caravan

Chris Sambrook…Just to pay tribute to Richard Coughlan former landlord of The Castle Ashford and Drummer from Caravan, who has passed away. Spent many a happy time after playing going through Richard’s Scrap books from his past with a bottle of Southern Comfort to make things more amusing, and having a good laugh.Band’s from Hastings that might have played the Castle will know how friendly everyone was towards you no matter how good or bad you played. My condolences to Sue his wife and Beth his daughter, and to Caravan fans everywhere. He was a bloody good bloke.

Andy Knight….I’ll drink to that, The Jukes played many a happy gig in The Castle

Phil Gill….Agreed – there goes man who knew how to make his pub perfect for bands, from the way the room was set out, to loading direct from the street to the stage, to his hospitality.

Terry Pack….RIP, Richard. I loved his playing on the Caravan albums. We shared a manager and played several gigs together during the 1970s. A good bloke.

Neil Cartwright….Brief story to relate: We played over at the Castle a number of times – late 80’s. I drove an old Hillman Avenger, and on one occasion, at the end of the gig, I went back to my car, only to find that I’d locked my keys inside. (I think it was a midweek night, because I was worrying about work the next day). Anyway, I went back into the pub, and somebody said, ‘Hang on, I’ll get Richard’. He came, and I explained what had happened. No problem. He had a word with somebody sitting at the bar. The guy came outside with me, and produced from his pocket, a short length of packing strip, which he fed through the door seal, lifted the lock, and the car was open in less than a minute. Seriously, as quickly as that. Yes, fond memories.

Pete Shaw….. played a gig with Lianne and Roger Carey….at our short sound check I heard two guys being pretty disparaging about the band being “a bird ” and two geezers. I thought to myself, ” just you wait… ” as I well knew how marvellous Lianne and Roger worked, arranged and packaged great songs….I was of course right….we started with a Steely Dan number “Do it again”and I could see these guys spluttering in their pints of lager and Lianne went down a storm……Richard was very complimentary overall and about my playing and, following a few drinks, we had, at the end of the gig to settle our bar bill against the gig money…£220 gig, £209 bar bill….and I drive home! Richard even helped carry my gear as Lianne and Rog were booked in to stay the night as Richard loved his “latesies”….Quite a chap!