eighties

Who remembers Malcolm Mitchells in High Street Old Town Hastings?

Photo Bob Mitchell. shared from Hastings and Area Past and Present Facebook page

HAPP… It’s 25th March, 1988 and the well-known army surplus store Malcolm Mitchell’s in the High Street, closed. It had opened in 1946. The photo was supplied by Bob Mitchell who wrote “Anyone remember my Uncle Malcom’s shop in the High street where my dad Tom worked with him and the other brothers? Great days.”

Pete Fisher… Bought my fire service greatcoat there, and my first electric guitar, a no-name solid body for ten quid…

Lynda Whatley… I remember it well – it was just along from Judges who baked AMAZING Bread !

Lucy Pappas… Great shop!

Tony Court-holmes…  if born in the old town all of us. Piles of boots left one side and right the other and if you wanted laces you had copper wire we never had it so good

Jacqueline Marsh… I loved going in there and having a nose round, so many amazing things and so cheap too. It always had a dry musty smell, think is was from the old uniforms and rubber on things. Wonderful shop. Judges were famous for their Nelson cake, made up of stale cakes and loads of sugary stuff, they were always such a treat

Russell Field…  Loved that shop !

Dizz Corinne Ryder… I remember the “old” musty smell when I passed the shop and all the ex-army boots and clothes piled up. think they found a secret room off the main shop area when it was sold.

Alan Esdaile… I can still smell it by just looking at the photo!

John Busbridge… I bought a flying hat in there 50 odd years ago and I still wear it in my vintage car. Also bought a Military Flute and Fife which I’ve still got, I was learning Nights in White Satin!

Jacquie Hinves… The Moody Blues. I can’t forget that song! I was sweet on a guy called Lesley Sharpe. His dad owned the Volvo dealership/ garage in Silverhill. Oh memories! Loved it. So many smells and memories.

John Wilde… I clothed my funky self from Malcolms.

Angela Frances Gardner… I bought my boiler suit from there

Jonathan Mendenhall… remember it well

Pete Brazier… I Remember with great joy all the things I got from there, and there were a few things I remember missing out on cos I couldn’t get back in time before they sold out ”Great Times!”

Jeanette Jones… I had a very warm all wool nurses cape from there

William Wallace… work boots…loads of um lol

Dave Nattress… Malcolm’s Boutique we called it. Used to go over with a couple of friends late 60’s early 70’s as they worked in sheet metal fabrication and needed steel toecap boots. Piles of boots to sort through to get a pair of the same size. Long forgotten Malcolm’s – good memory! Think we also got our weekend hippie great coats there also. I remember the ex. fire service ones. How hideous we looked!!!

Tony Court-holmes… no it was hip man

 

 

Telham Tinkers – April 1984

Ted Bishop, Geoff Hutchinson, Ian Dobson, Russ Haywood, Martin Curcher.

Jon McCallion… Worked with Geoff years ago.

Tony Court-holmes… does the black horse still do the folk festival or did someone else take it over

Glenn Piper… sadly, no to both

John Beeching… Big Green Cardigan festival at Sedlescombe/Staplecross kind of grew out of it.

Wout Steenhuis – Deluxe Hastings 7th March 1981

Gerry Fortsch… That takes you back, not heard of Wout in many a year, its probable because I couldn’t spell his name so I never looked him up on YouTube but I might now.

Chris Baker… I remember him being introduced on EasyBeat as Woot Steen-Who-Is? I think it was Brian Matthew.

Robert Searle… Its pronounced Vowt

Chris Baker… I knew him well, he wrote tunes to my Mum’s lyrics. Great bloke and a brilliant guitarist. He arranged for the band (Town Council) to record their first (and last) single in Broadstairs with Les Wake, his sound engineer.

Luv80s -a celebration of 80s pop culture! De La Warr Pavilion Bexhill 25th August 2019

more information… https://www.dlwp.com/event/luv80s/

Mick O’Dowd… Don’t dismiss Dr & The Medics. Saw them at Butlins a few years back and was very surprised. They are rockers and very personable on stage presence. They played a medley of their greatest hit! Dr said it won’t take long!

Who remembers Courtneys? – 1986

photo supplied by Karen Sweatman

Matt Thomas… Never stepped foot in the place but I can spot Karen lol

Gavin Hide… Yep. Remember in 86 home on leave….plus about 20 others from RAF ARMY bloody good summer leave

Lisa Jane… Went in once

Karen Sweatman…  Lived there around 86!

Eugene Hughes… I was the DJ on the opening night. Played cards with Norman Courtney a few years back.

Samantha Blake… loved courtneys xx always in there xxxx

John Busbridge… Was it at the bottom of Wellington Square on the right?

Roy Penfold… Spent a few months working behind the bar around that time!

Eugene Hughes… It’s was where Flavours of India is now. Or maybe that’s gone also.

Wendy Weaver… I liked Courtneys . The last time I went there there was the film The Stud projected onto the back wall of the stage

Eugene Hughes… thats right. It was controlled in the dj booth. I can remember when I was working there one night. Alex Higgins was playing Terry Griffiths in the final of a snooker tournament. I turned off the light display on the wall and put the match on the screen. The punters were loving watching it. Norman Courtney was going bonkers.

Karen Sweatman… Willie George also DJed there in the 80s. I looked up onto that screen one evening whilst dancing, and saw my boobs jiggling about! He had focused the camera on me! One very quick and screamy flee from the dance floor!

Matt Thomas… After Courtneys I think it was called Rusty’s,but I liked Googleberry’s the diner it became after

Tony Court-holmes… used to go there a lot

Terry Hardwick… I was the dj there after Mike Alen along with Kevin Frost and Willie George remenber remember that African Grey Parrot Rupert. Then it was taken over by Joe Oriorden and called Rustys after his wife Eileen. Norman Courtney was a real Character . Billy Ocean when the going gets tough. Saturday love . Just buggin. I cant can’t wait. Set me free.

 

Radio Cracker – Sounds Like Hastings – cassette 1989?

supplied by Pete Prescott

Featuring Liane Carroll, Roger Carey, Mick Mepham, Buick 6, Jez Gillett Band, Ian Barnett, Splash.

Andrew Bantock… Ah, the memories. I was Station Manager of Radio Cracker that year. Memories of watching from backstage and Simon Halsey doing the radio mix. I don’t actually have a copy of that.

Mick Bean… When I did a Buddy Holly stint on Radio Cracker (who remembers that groundbreaking local radio station?) I left a photo of Buddy Holly on display in the studio, I’d got his wife María Elena Holly to sign it when I met her in London. I wonder where it is now… Thats rock ’n’ roll I guess.

The Rhythm Method, Harry & The Boys and Dogs In The Garden – White Rock Lower Hall 1980’s

Anyone remember these?

Nadia Compagnone… Barry Ewing top right.

Tony May… Not sure but is the black guy, Pat Valentine? He was in loads of bands back then and was super talented. Was rather ‘driven’ though so often left groups because they weren’t taking it seriously enough. Haven’t seen, Pat for years – I wonder if he finally made it?

Xilo Pan… I still see Pat around. ..he’s ok. ..yes, very talented

Mike Mitchell… If that’s Barry top right, then that’s got to be Wally bottom left

Martin Richter… Jimmy Lewis ?

Xilo Pan… Yes it’s Jimmy …rip…Sue on sax ..Andy on drums ..I drummed for them for a while too ..still see Woley and Baz. ..

Martin Richter… they were a great band crikey – I didn’t recognise Wally !

 

 

The Dicemen – Shadows E.P. 1983

 

supplied by Mike Mitchell

Mike Mitchell… The Dicemen were mentioned by Andy Knight so I thought I’d get this out of the cupboard. Anyone else got a copy?

Lesley Bowles… I had one cos I used to work with Nick back then

Andy Knight…  I have just found a 30 minute recording of the Dicemen dated 1982, I think I recorded a gig at Falaise Hall or was that a dream