The Juveniles – early sixties

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supplied by Colin Fox

Popular group in the sixties in the Eastbourne area, with three guitars, a tea chest bass and washboard. Playing local pubs, old peoples homes etc and featuring Eddie Sargent and Laurie Brookman. Steve Hull asks, has anyone got any photos of The Juveniles when he was playing in the band?

Rob Sargent… I remember the practice sessions before they played out, our job was to try to make the laugh by distracting them as they played (it always worked) Bruce Tarrant on washboard – I think it was Colin Tarrant on guitar and Neil Tarrant on tea-chest bass. The Sargents still get together at New Year and special times and sing a lot of the real old songs from the days of skiffle. The last time I played with Laurie on bass was 9 years ago when I invited him (as a honoury Sargent) to play with the rest of the Sargent family at my 60th birthday bash at the Queens Hotel in Easbourne

Neil Tarrant… I am Neil Tarrant and am on tea chest bass with my brother Bruce on wash board we practiced in our house 4 Royal Sussex Cres. every Tuesday. Tony Price is the other guitarist with Laurie Brookman and Eddie. I now live near Windsor but Bruce is still in Eastbourne. Happy days. Best wishes to all and love to hear from anyone.

Eddie Sargent… Me in the middle

Lynda Whatley… No mistaking that smile Eddie!

Tony Prince… Hi I am Tony Price to the left of Eddie, what fantastic fun we had. So many gigs the continental,winter garden Eastboune, Hastings and Brighton piers, and most of the clubs in Eastbourne, also Tv talent shows carol Levi’s and home grown, I still live in Eastbourne and still get together with Eddie to play all the old tunes. Glad I found this site.

Keith Flanigan… Hi Neil, I’ve recently been searching for bands that were up and running in the Eastbourne area, during the mid sixties. My name is Keith Flanigan, I lived roughly four hundred yards away from you and your brother Bruce, at 19 Central Avenue and played drums with the PR Combo when I was around fifteen or sixteen years old. Tony Ball played the bass guitar, Pete Richards lead, and his brother on rythm guitar. A little later, Laurie Brookman and Chris Herman became very good mates of mine. They played together, in Peggy Sue and the Night Riders. Chris lived just a couple of minutes away from you and me, at Milton Road. Did you or your brother know Laurie or Chris? Finally, did you or your brother, attend St Mary’s boys school in Green Street? If you have any info to share, that would be great. Best regards to all.

Neil Tarrant… All the 4 Tarrant boys attended St. Mary’s boy school. Laurie Brookman was my best friend growing up together and living 3 houses apart. Drifted away after I left the XJ5 as The Juveniles were renamed. Laurie and Eddy Sargent were the musical heart of the group and never stopped playing. I moved into food production management via Birds Eye and was moved to Gloucester in 1985 and didn’t stop being moved by companies until I retired to a village near Windsor, been based here for 29 years. Best wishes to all my old friends, band members and work colleagues, Neil Tarrant.

The Alexanders – 1964/65

68956_394957537245988_114672835_nsupplied by Hastings Groups from 1958 to the present

L-R Eddie Sergent, Dickie Durrant, Mick King, Geoff Matthews (drums) Laurie Brookman

Steve Hull… I have been looking for Eddie Sergent and Laurie Brookman for about 55 years. Laurie,Eddie and the Tarrant boys ,were mates and I have lost touch with them. I would love to catch up with them and see how there lives panned out. My name is Sid Hull, been known as Steve for many years. If you could get in touch it would mean a lot to me. My old address was Coxwold Crescent.

A number of messages have now been exchanged but happy to pass on anymore.

Eddie Sargent… Good old days

Keith Flanigan… In reply to Steve Hull. Hello Steve, Larie Brookman was a good friend, along with Chris Hermon and many others. I think I went to school with the Tarrant brothers at St Marys boys school in Green street Eastbourne Old Town. So many bands started up in Old Town, Too many to mention. Please get in touch with me. We can chat further.

Steve Hull… Hi Keith , are you the Keith Flanigan that worked for Lessons butcher’s? If you are I worked with you for a while ,and then you joined the Air Force. I also went to St Mary’s, Eddie ,Larie
And the Tarrant boys formed a group called the Juveniles which was a skiffel group. Tea chest base, washboard 3 guitars ,I was one of the guitars. It would be good to talk to you ,if you send me a telephone number to contact you on I would be pleased to ring you back

Keith Flanigan… Hi Steve, Great to hear from you. Yes That’s me. Ramon and Melville Leeson were my cousins. I joined the RAF in 1966 when I was eighteen and live in Holland now. I think Eddie Sargent still lives in Eastbourne, somewhere in Victoria Drive. Please mail me, as international calls can be costly.        Details have now been forwarded to Steve.