Collins & Hayes 1989 photo

by

photo © Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland

Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland… If you worked at Collins & Hayes in 1989, do you remember the designer and prototype team? L to R Robert Aldridge, Tony Dorman, Alan Pledge (designer) and Arthur Davis.

David Martin… I remember Tony & Arthur when I made their metalwork

Virginia Davis… Arthur Davis was my father in law. He made us our first sofa.

 

Did anyone go on the Magic Bus coach trips in the 1970’s?

by

Leigh Mitchell… No – but I’d go on one now at those prices

Rebecca Roach… What a memory – delighted to find this – I went on the Magic Bus to Athens from Kings Cross station in 1972/3 (?) stayed at The Funny Trumpet hostal in Athens – that was an experience!

R Stene… Yes. London to Athens in 1978. I was the oldest person on the ride (36) and best dressed it turned out. No head rests for three days and a memorable toilet stop for two girls on the side of the road in Yugoslavia in the snow. Lots of interesong smoking going on in the back seats.

Mike Curtis… No. Cos it was “too much”

John Wilde… Yes twice to Amsterdam.

Vicki Campbell… Yes, Athens to Amsterdam 1975. Yugoslavia we broke down near Skopje.  Pretty rough travel but the price was right! I remember how happy everyone was to cross into Austria! The fresh produce in Yugoslavia was the best anywhere.

Heather Sidery… Yes.. France and back. We we’re stopped in UK, and searched by police. Nothing found…..

Julie Findlay-jones… My uncle used to drive for them in the 70s.

David Hamblett… Went to Athens 1979, it cost £28,Should have been 3 days but took 4 as Yugoslavia police stopped the bus and took away the driver, Fantastic

Amanda Darling… David, I was on that bus too! My son was conceived on the roadside in Yugoslavia when the bus driver was taken off by the police!

Joan Hicks… I (a Kiwi) traveled Athens to London 1976. Alan was the lone driver. He had his kids Claire and Roger with him. Alan had a kidney stone attack in the Alps, so the whole busload baby sat until he came back. Also got stuck at the Yugoslavian border, the border guards demanding $200 US for a Visa I already had. Also got an unplanned day in Amsterdam. Brilliant trip. Made some good friends and still keep in touch with a couple of them. Traveled on with Alan down to Cornwall and stayed with him and his wife Flora for a few days. Happy days!

Meryl Gay… Yes, I took the 3day trip in 1975 from London via France, Italy over the ferry at Brindisi to Greece down to Athens. What a adventure. We had a puncture in France! Had many happy memories.

Peter Ellingworth… I didn’t myself but my youngest cousin Moira, sadly no longer with us having succumbed to cancer, and over from Australia at the time (1975-8) on their traditional overseas rite of passage, did so with her Canadian flat mate she lodged with in Shepherds Bush…..and ended up in Athens marrying a Greek. Did the bus go from the old coach station half way up Pentonville Rd., (now an upmarket restaurant) or from outside King’s Cross Rail station itself, most likely in York Way ?

Read more

Hot sound of Dave Holt Swingtet – 1974

by

Terry Pack… I played with this band around this time. The line up included Sid Acam on piano, Adrian Underhill on guitar and Bob Clarke on fiddle.

Jim Breeds… Snatch! Real name Jim, I think? I worked with him at Ashdown House, contemporaneously with this story. Nice bloke.

Terry Pack… Sid Akam used to work in Bexhill library. Spike Milligan used to sit in when we played in Rye.

Tony Bird… The guitar being played is a Harmony H77 built between 1960 and 1970

Publicity photo 1960’s Eversfield Place (Verulam Place) St Leonards-on-Sea

by

photo © Hastings Public Library

Shaun Allen… Great photo. In 1977 I started working for a Swedish company and my first project was to turn Verulum Building (the old Information Centre) ito a suitable place for classes for students and to include an information desk/sales place for T shirts etc, and a disco! It took me about 6 weeks to get that functional on a minimum budget. So, the Hastings mayor cut the ribbon around June ’77. Stressful, but good fun. It was pulled down in due course for the apartment block that was built there.