Month: January 2025

Violet Brown Decision and Spyke – Aquarius 29th Jan/1st Feb 1972

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violet brown 1972

Anyone remember seeing Violet Brown Decision?

photo supplied by David Paterson. (before Dave Smith joined)

supplied by David Paterson

Dave Smith… I was in Violet Brown’s Decision. A Mecca band no tamla.?

Matt Carter… In reply to David Smith, Dave, my father in law was also in, Geoff Wigley?

Dave Paterson… Hi Dave, I was the drummer

Dave Smith… I knew that

Dave Paterson… The above coloured photo features Dave Smith at the far right and was taken back stage at the Lyceum Ballroom in the Strand. The other was  just flyers we had made. Sadly there are only two of us left from the original VBD me and the lead singer Dave Seaton.

Jon Camp… I was in the band too!!!

Lyn… What happened to Paul Bennett and Trevor Brown.

Dave Smith… Lost contact with Trev

Sue Seward… Sue Seward (nee Thomas) I knew the boys well in the sixties. Used to sit in to practice nights in Trevor’s mums (Violet Browns) sitting room in Southbrook Rd, Lee. Then was also at all their regular Sunday night gigs at The Dutch House, on Sidcup Rd, enjoying their great renditions of The Four Seasons classics. (some of the most memorable times of my life). I would love to have an update on the boys, especially Trevor (who I dated for a while), Dave and Paul. I still have an original flyer with the Seaton- Paul Management details on the reverse

James Woodhead… Sadly, my grandfather Trevor Brown passed away in 2001 after contracting pneumonia during treatment for asbestosis.

Deborah Ford… (in reply to Lyn) Sadly, both Paul and Trev passed away. Trev, my stepdad, in March 2002. And Paul a few months after. Dave Pattison, my mum Marlene said to say hello. She’s sorry she lost touch after Trev passed. She’s now living in Spain. It was her that found this site but she couldn’t find how to respond.

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Jazz Caverners at The Regent Hotel

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supplied by Brian Hills

Brian Hills… Here is pic of four of the Jazz Caverners taken at the Regent Club, Hastings showing l to r – Pete Kitcher, Trevor Richards, Brian Towers, and Ian Scriven. No date unfortunately.

John Gale… Fantastic photo. The Regent Hotel was another venue that my dad enjoyed playing drums in with his bands.

Alan Esdaile… I remember the wallpaper!

Paul Coleman… Never saw the Caverners but remember “The Unabridged Telephone Directory” with Roy Sanderson on bass. Saw them many times. Always packed & very loud. Great!

Trevor Spears… I thought our volume was tastefully balanced and gentle on the ears!

Robert Searle… Trevor, loved to have seen your group

Nick Prince… I’m sure that is the wall paper the Orion Cinema had going up it staircase to the foyer!

Mike Waghorne… Were’s Min ?

Michael Armitage… Anyone remember Jane Griffiths, belting out ‘St James’ Infirmary? She had a fabulous singing voice, and based her performances on Billie Holiday, whom she adored, especially liking ‘Strange Fruit’ as a slow piece! Tony Towers was always there – my wife worked with him as a teacher back in th sixties/seventies!

 

St Helens Hospital Frederick Road Ore Hastings

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Supplied by Matt Thomas

Matt Thomas… Spent 5 months here in 1991

Lloyd Johnson… St.Helens Hospital it was at the bottom my road, Clifton road in Ore…

Tony Bowles… Had my tonsils removed there in the 1950’s but can’t remember anything about the hospital.

Alan Esdaile… Tony, so did I, in the 1950’s.

Colin Bell… Me too! i asked when i could go home and the Sister said when you can eat cornflakes for breakfast….a week later…

Peter Houghton… I was there on the Children ward in the 60s

Chris Pook… The two pillars in the picture that were at the hospital entrance are still there, and the tunnel under the road was partially filled and blocked up at both ends.

Sharon Sellens… My hubby’s Great Aunt was in there for a broken hip in the early 90s. She was in her 90s at the time and was mortified to be ‘in the Workhouse’ as it had been when she was a child….

Ken Hatch… I spent a couple of nights here in the early/mid 70s because of a gangrenous in growing toenail. The nurses took me for a walk to the shop which turned out to be through the tunnel and out to the bottom of Clifton Rd, horrifically….. in my PJs !! ….. normal everyday practice now

Sharon Sellens… Ken, I can still smell that tunnel, a mixture of boiled cabbage & Lysol

Jacquie Hinves… I was a ward Sister there as well ! I certainly experienced some very strange things there, especially on night duty.

Ray Barry… I was born in this Hospital 1947

Jules Scrase… Remember working there…still see a few familiar colleagues to this day!

Willie Wicking… My mum was a night sister there in the 60s 70s

Julie Davies… My mum worked here in the 70s, she also worked at Mount pleasant hospital further up the hill towards Oakfield road.

Tracy Birrell… This brings back memories. I had eye surgery here in the 60’s.

Iain Cobby… I was born there February 1955, yes, I m 70 next month!

Start Moir… Visited in my early Hastings days

Claire Finn… Can almost see my old office

Alli Bolt… If my dad hadn’t rushed me then to avoid waiting for an ambulance, I would not be here. My appendix had ruptured and was poisoning my body, spent my ninth birthday there, always remember music played before lights out. Don’t cry for me Argentina

Nigel Ford… Was rushed there with suspected meningitis when about 10, endured the famous lumbar puncture to draw off spinal fluid which fortunately found only severe tonsilitis but then could not get the huge tablets down so they crushed them up in strawberry jam which put me off that for decades!

 

Woolworth, 44 Devonshire Road Bexhill – 1976

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photo shared : Kevin Avery https://www.facebook.com/kevin.avery.50767/

Matt Thomas… I remember buying Altered Images and Laurie Anderson singles in here at same time

Robert Carey… Matt, I remember buying the cheaper Embassy Label ones there as well!

Leigh Mitchell… Used to work at Dorothy Perkins couple of shops down to the left in 1972, always popping into Woolies

Chris Meachen… I have a Japanese maple in my garden that I bought in there… It was a twig in a pot then, now it’s over 20ft high..

Peter Houghton… I loved going there to look around and buy stuff

Paul Coleman… I remember going in there as a little boy. They used to restock the counters from big wicker baskets. They’d also chuck rubbish in them as they went round. I took a small box of cardboard money from a basket, thinking they’d thrown it away. I got accused of stealing when I got home and got a whacking with a wooden coat hanger from my dad. – harsh!

Alan Esdaile… I remember the big wicker baskets Paul.

Carol Anne… Gosh that takes me back, loved a wander round woolworths, Longley bros across the road, Dorothy perkins just down the road, when the high street was a high street.

Faith Brooker… ‘Sigh’