Flyright Records – Bexhill. 1970’s

Martin Waghorne… I’ve still got my copy up in the roof.

Dave Weeks… Terry Pack expert shop assistant.

Terry Pack… Thanks, Dave. Music has always been my specialist subject, after all!

Leigh Wieland-Boys… Still got my copy too

Chris Meachen… Got mine, & still play it now & again…

Terry Pack… I had several happy years working at Flyright during the 1970s. I used to visit the first shop in Wickham Avenue in 1973, and was soon asked to work there after school and on Saturday mornings. Although I was only 14, I was already knowledgeable about pop and rock, and was interested in blues and jazz. My friends started to buy their records there, and at the new shop in Sackville Road. I became friends with Simon and Mike, pictured above. They founded the magazine Blues Unlimited, and released rare blues and jazz recordings on the Flyright label. The connection with Stallion came about after Phil Thornton recommended me to Steve Demetria as replacement for Steve Kinch when he left to join Factory in 1975(6?). I was still at school, but went to audition at Steve’s rehearsal room above his family’s restaurant. I was offered the gig, but I felt much too young compared to Steve, Vic and Tich, and declined. Steve, though, took my number, and called to ask about releasing Skinny Kid on Flyright Records. A deal was done and the single was released (I have a white label copy somewhere). Steve chose not to pay Simon the balance he owed, and Simon took out a small claim to get it back. Despite this, Steve asked me once again to join Stallion when Roger left the band. Again, I declined, still feeling too young. I had a pang of regret when Stallion won the Melody Maker Rock Contest with Phil Gill on bass, and thought that I might have made the wrong decision (twice!), but had a good year with The Hollywood Killers before joking The Enid in October 76. That was when I left Flyright Records, which had become a much larger concern, employing Peter Stacey, Dave Carter and Pete Kent from the rival shop, Beaney’s. As we know, Steve D passed on a few years ago. Mike Leadbitter died in 1974, Simon Napier died in the early 1980s, Dave Carter died a couple of years ago, and I heard today that Pete Kent had passed on, too. I suppose that it was all a long time ago.

Phil Gill… Funnily enough Terry, at the same time Steve asked me to join Stallion, I was lined up to play guitar in The Hollywood Killers and was already learning their songs. Stallion appealed to me more. I’m glad I jumped in the direction I did.

Phil Thornton… I didn’t know about the stand up, I thought you joined the Enid to play Bass ?

Martin Waghorne… Hi Terry, didn’t you work in the shop with Dianne in Wickham ave before moving round the corner to Sackville rd. I used to spend most of my saturdays in Flyright records.

Terry Pack… Diane is Roy Stephenson’s mum. I knew Roy from playing football.

Tony May…  I bought some pivotal records in Flyright Records towards the end of its life. I got the original 12″ version of ‘Wham Rap’ by Wham in there in the cheap bin and discovered Midnight Star via the ‘I’ve Been Watching You’ 12″. My worst mistake as far as the shop was concerned was when I saw the Prince 12″ ‘Let’s Work’ in there. I had just got into Prince at the time but as the 12″ was full price and I didn’t have much cash I decided to leave it for now and see if it ended up in the cheap bin! I have NEVER seen another copy of it since! I seem to recall that they also had the similarly rare ‘Gotta Stop Messin’ About’ 12″…

Dave Nattress… Memories. Flyright and the staff were great. Being a Bexhill lad I was often in there, I remember Terry well as a real youngster. Dave Carter was a school friend at the Downs until he joined Westminster Choir School when he was about 7/8 and we were in contact for many years and as I said once before on these pages I saw him quite often and then one day he told me about his serious illness – really knocked me over. Played snooker with him not very long before he passed. Good old Pete Kent from Beaneys. A real source of knowledge and another great shop back in the day!!!

Jan Warren… many great memories and yeah, sadly our dear friend, Pete Kent passed away on 16th September, his funeral is tomorrow in Eastbourne, R.I.P dear Pete xxx

Louise Napier… Dear Terry Pack, actually dad, Simon Napier, died 1st December 1990, not the early 80’s. As Mark Twain would have said, the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated…..

Terry Pack… Sorry, Louise. It all feels like such a long time ago that I can’t even remember which decade things happened anymore. I really miss Simon. We got on like a house on fire, despite the difference in age. I suppose we had the music in common and a similar sense of humour, and chess! I hope you’re well, and Mark, too.

Martin Stringer… As the songwriter I still have my original copy of the single.

Pete Houghton… I’ve still got my copy in with all my signed records

Tim Moose Bruce… Sackville Road has always had a wealth of good record shops. The other one I remember was Jenneries.

Stuart Moir… Fantastic band well before their time

Martin Ballard… My weekly pocket would be spent there. Every Saturday I would go down and buy a Hendrix album

Martin Stringer… I still have my copy too as I wrote the song.

 

2 thoughts on “Flyright Records – Bexhill. 1970’s”

  1. Memories. Flyright and the staff were great. Being a Bexhill lad I was often in there, I remember Terry well as a real youngster. Dave Carter was a school friend at the Downs until he joined Westminster Choir School when he was about 7/8 and we were in contact for many years and as I said once before on these pages I saw him quite often and then one day he told me about his serious illness – really knocked me over. Played snooker with him not very long before he passed. Good old Pete Kent from Beaneys. A real source of knowledge and another great shop back in the day!!!

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