SMART coffee meet report number 78

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A lovely warm day for our 78th catch up. Among the new people were Shona Goobie, Ricky Adelaide and Ernie Blocksage. Shona was talking about the many groups she used to enjoy in the Yelton Hotel including Jinks and Grundy and talking to Kevin Burchett about the Scalliwags 50th reunion, which is happening on the 24th May in The Rum Shed on the pier. Ricky was talking about the many musicians he has worked with and the success of ‘The King Blues Band’. Ernie was reminiscing over the different groups he has performed with including ‘Shyboy’ and ‘Deja Blue’ and has happy memories of when he did his first recording with Mick Mepham. Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland had some photos of The Union Regal Cinema from 1932, photos of Silverhill before Asda, a photo of the cleared gas works and woodyard site in Queens Road, to make way for Safeways and an ‘Ore Community Association’ membership card from 1960. Mick O’Dowd had hardback books, of Pete Townshend, Sting, Keith Richards and Genesis ‘Supper’s Ready’. Mick Thwaites had with him, the ‘Rolling Stones Story’ Decca Boxset, picture discs and some amazing Stones caricature stand up figures. Ian Marketis was talking about the Freddie Mercury tribute gig for AIDS Awareness that took place on the 20th April 1992. He had the programme, tickets, banner and video. Merv Kennard had a collection of Radio 1 badges including logo, ring a 247 ding, road show, 10 years and a rare Radio Caroline ‘Loving Awareness’ badge from Nigel Kennard. General chat was about the shock news that the White Rock Hotel is up for sale, Beatles Day, the major incident in St Leonards, St Mary In The Castle, The Pier, gigs, hospital radio in Hastings is 50 years this year, the new record shop in Clive Vale and not forgetting lots of chat about health issues! This is just a small bit of what I remember. 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.

Claire Lonsdale… Thank you Alan once again for a very pleasant afternoon. Lovely to see everyone. Xx

Colin Bell… Well done Alan, great to catch up with everyone and have a good chat

Keith Veness… Thank you Alan look forward to the next one

Mick O’Dowd… Yes I agree Colin. A good turnout from some interesting people old & newbies. Well done Alan!

Cris and Merv… Thanks Alan for organising another cracking meeting today? We had a good time catching up with friends

Lance Collins… Sorry can’t make it. Gig tonight so loading van. Takes ages at my age.

 

 

Did anyone go on the Magic Bus coach trips in the 1970’s?

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Leigh Mitchell… No – but I’d go on one now at those prices

Rebecca Roach… What a memory – delighted to find this – I went on the Magic Bus to Athens from Kings Cross station in 1972/3 (?) stayed at The Funny Trumpet hostal in Athens – that was an experience!

R Stene… Yes. London to Athens in 1978. I was the oldest person on the ride (36) and best dressed it turned out. No head rests for three days and a memorable toilet stop for two girls on the side of the road in Yugoslavia in the snow. Lots of interesong smoking going on in the back seats.

Mike Curtis… No. Cos it was “too much”

John Wilde… Yes twice to Amsterdam.

Vicki Campbell… Yes, Athens to Amsterdam 1975. Yugoslavia we broke down near Skopje.  Pretty rough travel but the price was right! I remember how happy everyone was to cross into Austria! The fresh produce in Yugoslavia was the best anywhere.

Heather Sidery… Yes.. France and back. We we’re stopped in UK, and searched by police. Nothing found…..

Julie Findlay-jones… My uncle used to drive for them in the 70s.

David Hamblett… Went to Athens 1979, it cost £28,Should have been 3 days but took 4 as Yugoslavia police stopped the bus and took away the driver, Fantastic

Amanda Darling… David, I was on that bus too! My son was conceived on the roadside in Yugoslavia when the bus driver was taken off by the police!

Joan Hicks… I (a Kiwi) traveled Athens to London 1976. Alan was the lone driver. He had his kids Claire and Roger with him. Alan had a kidney stone attack in the Alps, so the whole busload baby sat until he came back. Also got stuck at the Yugoslavian border, the border guards demanding $200 US for a Visa I already had. Also got an unplanned day in Amsterdam. Brilliant trip. Made some good friends and still keep in touch with a couple of them. Traveled on with Alan down to Cornwall and stayed with him and his wife Flora for a few days. Happy days!

Meryl Gay… Yes, I took the 3day trip in 1975 from London via France, Italy over the ferry at Brindisi to Greece down to Athens. What a adventure. We had a puncture in France! Had many happy memories.

Peter Ellingworth… I didn’t myself but my youngest cousin Moira, sadly no longer with us having succumbed to cancer, and over from Australia at the time (1975-8) on their traditional overseas rite of passage, did so with her Canadian flat mate she lodged with in Shepherds Bush…..and ended up in Athens marrying a Greek. Did the bus go from the old coach station half way up Pentonville Rd., (now an upmarket restaurant) or from outside King’s Cross Rail station itself, most likely in York Way ?

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The Confederates – Home Grown 22nd March 1966

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supplied by Pete Millington https://pet842.wixsite.com/confeds-to-jinks

Here’s the recording…

Peter Millington….The Confederates on 22nd March 1966 just before appearing on “Home Grown” a Television competition which was an early version of The X-Factor. Judges were George Melly – Jazz Singer, Johnny Morris – Animal man and children’s TV presenter, Mike Mansfield – Director of Southern ITV and Eve Taylor – Aritist Agent. The show was compared by Bill Pertwee of Dads Army fame (The Warden). — with Terry Chedzoy, Peter (Ginger) Millington, Keith (Budge) Harrison-Burgess, Paul Burton and Johnny Conroy.

Barry French… Great photo. What an amazing experience that must have been.

Pete Millington… That was certainly a “brown trousers” experience. So many heats to get to that final then to come second – hey ho, loved every minute of being a Confederate between 1962 to 1966/7

Robert Searle… Great photo Pete.

Colin Bell… You haven’t changed much Peter, have you got a picture in the attic..

Pete Millington… You’re too kind Colin. No I haven’t and I still avoid mirrors Oh to be 19 again

The first comic relief night Hastings 1985

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supplied by Eric Harmer

Eric Harmer… The first comic relief night. I organised a beach party pub crawl and raised a lot of money. What a crazy night that was. Can you recognise anyone?

Chris Jolly… I bet you lot had some FUN!

Alan Esdaile… Recognise you Eric. Looks like you’re the sensible one! Liz in the front.

Eric Harmer… Always Alan

Darren Holmes… Kev Perry and his sister right by you Eric

Heather Sidery… One down, from upper middle clown??

Lorraine Heasmer… I think that might be Richard Foster in the front row and maybe Tania Hodgins the other end of the front row?

David Martin… I can only recognise you & John Smith

Graham Sherrington… that looked like fun!!!!!

 

More photos of the wonderful Bathing Pool holiday camp – St Leonards-on-Sea

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All photos © Hastings Public Library

Lin Wood… I worked in that snack bar with Danni.

Kat Wood… Lin, really, when was that? I worked in the gift shop the last couple of years it was open! Loved that place. There was a guy called Ken running the cafe when I was there, but remember Carrington

Dawn Mann… My sister Tina and I worked in the cafe which was run by Dennis.

Bev Pearce Smith… What’s there now please ?

Gary Benton… Bev, all that is left now is the low wall that surrounds the Princess bar terrace that you can see in the picture. My parents had interests in the business. I was pretty much brought up there.

Linda O’leary… My mum used to take me there when I was 5

Catherine Ireland… We called it Bo-Peep ?

Judy Atkinson… Catherine, that’s a nearby pub

Kurt Helge… Been there in 1966 and 1967

Judy Atkinson… I once jumped off the high diving board

Mike Waghorne… I once climbed to the top of that high board looked down & froze ! It was a long way down for a 10 year old to look at, swimming over that deep 15ft water made my stomach felt strange !

Judy Atkinson… Mike, to be fair, that middle section was always a very uninviting murky green colour and you couldn’t see the bottom.

Paul Coleman… I can remember jumping off of that top one. Nearly s..t myself! Went up n did it again tho. Lol.

Ray Barry… I remember the bathing pool very well, not sure exactly how old I was when I used to go there 12,13 something like that, and we would jump off the the top diving board and try to touch the the bottom, 17ft deep I seem to recall.

Pete Grange… we lived in Seaside Road, so was in there a lot.

Ian Maclean… Pre 60s I think, as no chalets around the top. The Holiday camp owned by Councillor Withers appeared towards the mid 60s. The council said it didn’t make money, when it let him take it over. I suppose all those people got in for nothing !

Lawrence Finch… I went there to see a friend who worked in the café/bar many times.. a really nice, old fashioned friendly place. Shame it had to close really, must have been financial I suppose.

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White Rock Baths Hastings 1950’s

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photo © Hastings Public Library

Paul Cullen… Learnt to swim in this pool

Carol Arnold… So did I

Steve Cooke… So did I.

Graham Sherrington… Yes I still have my HESSA Certs and the ribbons

Roger Simmonds… Wow I remember it!

Daryl Perkins… School swimming lessons!!

Ian Johnson… Daryl, same

Jane Collins… Swimming lessons there

Angela Frances Gardner… Swam there in the 60s during the winter and in the summer at the bathing pool in west st Leonards

Jacquie Hinves… And it was so cold!! I remember being there when Alice Cooper was blaring out “Schools out for Summer “and this very creepy man hovering around our changing rooms. 1972?? I would have been 13/14.

Russell Field… So did I, hot blackcurrent 2p from the machine.

Carol Acott… Went there with school but Mrs Penny couldn’t teach me to swim….I still can’t because it gave me a fear of the water…what a wimp lol …

Eric Harmer… t was cold and smelly , Miss Penny was the teacher , we had to jump in off the side I hated it.

Bernard Baker… I caught a verruca in this place in 1972 and it took a year to get rid of it!!

Alan Esdaile… Bernard, remember the strong over powering disinfectant small square pool we walked through. The water was a funny colour and had bits floating in it. No wonder we all got verruca’s!

Paul Bannister… Oh how I hated it. Can still smell the chlorine. Ugh

Lynda Whatley… Memories memories

Linda Gowans… My mother taught me to swim there (hot chocolate and biscuits afterwards), winter of 1955, years before I had to go to a school lesson (only once!). Got verrucas on both feet, very painful for weeks until we visited my grandma, who fetched an old tin of ointment from the back of a cupboard. Cured them overnight.

Carol Acott… Linda, good old gran.

Jane Collins… Linda, I also got a verucca there. Probably 1960 when we had swimming lessons. If we were hovering at the side we got pushed in. Hated it! Awful things. We had to kneel down in a row before going in the pool for a foot inspection

Peter Brazier… I actually miss swimming there!

 

Christian’s Crusaders and Steve Marriott’s Moments – Witch Doctor St Leonards 20th March 1965

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I think this would be Neil Christian’s Crusaders, who had a solo hit with That’s Nice in 1966. If so could be Jimmy Page, Albert Lee, Mick Abrahams or Richie Blackmore on guitar at this gig? Anyone confirm? As well as the brilliant Steve Marriott, also interesting cutting as mentions Trevor Spears winning a cash prize and not forgetting popular local group The Humperdinks.

Andre Martin… They would not get away with posting such details today, I recall the Wedddings  reports who gave details of the couples new homes etc what a boom for the thieves,  whilst they would be away on honeymoon.