dennis wootton

Hat Trick – Ore Centre Sept 1978

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Photo supplied by Roger Carey. Write up supplied by Sarah Harvey

Barry French, Dennis Wootton & Roger Carey . (and David Cash not in photo)

Andy Qunta….Saw them several times! Great stuff!

Sarah Harvey…..There is one member missing from this picture…I think it was Dave Cash and this is probably a picture of their last gig with this line-up (See article dated Sept 9th, 1978 attached)…..they did continue however although I have no idea who joined them! 😉

David Cash…. Hello David Cash here, 1978 member of Hat Trick till I moved to London to go to College. I’m a keyboard player and Music teacher now at Northbrook College (Worthing) and ICMP (London). Still bump into Roger Carey from time to time at Liane Carroll gigs.

Barry French… Very fond memories of my time with Hat Trick.
Den & I are are currently playing with SLAM, & we bump into Roger from time to time & reminisce about the old days. So pleased to hear that Dave Cash has done so well for himself (Great musician but he’s the only guy I know could get drunk on half a shandy) Perhaps sometime we will all get together & play a few tunes (Stranger things have happened).

Sarah Harvey… How lovely to hear from Barry again……I was gutted when he left Hat Trick. A wonderful person and always remember him playing in a band with Den’s brother Del. Can’t remember for the life of me what they were called. Help me someone! Remember them playing at St.Helens Youth Club on the Ridge and at The Regent.

Barry French… Hi Sarah good to hear from you too. The band that Denis & I were in was 1st Emotion. Together with Den’s Brother Clifford, we had a resident spot at the Regent Hotel (About 1972 ) Later my Sister Jenny joined the band & we played the Caravan site & club circuit for about 2 years. Den & Cliff left to form a rock band called Butch (Which I believe played the Pier & The Aquarius) while Jenny & I formed Amethyst with Paul Hugget & Will Powell ,we played the club circuit until the break up of the band in 1977.

Lucy Pappas… Den and Del! I was in a band with them! Lived on Chown’s Hill? We rehearsed in their garage, I think!

Sarah Harvey… I remember all of those band names and I always remember you playing Yellow River….just can’t remember which band that was, but its funny the things that stick in your mind. I think I always came to see you with Roger Carey or Kevin Potter. I have to say that Roger is coming on really well as a bass player 🙂 and haven’t seen Kevin Potter in over a decade.

Lucy Pappas… Sarah, we used to sing ‘Yellow River’ at St Helens Youth Club. Some T Rex, too, not sure what else. I loved being part of the band but did we even have a name?

Redstar Richter… who scored the goals?

Barry French… Hi Lucy I also remember those day’s rehearsing at Chowns Hill. We originally were going to call the band Typhoid but good taste prevailed & the name was changed to “Iron -Stone”.The line up was your good self, Diana Smith, Den, Cliff & Me. I think we did a couple of gigs at St Helen’s Youth Club, & yes I too remember Yellow River. (Magical times!!!) Really amazing to hear from you.

Lucy Pappas… Aw, Barry, I wish I could recall those days more clearly! We were called ‘Iron Stone’? Who knew? Where is everyone these days? Maybe we need a reunion gig? xx. I don’t think I have any pics of the band. Roger Carey gave me some of us with Phil Gill a while ago but I don’t think I have any of youth club days 🙁

Man Friday – New Broom early 80’s – Paul Austin R.I.P.

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man friday

photo by John Austin …. Dennis Wootton, Paul Austin, Roger Carey & John Wilde on drums.

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card supplied by Roger Carey and photo when they formed in 1974 from Paul Austin 

John Austin… Anyone Remember Man Friday ? aka Paul Austin, Roger Carey, Dennis Wootton, Think John Wilde was the drummer, use to play The New Broom, back in the day

Chris Baker…..Dennis Wootton! Now there’s a blast from the past!

Yvonne Cleland…..Will plays with him from time to time. He’s still about!

John Wilde… Not me folks.

Paul Austin… Dennis and me played guitar, John Wilde (not the one above) played drums and later on, Roger joined us playing bass guitar.

Peter Thomson… The New Broom, back in the day(!) was my local, and Graham Barrett’s. Don’t ever remember seeing a band in there but then we used to avoid it if we could…

Pete Millington… Roger Carey I remember  “lusting” after that Gretsch Bass when I first saw it at St Helen’s Hospital Social Club – must have been about 1975/6.

Martin Richter… are they xmas jumpers or am I having a flashback ?

Barry French… Saw Man Friday several times, great band. Since Man Friday Paul went on to play in an early Slam lineup. Dennis has continued to play in many bands on a variety of instruments (Drums,Bass,Saxophone & Guitar). Den & I often bump into Paul & talk about the old days.

Barry French… I have recently had the sad news that vocalist/guitarist Paul Austin has recently passed away. During the 1970s Paul played with Man Friday & more recently he played guitar in an early Slam line up. Paul also performed solo singing & playing his guitar, he was also instrumental in organising some gigs at the Tivoli Pub along Battle Road, which consisted of six or seven of us getting together under the banner of “The band with no name” Paul was a great supporter of local music & was often down the Old Town cheering on the local talent. Always an unassuming Gentleman, Paul will be much missed .

Dennis Wootton… I will miss Paul greatly he has been a great friend over the years this was the gig at the Tivoli with Will Powell on drums who sadly is no longer with us.

photos supplied by Dennis Wootton

Roger Carey… This is very sad news, will miss Paul greatly too, would run in to him in the Old Town from time to time and he Den Wootton and I had a nice get together last summer. The “Man Friday ” band was the first pop flavored band I played for and we had some fun gigs in the mid 70s as well as that reunion pictured above…

 

 

Hat Trick – Maybe Now recording and history by Sarah Harvey

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Hat Trick featured Barry French, Dave Shirley, Roger Carey and Dennis Wootton.

Sarah Harvey… ‘Hat Trick’ when supporting ‘Head On’ at the Pier…. ‘The Rooter’ was a progressive rock song about derelict railway steam engines (Roger described it is an epic) …. would have appealed to Mr. Cooksie. Opening number ‘Maybe Now’.