Alan Esdaile

Better known as international disc jockey Johnny Mason. Currently re-living his mis-spent youth through this web-site.

Why Not disco below the Queens Hotel Hastings – who remembers?

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photo. directors.. Francisco Moya and Mrs Veronica?

Terr Tollan… Bonitas…Queen of clubs…After ?

Elaine Venables… What year was this as don’t remember it?

Alan Esdaile…  1982

Kevin Burchett… I went to Bonitas, then Queen of Clubs then later Jr’s

Romaine Fulton-Hart… Kevin, and in between Lazybones

Pauline Richards… Wasn’t it run by Joe Riordan

Ian Johnson.. Pauline, it was

Daryl Perkins… Bonita’s, queen of clubs, Jars. Sure there was another name somewhere in the mix

Mary Jane McAfee… Daryl, was it called Emma’s once ?

Daryl Perkins… Mary, I think it might have been.

Lloyd Johnson… I remember’The Flying Machine’ in 1966…

John Gale… I remember an under 18s disco in 1977 there …..Lazybones.

Tony Snelling… Remember it being called Subway and punk bands playing there early 80s

Chris Marchant… Tony, yep and it was also called Graffiti.

Linda O’leary… Yes!

Chris Baker… What was it called before it was Lazybones? I’m thinking more late 60s.

Lloyd Johnson… Chris, lt was called’The Flying Machine’ in 1966

Pam Baker… Wasn’t it called “Images”at some time… when Joe owned the hotel..

Elaine Blanch-Mabb… Pam, that was the pub next-door

Mike Swift… I’m sure I remember it run by Joe Riordan

Maria LaCaille… i worked there in the early 70’s

 

 

SD Print, Mount Pleasant Road Hastings – Poster printing 1970’s

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Who remembers SD Print? Used to get the big pier gig posters printed here. Usually went for black on dayglo yellow paper, as stood out the best. SD Print were in Mount Pleasant Road, next to the school and round the back of Jenny Wren’s sweet shop.

Ernest Ballard… Black on dayglow yes best colours

Martin Richter… and they used proper lead type – a great place to visit and do business with – when they closed, bob falconer bought the lease and opened a wine-warehouse

Mick O’Dowd… Yeah always used them. Nice bunch of guys always helpful.

Luke Barnes… This used to be my Grandfathers business, John Duncan and his business partner, i remember in the 90’s going there as a kid watching the posters being made, and the artists working at their desks and upstairs was where the posters were printed, the smell and sound of that place was brilliant!

 

 

Blancmange – Downtown Saturdays Hastings 8th October 1982

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photo https://minimalwave.com/artists/artist/blancmange/

Alan Esdaile… Did this happen?

Martin Richter… they certainly played there when *living on the ceiling* was in the charts – can’t confirm the date, though (just another day at the office!)

Marie Joanna… Art school days and Brighton Poly x parties..student days (now Sussex University) got my vinyl x

 

Plummers Record Department Robertson Street Hastings 1967/1968 (then Debenhams)

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Leigh Wieland-Boys… My first job when I moved to Hastings was at Plummer Roddis in 1971, no record department then

Jim Breeds… I think there were other Plummers branches? Maybe this was an advert for that. It doesn’t say “Roddis” in the ad as far as i can see.

Leigh Wieland-Boys… Ah, thought it was PR as Alan said it was now Debenhams

Alan Esdaile… Advert came from Hastings Observer. Remember the record department being on the 3rd floor, not sure what year it closed. They had 5 or 6 record listening booths, so used to be on our record shop listening tour on a Saturday. Odd memory, I remember buying Janie Jones Witches Brew single from the cheap box.

Patrick Lewis… There was a record department in the late 60’s. I remember seeing a number of Beach Boys albums which you didn’t usually see in other local record stores.

Alan Pepper… Wow ! Great ad . I don’t remember seeing this but would love to use the Time Machine and go back . Would buy anything Bluebeat or Vertigo swirl label ! Anyone else ?

Jim Breeds… in her right hand is the Supremes, but what is she holding in her left?

Richard J Porter… With thanks to Revolvy. Plummer Roddis was a chain of department stores based in the South of England which was acquired by Debenhams.
History…
Plummer Roddis started out as separate companies in the 19th Century. William Plummer started out as a draper in Hastings and in 1871 had a store at 3 Robertson Street, before opening another store in Southampton the corner of Above Bar and Commercial Street. George Roddis in 1870 was listed as a draper in Market Harborough, but by 1881 was a partner in a drapers & milliners called Roddis & Goldsmith at 1-2 Robertson Street, Hastings. In the late 19th Century William Plummer, George Roddis and Reginald Tyrrell, a Bournemouth draper, joined forces to create Plummer, Roddis and Tyrrell but in 1898 Reginald Tyrrell relinquished their partnership to concentrate on his other business Tyrrell & Green and the business became Plummer Roddis. The business continued to grow opening branches in Boscombe, Brighton, Bath, Eastbourne, Folkestone, Andover Weymouth, and Yeovil. The business was celebrated by being mentioned in H. G. Wells book Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul.
In 1927 the Hastings store was rebuilt by renown architect Henry Ward (he also designed the additions to the Brighton store), while the Southampton store and Bournemouth store were extensively rebuilt, the last work before World War II being completed at Bournemouth to the designs of the architect Jonathan Makepeace in 1938. The head office of the Plummer Roddis group was based in Sillwall Road, Brighton.
During the Second World War the Southampton store was destroyed by German bombing, and operated out of different locations across the city until a new store was completed in 1965. However, by this time Plummer Roddis had been bought by Debenhams, who invested in a new branch to be built in Guildford, which opened in 1968. In the early 1970s the stores were rebranded as Debenhams, except for the Southampton store. In 1972 the Bournemouth store was re-opened as a Debenhams by Terry Wogan, but for the store to be closed down a year later when Debenhams rebranded the Bobby & Co. store in the town. The Boscombe branch had been closed the previous year. By 2014 the only Plummer Roddis stores that operated as Debenhams still open were Guildford and Hastings. The Southampton store continued to operate under the Plummer Roddis name until 14 August 1993, when the store closed its doors for the last time. The store is now home to a teaching centre for Southampton Solent University.

 

 

Jazz Caverners at The Regent Hotel St Leonards – painting by Elsie Baum

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painting © Elsie Baum (Cornish)

Elsie Baum… I was 16 years old when I painted this picture. I have written “ Geoff Coates used to sing folk in the intervals. The banjo player, Roy Martin is chubby with waves hair and a snub nose. His facial expression is one of a little boy lost and he points to girls to make them giggle. I used to see them in the Regent hotel and sometimes in caves.

Ani Martin… Fabulous painting!

Alan Esdaile… Looks great Elsie. Thanks for sharing.

 

Sainsbury’s 14 Wellington Place Hastings – August 1974

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photo © https://www.sainsburyarchive.org.uk/

Alan Esdaile… Listed as August 1974 and could have been one of the last photos, as I’m pretty sure Cambridge Road opened in August 1974.

Andy Coleman… Used to go there to help my gran with her shopping every Friday. Strikes me they had no issues with shoplifting in those days

Alan Esdaile… remember seeing them slicing the meats and cheeses and I can still remember the smells in the shop!

Kevin Sherwood… Individual steak and kidney puddings were so good.

Nigel Sherwood… Remember going from the beach to there on the way home with mum to buy the puds . Favourite tea x

Pauline Sims… Remember it well, especially the variety of different smells along the counters!

Sue Strong… I remember the butter they used to do, patting it together and wrapping it up in paper

Patricia Lawson… Sue, I loved watching that with my mum

Tim Reeves… I had a part time job in Liptons

Dave Lelliott… I remember going in there with me mum.There were still tiles on the wall in the Nationwide a few years back.

Michael Demeza… Dave, The tiles are still there, farm animals etc covered over when Hastings and Thanet Building Society took over with Gyprock plaster boarding the building I helped to cover over when i was about 17 .Think it was in 70s

Dave Lelliott… they were great looking tiles

Deena Fraser… I remember going here with mum x

Chris Fitzgerald… I remember it like that and also Flay’s delicatessen in Queens Road.

Matt Thomas… I don’t remember this but I do remember Flay’s, that’s where we got our coffee, tea, milk etc when at Masons

Carrie Downing-Waite Sawatzky… Very similar to Bexhill store in Devonshire Road

Hilary James… I remember their individual meat pies

Margaret Freemantle… worked there in the 60’s patting up the butter getting chilblains on my fingers from the cold slabs.

Tracy Mercer… My nan worked here on the cheese counter

Virginia Davis… Tracy, I was just about to comment about that. I remember being taken in there by Nanny M.xxx

Alan Esdaile… If it’s her in the larger photo, I’m pretty sure I recongise her!

Gill Harrod… Tracy, I remember all three ladies – from the new shop in Cambridge Road.

Lloyd Johnson… my memory must be playing tricks .This is actually how I remember the Hastings Sainsbury’s but in the 1950s I seem to remember bent wood chairs at various food counters, a sprinkling of sawdust on the floor and a palm somewhere in the store.

Alan Esdaile… remember the sawdust

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Rolling Stones – Hastings Pier 18th January 1964

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stones-ticket

Ad supplied by Andy Gunton

Andy Gunton… I was sent this photo by a friend earlier, I think it’s from January 1964? He found it while doing some musical research, not sure where.

Andre Martin… For some reason it’s been printed on red, this was the second visit from the boys in 1964

Alan Esdaile…  The only other thoughts I have is, was it an ad in a What’s On type magazine?

Jill Caine… Awwwww memories!! I woz there.

Mick O’Dowd… This is a colour version of the Observer ad.

Mick Knights… I  do remember that I couldn’t afford the 2/6 entrance!

Martin Richter… rolling who…..?

Jill Caine… I was there. behind the bar until the Stones came and then into the ballroom to see them!!!

Glenn Piper… Pity I was only 7 at the time

Gavin Martin… Long haired layabouts .. They look like gurls. I wouldn’t let my great grandmother anywhere near them

Pauline Lindsay… I was there to and remember it well.

Helen Kingshott… I was there to 

Peter Fairless… Their Decca EP was released the day before, ‘Bye Bye Johnny’ and ‘Money’ on the ‘A ‘ side, ‘Poison Ivy’ and this on the ‘B’ side. One of our favourites…

Terry Haddon… Me as well Pauline,great night

Bob Laurie.. Opened with “King Bee” as I remember! Cycled over from Bexhill in the freezing cold to see!

Robert Andrew Hale… Bob, Thank you for that info, I’m a big Stones fan, brought up in St Leonards, but was only just born in 64, first got to see them in 82… began with “King Bee”? fascinating, do you remember anything else? Thank you again …

Bob Laurie… I only remember that It’s All Over Now was the current single and was impressed by Keith’s waistcoat. He was playing a red semi-acoustic – perhaps an Epiphone.

Lloyd Johnson… I was there…saw them twice on the Pier….they arrived in an Ambulance and ran up the left side of the Pier to the ballroom. I saw them jump out of the ambulance whilst we were queuing to get in….

David Bargioni… Yep, I was there too.

Chris Jones… I interviewed them for the Observer. They were not very pleasant to a young reporter, with the exception of Mick, who was very pleasant.

 

Who remembers Roy Martin of The Jazz Caverners?

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roy-martin

supplied by Ernest Ballard

1970’s

Ernest Ballard… The late great Roy Martin. Founder of The Jazz Caverners. Who remember his saying at the end of every gig. ” Don’t forget to put the cocoa on mum “. Seen regularly in The Jenny Lind Hastings Great banjo player and band leader. I see he has a road named after him in Eastbourne and also a National Express Coach wow. RIP

Paul Huggett… Good old’ boy.

Roy Penfold… I remember the sheer joy apparent on his face when he led the band marching around at carnivals.

Alan Esdaile… Agree Roy.

Ernest Ballard… Yes he really loved his band. I feel he showed us a true love of music. A true legend and local hero. He brought joy to so many.

Geoff Peckham… Roy was the heartbeat of the Jazz Caverners and the Expedient Marching Band when I followed them around ’69-’72. I think ‘joy’ is the right word – he loved the music and playing it, and gave joy to those who listened. He was always so friendly and kind. Years later, I was playing with Uncle John’s Band in Lewes for the library (we had all the wild gigs!) and Roy, who I believe worked for the library (?) was there. He recognised me and when I introduced him to the band, he asked if he could join us for a song or two. The others weren’t keen owing to previous experiences with oddballs, even though I told them he was fine. Later, in the middle of a Cajun dance tune, Mamou Two Step, he leapt up, grabbed a mic and proceeded to perform a ‘Cajun rap’ over it. The lads in the band were initially a bit concerned, but they soon realised they were in the presence of …..Well, I’m not sure, really! But we all had fun and his fellow librarians loved it! As you say, a true local legend!

Ernest Ballard… Nicely put.

Chris Watford… Roy Martin was a great friend of mine, and a real character on the Sussex jazz scene. However, he was not the “founder of the Jazz Caverners” ! Let me explain :-
When the Hastings band, the Dolphin Jazzband broke up after some 9 years together, trombonist Brian Towers and myself re-formed as the Jazz Caverners, and as Roy had a van and was willing to bring over fellow members of Eastbourne’s Mojo Rhythm Kings, we offered him the chance to join the new band on banjo – although we already had a banjoist in the band, Geoff Coates. This worked out well, as Geoff would disappear to Europe quite often to go busking with his guitar. We were into the Classic style of 1920s jazz, so never sounded like a banjo band, and we recorded for the specialist label Vintage Jazz Music (VJM) in London in the early 1960s. Brian Towers, still playing at the age of 83 out in Toronto, has recently compiled a CD of these early tracks, and if your readers want to purchase a copy, they can contact Brian by Googling ” Hot Five Jazzmakers “. Back in the 1950s, Roy was the originator of the Expedient Brass band, which played at Bonfire Night parades all over East Sussex for many years- often in torrential rain ! It was an authentic New Orleans Parade band with a flexible line up depending on who was available on the night, and usually comprised up to eleven musicians, who came from jazz bands from as far afield as Hastings; Lewes;Eastbourne; Crawley, and even London jazz musicians came down. These would include Colin Bowden (drums), clarinettists Roy Pellett and Tony Pyke, trombonist Mike Pointon, etc etc. Even as late as 1966, when I had married and was living in Hildenborough, Kent, I would come down for the occasional Parade at places like Mayfield and Crowborough. In 2012 we had a Reunion in St.Leonards, and after a lunchtime meal for the musicians, we were greeted by over 150 old fans of the Dolphin Jazz band, and the Jazz Caverners, most of whom we hadn’t seen for some 50 years ! I put together a Reunion Double CD of unissued tracks by the bands, and I still have just a handful left, if anyone wishes to obtain it. Roy Martin is, of course on some of the tracks, playing and singing in his own unique way.

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Andre Martin – R.I.P.

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Sheila Martin – It is with very great sadness that I have to tell people that Andre (Chris) passed away in the Conquest Hospital yesterday evening. He had been poorly for a while and his poor old heart couldn’t take anymore. Funeral details to follow when they are confirmed. I think everyone will agree he was a one off.

Clive Garrard… Very sad news. He did a great job with Conquest Hospital radio and Carnival FM. Thinking of his friends and family at this sad time.

Andrew Bantock… Oh that’s sad news. André was a true gent and a great broadcaster.

Nastassja Kaschevsky… Very sad to hear this news.

Claire Lonsdale… I’m so so sorry to hear this news. Dear André, he will be missed. May he RIP. X

Andy Hemsley… Loved Andre. He was a legend.

Stephen Moran… This is such a shock, I’m so sorry.

Sarah Murray… Oh how sad. First knew Andre back in 1962/3 at The Tech, down in the popular Canteen at lunch times where hit records like Telstar played on the “gramophone” RIP

Mark Harris… So sorry to hear this news, Andre (Chris) was our agent back in the day getting us bookings at all sorts of venues, not least many army camps through Naffii. RIP old friend.

Monica Bane… So very sad R IP Another good one has gone!

Chris Meachen… A true gent & broadcasting legend , RIP.

Roger Carey… Very sorry to hear this, a smashing guy…

Graham Belchamber… Thats really sad news. A great Hastings character and so helpful to people. My condolences to Sheila and family.

Andy Gunton… Sad news. A lovely & very knowledgeable man

Jon McCallion…Very very sad news. Such a nice man

Lloyd Johnson… Farewell old chum! R.I.P….

Tony Powell… Sad to hear this RIP

Helena Kingshott… Sad news

Lynda Parr… Such fond memories, mid 1970’s. Sorry to hear your sad news. Nick & Lyn Parr

Gerry Powell… This has come as a great shock to me. Such a nice person who always connected and related to the listener. A great friend and colleague to me on CPR FM. Andre dropped off 4 rum and cokes to me this Christmas. When I get home soon from hospital, with each of those drinks I will be toasting and remembering a true friend. For now though, maybe it’s time for another NATO spec brew, as Andre would often say . RIP Andre.

Chris Smith… This is very sad. He was a super nice guy. RIP

Sharon Sellens… oh dear, how sad . Andre was such a lovely chap and a fount of knowledge about Hastings xx

Alan Esdaile… I known Andre for many years and was a great friend. He has done amazing work for the town, with keeping the history alive, for many generations to come. He will be sadly missed. My thoughts are with Sheila and the girls.

Kev Towner… I didn’t know him well, but that is sad news

Pauline Sims… Very sad to hear this news Sheila – sending condolences and best wishes to you and your family. Andre was a great character – RIP.

Karen Sweatman… Only met him the once when I came up to guest on your radio show Alan. He came across as a really nice man and I still have the book he kindly gifted me. RIP.

Wendy Weaver… So sad to hear this. R.I.P Andre

David Martin… What a sad loss , Chris Gentry my favourite DJ as a young lad xx

Mick Mepham… Doh!!!! Very sorry to hear that news. He was a really nice guy and was always friendly, selfless, creative and helpful. All the best to his family and friends.