memories

SMART coffee meet report 67

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SMART coffee meet report number 67

What a Great afternoon! Among the newbies this time were Helena Kingshott, Micky Erends, Neil Cartwright, Jane Hartley, Sue Byrne, and David Martin. Helena was reminiscing about the great dances in Hastings with the regular Friday nights at the caves and Saturdays on the pier. Micky had some great memories of Ore youth club and the pier with Hendrix, Pink Floyd and Johnny Kidd. Neil was catching up with friends and fellow musicians that he has performed with over the years.  Jane was chatting about the music that’s happening this summer on the pier. Sue remembers seeing Elvis Costello and always enjoyed seeing The Teenbeats. David was catching up with old school friends and was talking about how good Pete Prescott’s music quiz nights are at The Dolphin. Mick O’Dowd had the hardback book with him called ‘Rock Odyssey A Chronicle of The Sixties’ by Ian Whitcomb whom you may remember had the hit in the sixties with ‘You Turn Me On’.  Mick said, it’s surprises what you can find in the charity shop for 50p!  Mo Elms turned up with a surprise, Terry’s original 70’s platform shoes! Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland had some interesting photos with him, including The Regal Theatre, The Maanav Star cargo ship when it run aground at Camber, Courts furniture shop at White Rock in 1978, North Seat viewing platform look out tower in Fairlight from 1960 and ‘Ransons’ corner shop, on the corner of Broadway and Fairlight Road. He also had photos from his cousin Roger of Pete Best in Liverpool, George Martin in Harrods and a Yoko Ono photo. Lynn Williams and Jane Moody had some great looking trendy photos of them from their teenage years. Paul Huggett had pages of lists of all the gigs he has seen over the years from 1964 to present. John Busbridge arrive with an amazing collection of LP’s & single records of Buddy Holly and Cliff Wootton had leaflets and information on ITT. Clive Richardson had Steamhammer posters and a large selection of 7” singles and Barry French had a Status Quo programme from Alexandra Park in 2006. This is just a small bit of what I remember and sorry was unable to chat to everyone. If you had anything interesting you were talking about or anything I missed out or got wrong! then please feel free to add or correct.

Stephen Moran… I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get to SMART today.

Jim Breeds… Apologies for my absence. I had some errands to run.

Cris & Merv Kennard… Another good afternoon catching up with lots of people. Thanks Alan for organising

Lucy Pappas… Sorry to miss another one. Hope it was fun! xx

Tony Davis… Sorry to miss another one was scoping out young bands in Brighton

Mick O’Dowd… You missed a good one there Stephen. Nice to see more newbies every time we have a Meet. Well done Alan!

Stephen Moran… I’m sorry I missed it Mick, we’ve got a family wedding otherwise I’d have been there. You are quite right, Alan does a great job.

Dave Martin… Priory Road Trio met up yesterday at SMART Coffee meeting at White Rock Hotel. Myself, Eric Harmer & Jon McCallion

Andy Qunta… Sounds great! As usual I’m sorry I couldn’t be there! Thanks for the plug for the Factory gig! Here’s a link for tickets –

https://dice.fm/event/5rv2y-factory-5th-aug-the-piper-saint-leonards-tickets

Iain Cobby… Sorry to miss another bash Alan, on the school run in Tenterden!

Willie Wicking… Don’t look any different Dave

 

I remember Wards looking like this and mens holiday wear

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photo source: unknown

Advert 1968

opening advert 14th July 1951 supplied by Leigh Kennedy

Fiona Evans… So do I !

Arthur Sutherland… Love the headless sales assistant.

Pete Fisher… was dragged there to be fitted out with school uniform…

Alan Esdaile… so was I Pete, I was like Kevin the teenager from Harry Enfield!

Tony May… This looks to me like the interior of Apps at Silverhill.

Sue Bennett… When l was small l remember the lovely little drawers with delicate buttons & threads in them.I collected buttons & beads, etc too after that.

Julie Findlay-jones… Wish shops looked more like this now, very nostalgic.

Janine Anne Scott… Do you remember the distinct smell?

Jules Stretton… Me too

Carol Paffett… And Mastins

Pete Brazier… A bit like Grace Brothers Isn’t it

Tony Ham… You beat me to it, are you free My Humphreys? I’m free!

Jon McCallion….  I remember this too. Shame we can’t go back to it, it would be so much better.

Jacquie Hinves… That was downstairs in the Queens Road shop. Upstairs was the Children’s outfitters. I got my first uniform for Our Lady’s Convent in Filsham Road from there!

Judy Atkinson… And my dad’s shop had cabinets like this

Despo Hawkins… Me too

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SMART coffee meet report 66

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The sun was shining and a packed turn out for our 66th meet. Among the newbies this time were Dave Reece, Peter Ellingworth, Lynn Williams, Joan Moody and Alan Thwaites. Dave had with him a photo album of the many groups he has played with, including Cyril Stapleton Band, Daybreak and Love Together who hit the front of the newspapers in 1975, about Opportunity Knocks. Peter had a photo of Pulpit Gate house at the bottom of All Saints Street and his father did the woodwork on the building. He was in deep conversation with others on his interest in Hastings transport. Lynn and Joan had happy memories of The Pam Dor and Witch Doctor and had a photo of Chris Upton outside The Clarence pub in the town centre with his car. Alan was remembering seeing The Kinks, Curved Air and others on Hastings Pier. Cris Kennard arrived with an original Fisher Price Music Box record player and it still works! Also a huge collection of Beano and Dandy comics. Mo Elms had a whole array of Capital Radio merchandise, including a tie, bag, sweater, hoodie and a fun book, which her and Terry got when they entered a competition at the studios in London around 1976/77. Laurie Cooksey had photos of his first nursery drum kit, which he used in the group ‘Rael’ and had transfers of teddy bears and pandas on!. The group consisted of him on drums and vocals, Dave Austin on bass and Frank Isted on guitar and vocals. Ian Marketis had with him a very rare David Bowie 7” picture disc singles collection. Colin Tapp had a photo from an early 60’s dance at Ore Secondary School (Hillcrest) and a Humperdinks photo from Maidstone. Phil John had a photo album of him when he was working with Queen, David Bowie and Mott The Hoople and many interesting stories to tell. Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland tried to take a photo of the demolition of Ashdown House but wasn’t allowed. So he went on a double decker bus and took a photo from their! Cliff Wootton was talking about how much his group ‘All Their Kings Fall’ enjoyed playing Beatles Day and have lots more gigs and recordings coming up. Geoff Peckham (Jaffa) was talking about how well the rehearsals of ‘Factory’ are going and looking forward to their gig at The Piper in August. This is just a small bit of what I remember and sorry was unable to chat to everyone. If you had anything interesting you were talking about or anything I missed out or got wrong! then please feel free to add or correct.

Mick O’Dowd… Really enjoyed the Meet. Met up with some very nice people including Jaffa, Lol, Jim, Clair & Andre. Good Meet as usual Alan. Well done!

Merv & Cris Kennard… As always, good to see everyone. Thanks for organising Alan

Stephen Moran… I’m really sorry I wasn’t able to make it yesterday Alan. I look forward to the next one.

David Jenkins… Absolutely brilliant afternoon , as always, Alan

Jaffa Peckham… Another enjoyable afternoon, Alan. Thanks for making it possible again!

Peter Ellingworth… Excellent & enjoyable day yesterday at the White Rock Hotel thanks Alan, hope to make the next one or the one after. I took the 18.46 train from Hastings to London Bridge, this connected nicely with a Horsham to Peterborough service, itself connecting with a King’s Cross to Cambridge train at Finsbury Park, arriving home at 21.30.

Claire Lonsdale… Thank you Alan for another enjoyable afternoon x

Monica Bane… Alan, So very interesting the latest news, Thanks again, Monica x

Jim Breeds… Thanks Alan. Really enjoyed it. If only we all knew what the other tables were talking about or brought with them at the time

Joe Knight… Thank you for sharing this!

Tony Davis… Sorry to have missed it

Paul Huggett… Dammit forgot it was on, again !

Tony Qunta… Shame I couldn’t be at what sounds like a fabulous SMART meeting.

Eric Upton… I’m reliably informed by my wife who went there that Hillcrest was formerly named Hastings Secondary School for Girls.

 

SMART coffee meet 66 – Friday 5th May 2023

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Dave Reece… Would like to turn up if that’s OK. Cheers!

Alan Esdaile… Your most welcome Dave

Dave Reece… Thank you I’ll bring me old clippings album. Tons of old toot!!

Susan McHugh… What a nice idea, you’ll enjoy that Dave

Peter Ellingworth… Intend to attend from exile in Hertfordshire.

Dimarco’s Hastings circa 1979 – ice cream display

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Supplied by Gavin Ronald Upstill via Hastings and Area, Past and Present

https://www.facebook.com/HAPP1066/

John Mcewen… Used to go in there all the time as a kid. Those knickerbocker glories look pricey tho. In 1979 I was only earning £16 a week!

Roger Simmonds… My wife was a waitress in Dimarcos many years ago, happy times!

Deb Hoad… Remember going in there and having knickerbocker glories !!!

Helena Kingshott… Vera Dimarcos was one of my friends. a lovely family x

Lloyd Johnson… Helen, my Mum was friends with one of the ladies of the Dimarco family and we would visit her upstairs in their home above the cafeteria. I remember going there in the 1950s and she had just had a charcoal Mural drawn on the wall of an Italian landscape.It was really well done just in black line drawing… I remember being so impressed by it !  It seem like complete relaxed freedom compared to the average home decor of the time.

Pete Houghton… Omg yes!! I Remember going for a Coffee in Dimarcos in the 70s

Mick O’Dowd… I worked in Iorio DiMascio(now Italian Way) and we had the fake displays. One day a woman came up yo the counter with 2 of them and said these look nice i’ll have them please. They were covered in dust!

Jim Breeds… How much did you charge her?

Mick O’Dowd… 2 chocolate coins!

Harry Norcliffe-hic… Great looking prices

Peter Brazier… Lorna worked there!

Tracy Birrell… Spent a lot of my teenage years in here.

 

What comic did you have, when you were a kid?

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Julie Findlay-Jones… Twinkle my sister had Jackie

Angela Frances Gardner… Jackie as a teenager, Princess Tina as a youngster!

Jo Turner… Snap

Margaret Fletcher… I had Bunty

Kev Perry… Look in

Peter Brazier… Eagle, TV21, Valiant, Comando, War library, beano, Dandy, what ever I could get with the pocket money I had left after I’d got my Airfix, Frog or Revel model kit lol

Jim Breeds… Dandy, Beano, Tiger at various times, but I regularly had Eagle delivered. Also I was literally just sorting through some old stuff a few minutes ago and came across this. Who remembers TV Tornado? It’s the complete comic from July 1967 that for some reason I still have.

Jan Warren… Look in and Jackie as a teenager and Yogi Bears Own Weekly as a kid

Leigh Wieland-Boys… Bunty & Jackie

Jo Turner… Princess Tina 😊 and my sister had Jackie

Lucy Pappas… Bunty x

Arthur Sutherland… Where is Topper and Beezer

Lyn Humphrey… Ah, comics—now you’re talking my language! Main one was ‘Lion’, with favourite character being ‘Karl the Viking’. Brilliant artwork, that I found out later was by Don Lawrence, a noted artist (and two weeks too late, I discovered he lived 2 miles from my house!). Also had, at various times, the Victor, Eagle, and Beano. They don’t write ’em like that anymore!

Eric Harmer…  Penthouse

Barry Newton… I know you Eric, you only bought it for the pictures, lol

Paul Chapman… Sparky in the early days. But later warlord, eagle, battle picture weekly… commando library

John Sperni… 2000AD… Still got prog 1,2,3

Martin Ralph… Lol,me too. Up to 226

Will Cornell… Mad Magazine. Still laugh out loud thinking over their stuff.

Dennis Torrance… My favourite was The victor like the dandy and beano later got the century 21

Josie Lawson… I had Jackie and Judy which my mum got me…and sometimes read my sisters Bunty. I miss the comics. I used to enjoy which bubble of words should be read, working it out. I know I have seen in Waterstones when I could get out and about, books with a different type of comic. There is a name for these books but can’t remember.
Within the last few years, adult colouring books have taken the scene by storm so to speak. Yes, obviously someone came to their scenes and realised the relaxation with them, adults and children need to colour, but maybe someone should now come out with adult comic books similar to our childhood comics. Before seeing this, I have quite often mentioned this to friends. “Wish I could pick up a comic at the paper shop”…

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SMART coffee meet 65 report

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A packed 65th meet . Among the newbies this time were Rita and Colin Allcorn, Ian Mantel, Jackie Ayres, Joan Britcher, Lee Davis, Rose Graven, Vivien Hopgood and Ian Marketis. Rita was talking about her accordion band ‘Sound Accord’, when she was a music teacher and seeing The Move, The Hollies and The Rolling Stones on the pier. Colin has happy memories of seeing Cliff Richard in concert in Brighton. Ian Mantel was talking about his love of rock music with some excellent local live groups especially ‘Freak Flag’. Jackie had happy memories of seeing The Small Faces and Joan was chatting about her relative who plays in the popular country and western duo ‘Cooper Hayes’. Lee, Rose and Vivien were meeting up again for the first time in 40 years and reminiscing about the wonderful times that had in Scalliwags. Ian Marketis was talking about his love of ‘Queen’ and had with him the very rare and collectable large leather-bound photo album of Killer Queen by Mick Rock, which had Mick’s, Roger Taylor and Brian May’s autographs inside. Mo Elms came along with some radio badges of Radio 1, Free Radio, Radio Luxembourg and also Radio Caroline and Legalise CB. The last two I’m pretty sure were made at Masons Music and printed by Kevin Carlyon! Merv Kennard had photos of his Pirate Disco at The Alexandra Hotel and also a photo of Les Harding in Centre Page at the De La Warr Pavilion in 1975. Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland had an autographed photo of ‘Keane’ in Alexandra Park in 2005 and Eric Burdon’s 60th birthday party T Shirt from 2001. Pete Millington had with him, Paul and Linda McCartney’s autograph’s, Rev Stockdale photo, The Hollies first line up autographed photo from 1963 and ‘The Remains’ who supported The Beatles at Shea Stadium, autographed photo. Barry French brought along a copy of Tammy magazine from 1973 featuring Marc Bolan and Elton John with the odd cover price of 3 1/2p. He also had a copy of the ‘Lovers Seat’ Fairlight postcard, a spade scrapper which he made in metalwork and a weaved school basket! Lin Russell had various music magazines including Disco 45, Mickie, Mirabelle, Music Star, Superstar 73, autographed postcard of ‘The Mission’ and autographed photo of ‘The Corrs’ , as well as T Rex posters and Barry White programme. Sorry I didn’t get chance to chat to everyone. If you had anything interesting you were talking about or anything I missed out, then please feel free to add.

Jon McCallion… Great turnout Alan, enjoyed seeing and talking to everyone, nice afternoon

Cris & Merv Kennard… Another good afternoon, catching up with lots of friends. Thanks Alan. 

Mick O’Dowd… Started slow and I thought that it might be the cold weather. Then it seemed a coach load of people arrived and is was quite packed. Nice to see some newbies and especially from the female (am I allowed to say that?) of the species! Brings a bit of diversity (I can say that!) to the proceedings! Well done Alan.

David Jenkins… Had a fantastic afternoon , especially meeting a lot of new people and having a good chat about music

Who ate jelly cubes straight from the pack?

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shared from Sheila Goss

Alan Esdaile… Yes guilty!! I would always offer to help mum if she was making a jelly but wasn’t a good idea to give me the job of splitting the cubes. One would always disappear!

Merv Kennard… Wasn’t it the law that you ate at least one cube.

Colin Bell… Guilty as charged!…sorry, again….mum!

Ann Hogg… Oh yes!

Shaun Cramp… Yep

Kate Recknell-Page… Yep done that on a few occasions!!

Wendy Weaver… I still nick some now

Pete Prescott… Yep!

Antonia Jacobs… Before I found out what it was made from

Robert Fisher… Yes

Edward Adams… i did

Stuart Moir… When my mum had no money for sweet treats, kids today don’t know how our parents struggled to make ends meet after the war, it was a bloody sight worse than todays families on benefits I can tell you, and don’t think this is bullshit .

Dave Nattress… Now you mention it – Yes!

SindySnap… Good for your nails and hair

Tracy Birrell… I used to buy it with my pocket money instead of sweets sometimes…..now I know what it’s made from.

Pete Brazier… Oops! Me (when I could get away with it lol

Martin Richter… i loved this and even in my 20’s still had tea with my nan every friday. she’d always give me some goodies to take home – including jelly (every week!) i didn’t want to upset her so took in good faith – but i had a cupboard full! anyway, returning from the pub with my best mate he decided to open some jelly, tear off a square and proceeded to thumb-toss them onto the ceiling – where they stuck! this was hilarious until at about 3am when they started dropping to the floor with a *thud* every 5 mins!

Peter Houghton… Trouble is one is not enough so may be pieces just a little water

Reid McDuffie… Me

Susan Butchers… The only way I would eat it

Paul Kershaw… Who didn’t

Oliver Leonard… ewww no.

John Warner… Yes

Dave Weeks… It was a tough chew though

Mick O’Dowd… Guilty M’lud!

Dawn… Yes and still do. I buy it to make jelly and then myself and grandchildren just end up eating it all straight from the packet. Still just as good

David Edwards… Guilty M’lud.

Who went to Carnaby Street in the swinging 60’s?

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photo: 1968 – H.Grobe

Thanks to John Busbridge for suggesting this post.

Wendy Weaver… Fascinsting. Takes me back to happy times when I worked there

Peter Fortsch… Really Cool man. And i love the fantastic classic motors.

Lucy Pappas… Wonderful piece of film, Al, thank you x

Paul Crimin… How sad to think that all of those ‘pretty young things’ are now 53 years older. I wish I’d been born ten years earlier when I see film like that.

John Busbridge… I was just 20 years old in 1967 and used to go to Carnaby Sreet to buy some of my clothes!

Moya Wilson… This is fantastic !!! Takes you right back !!

Liz Dianto… Fascinating

Gerry Fortsch… I still have my Sgt Pepper jacket I purchased in 1967/68 up in the loft sadly it has shrunk a little I think.

Ian Tee… Carnaby street by day then Wardour street for the night. Happy times

Alan Parker… Oh WoW. I remember it like it was yesterday. was a regular Saturday trip for me , was about 18 then

Colin Bell… Great stuff John, bought my first ‘stage gear’ there in 1968 and Ravel shoes! good times

Ian Tee… do you remember “Topper” shoe shop. Just down from Ravel.

Colin Bell… Vaguely Ian, but you know what they say about the 60’s

Paul Marshall… That’s quite special.

John William Willis… Just got stationed in Chelsea barracks what a place to visit , we came back with flowery shirts etc the older soldiers took a dim view , Whats this!!! they were from another generation some were from the war 2 etc from 20 years ago we did not understand them either

Alan Esdaile… I remember buying a hippy bell in Carnaby Street.

Alan Parker… did you wear the blue tinted Lenon glasses too Alan. I was a hippy too gave out flowers in Kentish town and Camden town. Lost count of how many times I got told to get a job or a haircut. Don’t think I was being given a choice , it was just their way of telling me to F… off

Martin Stoggell… I remember buying some blue suede shoes down there about that time. Magic

Martin Curcher… When people actually talked face to face and not a mobile phone in sight, how good was that?

John Gale… How great that someone had the foresight to think something great is going on here in Carnaby Street let’s film it. Not alot of that going on in detail these days. Just snippets from mobile phones

Dave Nattress… Yeah definitely but not really knowing what to expect I found it quite a disappointingly short street, maybe was thinking it would be like Oxford Street. But, during those late 60’s and into the early 70’s the other places we went to were the Kings Road, Chelsea, – “Granny Takes a Trip” etc. The Chelsea Drugstore (Pub), Kensington Market a huge building, two/three floors full of stalls, jewellery, shoes, clothes, loon pants, Tie-dye T shirts, Cheesecloth shirts, Kurta’s, Afghan coats, Joss sticks, Musk oil, Patchouli Oil, BIBA – Kensington and Petticoat Lane Market off Aldgate on a Sunday morning. Topper shoes, Ravel, platforms, stacked wooden heels. Great days to have experienced and so long ago!

Steve Maxted… Most of my outfits were made there by a well known tailor. Also bought many crazy shoes and boots up there

John Warner… Me too, had a great collection of shirts and Robin Hood boots

Nick Prince… I love it