SMART

Chat group of like minded people who are interest in 70’s music and other eras, bands who played Hastings Pier.

Dave Carter – R.I.P.

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© bexhill observer

I’m very sorry to report the news that Dave Carter has died. I’m sure many people here will remember him from gigs, his great music knowledge and when he worked for Flyright Records in Bexhill. My thoughts are with his family at this sad time.

Phil Gill… This is sad news. Had a chat with him in the Standard earlier this year. He loved music and was a loyal follower of local bands.

John Wilde… Dearest David. Thank you for your loyalty. A good man and a good fan. Best wishes to your family. Journey on. ♡

Geoff Peckham… Oh no…I went to junior school with him and Dave Natress etc. He went on to Westminster Choir School I believe, but I never saw him since. Not surprised he was into music. So sad we didn’t connect after the age of 11….I’d love to know more about his life. Such a shame.

Chris Meachen…. Sad news indeed,- a lovely bloke in all respects..

Yvonne Cleland… RIP David Carter x

Dave Nattress… Thanks all and Geoff. Indeed, Dave was at Junior School with Geoff before going to Westminster Choir School. In fact Dave and I kept in contact on a personal and business basis – often meeting up in the local supermarkets and out for the odd beer. He told me just a few months back he was (basically) in a bad way – my words – and had been for a while, but was (of course) hoping to get through it for a good long time yet but…. alas not. We last played a game of snooker together not many weeks ago – both racking up the scores through each other’s foul’s – well certainly his being my fouls, and he was (overall) fine then on the face of it and the prospects looked good enough for a while, but, now we know, not quite good enough. I was very upset this morning to discover the bad news. Another good, close friend gone – so many in the last 18 months, along with so many music people of so many levels. He was a very good person. Another example of life being so cruel

Steve Kinch… So sorry to hear of his passing. Dave was a regular at gigs, and a great supporter of Hastings bands during the 70s. RIP Dave.

I have heard from his sister Heather and she is happy for friends to pass on personal comments to the family. davidcarter@hezzy.co.uk  The service details are as follows:

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Richard J Porter… Is he the guy that sold tax disc holders and key rings?

Alan Esdaile… He did work for one on the record companies for a while and yes Richard, Dave also worked at one of the promotional print companies. Kept trying to sell me printed pens and rulers etc

Nigel Ford… Sad news, he was at Bexhill Grammar a year above me and a friend of my cousin Andy Howe who was in his class (1964-71) I think, as he stayed into the sixth form after I left at 16. I hadn’t seen him for years when I did so at Die Laughing’s re-union gig at the Carlisle and another since but can’t remember which gig . Sincere condolences to all close to him, a thoroughly decent bloke.

Richard J Porter… Condolences to his family.

Terry Pack… I met Dave through my musical association with his brother, Kim and got to know him well when we worked together at Flyright. He was a great bloke, always laughing. I hadn’t seen him for a while and am saddened by his death. I have fond memories! RIP Dave.

Andy How… Thanks to Nigel for letting me know this very sad news. Dave joined BGS after leaving Westminster Abbey choir school and we quickly became close friends; had some great times together. His free use of weird expressions bounced back on him as he earned nicknames like Claude and Scab! We had a way of whistling relatively loudly in our throats and did so during Latin lessons, sitting on different sides of the class. It drove the teacher Josh Redwood berserk because he never could locate the double-sourced sound. We were also in the school choir together and played a lot of tennis in the holidays. I maintained brief contact with Dave after school; he went to work for the Bank of England I think. I’ve often thought of him since and wondered what he got up to. I remember both his parents, sister Heather, and their golden retriever. Condolences to the family. Thinking of and praying for you in these difficult days. Andy How.

The Spooks – old scout hut Salehurst Road, Eastbourne. 1962

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supplied by Len Smith – Eastbourne Bands From 1960 on

Dave Nattress… Eastbourne Bands – not a bad idea to broaden this out a little bit. Personal view – apologies, but might answer a few nagging questions about the local-ish scene. Don’t know the Spooks – a bit before my time. But a name connection or link to a band from Bexhill called The Spirits. Any information anyone – late 60’S – maybe mid-60’s. “The Spirits” was a graffiti on a wall of Bexhill Down Junior School – as was – been KIng Offa Junior for years.  Back to Eastbourne, but I don’t know where the bands came from – I would guess the local area. One I saw in a pub in South Street, Eastbourme, was called Ptarmigan – as in the Scottish game bird – Basically Rock and unbelievably good but the most memorable track was “Tracks of my Tears” by Smokey Robinson. Was mid 70’s. Also, about the same time was a band called Nightrider, who I saw in the same pub and also at the pub in Chiddingly – The Gun was it, a couple of times, who did Rock and maybe what could be called Post-Punk. Excellent live band.

Colin Fox… omg! pre Beatles. I was 17 in this photo and the rest of the group were younger. Where have the years gone?

Robert Searle… Another great picture

Colin Fox… The only Nightriders I remember from Eastbourne are here:

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Julie White… I remember the Spooks, although never actually saw them. I went up to Ratton School in 1962 at the age of 12. There were lots of older girls with big hair who used to wear black and white button badges with Spooks on them.

 

Radio 1 charity football match – Pilot Field mid 70’s by Matt Thomas

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Matt Thomas… Dont know if anybody else on here remembers a charity football match up at the Pilot Field possibly mid 70’s.I recall my dad taking me i was about 6/7 and it was a Radio 1 side including Ed’Stewpot’Stewart,’Diddy’David Hamilton and im sure Tony Blackburn as well.Did i dream this or did it really happen? If it did anyone got any pics?

Karen Sweatman Was Blackman…  My husband remembers but no photos I’m afraid.

Leigh Wieland-Boys…  It happened! I was there, but can’t remember date/year, sorry 😀

Alan Esdaile… Anyone confirm which disc jockeys played?

Darren Holmes… was it part of Bobby Drake’s testimonial – United beat Chelsea 2-1 midweek and then played an all star XI at the weekend!

Mark Randall… I  remember the same suspects playing at a Tonbridge FC match. Also Fraser Hines.

Andy Gunton… I was there Mark!

Roy Penfold… I’ve got vague memories of that – together with the testimonial mentioned by Darren.

Andrew Clifton… I  was there Matt and Ed Stewart.

Sarah Harvey… I don’t think it was Bobby Drake’s testimonial because this was the line-up for that match .

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supplied by Sarah Harvey

 

iPad – track & band identify by Dave Nattress

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Something I learned only this morning was that the i-pad can identify tracks and bands etc. Call me behind the times – no prob. My Wife and all the children have i-pads – I’m happy with the pc and the laptop and a succession of phones; phones which are so complicated that I only ever use them for simple stuff -like phoning people. Anyway, back to the i-pad and it’s amazing, (to me) ability to ID tracks. This morning, my Wife’s got R2 on and there’s a nice track which was vaguely familiar so I said listen out and see what this is can you please, (I’m very polite). Abi my youngest, 15, says you can do it on the i-pad – which we call i-patch (eye-patch), bear with me, it’s a house of madness, so she held the device to the Radio and in seconds – I’m sure you know this, it’s identified the track as Dan Fogelberg – “Longer”. Sounded like DF and it turns out I’ve got it on a Greatest Hits, hence it was familiar. So….I asked can the i-patch, sorry pad, do this to other stuff – like I meant the Hi-Fi and the answer was Yes, anything. So…I said right! let’s try and do it with some obscure tracks, so out came a few favourites, most mentioned on the website and I tried to fool it. It got, amazingly to me, “Midnight Madness” by England off Garden Shed, “Death Walks Behind You” by Atomic Rooster – same Album, “The Martyr” by Wally – first Wally Album, but couldn’t get “In Circles” off It’ll All Work Out in Boomland by T2. I’m gonna have a heap more fun with it.                   Dave Nattress

Peter Fairless… Let me guess …it then goes on to check which tracks you’ve bought and any you’ve downloaded and sends you the appropriate bill?

Alan Esdaile… When I hear the word i-patch all I think of is pirates day. Thanks Dave for posting, I’m sure a number of people will know this and a number will not. Any other advice is always welcome to post here.

Dave Nattress… Peter…steady – dangerous suggestion in these clever IT times. I suppose it could act as a spy for the record companies and PRS but I still buy virtually everything I listen to simply because if it’s a new band for instance – first album etc. and they’re on a really mean royalty, I’m happy for them to get the little bit of my money that’s left once everyone else has been paid their cut.

Eric Cawthraw… Yep, this has been around for a while, we have ‘SoundHound’ on our tablet, does the same thing. What’s more, it asks you if you want to buy the track and download it – so within seconds you found it, bought it, own it, played it! I first came across this app a couple of years ago visiting my son. We were watching golf on the TV and this song came on – within seconds my lad used the app and bought the track. It is very clever in i/d-ing stuff, but I beat it when I played it some Grobschnitt, that said, it can find a lot of obscure stuff.

Peggy Sue & The Night Riders – early 60’s

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supplied by Colin Fox – Eastbourne Bands from 1960 on

Colin Fox… An earlier photo of Peggy Sue & The Night Riders: L to R Chris Hermon (rhythm Guitar) ,Pam Gardiner(Vocals), Peter Head (Lead Guitar/Vocals), Jim (Bass) and Mike Sullivan (Drummer) at the back.

Looking For More Photos

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Thank you for visiting our site and hopefully you are finding it interesting. We are always looking for more photos, cuttings etc from the 60’s onwards with a connection to the Hastings area. Especially groups we have not featured before. If you have anything please email it over with as much information as possible.

Val Doonican dies aged 88

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-33363938

posted by Barry Newton

John Laidlaw…  R.I.P., Val… frown emoticon.

John Wilde… Thanks Val. You were unique. Journey on.

Jane Hartley… Used to love his programmes RIP Val x

Jacqueline Marsh…. A lovely man, watch a documentary last year, was a funny man and very genuine RIP

Andre Martin… A great entertainer who was so much part of our growing up on both the Radio and Television – RIP you old Trouper you can now take a long sit down in your rocking chair, and the angels can knit you some new jumpers.

Jim Breeds… My parents antidote to the evil wave of rock and pop sweeping the country corrupting us kids and ending civilisation as they had known it was to settle down to watch the Val Doonican Show every week. I watched too in a sort of ‘WTF is this?’ way. Actually, I mostly enjoyed it. It might have helped fire the then nascent love of folk music that grew and has been with me all my life. He had some great gustes on from time to time too. I still have a couple of Val Doonican LPs that Mum & Dad bought. They are filed in the box that also has Wout Steenhuis in it. Rock (ing chair) In Peace Val.

Peter Fairless… Keep rockin’, Val!

David Miller… Part of the soundtrack of my youth…and i wanted his guitar. Many blessings….

Chris Meachen… An essential part of growing up in our generation, Val was entertaining, funny & kind.. Another light goes out in our world..

Leigh Wieland Boys… Such sad news, spent many an evening with my parents watching his show. I still remember Val singing Scarlet Ribbons. RIP dear man

Alan Esdaile… Yes I remember watching The Val Doonican Show. My parents loved If The Whole World Stopped Lovin’. He certainly introduced us to lots of songs and I also liked his version of Scarlet Ribbons. Nice genuine guy even though he did knock the Beatles Sgt Peppers album off the number one spot. R.I.P.

Dave Nattress… Val was definitely uncool when I was a lad but my Ma and Pa used to watch him Saturday night and I by default did too sometimes. My dad bought an EP of his with Delaney’s Donkey and Paddy McGinty’s Goat on it and I recall these 2 quite funny, lyrically quite clever tracks well ,being played on MY record player by the old man! We must respect Val’s musicality, and he’s just more little bit of us or our growing up – well those of us a bit older, that’s now gone.

Andy Qunta… Great entertainer, & seemed like genuinely lovely fella! RIP

Jim Hobbs… A forgotten part of my life’s soundtrack. Good old Val on a Saturday night. Top man RIP.

Favourite Summer Record from Matt Thomas

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Matt Thomas… They have been playing a lot of summer related songs on Radio 2 today.What is your favourite? I have a few – Bobby Goldsborough(Summer the first time),Style Council(Long Hot Summer) and Isley Brothers(Summer Breeze).

Karen Sweatman was Blackman… Walking on Sunshine always puts me in a good mood!

Nigel Sherwood… Anything Eagles related does for me

Alan Esdaile… I always think of California Dreaming as a great summer record, even though I think they are singing about autumn!

Barry Newton… California Dreaming cover being played all the time here on French radio. What about Kinks, words, lazin on a summers afternoon.

Peter Fairless… Summer by War

Jenny Tyler…  I like Bubbling Hot, Hot, Hot.

Clifford Rose… Rockaway Beach – Ramones or Here Comes The Summer – The Undertones.

Peter Fairless… Oh, yes, Clifford and The Undertones Here Comes Summer.

Ralph Town… Celebrate Summer – T Rex

Matt Thomas… Might be an age thing but i love title track to Grease by Franki Valli

Alan Esdaile… What about San Francisco – Scott McKenzie.

Alan Pepper… When it comes to Summer sounds my favorite records are Good vibrations by the beach boys and groovin by the young rascals….now pass me that sun tan lotion and my becks !

Dave Nattress… I know it’s not quite the Summer sound that the others are, but for me, memories of Summer 1970, 17 years old, me, my mate Butch Roberts, Julie Downton and her Swedish student Barbro, who I fell hopelessly in love with, on Bexhill beach small tinny transistor radio and All Right Now by Free blasting out – and a few more. Close my eyes, I’m back there!!! I wish!!!

Leigh Wieland-Boys… All the above.

Keith Forbes… summer in the city, loving spoonful.

John Wilde… Dancing in the street. Martha and the Vandellas.

Yvonne Cleland… Heatwave. Martha and the Vandellas. In the Sun. Blondie.