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Battle of Hastings – 14th October 1066 – coincidence?

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Battle of Hastings today 14th October and first thing this morning when I checked,  we now have 1066 members on the SMART facebook page. It does go up and down all the time but a nice coincidence.

Jim Breeds… Yay!!

Peter Fairless… Watch out for arrows, then!

Pete Fisher… Was in my last year of junior school in 1966, and some of the local schools got together and made a film reenacting the battle at the original location, in which I was an extra, and had to play a dead Saxon…would love to see it again!

Mick O’Dowd… What’s the secret of the rejuvenation and long life after death Pete?

Alan Esdaile… I would say its one in the eye for SMART but notice someone has just left the group and we are down to 1065!

Martin Richter… mislaid my first day cover, during a move

Jeff Belton… Who won ?

Lyn Humphrey… Who won? Hastings Utd.

Steve Amos… Is their name Harold?

Dave Nattress… 1066! Well the story I heard was that when the chief of the Norman long-bowmen decided to tell his men to fire their arrows up into the air, his second in command said, well that’s all very well boss, but don’t you know if they’re not careful they’ll have some poor sod’s eye out!

 

 

SMART coffee meet No. 38 Report

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Our 38th meet. Among the newbies this time were Harry Randall. Harry was talking about his bands Chain Reaction, The 6ts and The Patriots who appeared on New Faces and had a single out on Bus Stop Records called Rick Rack. Mick O’Dowd arrived with The Beatles live at the BBC cassette pack and a whole bunch of cd’s that he was happy to give away for a donation to the Conquest MRI Scanner appeal. Laurie Cooksey arrived with some more photos from the 6ts and the very first photo of Die Laughing, and interested in getting a book together of Hastings rock history. Cliff Wootton had with cd’s for his new progressive folk band ‘Where Once Giants Trod’ and Pete Prescott had with him The Simon Dee book, the Guitarist book from 87 featuring him and Ray Fenwick and Jazz UK and The Hastings Trawler, both with Liane Carroll on the covers. Wendy Weaver remembers seeing live Fred Astaire and Gene Vincent and going to The Simon Dee tv show. Iain Cobby was talking to John Petrie about Stallion at The Melody Maker rock contest and Tony Qunta was talking about how the Factory single Time Machine keeps rising in value and also amplification getting smaller and smaller.  Colin Bell mentioned that he did the first proper disco in Hastings at The Regent Hotel in 1968 for the EF students, prior to this Andre said that he played records in the same venue supporting bands like Unabridged Telephone Directory. Sarah Harvey is working on the Hastings Rock recordings of Colin’s interview with Roger Daltrey which she hopes to play on her Slammin Tunes programme some time in the near future. Kevin Burchett is working on some videos of The Lost Boys and Sergeant which will be posted on You Tube shortly. Also Kevin was pleased to announce that enough money has now been raised for a permanent statue to  Ron ‘Popeye’ Everett. Tony Davis was talking about an incident at his recent Birthday event , when The Kavemen played. Unfortunately someone stole the bass players pedal kit. Photos are all over social media and hopefully the person will be caught. Chat was also about the BBC Proms Stax Records tribute and PP Arnold’s finally releases her lost album. As we finished more people were arriving and ended up a very good afternoon. This is a small bit of what I can remember, anyone who wishes to add anything you were talking about, then please feel free to do so.

Phil Gill… Sorry not to make it this time Alan, work got in the way.

Lucy Pappas… Sounds like I missed another great afternoon xx

Mick O’Dowd…Everyone is always made welcome at the Meets.

Andy Qunta… Anyone else like to have their fire buckets checked?

Jim Breeds… I’ll avoid any joke about hoses!

Mick O’Dowd…  I think I needed a fire extinguisher after meeting her!

Pete Fairless… I saw them in September 1975 – 42 years ago, tomorrow… Yes, I recall it was rather warm!

Dennis Torrance… I was there

Martin Waghorne… Great night i remember it . just

Paul Hoggard… Great gig!

 

SMART 36 Coffee Meet Report

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Our 36th coffee meet and no politics, well maybe a bit! Andre Martin confirmed that Carnival FM will be back on the air on 87.9 fm during carnival week. We talked about early disc jockey equipment and Conquest Hospital Radio. Heather Smith popped in looking for a sixties band to play at an event. Mick O’Dowd had with him a platinum disc of East 17 Steam for 50,000 sales, The Who Quadrophenia LP, Beatles LP covers of Sgt Peppers, The White Album, Please Please Me, Revolver, For Sale, A Hard Days Night, With The Beatles, Band Aid 12” single, and the bizarre ‘Walk With An Erection” by the S.A’s and yes it was a 12 inch, apparently a parody of Walk Like An Egyptian.  He also had a tour programme from The Shadows. I had with me books from John Peel by Mick Wall, Are You Experienced by Noel Redding and Carol Appleby, 12 Days On The Road The Sex Pistols and Scott Walker – A Deep Shade Of Blue.  Mick was talking about the bands that have played De La Warr Pavilion in the past like Zoot Money and Geno Washington. Colin Bell was talking about his favourite year in music which incidentally is the same as mine, 1967 and also remembering the jukebox in Divitos St Leonards. He even remembers what button to play ‘See My Baby Jive by Wizzard’ as Paul Casson used to play it all the time. He was also talking about a new post, on what tracks you secretly love or hate but never own up to! Eric Harmer was raving about an old Bill Withers track I Can’t Write Left Handed.  Ann Gill was talking about Boyzone and Ocean Colour Scene coming to the pier. Phil Gill confirmed that The Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band will be performing the Sgt Peppers album at the annual Hastings nearly on the beach concert on Sunday 30th July. Lol Cooksey was talking to John Petrie about modern drum kits. All are taught, positioned and set up to the same format. No room for originality and flair.  Barry Taylor was talking about the up coming Oak Fest Rye music festival which takes place on 17th June.  He was also talking about Terry Reid who recently played The De La Warr. Interestingly Terry wrote the hit Friends for Arrival who featured Tony O’Malley who was playing at the Jazz & Blues festival last week. A number of people from SMART went to the Jazz & Blues Festival and full marks to Mike Raxworthy for putting on a great line up with a brilliant set from Liane Carroll. This is just a small bit of what I remember, pleased feel free to add anything I missed.

Heather Smith… thank you so much for the leaflets you gave us, nice meeting you

Mick O’Dowd… Good one again Alan even though we were thinner on the ground this time. Still found interesting people to talk to. I know a few people that say they’re coming but then don’t al I can say to them is MAKE AN EFFORT, you won’t be dissapointed. It’s completely informal. No stand up speakers. You are NEVER left to fend for yourself as we make sure you are introduced to people that share your interests/music etc. Try it next Meet. Because you’re worth it!

SMART 33 report

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img770 genesis rock roots rosko show

pete photos lps

Friday 13th, snowing in the morning, bitterly cold but very pleased with the excellent turn out for our first meet of 2017. Among the newbies was Tim McDonald who has a wealth of musical knowledge. Steve Fitz brought along posters of his bands Baktrak and Ghostriders. Paul Morfey had with him LP’s of Spooky Tooth Spooky Two, Uriah Heep Very ‘Eavy, Fruupp The Prince Of Heaven’s Eyes, String Driven Thing The Machine That Cried and Steppenwolf 7.  Pete Prescott had a bundle of posters of Jez Gillett Band, The Lost Boys, gig poster for The George venue, Rock Night 5 with Huw Lloyd-Langton, Rock Night 6 with The Hamsters, Black Horse Music Festival, rare Sergeant posters from Switzerland and Reservoir Cats CD When We Were Young. Colin Bell had with him cd’s of Dusty Springfield A Very Fine Love, Uriah Heep Sea Of Light and Thom Pace Slices of the Past and Future. I had with me Lp’s from Genesis Rock Roots, The Rosko Show and Pink Floyd Relics. Talk was about the sad loss of jazz musician Pete Burden and local Deep Purple singer Kevin Clark. Hollington Youth Club, Beatles Day, Hastings Rock Radio, Tich Turner, what’s planned for the pier in 2017 and Mick O’Dowd came up with the surprise revelation that Ken Dodd was one of the biggest selling artists of the 60’s beaten only by The Beatles. Andre was talking about writers cramp from the book signing of the excellent A Pier Without Peer. More memories of Charlie Hutchinson, The Marquee Club in London, The Hastings Flyer new gig guide website, the scout hall Grove Road,  the happy ballroom stories from Andre now moving into 1967, John Otway to play The Fountain pub in Queens Road and how to get rid of the cough virus going around! This is just a very small bit of what I remember, anything I have missed or anything interesting you were talking about, then please feel free to add.

Geoff Peckham… Sorry I missed another SMART meet yesterday; It’s become difficult to get away on Fridays lately.

Jim Breeds… “the scout hall Grove Road” … I can’t imagine how this relates to SMART, but I was a cub, scout and scout leader at that hall. Many happy memories. Who’s for a game of British Bulldog?

Mick O’Dowd… This is where I started my DJ career Jim. Went to a youth club here and we had bands on quite a few times including The Springbeats & Circuit Four.

Pete Prescott… Ah! British bulldog ! A time when boys were tough! Well apart from me of course !

Mick O’Dowd… Really enjoyabel Meet as usual. Good talking to Eric Harmer, Pete Millington, Andre Martin and Colin Bell.

Eric Harmer… Good to catch up with you to Mick. 

Graham Belchamber… Sorry I couldn’t make it. Have a bit of a lurgy, not very rock n roll!

Jeanette Jones… Sign of the times Graham, most of us are not typical Rocknroll, get well soon 

Liane Carroll… Roger says he’s sorry he couldn’t make it yesterday. See you at the next one xxxxx