Day: 1 January 2025

Johnnie Walker dies aged 79

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photo © https://peel.fandom.com/wiki/Johnnie_Walker

more information… https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce9051nljd3o

Colin Bell… He was an inspiration to so many of us DJ’s, he’ll be very much missed. RIP Johnnie.

Steve Cooke… So saddened to read this, and so soon after his retirement. He was a great supporter of new bands a la Mr Peel and will be greatly missed.

Mace Sinden… Great radio host, one of the best

Jacquie Hinves… There are no words that can express my sadness with the loss of a gentleman and brilliant DJ.

Peter Fairless… Proper hero – for all the right reasons

John Wilde… Johnny was a class act and the voice of an era.

Pete Prescott… So sad. He was my favourite D.J

Alan Esdaile… We all knew it was coming but very sad news. One of the best.

Mike Haddock… RIP Johnnie – met him at Chiselhurst Caves back in the 60’s. He loved his music.

Lyn Humphrey… The true end of an era. Although we knew it was likely, it doesn’t lessen the sadness or the significance.

Malcolm McDonald… Brave chap, he knew he didn’t have long. Did you listen to him and his wife’s thoughts on him passing away, very interesting their beliefs…couple of months ago it was on radio 2, so touching…he said, he didn’t think he’d make Christmas but he just made it. I’m sure he’s gone on to his place and the wife said she knows she’ll join him one day. Both are total inspirations. bless him…

Kevin White… Very sad, he was a great DJ.

Janet Rennie… Very sad news that we were all expecting but very sad. . He was the sound of my teenage introduction to music . RIP. Will miss his voice his sense of humour. His knowledge. His banter with Sally Traffic.

Neil Partrick… Highly professional and likeable dj whom i first remember doing the Radio 1 chart show in the actual 1970s. Also, going out with Judy Collins’ version of Amazing Grace is pretty impressive

Mick O’Dowd… A perfect voice for radio and a very knowledgeable DJ A fave of mine since Caroline days. Sad loss and another from the “old school” of DJ’s that knew what they are talking about of the music they were playing. RIP Johnnie!

Fred Marsh… Were was it while he was broadcasting he would ask cars parked facing the sea ( shenanigans taking place) to flash their headlights? Wouldn’t it be great if it could be recreated in his memory.

Alan Esdaile… Fed, I think it was Frinton On Sea?

Carol Acott… He played a request for me on Radio Caroline…..lovely voice

Chris Howard… Johnny had been my favourite DJ from Caroline days. His dulcet tones will be missed by all R.I.P Johnny.

Clive Garrard… he was also my favourite DJ and a lovely person as well

Joan Ann Cooper-fenner… So very sad ,miss him so much on radio , great loss to a generation who have grown up with him, R I P

Ian Quinnell… Such sad news. A real professional. Listened to him since 1960’s on Pirate radio stations until this year. RIP

Joanna Marie Mod…

 

 

ITT Consumer Products (UK) Ltd, Theaklen Drive, St Leonards – Job Ad 1974 & 1978

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Matt Thomas… My mum worked here

Alan Esdaile… notice the wages

Pauline Richards… And the part time hours ‘for women’

Cliff Wootton… I worked there from 1974 to 1978. Started on the factory floor and worked my way up to draughtsman, illustrator and tech pubs specialist. Happy days

Paul Morfey… Both me and my wife ( janette) worked at ITT in Hastings in the 70ts. That is where we met. We just celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary!

Pete Prescott… I worked there as a temp in 78. I was in the buying dept with Keith Garnsey.

Dave Nattress… Wages – and if I read it right, unequal rates for males/females doing the same job? Certainly though a major player ITT. I had several friends who worked there in different roles or who took different rolls to work, (ham, cheese and pickle and salmon and cucumber being well popular). Of the illustrations on the advert I’m sure many of us had their products. I actually had the radio, cassette player/recorder, (2 of them, used for band rehearsals), and my parents had , the music centre at one time albeit not the best HiFi. Another local name and employer long gone.

Peter Millington… My father Bob Millington worked there managing the Stores Dept. between about 1966 to about 1978. He also organised all the dances at the White Rock and the Queens Hotel, a busy chap!

Paul Bryant… My mother worked there for a short time,remember the Christmas party they used to throw for employees children

Ralph Town… See how repressed women were back then. Different wage rates for men and women. Terrible.

Jan Warren… I worked for British Radio Corporation, Beeching Road, Bexhill in 1971/72 they were soon taken over by ITT!! – I enjoyed working for BRC, lots of my schoolfriends were there, it was fun, nice atmosphere, happy days!!

Richard Johnstone… I worked there from 73 to 78 in production planning. We had 3 categories of production workers – high skilled males, low skilled males and females!  Doing different jobs – women on the component assembly lines, men (skilled) on testing and fault correction and men (low skilled) on jobs known as ‘hauling and mauling’. No overlap between the sexes

Peter Ulyatt… I worked there from 1963ish to 1979 when my wife, 3 kids and I emigrated to Australia. When I started it was known as KB (Kolster Brands). I started checking radios as they came off the assembly line. If they worked, I calibrated them ready for dispatch. If they didn’t work they got put on one side for a technician to fix it. A couple of years later I became one of those technicians. When ITT took it over, can’t remember when, I started working on TVs as a technician and worked up to being a Test Diagnostician. Then came the start of colour TV. A screen about 12 ” across In a massive cabinet full of valves. You needed an asbestos suit to work on them. Good days and a good company to work for.

Pete Prescott… I worked in the purchasing department for a month (temping) in early 78 with Keith Garnsey. amazing guy.

Terry Corder… My first job was there in 1968!

Harry Randall… Did you make it?

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Peter B’s Looners – The Witch Doctor Sat 1st January 1966.

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poster supplied by Peter Millington

Bruce Eder biographer – Peter B’s Looners (also sometimes called Peter B’s) were formed by Pete Bardens and Mick Fleetwood in 1966, following the breakup of their previous band, the Cheynes. The original lineup, in addition to Bardens and Fleetwood, included Dave Ambrose (ex-Steampacket) on bass and Mick Parker on guitar. An instrumental outfit, they were signed to EMI’s Columbia label, but Parker had exited before they got around to recording their sole single release, “If You Wanna Be Happy” b/w “Jodrell Blues,” with guitar chores on that record were handled by Peter Green in his debut recording. Despite the impressive names involved, Peter B’s Looners proved a transitional vehicle for all concerned and the group had split up by the end of 1966. Ambrose became a member of Brian Auger & the Trinity, while Green moved on to John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. There, he hooked up with John McVie, and was later joined by Fleetwood, and together they formed Fleetwood Mac. Meanwhile, Bardens moved on to form Shotgun Express, passed through the lineup of Them, and a solo career that ultimately led to his forming Camel.

http://www.allmusic.com/artist/peter-bs-looners-mn0001893500/biography

Alan Esdaile…. some people here will remember Pete Bardens Camel.

Mick O’Dowd… Didn’t he also have Pete Bardens Express?