Year: 2018

Dame June Whitfield dies

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-46712694

Jan Warren… Aaaawwwww, bless her, she carried on acting till the end, starred in so many things on stage and screen – R.I.P. dear June, god bless xx

Martin Richter… and on radio – the news huddlines is fantastic

Janet Rennie… Such a great comedienne

Chris Meachen… Oh no.. That’s a terrible shame, RIP lovely lady..

Andy Qunta… Brilliant comedienne! RIP!

Ian Mantel… 1971 spoof of Je t’aime with Frankie Howerd

Julie Findlay-jones… Oh that’s so sad .

Betty Austin… She was one of the GREAT STARS .x

Alan Esdaile… A REAL star, very sad news.

Martin Richter… a sad loss – a great talent and Wimbledon supporter

Jeanette Jones… She described Herself as, “a comics tart”, She was, far, far more

Angela Frances Gardner… May she RIP

Lyn Humphrey… I’ve watched June Whitfield on TV and in films all my life. What a loss.

 

Two Sawyers Club Pett – 1967

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supplied by John Busbridge

John Busbridge… The Pub is still there but I don’t remember much about the Club?

Mike Mitchell… Remember it well from Sunday lunchtimes in the late 60s. The pub itself was a members-only club. Used to go there with my mum and dad. My sister and I were allowed in to play shove ha’penny

Sophie Ash…. Back in the day, Pett was a temperance village – hence the club status of the Sawyers. At least I think that’s the story.

Jan Warren…Interesting ……. I lived in Pett Level as a kid from about 1962-1967, it was the best place ever in those days, but now, sadly it seems to have been turned into a “millionaires Haven”??!! – we were all poor people there back in the 60s and it was so beautifully wild and unspoilt land, my parents had very little money so life was hard but my memories will always be of happiness and freedom in such a place that felt like a little “paradise” to me ………. I often used to walk through the village of Pett and remember The Two Sawyers Pub …….. and what was the other one on the corner, coming up from Chick Hill??? – I think its been a bikers meeting place for some years, – just say the name, I know it ……… shit, I know it??!!! so annoying ………….. ugghhhhhhhhh

Steve Amos… The Royal Oak?

Jan Warren… Yes, The Royal Oak, thank you

John Williams… Played in my band a few times I that pub

Eugene Hughes… Who remembers the flamingo? The one that migrated to the Pett Level lake every summer!

Dave Nattress… Definitely remember the Flamingo – used to drive across to the Pett Level pools from Bexhill and saw it several times. Early 70’s – maybe 1972 for a couple of years at least.

Eugene Hughes… It was there into the 80’s

Mayor and Mayoress Ball Hastings

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Supplied by John Busbridge

John Busbridge… The Mayors Ball, one of the big occasions of the year, held in December near Christmas I think. Look at the band playing in the Gloucester Room! Whats the Years?

Nigel Sinden…  I did not get any gifts this year. If I had they would gone to others needing them more than me. I hope to see many changes this year. As we can not go down truther perhaps it is time to start looking at raising those at the bottom instead of supporting those at the top.

John Busbridge… I believe the Ball was organise by the Hastings Rotary and the Gifts were all collected by the Mayor for distribution to local Charities! It would be good if something like this could be re-invented. Everything about Christmas has got too materialistic. My wife and I didn’t even give each other cards or presents this year instead we gave the money to Crisis to help the homeless and just kept our cards from the year before!

Pete Millington… I’m pretty sure this was 1975 which is when we changed our name from Spyke to Jinks. It was also when Rod Trowell joined making the line up Peter Millington – Rhythm guitar (formerly on Bass) Ian Williams – Lead Guitar, Terry Chedzoy – Drums, Rod Trowell – Bass Guitar. Don’t recall the Music Masters – do you know if they were dance band or group?

 

Wishing you a Happy Christmas and a Healthy New Year

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Happy Christmas and Very Best Wishes for a Healthy 2019. 

Thank you to everyone for their great support during the year and especially to the people that regularly post and keep the page interesting. Also to everyone that turn up at our coffee meets and all the guests and listeners to the radio show. SMART keeps growing but for it to continue, we always need more old photos and cuttings that would be of interest and haven’t been posted before. Time to look in that box in the loft, have a look through your photos albums and ask the relatives. It is a sad time for many but I hope some of the postings keep the happy memories alive. I will be taking a Christmas break shortly, so limited posts and replies to emails during the next week. I wish you all A Very Happy Christmas and A Healthy New Year.

Nastassja Kaschevsky… Happy Christmas Alan

Josie Lawson…  Likewise Alan, I wish you and your family a great christmas and a Happy Healthy New Year 2019.

Keith Veness… Happy Christmas Alan have a good one

Dennis Torrance… Happy Christmas and new year to you Alan

Matt Thomas… Happy Christmas Alan and have a nice break

Yvonne Cleland… Merry xmas Alan xxx

Ernest Ballard… Happy xmas

Colin Norton… Wishing you the same, Alan. Thanks for all of your great work with SMART!

Mick O’Dowd… Another year gone by and another great year for SMART and our illustrious leader the legend in his own lunchtime Alan Esdaile Johnny Mason. Thanx for everything and may your New Year be better than this year.

Judith Monk… Happy Christmas to all of you.

Jeanette Jones… Wishing You all best wishes back Ez. Thanks for all Your hard work & taking the trouble to keep in touch with so many of us xxx

Robert Searle… Happy Christmas Alan ,I’m sure everyone appreciates what you do.All the best and s happy new year to you.

Jon McCallion… Happy Christmas to you Alan, well done for all the effort with the SMART music group and also everything else that you do like a hospital radio and also playing piano in the hospital. Speak to you soon come up and see us in the new year. Best wishes John

Barry Newton… All the best to you and yours Alan and all SMART members

John Wilde… Have a safe and Merry Christmas. Thanks for keeping our musical memories alive.

Tony May… All the best, Alan and THANKS for all the hard work you put in to keep S.M.A.R.T. going.

Jan Warren… Merry Christmas Alan and best wishes for the new year!

Karen Sweatman… Merry Christmas and all the best for 2019. Thank you for another great year of your page. Great to finally meet you

Pete Prescott… Happy Christmas to you ! Pete and Carole. X The SMART meetings have become such an important part of my life. Meeting people who you can relate to and share memories with had been wonderful for all of us . I absolutely hate missing them. Thanks for creating such a great event/ club/ celebration of Hastings music.

Lucy Pappas… Merry Christmas, Alan x

Graham Belchamber… And to you Alan. Thanks for all your efforts in setting up and running SMART.

Mark Gilham… Thank you Alan. Have a wonderful, peaceful relaxing time. Very best wishes to you.

Andy Qunta… Thanks, Alan, & the same back to you!

Steve Maxted… and wishing you a great Christmas too

Geoff Peckham… Thanks, Alan. Have a great Christmas and a wonderful 2019. Thanks for the memories!

Leigh Wieland-Boys… Have a great time yourself xxx

Martyn Baker… Happy Xmas Alan. You seem tireless. Good work mate, and many, many thanks for all the connections to our musical history. x

Bob Shipway… Thanks Alan. You do a super job with SMART – thank you. Wishing you and yours a Merry Christmas and a glorious New Year. Bob

Clive Garrard… Thanks Alan,a happy Xmas to your and your family.

Wendy Belton… Happy Christmas Alan and all the very best wishes for 2019.

Tony Davis… All the best for the festive season Alan and thanks for all the hard work you do.

Keith Veness… Merry Christmas Alan all the best for the New Year

Yvonne Cleland…  Happy yule, Alan xxx

John Parnell… Happy Christmas Alan and best wishes for 2019.

The Scotch Club Hastings 1967

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Supplied by John Busbridge

John Busbridge… Yet another of my haunts! Where was this?

Colin Fox… Is that The Scotch of St. James? In the St James area of London. Well known for 60s music. I can’t remember who ran it, but I know it was the first gig Jimi Hendrix did in Britain in 1966.

Alan Esdaile… Was it Wellington Square John?

John Busbridge… I think that must be the one in London not the one in Hastings as it was very small I think, I vaguely remember it being up two flights of stairs and I think it was very near where Bay Spice is in Eversfield place nearly opposite the Pier.

The Dolphin Jazzband – St Clement’s Caves Hastings 1961

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djb-a-dolphin-jazz-band-web

photo: John Powys Collection. Supplied by: Robin Butler http://www.jazzpilgrims.co.uk

Chris Watford… The Dolphin Jazzband’s front line of Brian Towers(tmb);Pete Treger(tpt) and Chris Watford(clt) at one of their summer sessions in St.Clement’s Caves, Hastings.(1961). Each summer, we played three times a week in the St.Clements Caves to hundreds of mainly foreign students, plus a Saturday residency in our own Club.

Brian Newbery…. Had a great following; later recorded on the VJM label. Appeared on TV, with the show that featured Big Bill Broonzy.

The Fiesta Club Trinity Street Hastings 1969

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Supplied by John Busbridge

John Busbridge… A very early haunt of mine, Barry Herbert used to be behind the bar, up two flights of stairs. I nearly got barred for flicking a stack of 6 pyrex type plates like beermats and missing them on one occasion!

Dizz Corinne Ryder… My parents used to take us there for food. A lovely family business! Too young for the club!

Nick Webb… What year was this , used to live down stairs in the coffee bar as a teenager with Sue ? behind the counter .

Alan Esdaile… it was 1969. The club was a door at the side of the building and then lots of stairs to the top

Dizz Corinne Ryder… I don’t remember but I think the family were Spanish, the elder daughter was called Cynthia, her mama used to take the orders.

Mike Mitchell…  She was always “Mrs Fiesta” to us

Andy Qunta… Spent many happy hours sitting in that coffee shop when I was a student at Hastings College – often while I was supposed be attending a lecture or class. Great jukebox! Good times!

Richard Brimm… I used to go their withJohnny Upton before I had a car and near the end of the Witch Doctor it was quite small

Rachel Rayburn… I spent many hours in the Fiesta – upstairs more than down. Hey Jude always reminds me of those times. Barry has a sister called Irene who I knew well.

John Busbridge… I knew both Barry and Irene well they used to live just round the corner to me in Charles Road West

Pat Weston… Loved that coffee place, up the back stairs could always find someone  you knew hanging out. Barry Herbert used to serve coffee

Alan Esdaile… I was talking to Terry Corder on the radio today and we both think, that the upstairs club also had another name? Anyone remember? I can recall they have pinball tables and the windows were multi coloured .

The Hi-Fi Club High Street Hastings – Membership cards from John Busbridge

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supplied by John Busbridge

John Busbridge… The Hi Fi club membership cards from the late sixties and early seventies. Somewhere I used to frequent in my younger days!

Alan Esdaile… Great days. Members must be over 18! I think I was probably 14 when I first went to the HIFI.

Chris Meachen… Same here, if not a little younger..

Dave Nattress… Used to get in there as I was 18 by then, just, but don’t remember the card membership but that’s it, I don’t remember. Alan you say, “Great Days”, and for sure they were, however, almost always returning to Bexhill from a night out in Hastings – anywhere in Hastings, it was a Great Daze!