Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac – Albatross 1970

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Pete Fisher… “Mr Wonderful” (in my opinion their best album; and Peter Green’s finest hour) was the first album I ever bought (at the Disc Jockey, if I remember rightly!), Along with their first album, it was a huge influence on me, and my biggest inspiration to play electric guitar…I never got to see the original line-up live, but I did get to see Peter Green’s Splinter Group in Cologne in 2002, as a friend of mine was the drummer, and their tour bus driver was the same guy who’d driven the band I was in, and he put me in touch with my friend…I got to go backstage, and nodded hello to my guitar hero, Peter Green, but he’s now a very shy reticent character, and I didn’t get to talk to him. It was still a memorable evening, and at last I got to see him live…

Chris Meachen…I was fortunate enough to have a conversation with him at the white rock when he played there, & have my original blue horizon label ‘Albatross’ single autographed.
Like Pete, it was his music that made me want to play the guitar. Though he’s clearly been through some troubles, he was kind & welcoming. Turns out he’s also a really keen angler..

Alan Esdaile… I love some of the really early tracks, like Love That Burns and need your love so bad. I really Jon McCallion doing a great version of Oh Well.

Gary Kinch… The first time I “really” listened to Green Manalishi (round Charlies flat) my jaw hit the floor. Very few songs have made such a big impression.

Dawn Leaney… Peter Green is a good friend of a close friend of mine. . We all sat in her garden in Hastings about 10 years ago .. tea and sandwiches would you believe while my husband Andy Leaney (A local musician unfortunately no longer with us) acted like a dumb struck teenager getting all his old albums signed! I still have the albums and the surreal memory! ☺ xx

Steve Kinch… The real deal! Can’t be doing with that US mark ll version.

Jim Hobbs… Always loved this track and the works of FM Mk1

SMART 30 coffee meet report.

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Unfortunately we couldn’t use the Seafront Room as normal and were moved to the conference room upstairs. I did put up a sign but was not ideal and spent a lot of the time running up and down the stairs to ferry people to the correct room. Apologise to anyone who turned up and could not find us.

Among the newbies this time were Alan Oliver and Tom (Paul) Thomas.  Alan was talking about his successful Facebook page “How can we make Hastings Pier a great tourist attraction?”  Lots of ideas were discussed.  While Anita & Ray Medhurst were discussing the opening day on the pier. Tom (or should I call him Paul I’m still never sure) Thomas was happy reminiscing with Mick O’Dowd about the Teenbeats gigs that Mick promoted, also Paul had a few interesting memories of working with Samantha Fox. John McCallion was talking about bands he would like to see reform. Andre & Sarah were talking about the success of Carnival FM Radio and Chris Sambrook was going through some more unknown photos from the Eddie Hazell Collection and trying to find names, with the help of Phil & Ann Gill. Congratulations to their son Miles who is doing extremely well on tour with ROAM. Laurie  Cooksey was talking about Die Laughing and some interesting news, watch this space and I brought along a selection of old sheet music. Anything interesting that I missed in conversations, please feel free to add here.

Mick O’Dowd… It was interesting to see Paul Thomas of the Teenbeats and chat to him about the gigs they did for me.

The Happy Ballroom & more 13th August 1966 by Andre Martin

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The summer season has settled into a routine with the entertainment across the many venues here in Hastings and St Leonards, on the calendar the date is Saturday 13th August 1966. Over on the Pier in the Happy Ballroom & Longest Bar in Town the programme has something for everybody. This Saturday night it is the return of the Tony Strudwick Big Band with his “Party Night” – 8.00pm-11.30pm – novelties, prizes, games and hats all included in the 5/- entry fee. On Sunday this week it’s a return to Hastings, but a first time in the Happy Ballroom for Zoot Money & His Big Roll Band. Tuesday its Dale Martins Wrestling Promotions – headline this week Mick McManus v Brian Maxine. Ticket prices ranged from 10/6d to 4/-. Friday night it was The Tony Strudwick Show Band. The weekend for many would have started off with the compulsory viewing of Ready Steady Go, hosted by Cathy McGowan and Keith Fordyce and this week would have included appearances from Julie Felix, The Fourmost : “Here There and Everywhere”, Alan Price : “Hi Lili, Hi Lo”. Along in St Leonards at the Witch Doctor, the weekly line up was as previous with only live groups on Saturday – this week it was a return of CBS recording stars – Davy Sands & the Essex. Monday through to Friday the entertainment was simply advertised as ACTION!!  I have been asked to mention what other main entertainments were on offer during that summer of the 900th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings – Opposite the Pier in the White Rock Pavilion – know known as the White Rock Theatre – the summer show was Lance Percival with “Let’s Make a Night of It” with full supporting troupe Monday to Saturday with 2 shows on Wednesday and Saturday, to enable weekly visitors to maximise what was on offer the change-over took place on Thursdays. Sunday evenings were reserved for different concerts. For the main season it was Sunday Swings Along with Bob and Alf Pearson + guests, In the early season it was Gordon Rider & Visitors. Another series of events that was very popular the Ted Crouch Band “Music & Fireworks in Alexandria Park” with. On some occasions the Carnival Queen Glynis Shaw and her attendants – Viv Moore and Carol Ball would also attend. There would also have been live dance band music in The Bathing Pool, The Sun Lounge, The Carlisle, The Alexandra Hotel , & The Queens Hotel to name but a few.
Radio & Television were limited to very few channels, unlike today with multi choice, but we managed – BBC Radio –The Light Programme for this week offered Saturday Club with Brian Matthew and his guests – Los Bravos, Wayne Fontana, The Artwoods, Jimmy James and The Vagabonds and the Spinners. Later on that day you would have heard David Frost Phonograph, Music Parade, Swing into Summer – a Monday- Saturday musical presentation to suit old and young alike, Kenny Ball & His Jazz men, Cliff Bennett, Ray Ellington & Alan Haven +Tony Crombie, amongst the guests. Saturday Bandstand this week featured the Staff Band of The Royal Engineers Chatham and they would have no doubt included the Regimental Quick March “Wings” for all the Sappers & ex Sappers tuned in. Later that day on offer was Heather Mixture, Blackpool Night with the Batchelors. Later the Henry Woods Promenade Concert, Time for Latin and Simson Dee. On Sunday the selection included Mrs Mills, Easy beat, Two Way Family Favourites, Morecombe & Wise. Movie Time this week included “One of our Spies is Missing”[Robert Vaughan and David McCallum] later in the evening “ Sing Something Simple”, Steptoe and Son, Open House with Desmond Carrington and Jazz Scene Humphrey Lyttelton and Alan Haven & Tony Crombie.
Television – Saturday – Grandstand, Juke Box Jury with David Jacobs and his guests Antony Booth, Simon Dee, Sheila Southern and Viviana Ventura. The Saturday evening would have continued Laurel and Hardy, The Musters, Dick Van Dyke, The Henry Woods Concert, The Trouble-shooters, and The Wrestlers – a Canadian Documentary. Sunday included – It’s a KO, this week featured Bridlington v Scarborough, Tich and Quackers, Jamaica 66 British and Empire Commonwealth Games and Ken Dodd and over on BBC 2 Cricket. The charts for this week from Radio London – BIG L would have included – Beatles: Yellow Submarine, Beach Boys: God only Knows, Ken Dodd: More Than Love, Mamas & Papas: I saw her again and Bobby Sheen: Doctor Love. Over on Radio Caroline South –Dave Lee Travis played – Beach Boys: God Only Knows, Lovin Spoonful: Summer in the City, Los Bravos: Black is Black, Beatles: Elinor Rigby and Alan Price Set: HI Lilli, Hi Lo. So another week goes by, and down here in Hastings people are kept very busy as you can see, until next week’s episode do all stay safe and hopefully make the most of better weather, for those who are recovering from the Old Town Carnival, just think you still have 51 weeks to go to next year’s events- 2017, start training now !     AndrePalfrey-Martin©2016

Jamiroquai – Buffalo Man for sale

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Jamiroquai Buffalo Man. This would be ideal in the right club, shop or pub. Its in my warehouse in Hastings. He’s 10ft tall, weighs about 30kg, is made of plywood, mdf or faced chipboard (we can’t tell because of the paint and edging). There are one or two dings in the edges, but a touch up with black paint will make it right. We purchased this from Winterland merchandisers many years ago and understand it was used in a video or as a stage prop. Buyer collects. Open to offers.

The Revelers – looking for photos from Hastings Carnival 1950/1960’s

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Chris Leek asks…. I have a question, I hope this is an appropriate place. I am after getting some old photos of the Hastings Carnival circa 1950 to early 60’s my dad was one of the group that called themselves “The Revelers and i have lost all the photos of them back then….Any ideas please.

Anyone help? Happy to pass on any information.

 

Centre Page with Rev at The Yelton Hotel – early 2000

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supplied by Josie Lawson

Another great photo from Josie Lawson.  Josie’s cousin Rev was the keyboard player. I would think this is Centre Page with the much missed Dave Easton anyone confirm.

Colin Fox… Dermot playing Bass.

Peter Gladwish… Yep! ‘Centre Page’ with the incomparible Dave Easton on vocals. I was the drummer when Rev was in the band, before my time with ‘Looking Back’. Two great bands!

Josie Lawson… This photo was taken when The Entertainer mag was around as I wrote about this with my cousin and they published it. I called the poem I think “My long lost cousin”. I don’t know if copies of the mag were ever kept but unfortunately a lot of my research etc were thrown as I explained to you due to ill health.

Colin Fox… The last time I saw Rev he was having a drink at Cooden Beach Hotel. He had really long grey hair and beard.

Josie Lawson…I think that may have been before he passed which was 23rd December 2004 sad days. Last time I saw Rev my cousin he said even though I have all my disabilities to follow my heart and dreams as I could make it.He said he followed my creativity within the Mags.It was so good meeting him again after all those years.Just by chance I heard his name when the band took a break.I heard his name and knew and he realised too and so a hug was had.Would be great to have the poem again.I have many floppy discs with many of my poems but that is where they Are at the moment until I can gain access.

Anyone help Josie with copies of The Entertainer magazine?

Colin Fox… That’s correct Josie. Everyone loved him even though he some problems.

Hastings Town Magazine – August 2016

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In this months edition Tony May talks about the sad loss of Alan Gaywood – Mr Merchandise with full tribute due in next months issue. Also Tony’s review of Harvey Summers & Laura Cole recent gig at The Printworks and the latest Letters From Keith number 8.  Keith reveals some  of the background to  Rupert’s Peoples Reflection Of Charles Brown and Procol Harum’s Whiter Shade Of Pale. Lots of other features including 100 years of Hastings Postcards feature on Judges Postcards. Now available from your local newsagent.