fifties

Hastings and St Leonards-on-Sea – Carnival poster 1959?

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Alan Esdaile… As a kid, I always looked forward to seeing the lady who rode a horse in the procession, who was in the carnival for many years. Anyone remember?

Matt Thomas… Alan, Lady Godiva?

Kathy Wood… Alan, was talking about her the other day. Her name was Mrs Head

Monica Bane… Yes I remember her Alan. She lived at a big house at Torfield, Old London road, Hastings!

Dawn Leaney… l think her name was Josie… l remember her well.

David Wilkinson… Bet Chris Gentry was presenting Carnival Radio from some pub or other

Tony Court-holmes… used to watch it the bottom of London Road with my nan

 

Floral clock – White Rock Gardens Hastings 1959

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Jim Peckham… Used to have one of those in Tunbridge Wells. But like so many things it got vandalised so never replaced

Alan Roberts… Remember the clock well, I used to plant and maintain it when I worked for Parks and Gardens. Unfortunately parents thought it was great to let their children sit on the hands shearing the drive pin. There was a cookoo that came out of the wall behind but that was before my time! Clock workings were under the shelter above.

Jacqueline Marsh… I remember seeing that as a little girl

Carol Acott… Jacqueline, so do l

Lynda Whatley… me too – it was fascinating to see it as a child

John Mcewen… Remember it well.

Betty Austin… I remember it it was lovely each year . And the hospital was opposite.

Mick O’Dowd… Loved this. A pity it isn’t still there but that’s thanks to the low-life over the years re: The Model Village etc. Nice to see it again.

Hastings Art School – Brassey Institute 1957

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photo supplied by Dave Muriel

John Mcewen… I went to art school there, apparently with Derek Riggs of Iron Maiden fame. I’m told he remembers me but sadly I can’t say the same.

Mike Waghorne… Now the library !

John Mcewen…. it’s always been the library. The art school was on the top floors.

Mike Waghorne… John, yes I worked on the past referb there !

Lloyd Johnson… John, Yes! That’s right I went there in 62/63…

Tara Reddy… awh this is so lovely, I was looking for contributions last year but we had no responses for a project based on the Trinity Triangle. The group who have been involved have done a great job though and have created a lovely mural with characters and places that reflect that unique area of Hastings…there are so many interesting hidden histories in this town and I doubt the mural covers it all but hopefully will be a pleasant artwork to share with the community.

Carol Acott… I went to Saturday morning art classes there when I was at senior school

Who remembers playing over the West Hill rocks in Hastings?

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Alan Esdaile… photo, me and my sister.

Bernard Goffredo… Spent a lot of time there when little

Cris Kennard…. Yes but didn’t tell mum and dad.

Linda Lowcock… me too !!

Lucy Pappas… Yes, despite being told not to!

John Gale… Always over there,,, its a glorified toilet these days,,,,, I was shocked a few years back, went to have a look and it was full of all sorts of 💩. And stunk. ,,,,, real shame as it was a real adventurous little place ,,,, with hint of danger,,, actually very dangerous

Dennis Torrance… I played there as a child no fear of danger look at it now it scares me called that area bats cave expect other s called it different

Lloyd Johnson… Use to play over there with Alan And Johnny Mitchell in the mid 50s and with Kenny Comfort,Melvyn & Lynn Grant…remember Melvyn managing to climb to the cave on the left…

Despo Hawkins… Yes , it was our back yard

Jeanette Jones… Yes

Michelle Coco Selmes… Yes I lived in the houses opposite and knew every rock!

Julie Morris… I worked in the West Hill cafe as a teenager and had to phone for an ambulance several times because of accidents on the rocks!

Phil Gill… Yup, every Saturday after ABC Minors.

Anton Ludwig… Yep, and the little caves in old town

Matt Thomas… Spent most of my teenage years over them, my name is scratched in one of the rocks somewhere

Monica Bane… Yes what was the game? One to three I see you?

Helena Kingshott… Meeee

Steve Fox… Oh yes! Used to live in Hill Street

Colin Bell… Looking at the photo now, i can only repeat my previous comment, how didn’t i die, jumping from one rock to another with my mates as a kid!

Mick O’Dowd… Same here

Jacqueline Marsh… Same here, my mum and dad would have gone spare if they knew what me, my sister and our cousins were up to on those rocks. I couldn’t do it now!!

Ralph Town… Yep,my mum was on valium after she saw me climb down there. Interestingly, the rocks seem to be developing large amounts of bracken,which,I assume means no one climbs them now.

Colin Bell… They’ve probably got more sense than we had Ralph, i wouldn’t trade places though! Being glued to a PS4 or whatever doesn’t appeal the same.

Ralph Town… I just think they’re a bunch of snowflakes.I never got hurt but a friend of mine sprained her ankle badly. The only part that really put fear in me was down the far end behind the Deluxe. It must have been 100 foot fall round the back of those amusements if I slipped but there was a huge cave, under the castle, that I would always use as a den. Few friends came with me due to a very thin ledge to get to it. Lovely view tho.

Yvonne Ellis… Yes!

David Edwards… Used to go from Priory Road school lunchtimes, remember someone took a tumble and we were banned after that.

Keith Veness… Remember it’s overgrown now

Paul Slidel… Yep, great fun! Lived in Portland Place when I was around 11-12 years old, so this was my playground!

Kev Carleonis… Yep

Steve Thorpe… Used to climb them during school outdoor pursuits lessons and the smaller ones on the Silverdale School playing field.

Dave Nattress… Definitely –  used to take my two daughters Katie and Emily there and walked around on top and carefully jumped from rock to rock.  They were fascinated.  Always a touch bothered about falls as they would have been about 10  and 8 but we were careful.  I remember them complete with teletubby backpacks.  The Red and Yellow ones.  Dipso and Smelly Winkie or whatever their names were.  Remember it well.

Patrick Turner… We used to climb up to the cave regularly. My friend Micky Hodges fell and broke a bone, can’t remember if it was arm or leg.

Cule Tulo… Yes! Lost a few friends over there !

Barry French… Moved from Essex to Hastings in 1967. On my first trip to the Old Town I climbed on the rocks, went on the bumper cars & had chips & ice cream (separately). I thought I’d arrived in heaven.

Monica Bane… And me Alan. Looking so dangerous now!

Jackie Hersee… I fell down them in the’50’s

Keith Veness… Loved playing there

David Edwards…Yep!

Dennis Torrance… Played on them rocks a lot. I expect there was several names for that cave, I called it bats cave . I remember a little higher up a really small dangerous ledge how me and mates did it many times, no fear

Dawn… Yep, played there many a time, my dad’s fault as he took me there first time – but never to tell my mum!  He he. Took the grandchildren over there a few years ago – they loved it but obviously it was a little more daunting for me now I’m older – oh to be young again

 

Ekco radios at Thomas & Crouch Ltd Norman Road St Leonards & Queens Road Hastings 1958

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Peter Bridger… 25 Guineas was two weeks wages for the average worker in 1958 – the same today is about £1200.00! A lot of money for a Radio.

Mick Turner… Who remembers a grey haired Man, I think he was the owner there, he would offer the customers a sweet for going to the shop?

Richard J Porter… That would be best part of £1500 today in comparison to the average wage!

Anyone remember the Esterel Cafe coffee bar White Rock Hastings?

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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”.

Hastings Traditional Jazz Band – 1959?

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photo credit unknown. Source: facebook West Marina to Hastings Pier

WMTHP… Were you a Hastings Trad Jazz fan in the 50s/60s? You may recognise some of these people on their way to play on the Pier. They were from the Hastings Traditional Jazz Club I believe? Hastings 1959

Mike Waghorne… Bit early for Min

Monica Bane… The Dolphin jazz band

Tony Court-holmes… my mum god rest her followed the jazz bands round Hastings

Caroline Moor… what a fantastic photograph……

Mike Vawdrey… With four clarinets and three trumpets/cornets visible plus the headgear I would guess this to a New Orleans style marching band perhaps made up from members of several different aggregations. Just a theory..

Carl Spencer… Pretty certain that’s Pete Treger with the beard on trumpet. Should also have had Chris Watford on clarinet, but none look like him. Neither does it look like Brian Hills, who dropped in to play from time to time.

David Dickerson… does anybody have any memories of my good Army friend Peter Cooper – trumpet player

Lloyd Johnson… Pete Treger with the beard, Sloppy Joe Sweater and summer bus conductors hat. There was a country line bus company called ‘Dengate Bus Company’ all the conductors wore linen jackets with those hats. it always reminded me of Benny Hill!..they had leather money pouches and wooden blocks with springs to retain the individually printed tickets…they parked in Wellington Square at the beginning of the route before heading of to the countryside.The buses were old and 1930s in cream and light green livery….very ‘Darling Buds of May’….Happy Days!…

Record listening booths of the 50’s

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photo: https://rarehistoricalphotos.com/vinyl-listening-booths-1950s/

Dave Trodd… Anyone remember record booths like this?

Alan Esdaile… The fun of the listening booths but not like the photo. This is what me and my mates did on a Saturday, going from record shop to record shop, until we got thrown out! Happy times.

Martin Stringer… Oh yes.

Will Cornell… Ours were enclosed, like a phone booth (box as you say). The stores that had them had a one way ticket to going out of the record business. Customers came in, opened an LP, listened, said they didn’t like it….then went down the street to the discount store and bought the same record for 50c to a buck less. Think of it as analog Napster.

Dave Nattress… Yes, something like in Boots, Bexhill, maybe Woolworths also and possibly some of the smaller independents, but it was so long ago. Definitely a Saturday morning outing, I remember the booths and headphones and the “peg-board” lining to the walls to improve acoustics. The Bexhill area had a surprising number of shops that sold new records in the 60’s, Beaneys, Jennery’s, Blackburns, Orchards, (I think), then Flyright later of course. Don’t recall any allowing you to listen to albums it was the top 20 singles etc. That’s little old Bexhill!!

Nick Bloomfield… The ones I remember were more like this…