photo © Ian Hersee
Sparrow Baker… This is a photo of me playing a harmonium in Bottle Alley around 1970. I was asked to take part in helping to move a harmonium from St Leonards to Ian Hersee’s house in Cobourg Place in the old town. Ian persuaded the people in Barnses (a rag and bone type place in George Street, Now Butler’s Gap) to lend us a barrow which we took to St Leonards. We loaded the harmonium on it and stopped off in Bottle Alley so that I could be the only person to ever play 2001, A Space Odyssey on a harmonium in Bottle Alley. There’s more to tell as Ian’s mum wouldn’t let us in the house with it and we ended up offloading it to an innocent victim in Croft Road. I think they really were the days.
Marilyn Spence… Great Story
Jackie Hersee… I didn’t know about this
Judy Atkinson… Priceless! I wonder where it is now?
Jacques Custard… Judy, was in my parents house for 30+ years painted white ( don’t ask) and I think was sold when my parents moved
Sam Rosewell… Fantastic story!
Claire Melhuish-Durkin… Haha love it