All supplied by Mike Haddock
Month: October 2024
Buses Wellington Square – early 1950’s. Supplied by Leigh Kennedy
All supplied by Leigh Kennedy. From facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/historicalhastings/
Leigh Kennedy… Two further views of Wellington Square, this time looking up Castle Hill Road. Judging by the clothing and the cars I’m going to say early 1950s ? In the background of both photos is No14 Castle Hill Road, used for 50 years between 1899 & 1949 as the offices of the Argus Newspaper.
Alan Esdaile… What was the name of the drinking club upstairs, about next to the newsagent sign? My dad used to go in there
Roger Simmonds… What happy times !
Peter Ellingworth… Definitely around early 50’s. My grandmother lived in one of the flats between Wellington Square and Castle Hill Passage I think it is. M&D buses : anybody remember where route 12 used to go -Tenterden / Maidstone ? Hastings Corporation were going to build a dedicated bus station dating back to pre war days, but this only came about when Hastings Station was rebuilt.
Peter Ellingworth… Following on, I’ve just had a look around the web and there is a very interesting website ‘The Transport Library’.
https://www.thetransportlibrary.co.uk/
-which features photos many in colour, and very good quality, of a lot of Hastings bus services and the town itself from the ‘50s to ‘90’s.
If the link above doesn’t work, just type in The Transport Library- Maidstone and District – Hastings. There were also some very clear Hastings trolley bus photos in black and white taken in by Derek Giles in 1950, some of which I hadn’t seen before. Am I right in saying M&D route 12 shown in the photo above went from Hastings to Tenterden, via Sedlescombe -Northiam and return ?
Paul Morfey… yes! The mud and dust no 12 as we called it went from Hastings to Tenterden via Sedlescombe and Northiam. I worked as an apprentice electrician for Farley Paines from the basement of no.1 Wellington Square and caught the bus home from there to Northiam every night.
Eddie Piller presents The Mod Top 100 CD set
Supplied by Mick O’Dowd
More information…
Mick O’Dowd… This is a terrific set and brings back so many memories from the 60’s. It reminds me of the Witch Doctor etc. as a few of these were played and there are plenty of original versions that were hits for other people at the time.
That Darn Cat! film – Gaiety Cinema Hastings 31st October 1965
Colin Bell… A happy/sad memory, the last film my nan took me to see there before she passed away not long afterwards.
Alan King… i remember seeing that at the cinema, wasn’t much choice back then, cliff richard filums, zulu, the man in the iron mask, the jokers, how the west was won, they’re about the only ones i remember from that age
Nigel Ford… Definitely saw that, not sure it was this date but unlikely it came back? With mum for sure and brother I expect.
More pirate radio collectables from Merv Kennard
All supplied by Merv Kennard
Pete Brazier… Had both those Radio Caroline Disks along with several BBC sound efects albums, but I lent them out and never got them back! I’d settle for a tape recording now lol just to listen to them again
Merv Kennard… The Caroline and Mi Amigo disc’s are just one single. Would like to hear about the London theme if any one knows, it isn’t the Big L theme from the 60s
A Band Of Angels – Hastings Collage 30th October 1964 by Andre Martin
Andre Palfrey-martin collection
Andre Martin… As its Halloween at the moment, if we think back – this is about the college, here is something that I know will be of interest to many, On Friday evening 30th October 1964, in the old Gymnasium at the College in Archery Road, we held our Halloween Dance – Top of the Bill, A Band of Angels, featuring Mike d’Abo and the supporting band whose name slips my memory for the moment, bass guitar one Noel d’Abo [ student and well known member of the college]. We do not have any press adverts for this, but I have found the following press cutting from the local Observer, about a visit made by the group to AJs show in Queens Road. I am sorry the photo is very dark, but Mike can just be seen in the back row.
ITT Consumers Products shut down Ponswood Industrial Estate, St Leonards 1979
supplied by Haydn Betchley
Steve Glover… My dad Dennis Glover worked there from when it started in 1962 until it closed, he had the option to relocate to a new site but decided to take early retirement. If I remember right, in the early 70’s he together with some of his charge hands help set up assembly lines at new locations like Rhyl. It seems ITT would think nothing of relocating if business rates and labour rates were lower else where. At its peak in Hastings, and including the night shift it employed about a 1,000 staff, big blow to the town when it closed.
Chris Greet… It actually moved to an empty STC factory in Basildon in Essex. They moved because of the poor transport route up the A21. The road was mainly single carriageway in the 70s and not ideal for articulated Lorrie’s. Sadly. ITTs business manufacturing televisions didn’t last very long after the move. The Japanese completion was too strong and the Basildon site closed for television manufacture in the late 80s.
Ken Hatch… Probably around the start of the rot setting in to Hastings manufacturers and major employers. Many followed suit over the next 10-15 years, I guess business rates were an issue as even Computing Devices (a relatively young company then) opened an extension in Eastbourne rather than Hastings at some point.
Jude Montague… thank you for the articles
Deep Purple – The Happening Club around 1967
supplied by Peter Horton at The Happening Club Kings Road
The local ‘Deep Purple’ around 1967 with original singer ‘Kevin Clark'(who was later replaced by Tich Turner). So I think the rest of the band are Peter Horton, Tony Bird, Ian McGilvray & Len Benton.
Joe Knight….WOW!!!!
Mick O’Dowd….This pic was taken at The Happening in Kings Road St.Leonards the home of Jon Wilde!
Geoff Peckham….I saw them several times in Bexhill. Enjoyed a bit of faux-fame because of their namesakes and even covered “Hush”. Loved Mac’s drumming. Eventually changed their name to Whiskey Mac.
Alan Esdaile Johnny Mason….When I first started going to gigs I think every band played ‘Hush’ and ‘Knock On Wood’.
Geoff Peckham….I played those and Midnight Hour, Hold On, etc. in my early bands too. But when I first heard the Bexhill Deep Purple playing Hush, I asked Mac if it was his band that had the single; he just put his finger to his lips and went “ssshhhhhh”!
Tonny from Cornwall…..Any idea how long the Bexhill Deep Purple existed? I’m trying to work out if some info I have about ‘Deep Purple’ supporting Kippington Lodge end of May 1968 in Goudhurst, Kent relates to ‘your’ Deep Purple or the more famous later version who were just back from a tour of Denmark. Kippington Lodge were on Parlophone records; so were ‘Deep Purple’ of ‘Hush (and more) fame….
Andre Martin….If it helps in the calculation – Friday 27th September 1968, they had their first public appearance as Whisky Mac at the Tackleways Boys Club in Hastings. Kippington Lodge were one of the “back-up” bands for Hastings Pier, when John Schofield ran the Sat & Sun nights, they would appear almost at a moments notice. They were still playing a Deep Purple up to April time, I have some reference to this at the Regent Hotel. I have posted this picture before – in the write up it mentions that they will be playing the Witch Doctor – or the newly renamed club the Cobweb, that did not open until the end of February 1968 !
Andre Palfrey-martin collection
Andre Martin….The group played in Eastbourne – The Continental in October 1967 – billed as The Deep Purple
Battle Memorial Hall November 1967
Ken Copsey… Great picture
John Wilde… Wonderful to see these images. I was there in my Fathers club The Happening.
Paul Sleet… I remember seeing them at Woodlands Girls school if memory serves me right. Must have been around 1968 or 69.
The Pathfinders – Shoreham Sussex
photo © Rob Hermans
Pathfinders … From Shoreham Sussex. L-R Vocals-Ron Reed, Rhythm guitarist-Ron Shaughnessy, Lead guitarist-John Court, Bass-Rob Hermans, Drums-Alan Burtenshaw.
Rob Hermans… Those were the days… we thought they’d never end. So blessed to have been together in the 60s. Sending love to all.
Colin Norton… a fine bunch of lads!!
Some Of My Best Friends Are Canadians – Feeling Sheepish 7″ single 1980
Suppled by Digger
Phil Thornton, Dave McKnight and thanks to Terry Pack, Dave Millertron and Glen for sheep!
Phil Thornton… That’s a blast from the past ! The ‘A’ side ended up on a compilation called ‘Sky Girl’ (years later !) on Rough Trade.
Dave Miller… I’m still a Canadian and can bleat with the best of them
Terry Pack… I played bass on this session. Dave McKnight was a very nice guy. I don’t remember much about the session, though.