Chris Westgate… Hi people’s, I started running a Disco at The Bexhill Youth Centre in 1968 and eventually, with my good friend John, we became mobile under the name “Proton 2”. One of our regular haunts was The Queens Head on Belle Hill in Bexhill, and on one of our bookings (thanks to the rebellious landlady, Fran’ Burt), we ended up having to tell people “Do Not Dance” as on a Sunday, in Bexhill, there was a local bylaw preventing you from doing so, so it was a protest to the local council. Anyway, I digress, we packed up doing the disco when I went self employed as a mechanic in 1987, and eventually being a partner in a successful garage in Eastbourne. Since packing up the Disco has been stored in cupboards and bedrooms ever since at my friend John’s house. We are about to “break it up” for spares because, as it was hand built, would never pass a “PAT” test. So, in summing up we have, two early sound to light units (without back boxes), 2 Garrard SP25 Mk3’s (I think), amplifier (100watt), two massive speakers, and numerous other bits, and it was all built from leather clothed plywood and chipboard and mounted into Dexion square tubing so it would collapse down and fit into a Volvo estate car!! Oh, and one last thing our front light board I made from translucent coloured perspex shapes rescued from a skip when the Wimpey was having a refit in Devonshire Road in the seventies. Is there any value in any of this stuff?
Tim Moose Bruce… Used to help a guy from work with his disco, Chi Lite Roadshow in late 70s and early 80s. The rig you described here is very similar to his one. SP25 decks and 100 amp going through a pair of 2x 12 cabs. Lighting was a load of perspex fronted boxes run from a Pulsar sound to light unit. Had revolving.lights, strobes, uv light and an oil wheel projector. We did a few in the Queens Head and also midweek at the youth club amongst others.
Chris Westgate… Tim, I did the Tegor for a short while, opposite the station (in the cellar), that was an interesting one to do.
Tim Moose Bruce… Chris, Paul , ( Paul Hammond) who did the disco bought the original rig from Frank and Glen who ran the Dave Henry disco. They had an impressive setup.
Chris Westgate… Tim, I think our original rig was bought from a catalogue, then the console got disassembled to create the unit we ran with for years, it worked brilliantly (thanks to John).
Michael Patrick Matthews… Tim, I must e getting old. As I went to the discos in the Queens & all the other pubs in town. Plus I was a senior youth leader in the 70s at Bexhill Youth Center. Plus my partner now. (Who I believe you went to school with at the Bexhill Downs) I actually met in the York & dated in the 70’s. Rekindling our relationship nearly four years ago.
Chris Westgate… Our paths must have crossed at some point. I do remember Captain Leng the Church Army Leader at the Bexhill Youth Centre, a gentle giant, such a kind hearted man. And Alain Buxton, the drama leader who arranged some impressive shows for the youth to play in, Camelot, Helen of Troy at the De La Warr, and another with Burt Bacarach songs, all massive productions. I still have the program for Helen of Troy when they had a real wooden horse that they borrowed from the local company Stills, it was craned over into the auditorium by Cousins Cranes.
Tim Moose Bruce… Memories too of the Sunday night discos at the Wheatsheaf in Little Common, my local when I lived in the village. That was a popular one. Disco Inferno Roadshow.
Steve Fox… Hmm, the top of a very slippery slope for me. I used to love that pub and as a 17 year old it was the introduction to the world of disco. A few years later I had set up my own modile disco in Hastings and ran that for years eventually turning to djing in clubs and pubs, firstly in and around Hastings but eventually internationally. I now make my living, as I have for decades, mending the old stuff! All that came from going to a bexhill pub that is now a bypass road. If your gear needs any work give me a shout, it would be my privilege to work on it. service dept.co.uk
Tim Moose Bruce… Steve, A useful contact indeed. The guy who serviced and repaired my valve guitar amps passed away earlier this year. I have a Wem Dominator and a Vox AC30.
Steve Fox… own a wem dominator, nice amp. The vox though can be a bit hit and miss, I’ve done loads and they always sound “unique” (which I guess is the point) and they have never really blown my skirt up BUT I had one in recently which sounded lovely.
Merv Kennard… Garrard sp25 were the most common turntables used by mobile djs in the early 70s, l think they cost around £20. I ran 3 in the second unit l built