How a leather-clad man stood out in a ‘twee’ market city

Ginger Mills at the Isle of Wight Music Festival in 1969 (Picture: Brian Moody/REX/Shutterstock)

Every week, thousands of commuters make their way from the Hertfordshire city of St Albans to the Big Smoke, while at the weekends visitors flock the area’s quaint streets and bustling market for days out.

Although St Albans was recently crowned as the best commuter town in England, it’s also known for its eye-watering house prices and staggering costs of train tickets. 

Before the area became known for its affluence...