kings country club

Chris Gentry DJ (Andre Martin) Kings Country Club 1974

December 19, 2023December 19, 2023 by Alan Esdaile

Janine Anne Hemsley…..I remember it well .

Joe Knight…..GREAT PLACE!!

Andre Martin…..These were taken Summer Season 1974 in the small building next to the new club that was being built by Ray King, when that Opened the whole scene changed and we then could deal with 2500 on a busy night. I have just worked that out – These photos are 40 years old !!

Ian Hargraves….You have not changed much!

Polly… I was just thinking about Kings Country Club and realised I have no surviving pictures of my life there. Before Janine came along I was the girlfriend of Colin and we came to Eastbourne together after Colin left the Eric Delaney Big band. Meridian was named after the local knicker factory where we came from. Pete Brent was guitarist, Barry Goacher was the drummer, Colin Hadley keyboards, Steve Devine was saxophonist. There was also a trumpeter called Keith Bolton and his wife Paula. When we first came Colin was part of the Mick Urry band. After Mick and the band parted Meridian was formed. I have many happy memories of Ray taking us for dinner on our birthdays in his Rolls Royce,as Colin was the youngest member of the band. I also remember the band who played downstairs and one of the members Laurie Broadway, who was a mate. Eddie was the entertainment manager and Lenny was one of the barmen. I remember Pete Bonner well, as we had a party at his house once and I threw up all over his prize roses! Those were the days!

Janine Anne Hemsley… Polly are you there ??? xx

Jane Hartley… Kings put on great shows, saw many a big act there. Sundowners over the road, we used to belt over the marshes after the pubs chucked out, to get there before they shut the doors! Not to be recommended kids!!!!

Mick Knights… Kings was a bit too posh, ( which really means they wouldn’t let me in) it was the Sundowners every time.

Alan Esdaile… Agree with Mick. Used to go to the Sundowners. Saw The Real Thing, Mud & The Troggs among others.

Colin Norton… We (The Rebels) were one of the first bands to play at the Sundowners. It was quite a small building at the time. When we were playing somewhere else in Eastbourne in the evening till 11 pm. We would go over to the Sundowners and play from 1 am till 3 am or something like that. We played for steak and scampi 🙂 …. Oh, and fun as well 🙂

Sandie Croft… I was singer with Meridian in 1978 & ´79. Line up then was Barry Goacher drums, Pete Brent bass, Andy Flack Keyboards.Pete was replaced by Larry Barton in ´79 & singer Ronnie Collins joined us then also. We made an album “In The Mean Time Meridian. Which I still have a couple of copies of. We were all good mates & had such fun working there.

Freddie Smith… My Mum was probably there

Willie Wicking… Used to go to kings & sundowners my 1st company dinner was at Kings 1976 & the Stylistics were the band playing also saw shawadywady at Sundowners think it was one of their 1st gigs last band I saw at kings was glitter band

Tony Court-holmes… seems like a long time ago mate

The Drifters – Kings Country Club Eastbourne 13th September 1980

September 13, 2023 by Alan Esdaile

Colin… I went to King’s Club a few times in 70s, don’t recall where it was, as parents drove us but had great times. Once stitched up my then girlfriend to be pulled up on stage by Little and Large. Can anyone supply a photo of what it looks like now?

Mark Rymell… It’s The Crumbles shopping center now.

King’s Country Club Eastbourne – 1975

July 1, 2023July 1, 2023 by Alan Esdaile

Martin Richter… impressive line-up !

Patricia Lloyd… Loved kings

Julie Morris… Often went on a Thursday night – loved it!

John Scaife… Peter Gordeno -Commader & The Pilot of Sky 1 (Submarine in UFO)

David Edwards… Imagine Ella Fitzgerald like a diamond atop a pile of also tans, Kings certainly pulled out all the stops there!

Jim Hobbs… Fair comment, but to give them their due, the others on the line up were big UK stars in their day.

Tony Court-holmes… Andre and i worked there

Cliff Bennett… What a programme!!!!????

Colin Creagh… Just look at the names

Terry Pack… The sad thing is that most ‘entertainment’ in Eastbourne is unchanged in 45 years. The Devonshire Theatre has pantos and Agatha Christie, the Congress has bands from the 60s, comics from the 70s and orchestral music from the 1800s, and the Bandstand has tribute bands all Summer. The idea that a musician like Ella could do a week long residency these days… if only.

Richard Cripps… Mum and Dad owned a chalet there, spent so many memorable years there from the age of 8 [1971] until it closed. Had the opportunity to see sooo many stars of the time there… and then across the road to the disco. Any one remember Nan on reception? or Barry the house drummer?

Michael Williams… I lived at Kings, as my father was public relations officer, I remember him introducing the acts on stage including Sandie Shaw, Tom Jones, Engelbert Humperdinck , Dusty Springfield and loads more. My father had an album with him shaking hands with all the stars before he introduced them on stage. That would have been the sixties.

Robert Searle… Clark-Elsom Collection,who remembers them? What ever happened to Graham Clark, the bass player?

Perri Ann Haste… I used to go there in the Mid to late seventies – always had a great time! – happy days… those were the days eh

Kings Country Club Posters – Eastbourne 1970’s

June 21, 2023 by Alan Esdaile

supplied by Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Janine Anne Hemsley…Yayyyyyyyyyy I was in Meridian lol. I was 15 .

Redstar Richter… Charles case?

Robert Searle… I remember The Clarke Elsom Collection supporting many stars there, with Graham Clarke on bass guitar.

Gary Kinch…. I only went there once, enjoyed it at the time. Does anyone remember who the owner was?

Andre Martin… Ray King owned the club, but the real Boss was Mrs King, a lady that you did not cross, only if it were your last moments on this earth, don’t get me wrong, she was a very nice person, but was in control. Ray was a great person to work for, spent 5 yrs on the Entertainments team. Here is ” The Guv ” taken at a Municipal Event in Eastbourne in mid 70s.- I enjoyed working for him.

Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Andre Palfrey-martin collection – around 1979

Jane Hartley… I worked in one of the Hastings pier shops early 80’s, lots of performers at Whiterock used to wander around the pier before their show. Met many, including the Dooleys!

Gary Cripps… Bring back the club it was brilliant

Andre Martin… YES but we sadly do not have the quality of acts that were about at the time to make all these clubs such great entertainments centres. Time changes demands. All we can do is remember just how lucky we were to be part of that great generation – the Boom years.

Rick Bonner… I was virtually raised in Kings Country Club. During the 1970’s my dad was a resident performer called ‘The Peter Bonner Duo’. Later, dad’s drummer Barry Gocher formed a resident band called ‘Meridian’ which I was luck enough to join as a vocal/instrumentalist. Kings back then was a unique, amazing venue than became more like a second family to the regular members. I will never forget ‘Nan’ on the door smoking her cigarettes or the lovely Reg in the car-park directing the cars. Very special times for sure! Look on the Facebook site under ‘Kings Country Club’ for one the great reunion show that happen during the year.

Gareth Jones… Mum and dad would bring us down from Llandudno every September for a week. We’d stay (early days caravan) in a chalet and odd numbered caravans were Chelsea while even numbers were Arsenal. Uncle Sid and Auntie Jo entertained us kids with an assortment of games and activities. Evenings we’d be entertained in the showbar. The Peter Bonner Duo were always there getting people warmed up and after every number Peter would say “Thank you for dancing” My mum would point me in the direction of stars/celebrities casually enjoying a quiet drink in the bar. Then she’d get me to ask them for their autographs. Wish I had that list now! Great place, great people and wonderful memories

Karen Haggerty… (in reply to Rick Bonner) I remember your fathers group. My parents purchased a caravan in the early pre club days from Uncle Ray as I knew him when I was six . We then had a mobile home that Ray parched for his wife Betty and she’d made other plans. We needed up with chalet with a drive for dads car. Spent so many years there and have such fond memories.

The Three Degrees, Prince Charles and The Meridian featuring Janine – Kings Country Club Eastbourne March & July 1978

May 8, 2023May 8, 2023 by Alan Esdaile

photos and menu supplied by Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Andre Palfrey Martin… I have dug around and come up with the attached photos from Thursday 27 July 1978 – One is HRH talking to the girls before the show in the Foyer of Kings Country Club, Eastbourne and the other was taken with HRH and I think it was Sheila Ferguson doing the ” bump” – this image of HRH was flashed around the world within hours and made newspapers everywhere.

Alan Esdaile… Could it be Andre in the background on the first picture?

Andre Palfrey Martin … It could well be, I was working that night, and quite on the cards I would have been backstage, security had almost shut down the whole building, we had to be at the club by 6.00pm a good 2 hours earlier than usual, once in you could not get out ! however in the club itself, I could go anywhere as usual, so its on the cards that could well be me. I am sure that I would have had my hair and beard trimmed for the night, and would of course been in some form of formal attire. It was a great night. The Girls were really terrific people, but I still cannot remember their Tour Managers name, I think it was Richard …something, I do however recall that I had to give up my dressing room that night for him to use, I had to share the resident bands room with them.

Trevor Walker… My wife and I were there ! Good times were had at Kings ! Show Place of the South !!!

Jacqueline Marsh… I was there about half a dozen seats away from Charlie, he was absolutely drooling over the 3 Degrees !

Andre Martin… Your quite right about Prince C this was the famous shot that went global when he visited the club for the Prince’s Trust.l must dig out the original and have close look at this presentation line up,all I can remember was that was next to Sandy Croft in the second row it was 40 years ago

Sandra Thompsett… I remember the Kings Club being in Eastbourne but I can’t remember exactly where it was and when it closed

Jackie Robinson (was Welch)… I was there that night. I worked in the Finance Office from 1974 – 1978 when I moved away to Lincolnshire with my ex husband. I remember my office smelling of food the next morning because the police/security were based in there during the evening! I remember Audrey, Pat and Julia in the front office and Eddie and his Secretary in the office opposite mine. Bob Butler was the accountant and there was a strange lady in the cashiers office. She used to bring her dog in to work every day and lock herself in her office which had no windows……a bit weird! I also remember Chris Gentry. They all gave me a wonderful send off when I left and I still have the giant card which they all signed. It was a fun place to work and I have very fond memories of my time there.

Bonnie Tyler – Kings Country Club Eastbourne 14th January 1978

January 14, 2023January 14, 2023 by Alan Esdaile

Janine Anne Scott… I was still there for this bunch

Meridian – Kings Country Club – Eastbourne.

October 19, 2022October 19, 2022 by Alan Esdaile

photo from Sandie Croft via Andre Martin/Kings Country Club Facebook page.

supplied by Andre Martin/Kings Country Club Facebook page

Janine Anne Hemsley…. Omg. Barry Goacher.

Andre Martin… OMG 30+ years ago – this group photo was taken when the Merries were part of the Jimmy Jones Season – January 1979. Great venue, great acts and great owner.

Ken Leadbeater… Saw Charles Aznavour there with some friends and my then wife. Great performance

John Wilde… Mitch Mitchell second right.

Jinks – Kings Country Club 1983

July 6, 2022July 5, 2022 by Alan Esdaile

all photos supplied by Peter Millington https://pet842.wixsite.com/confeds-to-jinks

L-R Trevor Spears, Terry Chedzoy, Rodney Trowell, Peter (Ginger) Millington.

Tony Court-holmes… Sundowners Club over the road now I do feel old. On the way back Taffys for chips

Peter Millington… Played there as well Tony. Great place late on a Friday night………

Chris Gentry Disc Jockey – Kings Country Club Eastbourne 1976

July 3, 2022July 3, 2022 by Alan Esdaile

photos taken by Graham How

Graham How… Did I add the sepia?!

Andre Martin… All I remember was you following around several of the dancers and taking lots of photos, I never did find out if you ever had any film in your camera – do you recall the game we used to play, based on numbers ????

Alan Esdaile… you did have long hair then! Mind you I bet your playing some Motown and not Black Sabbath.

Andre Martin… Correct Disco & Motown without a doubt, and a few classic 60s tracks thrown in for good measure !

Tony Court-holmes… please do say you have no pictures of me there. I was there a couple of times

Sid Saunders… The girls look so smart.

Joanna Mod… I’m actually just a couple of streets away where I live now….I grew up here a couple of streets away from Kings…now a housing estate/shopping…leading onto the harbour…….and as a child could hear the music often….I’m back here living at my parents who have been here since 1966…I went to Kings just once ….disco…….my sister saw a few stars in their shows there….

Kings Country Club – The Drifters, Martha Reeves, Johnnie Ray -1970’s memories from Andre Martin(Chris Gentry)

June 15, 2022June 15, 2022 by Alan Esdaile

Andre Palfrey-martin collection

advert 26th January 1978

Mike Wright…..Drifters with the great lead voice of Johnny Moore

Philip Meston……The only performance I saw at Kings was The Three Degrees and that was because I free tickets!

Andre Martin…..Philip for you –

Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Robert Searle….Saw Three Degrees there, the place was packed out .A really good night with Clodagh Rodgers in support.

Colin Fox….. also saw them at Kings and they did a great harmony version of MacArthur Park

Gary Kinch…..All together now, one, two, three……………………….Under the Boardwalk, down by the sea.

Jacqueline Patton… I used to go with my parents it was a grand night out as a child

Colin Fox… The Drifters had 60 different singers over the years, and the last original Drifter died in 2007. I remember reading years ago that their were 42 different groups called The Drifters touring the world in one year.

Tony Court-holmes… i believe i was with mr gentry that night and gig

The Drifters at Kings in 1976...