Who remembers the Hovercraft at Hastings?

photo shared from: Valerie Churms

Mike Guy… Who remembers the inventor – put that Google down right now!

Mike Waghorne…I believe my daughter was a friend of his daughter and was a local man ?

Eric Harmer… Yes remember it , well was the inventor Rooster Cockburn. 😂😂his name was something to do with chickens

Peter Bridger… I have some of Dad’s old super 8 cine film of that somewhere! Went on a school trip to France on it. I remember it being noisy and bumpy!

Judy Atkinson… Christopher Cockerill

Mike Mitchell… I remember a man walking up the beach in what looked to me like a naval uniform waving a red flag on a stick. He was getting us to move out of the way so the hovercraft could land. I was distraught because the hovercraft flattened my lovely sandcastle

Tony Court-holmes… went on it

Phil Thornton… Remember it well ! – very noisy

Gary Colcombe… Oh yes! What a monster! remember it very well

Roger Simmonds… I remember it very noisy!

Mick O’Dowd… Didn’t they stop it because of the noise? It was rather loud!

Merv Kennard… remember it and the noise

Woodstock Film – Classic Cinema Hastings February 1971

woodstock record

Andy Qunta… Fabulous!

Alan Esdaile… I wonder why they gave the film a ‘x’ certificate? I remember a bit of nudity and swearing but apart from that great music.

Jeanette Jones… I still remember the atmosphere in the cinema too, Like nothing l’d experienced before, Now l’d call it loving energy:-) Dancing in the walk ways, The X rating probably due to it’s anti war stance, l remember Country Joe and the Fish and it’s 123 what are we fighting for? etc, Think Joan Baez did a peace song too, What do others remember?

Patrick Lewis… Santana ‘Soul Sacrifice’.

Alan Esdaile… I remember singing along to Country Joe and the Fish Jeanette and I think we clapped and cheered when something good came on.

John Wilde… Thats when I learned best not to take LSD at a movie theatre.

Dave Nattress… An absolute Milestone in Rock Culture, as for me at least was the film, Easy Rider and The Isle of Wight Festivals and Bath (Shepton Mallet), 1970?

Jeanette Jones… Santana stole the show but l loved Janice and no one but Hendrix could have performed Star Spangled Banner with such irony and showmanship;-)

Pete Prescott… Avoid me more than ever ! I’m a Woodstock bore! I still have the triple album and the directors cut dvd plus a couple of books. I payed this album to death ! I saw the film in Erith when it first came out. Creams farewell concert was on first then Woodstock. I’ll never forget it ! Crosby Stills Nash and Young were big for me. I used to open the windows to my bedroom and wait for the neighbours to come home then play the “fish cheer” (what a plonker! ) I so wanted to be there. I was 13 and living in a small village in North Kent.

Glenn Piper… I remember the haze from all the ‘smoking’ that was going on in the cinema. I was in the balcony for this.

Tony Court-holmes… I was with you glen that day.

Glenn Piper… Yes, a good day all round. We must get together sometime soon Tony

Alan Esdaile… you could join us at the next SMART meeting on Friday 19th February 2016 at 3.30pm at The White Rock Hotel.

Jeanette Jones… Always a good place to meet too:-)

Andy Qunta…  I saw that couple from the cover being interviewed a few years ago. They’re still together!  I loved the movie, of course!

Alan King… Great managerial decisions of our time : Keef Harley Band’s manager ‘you’re not filming our boys without more money’ – ‘OK then we won’t film your boys’ – Miller Anderson’s recollection of Woodstock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2vdsr0Msls

Angela Frances Gardner… I’ve still got my triple album cost me £7.50p.

Jeanette Jones… We are star dust we are …….. & we’ve got to get ourselves back to the garden

Who used to work at KB’s – Kolster Brandes Ponswood Industrial Estate, St Leonards?

Advert 1964

Steve Fox… I had a great time making TVs, it would have been a very depressing job full time but I was only employed temporarily for the run up to Christmas it was a great laugh!

Margaret Haywood… I worked there in 1964 and loathed every minute. I stuck it 3 months

Angie Pilbeam… Margaret, that was me at MK..8 weeks.ha

Wendy Nicholson… My mum Ena Parry did to

Patricia Usher… I worked there from 1962 til 1971. Loved every minute of it. Taught me a trade as later on in years I had good jobs with good companies. My Mum , Sister, Aunty and great friends all worked there.

Tim Moose Bruce… I worked at Buss foods, down the road from ITT/ KB. Had a cleaner who was there when it closed. He rescued some AVO 8 multimeters from the skip. Gave me one. I still got it.

Stephanie Blackledge… Yes, my great Aunt. Her nickname was Babsy. She wired circuit boards.

Judith Monk… I did a stint on final test….was hard work but fun.

Dennis Torrance… I left school 1968 July had loads of interviews went to KB was shown around with a few other boys from priory road could have had a job there and many other places so different then. I went for Collins and Hayes doing upholstery other places till I retired. It’s good to see something like this that brings back memories.

Vinegar Joe & Gary Moore Band – Hastings Pier 23rd February 1973

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supplied by Roger Carey

Leigh Wieland-Boys….I was Secretary of the Students Union at Hastings College at the time & assisted in organising the event – can’t believe it was 44 years ago! It was a great evening 😊

Mick Mepham….Alan, who is AS?

Phil Gill….Andy Strickland probably.

Chris Meachen…..Definitely Andy Strickland, god rest ‘im.. Somewhere in my attic I have a vinegar Joe poster with Elkie’s autograph written on her thigh.. She was a hot chick …..

Tony Qunta….That was a great gig! Both bands were fantastic. I am pretty sure Jim Mullen was playing 2nd guitar with Vinegar Joe!

Paul Sleet…..I remember this one. went backstage afterwards and met Elkie Brooks, courtesy of Chris Meachen who was doing his usual roadying.

Paul Edmonds… Missed this one, great days! Hi Phil and Chris.

Peter Thomson… Superb gig. Forgot I’d actually seen Gary Moore!

Yvonne Cleland… I was at the front for Gary Moore! x

Andy Qunta… I saw both these bands on the Pier, so I was probably at this gig!

Simon Walsh… Yes I was there too!

Gavin Martin… MMMmmm Smells good? The pier, the students , vinegar Joe??

Jennie Tocock…  I remember this one! Elkie Brooks was fabulous!

Mick O’Dowd… Used to love Vinegar Joe.

Peter Houghton… I remember seeing Vinegar Joe on the Pier, as i was at Hastings College then.

John Wilde… I was there also Pete.

Tony Court-holmes… so was I

 

Argent – Hastings Pier 23rd February 1974

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argent

poster & flyer supplied by Mick Mepham

Andy Qunta….I remember seeing Argent at the Pier. Not sure if it was this date or another time. Anyway, they were great! Bought their album too! Factory used to do a version of their song “Be Free”, which I still love! Also, at the end of their set, Russ Ballard threw his guitar up about chin-high and then caught it on the last note! It inspired me to try the same, and before long I was throwing my electric 12-string as high as whatever ceiling we were playing under, and catching it. Except for the one time I almost dropped it! I wasn’t really in the mood that time, but I thought I would do it anyway, but that was a mistake apparently! Oh yeah, did I mention Argent was great? That Rod Argent – a monster on the Hammond!  Russ Ballard of course is also a great songwriter! Wrote so many hits for so many artists, including Rainbow’s “Since You’ve Been Gone” etc etc etc….

Geoff Peckham….I remember this gig for not going! Stayed in and baby-sat with a mate while his wife and my girlfriend went to pier. Said girls returned after midnight with Rod Argent and (I think) Russ Ballard. Don’t know who was more surprised to see whom.

Henry Mann…..Went to this and still listening to their live double album.

Mervyn Kennard… I was there brilliant night. The only time i saw the ballroom covered with seats.

Lloyd Johnson… They were good customers of mine back then, they bought loads of clothes from us….

Martyn Baker… Yep. I went to this one. I loved them!

Mark Gilham… Great songwriter, Russ Ballard

Ernest Ballard.. Great name too

Mark Gilham… Part of the outstanding Ballard heritage

Ernest Ballard… Le Creme de la creme. Ha ha

Lucy Pappas… A bunch of us were there, too, Andy. Sarah? Roger? Phil? The usual crew, no doubt x

Phil Gill… Yup, I was there

Chris Meachen… As was I.

Glenn Piper…. And I

Chris Baker… Saw him in Milton Keynes not long ago! Still rocking!

Jennie Tocock… I was there too!

Jan Warren… Love Argent!

Willie Wicking… Was at that Gig

Tony Court-holmes… i think i was there but mind you the early 70s are a bit vague

Pete Houghton… That was a great night and was able to talk to the band before they went on stage

Hastings Talking Newspaper Special – Looking back to Hastings news in October 1979

In celebration on the recent 1000 edition. Hastings Talking Newspaper decided to look back at Hastings in October 1979, when the first issue was launched.

Don’t forget you can hear the latest Hastings Talking Newspaper on Conquest Hospital Radio, every Tuesday at 6.00pm. https://conquesthospitalradio.co.uk

Skip Bifferty – Hastings Pier 24th February 1968


supplied by Sarah Harvey

Sarah Harvey…  Skip Bifferty on the Pier (February 24th, 1968). A psychedelic band formed in early 1966. Band members were…Graham Bell: vocals – Mick Gallagher: Keyboards – Colin Gibson: bass – John Turnbull: guitar, vocals – Tommy Jackman: drums. Following their demise in 1971 , together with , Bell, Turnbull and Gallagher, formed Bell & Arc. Bassist Colin Gibson went on to work with Ginger Baker, Bert Jansch, Alvin Lee and Van Morrison. John Turnbull and Mick Gallagher reappeared in 1977 in The Blockheads, backing Ian Dury; in 1979 Gallagher played and recorded with The Clash and The Only Ones.

Mick Mepham…  Haven’t heard On Love since we played it in Die Laughing. Great song!

Terry Huggins… They were also known as ‘Heavy Jelly’ and had a song called ‘I keep singing that same old song’ on the ‘Nice enough to eat’ sampler. Can’t recall what the story behind this was, but apparently there were several bands using the ‘Heavy Jelly’ name.

Phil Thornton… that was a great song !! written by Colin Gibson !! When we had a revival of Stallion recently we had planned to play a new version of ‘I keep singing that same old song’ as an encore !!

Terry Huggins… One of the best piano riffs ever.

Kev Towner… Now that would’ve been cool Phil!! I had no idea Colin wrote it – I think I’ve got a copy somewhere.

Sarah Harvey… Heavy Jelly…… Skip Bifferty had been clandestinely recording a new single “I Keep Singing That Same Old Song” with Paul Nicholls replacing Tommy Jackman on drums and with producer Guy Stevens at the helm. Writers of the London magazine ‘Time Out’ had written a review of a fictitious band with the name of Heavy Jelly as a spoof and a number of bands contemplated using the name. Skip Bifferty managed to be first out and the Heavy Jelly single was released on Island. For a while it was rumoured to be Spooky Tooth moonlighting, but journalist Chris Welsh almost disclosed the true identity of the group when his review punned “this one really skips and biffs along”. The single didn’t sell in the UK but did well in Europe.

Mick O’Dowd… Only just recently caught up with listening to this group. Most impressed especially their version of I Am The Walrus. Good band.

Wendy Wells… I have their autographs somewhere, I got from this gig, I’ll try and look them out lol!

Steve Cooke… … and of course Colin Gibson has lived locally for many years, forming Buick 6 with Roger Hubbard and Liam Genockey as well as numerous other musical and artistic achievements.

Gavin Martin… Good band!

Carol Ann Bolton… Excellent.