friendship group

SMART coffee meet 77 – how did it go?

by

Alan Esdaile… Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was not able to make this one myself. The missed leaflet above, which will be available at the next meet.

Merv & Cris Kennard… Seemed to go very well I’d say about 30 to 40 people including 6 newbies.

Claire Lonsdale… It was pretty well attended. Some nice conversations going on, but you were conspicuous by your absence. We missed you and hope you’re ok. Xxx

Stephen Moran… As Claire said above it was quite well attended; Mick and I thought there were between 30-40. You were missed by everyone there Alan. I hope you are doing ok and are able to schedule another SMART meet soon.

Jackie Hersee… I really enjoyed it Alan. I met some very lovely ladies and hope to meet them at the next meet-up . I hope you are ok

Lloyd Johnson… t was well attended Alan we had fun!…how are you ?…are you okay?

Alan Esdaile… I’m ok thanks. Very pleased it went well.

Lloyd Johnson… Alan, we missed you and the leaflets….it was a bit strange as the leaflets give the room atmosphere…..see you next time…

Keith Veness… Good meeting enjoyed

Mick O’Dowd… Agree with all the above. It was like Morecombe without Wise though and yo were missed. I had an interesting chat with 3 young ladies who were attending for the first time and said that they would be back. Had a great chat also with the Prof. Stephen Moran. What ever was the cause of your absence(and Colin too) I hope that it is sorting itself. Take care.

Jon McCallion… Sorry I missed it I will attend the next one. Hope all is good with you Alan and Colin

Steve Holland… Muller photo, I was there Steve is still playing Lead Guitar.

Wendy & Graham Weaver… It was a good meet up but it wasn’t the same without you. Looking forward to next time.

Nigel Ford… Met up again with one of the original and still Hastings Rock DJ’s, Simon Halsey and were talking about bands we saw at venues in the town including the Chatsworth that I never went to but we were both at the Budgie gig at the Aquarius apparently and Simon hadn’t long moved to Hastings and this was his first band to see here.

Nigel Ford… Was hoping to meet Stallions roadie who was there a couple of meets ago but didn’t have time to, but don’t know who he is to ask if he was there again?

Alan Esdaile… Hi Nigel, the person you’re thinking  of is Digger. Hopefully he will be at the next one and if so I will point him out.

 

 

SMART coffee meet report number 75

by

Lovely day and a good turn out for our 75th meet at the White Rock Hotel. Among the newbies this time were Mike and Helen Haddock. Mike and Helen have traveled down from Northamptonshire and had an album full of photos and cuttings including a photo of when Mike was manager of M.P. Harris & Co Ltd building merchants in Bexhill. Also letters from Radio Caroline dj’s that he booked in 1967 including Robbie Dale and Steve Young and John Lee Hooker’s autograph with dj’s including Roger Day when he appeared at Chislehurst Caves. Also a signed photo of dj Keefers (Keith Hampshire). Mick O’Dowd had with him Eddie Piller presents The Mod Top 100 4 cd set which has recently been released on Edsel Records. Barry French had a collection of Focus LP’s. Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland had photos of the fluffy elephant that used to be along the seafront, Collins & Hayes photo of Peter and Nicholas Hayes, Gulf garage and Gas showrooms Queens Road, Gamleys and Blockbuster,  Queens Road Motors and Albert Road’s magistrates building adjoining John Collier, which shows ‘Nan’s’ green Metro in the picture. Great to see Digger and he had with him Head On promotion leaflet and cd’s of Stallion and singles of Some Of My Best Friends Are Canadians ‘Feeling Sheepish’, Tich Turner’s Escalator ‘Don’t Really Want You Back Again’ and The Breathers ‘Living In The Age Age’. Ian Marketis has delved into his Kate Bush collection and had a mountain of singles, lp’s, dvd, cassette, book and autographed postcards from the 1979 London Palladium gig. Merv Kennard had more from his pirate radio archives, including 7” singles of Jumbo Records Caroline jingles with Mi Amigo jingles on the ‘B’ side, The One Shots ‘Goodbye Caroline’ single and on EMI, Swag with ‘London’ which is a Radio London theme. Also cd’s of Radio Nordsee 1971 reopening and ‘On Fire’ and offshore radio jingles as well as the book by Steve Conway ‘Shiprocked’ life on the waves with Radio Caroline, which he highly recommends to read. Keith Veness has found some more cards including ‘The Mariners’ business card, Tudor Club membership card, a ticket from the wonderful ‘Gracious’ gig on the pier and a ticket receipt from the Fifty Eight Club of payment for one supper!  This is just a small bit of what I remember. If you had anything interesting you were talking about or anything I missed out or got wrong! then please feel free to add or correct.

Colin Bell… Great to see everyone again

Pete Prescott… great to see you Colin

Mick O’Dowd… Really nice to see you again Colin.

Claire Lonsdale… Thank you Alan for a lovely afternoon as always. Seemed like everyone was enjoying themselves as people were still deep in conversation at the end. X

Wendy Weaver… Nice to meet old friends again.

Eric Harmer… So sorry I couldn’t make this one guys, hope to make the next one. Glad it went so well

Roger Carey… Sorry I haven’t been to a SMART meet for ages, am currently on Steeleye Span tour (including White Rock Hastings Sunday October 27th!), so missed this one , but many times have noted a meet up only to find it’s another Friday where I’m away/working or similar. Hope to be at the next one!

Mick O’Dowd… Nice one as usual Alan! I found it not at all rock’n’roll as it’s a coffee meet! Pity that the person who said this doesn’t come along and find out for himself!

Leigh Mitchell… Sounds like a very interesting meet! 75th one too, wow, well done Alan xx

Merv Kennard… Thanks Alan for organising another great meeting today. Really enjoyed catching up with lots of friends and chatting to others.

Andy Qunta… Sounds great!

Mick O’Dowd… Wonderful afternoon. Had some interesting chats with Colin Bell, Monica Bane (interesting lady!) and  Claire Lonsdale, who was talking about her pet hate when advertisers mangle classic songs so that they sound dull and nothing like the versions we love! Well done Alan for keeping us all under control

JS Bythesea… My brother (David Cash) was in Hat Trick

Jacquie Hinves… I am so sorry to have missed yet another great opportunity to meet up with you all. My apologies to you all.

Jackie Hersee… I am sorry I couldn’t make it on Friday. I was in Spain! Looking forward to the next meet up

Peter Ellingworth… Sorry for not being able to make it this last meet Alan, all being well will be down next time. Glad it was so well attended.

 

SMART coffee meet No 75 – Friday 18th October 2024

by

 

Chris Wood… I’m not being funny but…. Coffee….. not very rock n roll

Mick O’Dowd… Chris, Give it a try you will be amazed!

John Busbridge… You can always get a beer!

Mick O’Dowd… Be there or be square!

Cris and Merv Kennard… We will be there

 

 

SMART coffee meet report number 74

by

A packed White Rock Hotel and among the newbies this time were Joy Gilham, Keith Veness, Keith Forbes, Anne Wells and Pauline Hillier. Joy had great memories of the pier ballroom with the sprung floor and when lots of people were on it, it would bounce! Also remembering after dances, at the end of George Street they had a milk vending machine which they used, costing 6d and everyone called it the mechanical cow! Keith Veness arrived with some old tickets and membership cards from The Weeley Festival in 1971, YMCA sports centre, Fifty Eight Club Winchelsea beach and Aquarius George Street. Keith Forbes was talking about the success of the recent events at the Henry Ward Hall and looking forward to The Jonny Halifax Invocation who are there on Saturday 14th September. Anne was talking about The Pam Dor and had a couple of interesting photos of The Witch Doctor. Pauline had great memories of The Witch Doctor and remembers seeing John Wilde’s amazing dancing. Mick O’Dowd had with him massive folders of Hastings Pier photos and gig dates. Peter Ellingworth had a video of when he went for a ride on the Hastings Tramway trolleybus at the East Anglian Transport Museum in Lowestoft. Jackie Hersee was sharing some of her transport finds with Peter. One of the sheets was about ‘how to drive a trolleybus’ and referred to Hastings as ‘a rather upper middle-class community’ but then called Bohemia area ‘doubtfully named!’. Merv Kennard had with him northern soul dj Dave Evison signed book, plus cd’s of early pirate radio broadcasts from fort based stations, also Radio Sunk with Johnny Lewis, Radio Nova collection, Kenny Everett classics from 1979 Capital FM and Radio North Sea International close down record. Paul Mulry had a framed poster of RNI tune in turn on, which would have been 50 years to the day it closed down. He also had the wonderful record ‘Peace’ by ‘Peter’. Ian Marketis had his large collection of Marc Bolan and T. Rex 7”singles and a few LP’s. Good to see Phil Thornton and reminiscing about some of the groups he was in.Too many other people to mention and this is just a small bit of what I remember. If you had anything interesting you were talking about or anything I missed out or got wrong! then please feel free to add or correct.

Cris and Merv Kennard… Thanks Alan for organising the meeting today, it was good to catch up with you and others. We look forward to these gatherings.

Mick O’Dowd… Nice meeting up with old friends with interesting chat! Another enjoyable & interesting Meet. Well done Alan yet again you’ve excelled!

Stephen Moran… Thank you for the great report Alan, I’m sorry I wasn’t able to be there on this occasion, I’m currently away.

Andrew Freeman… Here’s a bit of trivia! The shop in the picture – A Green – is the shop that supplied the HSSB (Priory Road) tuck shop back in the 60’s

 

SMART coffee meet no.71 – Friday 22nd March 2024

by

 

Gill Smith… Would love to come along! Been down here since 1976!

Alan Esdaile… you are most welcome to join us Gill.

Jim McCarthy… Hi I am Jim, currently writing a book on (the Move) living in Bexhill and talked to Colin Bell recently. I’d like to come along, I better put this in my diary thank you, hope all is well 

Alan Esdaile… look forward to seeing you Jim

Alan Esdaile… Pete Prescott will have on display the photos albums of Bexhill Hop 1980’s, for anyone who missed them last time.