dave trodd – SMART

Teenbeats ELO photos by Dave Trodd

June 12, 2022June 12, 2022 by Alan Esdaile

all photos © Dave Trodd

Dave Blackman, Ken Copsey, Paul Thomas, Huggy Leaver, Eddie Mays

what was the story behind the ELO gear?

Ken Copsey… Huggy had auditioned to join them. The rest of the band were hoping to be employed as road crew.! Must have been gear hanging around at Park Gates. I bought my lovely white shoes in Canada so this would have been around August 1980 when we returned and just before our last gig on Hastings Pier

John Gale… Great photos. Not seen these before .

Elizabeth Turner… So young

Paul Mac Macnamara… John, great to see. Haven’t seen this before for sure.

Fred Marsh… Just had there single cover enlarged and framed, looks great

Dave Nattress… Great photo’s and the guys all looking so young and fresh-faced and portraying the new-Mod image.

Missing Persons – Zodiac Centre 1979 photos by Dave Trodd

June 7, 2022 by Alan Esdaile

all photos © Dave Trodd

Stephen Ritchfield (vocals and writer), Martin Luckhurst (guitar), Robin Heggie (Bass) and Andy Knight (drums)

Andy Knight… Looked in my diary, the date was Saturday the 18^th August 1979 and the PA blew on the first number but obviously was fixed. It looks like one of the first Missing Persons gigs, in fact the first week, we played Six Bells Chiddingly on the Thursday, the Carlisle on Friday supporting Die Laughing and the Ore Centre on the Saturday.

Tim Moose Bruce… Great band. I remember them supporting Die Laughing.

Romaine Fulton-hart… Memories

David Blundell… Uppers On The South Downs!

Dave Nattress…Great band, saw a couple of times and was amazed to see Steve Richfield on vocals. Knocked around with his two sisters – Susan and Clare I think, in a bunch of friends in Bexhill where they all lived – all good clean innocent times and I remember a little blonde haired lad – a few years later he’d grown up and was leading Missing Persons. A long, long time ago. Later doing it myself about the same time we had Robin in The Prisoners and we used to rehearse at Andy’s studio in Fairlight Road. He was local rock royalty even back then.

Teenbeats pose – photos by Dave Trodd

June 7, 2022June 6, 2022 by Alan Esdaile

photos © Dave Trodd

Kevin Ling… Happy memories of great times – being young and thinking you’ll never grow old

John Gale… Great photos…must be 1979. They look so young

Huggy Leaver… Thanks for these, sadly some of us didn’t get old x

Perri Haste… The late great Dave Blackman – great pics

John Willis… Lovely bloke Dave.

Stuart Moir… That’s when bands had to work hard for the recognition, not like these manufactured bands out of TV programs, these were guys that grew up together through school and youth clubs etc .

Stewart Rockett… Tommy. Cool then, cool now.

Paul Mac Macnamara… The Fab 5. Smashing fellas. Still miss Dear Dave

Ian Rosario… Very swish

Ralph Town… I wish we all looked that good today lol.

Willie Wicking… Sold Huggy his 1st motorbike

Hat Trick – Zodiac Centre Hastings 1979 photos by Dave Trodd

June 5, 2022June 5, 2022 by Alan Esdaile

photos: © Dave Trodd

Barry French, Dave Shirley (hidden), Den Wootton and Roger Carey.

Lucy Pappas… Aw, look at you all! I haven’t seen Den in maybe 50 years! x

Anyone remember the Esterel Cafe coffee bar White Rock Hastings?

October 8, 2021October 8, 2021 by Alan Esdaile

photos supplied by Dave Trodd

Dave Trodd… I wonder if anyone in the group is old enough to remember this place (see attached pic of the Esterel Cafe on Hastings seafront) which I believe was either the first, or one of the first, coffee bars in Hastings. I have told people about it before, but today I noticed that they’ve uncovered the name on the front. I used to go there with a crowd from the art school at the Brassey when I was about 16 (in 1957). I think it belonged to Chris Paraskiva who has since died. I’d be interested in any information anyone might have.

Alan Esdaile… All I could find Dave is that they had a branch in the memorial in 1954.

Anne Murray… But before my time. I went to the Brassy as part of my art course at Hastings college of further education. We would go to the Fiesta cafe round the corner (or the pub!). That was the 1970’s.

Martyn Baker… I think I worked here in about 1975. It was “Le Flacon” by then (a French restaurant, run by Greeks who’d never ever been to France!)

Jim Breeds… The only reference I can find to a Café Esterel is at 4 Bank Buildings in 1953. (Proprietor Maj. Sims-Hilditch). Maybe he moved to White Rock later or opened another branch. But now I’ve found this in the paper dated 23rd May 1953, so there must have been two cafes with this name.

Simon Fraser… I went to Eastbourne college with Chris my mother Mary Fraser owned the restaurant next door and the shop next to it. I only know it as the le falcon.

Drew Barney… Nope. Dimarco’s for coffee. Jenny Lind for under age drinking.

Graham Sherrington… Old enough ow yes, and that shop near by that sold rocks and crystal. My wife still has a crystal from it.Had the Lighthouse in the side window.

Caroline Moor… Walked passed yesterday and my friend commented on how gorgeous it looks. xxx

Leigh Kennedy… The shopfront is very unusual and the business, as far as I can remember, has been closed down for decades. Looking at old photos it still has the same colour scheme that it did in the early 1970’s! In 1962 it was a Restaurant called “Le Flaçon”..

supplied by Leigh Kennedy

Ralph Town… Was it known as the Falcon restaurant in the 70s or early 80s or do I have a time and space displacement?

Mick Knights… I remember going to a coffee bar across from the baths for a milkshake after the seagulls swimming club most weeks. That would be late 50’s early 60’s it could well have been this one as I certainly remember the facade.

Alan Esdaile… Not thinking of Fortes, Mick?

Claire Lonsdale… I didn’t know Chris Paraskeva had died. How long ago did he pass?

Wendy Weaver… I think this was the one with the downstairs function room? Great place for a “bit of a do”.

Anyone remember Roy Carpenter who used to sing at talent competitions on Hastings Pier?

September 28, 2021 by Alan Esdaile

photo: Chris Roberts

Dave Trodd… Does anyone remember Roy Carpenter singing at the talent competitions on Hastings Pier, late 50’s early 60’s? He always got the biggest cheer of anyone. It would be great if anyone has any photos?

Robert Searle… A great photo

Lloyd Johnson… I remember bumping into Roy Carpenter outside of The Fiesta Coffee Bar in the early 60s. He was a real character. I never heard him sing but he was trying to convince me and others that Frank Sinatra had given him the hat he was wearing which seemed quiet eccentric at the time.I remember thinking he was a bit weird…. if only The Pier was still intact like this photo!…

Chris Baker… I remember Dave Trodd!

Bikers – Westfield Lane, Hastings 1970’s. photo by Dave Trodd

August 13, 2021August 13, 2021 by Alan Esdaile

photos © Dave Trodd

Graham Finch… Those were the daze

John Paul Veness… Think i may have owened the bike on the left in the 80s ,can’t quite see the full reg but FSD 52 seams to fit

Dave Nattress… Graham Jolly on the Left Gary Morris on the Right. This must be early 70’s.

Heather Carter… Yep that’s def Graham and Gary…..

Heather Sidery… Wow wow wow… Yep!!!!

Yvonne Cleland… That looks like Graham Jolley and Gary Morris! xxx

Pete Houghton… Yvonne, Hi that is Gary, I remember that Bike. I know he is Back in England around this area, as we were good friend’s Do you hear from him, I have tried the Chopper People

Yvonne Cleland… Gary used to like Bexhill.

Sara Day-jolly… Love this photo of my dad and Garry

JS Bythesea… I recognised them straight away. Hells Angels, Bexhill Chapter, I seem to remember. There was also a guy called Tony who had an Easy Rider style chopper. I went for a ride on it and still have a scar on my leg from the exhaust.

Pete Houghton… I used to go to a Youth club in Bexhill and Gary used to take Kids for a ride And we became good friend’s, when he moved to Wrestwood Road where I lived we used to chat. Then he moved to Scotland. When he came to Hastings Bikers meet we would meet up. I believe he is this part of the country and I would like to get back in touch, along with Clive Heddle

Huggy Leaver… Was that his 1000 Enfield?

Patricia Sheridan… The good old days

Mike Waghorne… The 2 bikers at the front look like Graham Jolly & Garry Morris people I new from the early 70’s

John Wilde… Graham and Gary. Very cool photo

Dave Nattress… Yes defo Graham and Gary. Gary lived down the road from me in Bexhill when we were youngsters. The Hells Angels chapter was “Branded”. A guy called Tony Miller? possibly Miller, who was a quiet guy always looked really smart and cool in full leathers he was from Hastings I think had the fantastic chopper like Peter Fonda’s in Easy Rider. There was also another Tony Miller in Bexhill who I think was connected to the chapter but didn’t have the colours. Had several other mates in “Branded”. Yvonne would have known them. Hezz, was Fred in Branded and Les Hughes! Great old mates!!

John Wilde… Dave, they were a great bunch of guys.

Willie Wicking… Looks like Gary Morris

Colin Norton… Great photo!

Willie Wicking… The 80s Gary hasn’t changed much met him & the later Swanny Carlton Swan in Belgium on route to a National chopper club meet in Holland

Sarah Day-jolly… Garry still looks the same. Great photo

Dave Nattress… Sure thing John! Great characters and great friends. Did you by any chance hang out with a bunch of characters in Bexhill, Vic Pinney, Dave Wise, Andy Towner and a few others – would be 1970 – 71. I remember Gary Morris built a chopper used trike one time.

John Wilde… yes Dave I knew them all. Great bunch of characters. Great days.

Graham Jolly… Gary and myself are still building and riding bikes and trikes and are active members of the Chopper Club. Anyone remember the name of the girl, Sue?

Little Richard – Wembley Rock Concert – 5th August 1972

August 6, 2021August 6, 2021 by Alan Esdaile

Dave Trodd… Also on the bill was Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Haley, Chuck Berry, Screaming Lord Sutch and more. Little Richard had mirrors all over his outfit and stripped down and threw his clothes into the audience. Some good recording of the show, are available on You Tube. Anyone else remember going to this concert?

Colin Norton… Yes, I was there! It was quite amazing!

Alan Wood… Was this the concert Glitter started if so was there !!

Patrick Lewis… Yes was there with my girlfriend and some mates. Chuck Berry was the show closer and was superb. Also on the bill were Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Bill Haley, Bo Diddley, MC5 and GG.

Mick O’Dowd… Yes I was there! Screaming Lord Such had a bevvy of topless fillies with him. I maybe wrong but I seem to remember Wizzard played there first ever big concert here as well on this gig.