FIFTY years is a long time; not many marriages last that long, let alone a musical group.

But Britsh group The Searchers have stood the test of time, this year celebrating their 50th Anniversary.

Frank Allen has been a member of The Searchers for 48 years and still remembers doing his first Australian tour in September, 1964.

"That was when we had our biggest hit When You Walk in the Room, and in 1966 we toured with the Rolling Stones," Allen said.

There were three reasons they were still touring, the main one being they love what they do.

"We enjoy what we do and we still have our health and an audience," he said.

It hasn't all been smooth sailing, with Chris Curtis leaving the band in 1966 due to health problems and wanting to pursue other work.

He said their audience had grown up with them and one thing they band has had to learn is how to present the show differently as time progresses.

"Originally it was a teenage audience that screamed in hysteria, they've grown up and now it is like conducting an evening with friends."

Although the bulk of their audience is in their 60s to 80s, Allen said it ranged from "the incredibly young to fast approaching death"!

"At our last show was one of our regulars who is 10, he's been at our shows since he was 7," Allen said.

He was looking forward to coming to Mittagong RSL.

"It's a beautiful place, we miss the RSLs in Australia; they are equivalent to, even better than, the cabaret clubs from back in the day."

The Searchers will be playing all their hits, including When You Walk in The Room, Don't Throw Your Love Away, Goodbye My Love and many more.

The Searchers will be performing at Mittagong RSL on Thursday, February 2. Tickets are $29 and are available at reception - 4872 6700 for tickets.