Day: 10 September 2023

Kings Eastbourne – September/October 1977

by

Janine Anne Scott… I was there in 76-79 in Meridian.

Lyn Whiteman… I was lucky enough to see all of these! Did waitressing and Kings allowed partners in to see shows- fab days!

Dave Weeks… I remember seeing Tommy Cooper there. Legend.

Steve Vollrath…Glass bottle, Bottle glass

Dave Weeks… jar spoon, spoon jar

Steve Vollrath… Dave, Just like that.

Dave Weeks… or was is like that?

Steve Vollrath… Been in the loft all weekend, sweating, filthy dirty and covered in cobwebs, But the kids love her.

Julie Finch… Great place

Robert Searle… I saw the Three Degrees with Clodagh Rogers supporting at Kings Country Club.The place was packed.

Pacman… King’s Country Club, Eastbourne, was a fantastic venue where many of the top performers could be seen. Solo artists, bands, comedians & many other types of entertainers all performed there. I was lucky enough to have my mum & wife at the time, both working there almost every week. I had free entry to so many shows I lost count. It was a wonderful time in my life and the “Showplace of the South is sadly missed. Top entertainment & great dining & dancing all in one place. Couldn’t be beaten. It was well placed for some people too as “Sundowners” disco was right opposite. (Now a car sales place). Ray King opened “Kings” in Eastbourne Town after he sold the country club.

Terry Tollan… We won the first talent show at Kings. First Bite ..Many years ago now.

Stuart Moir… So was the Sundowners opposite, Centre Page supported Showaddywaddy many times in that venue, such good times all gone now.

Alan Esdaile… Stuart, Yes, Sundowners was opposite.

Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers – Witch Doctor 7th September 1965

by

 

Andre Palfrey-martin collection 

Peter Millington…He did another stint in 1987 at the second Big Beat Reunion – did you miss that too? He was a master of live performance and such a genuine bloke, proud to have played on the same bill with him and chatted.

Caz Simpson… Sadly I did miss it, he’s a top notch bloke and very underrated

Mick O’Dowd… Always one of my faves.

Andre Martin… Remember a gig with these boys in Summer 67 at The Surf City Club, Tunbridge Wells. They were booked in for a special night, it was usually disco remember working the venue for several months in 1967 9.00pm – 2.00am all that I can recall was it was small and over some shops in Monsoon Road I think access not the best, but in those days all I needed were records, equipment was all built in and provided by Management.

Mike Knights… I know this gets a little bit boring, but yes I was at this one to.

Lloyd Johnson… I saw them at The Assembly Rooms in Tunbridge Wells in 1964. Fast forward to 1981 and I had a visit from a shipping agent at our Kings Road Shop. The company was Benco and the person who came to see me was Cliff. He became our shipping agent. Several years later when Chris Sayer and I were organising ‘The Big Beat Reunion’ on The Pier Cliff asked me if he could come down and join in, of course I jumped at the chance to have on the bill. I spoke to Chris about it and Henry Harvey, Jonah & Chris said we’ll back him!…they practiced for a hour with Cliff on the afternoon whilst we were dressing the stage. Cliff was so pleased to meet his old mate that was in The Searchers. We’d booked The Searchers as top of the bill. The night was a dream and a huge crowd showed up.

Paul Huggett… Great band. Saw Cliff and some of his originals at a Butlins 60s weekend a few years ago, still impressive. Chris Farlowe and the Zombies on the bill too.

Trevor Spears… I also saw them in 64 at Tunbridge Wells great band and supported by another good band The Preachers who later had a couple of members killed in a car crash! I was also in the support group in Lucerne Switzerland with them and the bass player was Chas Hodges and an amazing piano player Roy? cannot remember his surname!

Lloyd Johnson… The Preachers played at The Pamdor in the club upstairs for Dave Muriel’s 21st…there were only around twenty of us there…

Andre Martin… I can remember working with them back at “the surf club” in Tonbridge in 1967. Great live band

David Edwards… He had a hell of a voice and a great band

Mick O’Dowd… Highly under rated band.

 

Mike Yarwood R.I.P.

by

more information… https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-66758400

Ian Quinnell… So sad . What a wonderful impressionist he was

Andy Qunta… Brilliant entertainer! RIP.

John Wilde… Cheers Mike, thanks for all the laughter.

Jane Hartley… The best, no one has ever come up to his standard imo.

Alan Esdaile… Another great gone. Happy memories of watching this with mum and dad and family. Very sad.

Perri Ann Haste… He paved the way for impressionists & was top of his game back in the 70’s. First class entertainer. RIP Mike.

Claire Melhuish-Durkin… Loved him. Had a crush when I was a gal

Brendan Bourne… He was a great talent.

 

more Milo’s Restaurant explosion George Street Hastings 1963 photos shared from Sam Lord

by

shared from Sam Lord Nostalgia Hastings (& It’s Hamlets) facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/631429148066838

Harry Randall… they said they would never build on it again as a mark of respect?

Monica Bane… So interesting to see these pictures again. Thanks for memories!

John Gale… (2nd photo) Wow. That could have been taken when Saturdays went up in flames.

Tony Court-holmes… I remember mum was going to work in the Mermaid cafe that morning

Chris Wood… Interesting construction it looks like the walls are made of wooden tiles then rendered over..

 

 

Sunstroke – 1970’s rock n roll group

by

supplied by Sarah Baggaley

Alan Esdaile… They were managed by Cy Whitfield Aaran International in Hastings and did loads of gigs. Anyone remember them and can give names?

Mark Hardwick… I remember them playing at The Royal Standard around 1977.(The same day a big Rock N Roll event was on the pier) Not sure of names though.  I also knew Cy Whitfield (sadly passed away now)

Tom Doyle… Hi Sarah I have a few photos of Sunstroke Kinds Regards Tom

photos supplied by Tom Doyle

Tom Doyle…  I saw them play in Hastings. The second photo was when they backed Ricky Valance.

Sarah Baggaley… Ah my dad isn’t in these, it’s a different bass player. Nice pics though!

Tom Doyle… The line up changed. Sunstroke broke up around 1978 and the piano player started a new group under the same name and still managed by Cy. The piano player was called Big Lou. The first line up, the lead singer was called Cochran after Eddie Cochran. I’m afraid that’s all I know about them and they broke up again in 1979

Tom Doyle… Hi again Sarah your dad could be on that record Alan displayed on his website (Hot Stuff Records) also Be Bop Bella might be able to help you out with your search for more info (if you could trace her), she did a lot of gigs with Sunstroke the first lot and the second lot your dads band was very good. Lou had a clash with the singer that caused the break up of the first band but remained friends with the drummer and your dad. He live in Milton Keynes, now if you could find a contact for him, he could tell you all about your dad. Be Bop Bella lives in Gloucester somewhere I hope that is helpful to you. Kind Regards Tom Doyle

Mark Hardwick… Be Bop Bella was a DJ as I remember..Also a band Cy managed who worked with Sunstroke regularly was Crepes and Drapes.Hope this helps.

Crepes’ n’ Drapes – Boogie Bop Dame...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQnZAPIdJbk&feature=youtu.be&fbclid=IwAR2ZZ53EbP800MO-qzZbX6ZwZNSbjdmhjHfmjAEOoKWGZGeQGpvbmS6sYYk

Pete Dee… That first black and white promo photo on this page, I believe that’s my uncle (Danny Wild) in the gold suit! That Gretsch of his is unmistakeable. I’ve still got his copy of the Sunstroke 7″ he handed down to me. He left Sunstroke in ’78, then recorded a solo album and a couple of singles as “Danny Wild and the Wildcats”. I know he was playing guitar for Shakin Stevens for a while in the late 70s, anyone got any photos of that era of the Sunsets? The bassist in the top photo I believe is Geoff (Rawle?)

Read more

ABC Acoustic Blues Club is back! Monday 11th September 2023

by

Mick Knight… ABC returns from its holiday with this tribute to blues musics one and only Arthur Blake. Blind Blake (1896/1934) was ragtime blues guitars foremost guitar player of the 1920’s. Featuring the hits Diddie Wa Diddie, Police Dog Blues, That Will Happen No More and He’s In The Jailhouse Now. These will be attempted by three old friends joined by more… (old and new friends). Come along to this fun evening of totally acoustic music ….arrive early for the best seats….