Chris Sayer

The Talismen – Top Hastings group from 1964 to 1967

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Supplied by Peter Millington Hastings Groups from 1958 to the present – photos Lloyd Johnson

Peter Millington… The Talismen – One of the best Hastings Groups between 1964 and 1967. Chris Sayer, Keith (Budge) Harrison, Henry Harvey and Peter (Jonah) Jones. Pictures from Lloyd Johnson. Sadly, Chris, Budge and Henry have all passed away.

Yvonne Cleland… I think this is the band that came round to our house and played a few numbers when I was a baby in a cot. Chris played something, and I plunked along with him on my red plastic guitar!

Jon McCallion… Had lunch with Chris nearly every day in the early 70s. Lovely man.

Ken Mulley… I remember this band very well … As I recall they played in Hastings caves.. One stage they were all wearing Levi 501s which insprired me to do the same..! this would had been 64/65

Leigh Wieland-Boys… The lovely Jonah, always looked after us girls when he was a bouncer – never saw his band though sadly

Stuart Moir… I see Pete at the Hastings sea angling club when it’s open was a brilliant solid drummer in the Talisman .

Lloyd Johnson… They played the Market Hall, The Regent, The Caves, The Pier everywhere. I thought they were the best group in Hastings at the time. always quick with the wit!…I was good mates with Henry and and I put The Big Beat Reunions on The pier in the 80s…

Anne… Is Pete still around? My other half played in Revival with Chris, and Chris and Pete used to play at the White Horse in Hurst
Green as a duo. Hard to believe it’s more than 10 years since Chris passed away.

Lloyd Johnson… I think Pete lives in Spain now….

Patricia Warren… I remember them from Combe Haven caravan park, St Leonards-on-Sea, I was about 14 , Mum and Dad always sat us by the stage , the music was deafening and we loved it , my small sister slept through most of it , great memories .

Soul X Press first gig 22nd June 1991 – Kings Head Hastings

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Supplied by Len Benton

Chris Sayer(guitar out of shot), Dave and Martin Blackman, Kirk Ronchetti(drums), Len Benton(bass), Russell Field(saxophone) and Steve

Amanda Brooks… Brill pic. Other sax player would’ve been Mick Allen. X OR maybe the other sax player is big Steve from the Thunderbirds ! Looking at it closer ! ..

Russell Field… it is Steve, about three years before Mick joined the band x

Martin Blackman… Or Sexy Steve’ as Dave called him, fun times!

Amanda Brooks… Yeah ! Big bird !. Does anyone know where he is now ?

Who remembers ‘Swift Half’ band asks Clive Bendon-Hill

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I was the bass player and harmony singer with Swift Half in 80’s and 90’s with Paul Burton on guitar and harmonies, Chris Sayer lead guitar, singer and leader of the band. We also had a brilliant electric banjo player whose name I think was Paul and he came from Bexhill but I cannot remember the drummer’s name. I have a video of Swift Half at the Tower Pub where we played one night but cannot remember the date! I believe there is an album of Swift Half which I found a track from on YouTube today. Any info you can give me on this please and on the Hastings Swift Half band in their day when all the afore-mentioned were together? If anyone else remembers the band in its day, can they get in touch? By the way, apart from the VHS video I have I also have copies of all the lyrics that Chris hand wrote for all the songs we did together! Please do come back with any info, photos or recordings – just to bring back memories and the fun we had! Thank you so much! Clive

Paul Dengate… Could have been Paul Bishop on banjo

Alex Knight… Paul, was about to say this!! I think he lives in France now!! Paul Bishop was this you?? Maybe Gary on drums??

 

Henry Harvey & Chris Sayer guesting with The Scratchers in 2007 and Pete & Henry.

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supplied by Peter Millington – Hastings Groups from 1958 to the present

Yvonne Cleland…. Aw, lovely Chris x

Patricia Landamore… Henry Harvey= LEGEND & Chris, wonderful ,happy , magic, days

Darren Holmes… Good Old Horse!

Dennis Torrance… What a smashing guy Henry Harvey was remember him singing in the royal std pub with various bands asked to sing with them great guy fond memories

Peter Millington… Me and very good long term friend – Henry Harvey gigging at the Royal Standard – with the help of a small libation!

Carol Arnold… Walking the dog!

Peter Millington… My Babe, Talking ’bout You, Rock and Roll Music – Brilliant stuff!

Bobby Posner… So many good memories of Chris and Henry.. If they appeared at any gig all the bands would ask them straight away “come and do some songs” and they did and it rocked.. Played with Chris many times with Grundy.

Janine Anne Scott… That was a great day xxx

Mike Raxworthy…Nice to see that picture – Chris, Henry and Paul in the background… All sadly gone and so missed! I reckon we ought to start a ‘Hastings Rock and Roll Hall of Fame!!!

Pete Prescott… I was at that gig. All missed

Stephen Murphy… I was there & my Dad was playing bass

Sandie Carlyon… Lovely man Henry.

Stuart Moir… That was the Standard brilliant when George had it, not the same now .

Dennis Torrance… Standard was great when George Beryl had The Standard, always a warm welcome every time I walked in, not forgetting the wonderful bar staff to. Happy memories

The Talismen & Cliff Bennett – Big Beat Reunion 14th November 1987 video by Peter Millington

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Peter Millington…..video features The Talismen, another group local to Hastings and who were very popular. They played a mixture of pop and rock in the 1960s and also reformed for his very special event.

Peter Millington…..The Big Beat Reunion party on Hastings Pier on 14th November 1987. features Cliff Bennett and Friends, Ray Fenwick, Pete Shaw, Pete Head and co-organiser of the event, Chris Sayer.

Alan Esdaile….WOW, we are spoilt today.

Stuart Moir….Ray Fenwick on Gibson Les paul lead guitar, and Pete Shaw on drums and of course Peter Head on bass. We were support band for Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers around that time playing at Chislehurst Caves.

Peter Millington….I think you’ll find that Ray was playing a Yamaha and not a Gibson Stu!

Pete Shaw…..I remember it well! We all met, on the pier late that afternoon and ran through some numbers that Cliff had outlined…a couple were really versions of Johnny Mars set pieces as Ray and I were still gigging with Johnny…Cliif B was great  and after the gig he asked if we could work with him at other gigs he had…Ray and I did some more for him but Pete H and Chris S could not! Great fun and hey, that kit wasn’t even mine but even with only a couple of cymbals it sounded period authentic although some of my staggered breaks were a bit modern! Ray’s guitar was one of two Yamaha specials he had picked up from Yamaha themselves?? His accomplished and searing sound accompanied me and my kit for years!! I’m very thankful for his friendship at that time…Chris Sayer and Pete Head all time Hastings musical heroes! Thanks Pete for posting this…I’ve never seen it before!!

Caz Simpson…. I can’t believe I missed the Big Beat Reunion on Hastings Pier in 1987! Cliff Bennet played, where was I??

Spyke – Queens Hotel Hastings – 10th April 1971

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SPYKE

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supplied by Peter Millington. https://pet842.wixsite.com/confeds-to-jinks

Chris Sayer, Ian Williams, Terry Chedzoy,  Peter Millington.

Pete Millington… The fourth line-up of SPYKE playing at the Queens Hotel 10th April 1971 – Looks like we’ve just been told “Trust me lads – the cheque’s in the post”

Chris Baker… I thought I was the only one with a daft haircut in those days! 😁

Pete Millington… We all had ’em along with everyone else!

Yvonne Cleland… Ah still miss Chris. x

Tony Court-holmes… who remembers the band called the Town Council?

John Busbridge… I always remember Chris singing “Lady came from Baltimore”!

Spyke – Pete, Chris & Paul 1968 and 1969

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supplied by Jinks the Group website.

Peter Millington, Chris Sayer & Paul Burton.

Yvonne Cleland…..Lovely one of Chris

Chris Baker….Excellent band! Remember them well.

Peter Shaw…..Looks like Val Doonican at the front helping out in the Blue Peter studio! Chris was a talented player and with musicians Ginger and Paul should’ve appeared on TV!!

Peter Millington….You are spot on Peter Shaw. Our gear was held together with “sticky back tape” when we first started as SPYKE, so I can relate to the Blue Peter link. I’d sold all my gear when The Confederates ended after Johnny Conroy emigrated to Canada. Within weeks of it all going out the door at a knock down price and me spending the proceeds on my first car, Paul and Chris asked me to start again – hence the DIY gear lol

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supplied by Jinks the Group website

An early picture of Spyke playing at the White Rock Pavillion (Hastings) supporting Bob Miller and the Miller Men in 1969 — with Paul Burton, Peter Millington. and Chris Sayer

Andre Martin…..Great looking stage set as usual thanks to the stage crew of the day, now I wonder who was working with them !!

Janine Anne Hemsley…..Omg. I was with Bob Miller but on the early 80s. Don Lang was also playing with Bob. Great times.

The Talismen – Old Town Beach 1964

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The Talismen on Hastings Old Town Beach in 1964. From left to right is Keith (Budge) Harrison-Burgess, Chris Sayer, Henry Harvey, Pete Jones.  Photo from Peter Millington.

Mick Knights…..The winch huts don’t seem to have aged that much!

Pat Harrison Burgess… Do you have any more pictures of The Talismen? Would love his daughters to see more pictures.

Alan Esdaile… Hi Pat, I expect you have seen the other ones on the site but will check with Pete Millington to see if he has any others. Anyone else, got any photos?

Eugene Hughes… Wow. My first job in 1972 was with Henry (Henners) on the GPO.

Roger Saunders… Great to see the photo. I was the original drummer with the group for a couple of years. Happy Days. Good gigs at the Market Hall in George Street, and always great laughs with Henry.

Andre Martin… Life was always a laugh with ‘enry.

Advert for The Regent 1965…

Ken Mulley… I remember seeing the Tallismen performing at the Caves in Hastings, it had to be about 1964/ 5 . If I remember right . They dressed in Denim . Levi 501s . Fantastic band

Pat Harrison-Burgess… Thanks Ken

Sandie Carlyon… Loved Henry. Ace postie as well.

Spyke – White Rock Theatre1968

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supplied by Jinks The Group website. https://pet842.wixsite.com/confeds-to-jinks

SPYKE – 1968 L-R Paul Burton – Peter (Ginger) Millington, Chris Sayer – Playing in support of Bob Miller and the Millermen – ITT Annual Christmas Dance – White Rock Theatre.

John Storer… My Mum and Dad went to this

Robert Searle… Was Terry on drums Pete

Peter Millington… No, Robert .We were a trio for about a year then a duo after Paul left then I managed to convince Chris that a drummer would be a good idea. Spyke played without a drummer for about 2 years. I have to say, playing bass and holding a consistent beat in front of the ITT dancing crowd of 1000+ was testing. Good training though.

Yvonne Cleland… Lovely Chris x

John Kingdon… What a memory, dear old Chris, God Bless him and Henry both sorely missed.