front at Hastings, just before the two groups clashed in violent scenes. Ref #: PA.1114168  Date: 02/08/1964

“Rockers”, traditional enemies of the scooter-riding “Mods”, seen riding along the sea front at Hastings, just before the two groups clashed in violent scenes.
Ref #: PA.1114168
Date: 02/08/1964

Mods on scooters drive two-by-two through Hastings, Sussex, Aug. 2, 1964, as teenagers converge on the resort in search of bank holiday entertainment. A squad of policemen were flown in from Middlesex after sporadic outbreaks of trouble between rival gangs. (AP Photo/Frank Leonard Tewkesbury) Ref #: PA.8643145

Mods on scooters drive two-by-two through Hastings, Sussex, Aug. 2, 1964, as teenagers converge on the resort in search of bank holiday entertainment. A squad of policemen were flown in from Middlesex after sporadic outbreaks of trouble between rival gangs. (AP Photo/Frank Leonard Tewkesbury)
Ref #: PA.8643145

Passersby watch Mods surge along the beach at Hastings, Sussex, Aug. 2, 1964, in search of bank holiday entertainment. A squad of policemen were flown in from Middlesex after sporadic outbreaks of trouble between rival gangs. (AP Photo/Frank Leonard Tewkesbury) Ref #: PA.8642623  Date: 02/08/1964

Passersby watch Mods surge along the beach at Hastings, Sussex, Aug. 2, 1964, in search of bank holiday entertainment. A squad of policemen were flown in from Middlesex after sporadic outbreaks of trouble between rival gangs. (AP Photo/Frank Leonard Tewkesbury)
Ref #: PA.8642623
Date: 02/08/1964

The modern fad for having as much sound and light as possible on your scooter reached the Epsom Downs for Derby Day. Proud owners are Roy Young and Linda Jarvis. Proud riders are Roy Young and Linda Jarvis at Derby Sunday on the Epsom Downs. Ref #: PA.1019137  Date: 31/05/1964

The modern fad for having as much sound and light as possible on your scooter reached the Epsom Downs for Derby Day. Proud owners are Roy Young and Linda Jarvis.
Proud riders are Roy Young and Linda Jarvis at Derby Sunday on the Epsom Downs.
Ref #: PA.1019137
Date: 31/05/1964

Youths use deckchairs as weapons during a fight on May 19, 1964 on the roof of the Aquarium in Brighton, Sussex, on white Monday, May 18. Over the white weekend sea-side resorts on the south coast were the scenes of battles between rival gangs of"Mods" and "Rockers" Ref #: PA.11936309  Date: 19/05/1964

Youths use deckchairs as weapons during a fight on May 19, 1964 on the roof of the Aquarium in Brighton, Sussex, on white Monday, May 18. Over the white weekend sea-side resorts on the south coast were the scenes of battles between rival gangs of”Mods” and “Rockers”
Ref #: PA.11936309
Date: 19/05/1964

A struggling youth, surrounded by a group of policemen, is put in a van at Brighton where mods and rockers clashed on the promenade Ref #: PA.11941463  Date: 18/05/1964

A struggling youth, surrounded by a group of policemen, is put in a van at Brighton where mods and rockers clashed on the promenade
Ref #: PA.11941463
Date: 18/05/1964

Youngsters wait outside Margate Court where 51 youths appeared before magistrates on charges arising from yesterdays fierce battle between mods and rockers. The trouble spread to Brighton while their cases were being heard Ref #: PA.11941460  Date: 18/05/1964

Youngsters wait outside Margate Court where 51 youths appeared before magistrates on charges arising from yesterdays fierce battle between mods and rockers. The trouble spread to Brighton while their cases were being heard
Ref #: PA.11941460
Date: 18/05/1964

Long haired and leather clad rocker girls who were witnesses for one of the 50 youths who appeared at Margate Magistrates Court Kent on charges arising from yesterdays Mods v Rockers clash. L-R: Linda Hunt, Christine Sanders, Annabelle Etherington. Ref #: PA.5581403  Date: 18/05/1964

Long haired and leather clad rocker girls who were witnesses for one of the 50 youths who appeared at Margate Magistrates Court Kent on charges arising from yesterdays Mods v Rockers clash. L-R: Linda Hunt, Christine Sanders, Annabelle Etherington.
Ref #: PA.5581403
Date: 18/05/1964

White helmeted policemen are lost in the surging crowd at the seafront, Brighton. After yesterdays battles at Margate Mods and Rockers desended on Brighton. Ref #: PA.5581342  Date: 18/05/1964

White helmeted policemen are lost in the surging crowd at the seafront, Brighton. After yesterdays battles at Margate Mods and Rockers desended on Brighton.
Ref #: PA.5581342
Date: 18/05/1964

A family shelter behind a windbreak undeterred by the invasion of Mods descending on Margate beach. Mods clashed with Rockers in the second day of violence which saw two youths stabbed. Ref #: PA.5581325  Date: 18/05/1964

A family shelter behind a windbreak undeterred by the invasion of Mods descending on Margate beach. Mods clashed with Rockers in the second day of violence which saw two youths stabbed.
Ref #: PA.5581325
Date: 18/05/1964

Police take away a youth when a large crowd of mods gathered on the beach in Brighton, as holidaymakers watch the scene from the promenade. It was a scene repeated a number of times at the Sussex resort, where gangs of mods and rockers clashed. * ...during Bank Holiday periods. Ref #: PA.1309167  Date: 18/05/1964

Police take away a youth when a large crowd of mods gathered on the beach in Brighton, as holidaymakers watch the scene from the promenade. It was a scene repeated a number of times at the Sussex resort, where gangs of mods and rockers clashed. * …during Bank Holiday periods.
Ref #: PA.1309167
Date: 18/05/1964

White helmeted Brighton police arresting youths during fighting between Mods and Rockers and the police on Brighton beach. Ref #: PA.1175546  Date: 18/05/1964

White helmeted Brighton police arresting youths during fighting between Mods and Rockers and the police on Brighton beach.
Ref #: PA.1175546
Date: 18/05/1964

A youth lying on the sand at Margate, Kent, May 18, 1964, is the centre of a fight which broke out when Mods and Rockers clashed on the beach at the seaside resort. Police arrested many of the youths. (AP Photo) Ref #: PA.8634315

A youth lying on the sand at Margate, Kent, May 18, 1964, is the centre of a fight which broke out when Mods and Rockers clashed on the beach at the seaside resort. Police arrested many of the youths. (AP Photo)
Ref #: PA.8634315

The Mods and Rockers bank holiday riots in Brighton. A large crowd of mods gathered near the Palace Pier on the beach in Brighton, a scene repeated a number of times at the Sussex resort, where gangs of mods and rockers clashed during Bank Holiday periods. Ref #: PA.1309169  Date: 17/05/1964

The Mods and Rockers bank holiday riots in Brighton. A large crowd of mods gathered near the Palace Pier on the beach in Brighton, a scene repeated a number of times at the Sussex resort, where gangs of mods and rockers clashed during Bank Holiday periods.
Ref #: PA.1309169
Date: 17/05/1964

An audience of Mods watching the National Beat contest. Ref #: PA.1309170  Date: 05/05/1964

An audience of Mods watching the National Beat contest.
Ref #: PA.1309170
Date: 05/05/1964

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