supplied by Andre Martin Collection
supplied by….Andre Palfrey-Martin Collection
supplied by Tony Davis – gig list including Hastings inside the cd.
Phil Gill….I was there, aged 6. It was the most awesome thing I’d ever seen. Better even than when my dad’s shotgun exploded and knocked him flat on his back, which was the most awesome thing I’d seen up to then. Eight weeks short of my seventh birthday then. Used to have my copy of the programme, not sure if I do now though.
Matt Thomas….My mum went to that and her friend even did the screaming and pulling own hair routine lol
Peter Millington….so it was your mum who got in the way of me trying to hear what the Shadows were playing – “sound vandal”
Bob Cockburn….Still makes me wanna scream now when I hear him !!
Tony Davies…..My uncle drove a coach load of kids from Rye and Winchelsea to this gig, my sister and me got free tickets to see it. I was 10 years old. We also saw Helen Shapiro as well round about that time.
Andre Palfrey-martin….Released in 1961, was the second most popular film in that year, topped by “The Guns of Naverone” This was Cliff Richard’s third film, following Serious Charge and Expresso Bongo. The film was originally intended to feature the Shadows in more major acting roles, and scripts were duly tailored to them, including a character with glasses (intended for Shadows lead guitarist Hank Marvin, but eventually played by Richard O’Sullivan), a character with blonde hair, intended for bassist Jet Harris but played by Melvyn Hayes, who was required to bleach his normally black hair for the role. The eventual film sees them more as musicians, especially since they also wrote “Got A Funny Feeling” and “We Say Yeah” for the soundtrack. A vintage 1926 Morris Oxford is used in the film, registration number GO 660J
Will Cornell….did you know that famous B&W clip of Cliff Richard doing “Move It” live sometime in the late 50s–Richard Thompson’s older sister was in the front row. One of her boyfriends gave him his first lesson…..RT and Nick Drake both benefitted by having cool, hot looking older sisters–who had cool boyfriends that gave the young lads a kickstart…..
Andy Qunta…..Cliff, & especially The Shadows, are what made me want to be in a band in the first place!
Ralph Town….My great Grandmother always said Cliff was an “Un-natural”.I think I can see what she means but I still think Green Light was a good LP
supplied by Terry Huggins. The Ritz/ABC Cinema being demolished to build Sainsburys/ESK.
Jane Hartley… 6d downstairs 9d up!
Lynn Graham… I was there. Seat A 12. A friend was a cleaner there. Couldn’t hear a bloody thing for all the screaming! Saw Eden Kane as well.
Pete Shaw… I was there! Brian Bennett played “Little B”. His carefully engineered drum solo! I went home and set fire to mine!
Nick Prince… Oddly enough, someone posted on the West Marina site… that they thought the ABC, Hastings was in Summer Holiday! With both the film and Cliff appearing there in 1963, it is plausable. I was a child when I saw Summer Holiday but I would be prepared to watch it again just to confirm this either way. Anyone got a copy on DVD I can borrow for a week please? It would make a lovely story.
Colin Norton… Have to agree with Andy. So many of us started because of the Shadows.
Mick O’Dowd…This was one of only three shows put on here I believe. The others being Helen Shapiro & Billy Fury packages.
Marian Jones… I am Mip Gasson now living in North Wales mother of 3 and grandmother of 7. Nola, Boufa and myself slept at Nola’s house the night before without my fathers knowledge. There was no way he would have allowed me to achieve our plan.Nola’s mum gave us an old white sheet which we made into a banner.In red lipstick we wrote “4 NO 1 ELSE WE’D CAUSE A TIFF BUT COS WE ARE SO TRUE TO CLIFF WE’LL FINNISH ANY 1 OF YOU WHO JUST MIGHT DARE TO JUMP THIS Q” You see I remember it all so vividly!! It was freezing cold but our excitement of seeing Cliff kept us warm. The show was fantastic and yes we screamed a lot but who would have guessed that the boy sitting in the next row and whom we annoyed the most by our screaming would have become Nola’s husband some 8 years or so later!! GREAT happy memories.
Andy Qunta… Mip Gasson – I salute you and your friends! Awesome story!
Marian Jones… Thanks Andy, everyone who lived in the sixties says just what a great time it was to be young and I can vouch for that. Music played a huge part in the experiences we had. Thanks for this opportunity to reminisce and share just some of those moments. Hastings was a great place to be and continues to be in many respects from the news I get from my friend Nola. My dear friend for 61years.
Linda Day… I remember seeing cliff I was 11he had a red suit on if I remember correct thought it was called the Ritz then ?
Peter Thomson… These may have been tours of the ABC chain of theatres as Helen Shapiro famously appeared at the ABC Peterborough (where I now live – the city, not the theatre for all you pedants) in ’63. She was supported by some up and coming foursome from Liverpool but unfortunately Hastings missed out in that respect. I used to work with a chap called Len Cooper in my days at Ashdown House. Len used to reminisce about his employment as a young projectionist at the ABC. He told me that there was a bit of a punch up behind the cinema either before or after the Cliff gig, and that young Cliff got well stuck in. Can’t corroborate of course but would be interested to hear if any other witnesses exist.
Mick Knights… Unfortunately I was considered too young to go by my parents although several in my class at school were allowed to go and god alone knows what lasting damage that caused them!
Phil Gill… I went with my parents. No damage, but it kindled a flame.
Josie Lawson… When I was 16 years old, my first job with Plummer Roddis Ltd now known as Debenhams a few of us went to see him live at The London Palladium. We were only 12 rows from the stage, it was brilliant seeing him live. I was in my element as at that time he was my idol. I first read about him when 15 years old. Went to stay with dads cousin for a couple weeks who had a hairdressers shop. I took a walk to a local shop and found a magazine that looked interesting, it was in there that I first found his real name Harry Webb think it was, and he was from India. I had his pictures all over my bedroom wall until dad redecorated.
Keith Cowper… I went to that show it was great !
Phil Gill… I was there, aged 6. It was the most awesome thing I’d ever seen. Better even than when my dad’s shotgun exploded and knocked him flat on his back, which was the most awesome thing I’d seen up to then.
Janet Rennie… Oh would have loved to have been old enough
Tony Davis… I was 10. My mum took me. What an experience. We sat in the front row of the circle and had a great view
Eric Harmer… Thanks Alan. I think I have a vague memory of this ??
John Busbridge…I was there!
Stewart Grimes… So was I!
David Edwards… Did that girl really wear a headscarf like her granny?
Mick O’Dowd… I saved my pennies for the Billy Fury package.
Janet Brophy… I Remember Seeing This With My Mum, Great Show
I am Mip Gasson now living in North Wales mother of 3 and grandmother of 7. Nola, Boufa and myself slept at Nola’s house the night before without my fathers knowledge. There was no way he would have allowed me to achieve our plan.Nola’s mum gave us an old white sheet which we made into a banner.In red lipstick we wrote “4 NO 1 ELSE WE’D CAUSE A TIFF BUT COS WE ARE SO TRUE TO CLIFF WE’LL FINNISH ANY 1 OF YOU WHO JUST MIGHT DARE TO JUMP THIS Q” You see I remember it all so vividly!!
It was freezing cold but our excitement of seeing Cliff kept us warm. The show was fantastic and yes we screamed a lot but who would have guessed that the boy sitting in the next row and whom we annoyed the most by our screaming would have become Nola’s husband some 8 years or so later!! GREAT happy memories.
Thanks Andy, everyone who lived in the sixties says just what a great time it was to be young and I can vouch for that. Music played a huge part in the experiences we had. Thanks for this opportunity to reminisce and share just some of those moments. Hastings was a great place to be and continues to be in many respects from the news I get from my friend Nola. My dear friend for 61years.