Monsters of Glam Rock Sweet and Mud – tour programme – White Rock Theatre Hastings 1990’s

Supplied by Colin Bell

Anyone remember this, or the year? Colin thinks The Glitter Band were also on the bill.

Ian Mantell… it was just Sweet and Mud, Brian Connolly was in a bad way but his voice was still strong. A clue to the date is the use of the expression “Brian Connolly’s Sweet” he and Andy Scott had been in dispute over the name and so agreed to identify which band was playing in the early 90’s

Karen Sweatman… I was there dancing like a prat! Think it was around 91. You might be interested to know around 1990 I saw a band at The Crypt called The Wandering Crutchless with two ex members of Sweet in. They were brilliant

Jan Warren… Sweet are playing at The dlwp, Bexhill on The 21st December!

Ralph Town… I think the story of Sweet Mk1 is one of the saddest in music.

Ken Colley… Definitely Glitter Band as well. My programme has a separate sheet mentioning them too. They were on first. Was 92 or 93 as I only moved to the area in 92 and it wasn’t long after that. Great show!

Colin Bell… Thanks for confirming that Ken, i didn’t think i was dreaming when i said they were!

Matt Thomas… I was in The Yelton on the night of this and Les Gray was in there having a drink. Think it was just after I was out of hospital Alan so around 91

Terry Tollan… I did Les Grays 50th birthday party. I also am a great mate of John Springate .Bass and singer and song writer of the Glitter band too.

 

 

Fracmo The Ridge Hastings 1960s/1970s

photo © Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland

Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland… If you worked at Fracmo on the Ridge in the 1960s/1970s, do you remember Shoey Bennett, in the middle of the photo. He was the machine shop supervisor.

Sheila Maile… Worked there on armature winding & stators

Harry Randall… me to briefly round about 65-66

John Gale… My dad worked there around 75/76. I recall him talking about Shoey.

Christine Swain… Very well What a character he was .Great place to work

Judy Atkinson… I worked for Fracmo at Castleham in the sales office, late 70

Chris Connell… I worked at Fracmo on the Swichboard . I started at the Ridge and moved with them to Castleham.

 

 

Fracmo (Fractional H.P. Motors)reunion 1990’s

supplied by Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland

with Tony Howard and Mick Thwaites. Anyone name anyone else?

Matt Thomas… is that Rob 3rd from left?

Heidi Roffe… yes

Pete Prescott…I worked in the buying department there for about six weeks in early 1978. I absolutely hated it. I should have worked on the shop floor.

Angela Frances Gardner… I worked there very briefly in the 70s I made friends with a lovely woman called Pauline.

Matt Thomas… Rob Goatley 3rd from left in denim, sadly passed away a few years ago

John Gale… My brother in law Stuart Gray middle, doing the v sign. I worked there ( Castleham factory )for 6 weeks in the summer of 77 as my Dad worked there too . Worked with Diego in the Fettling Room. Was there the day Elvis died.  6 weeks that seemed to go on forever but met some nice people. Id rather of stayed than to go back to 6th form that’s for sure .

Liz King… Worked there around 74/75

Mick Thwaites… Charlie Burgess, Barry Garard, Rob Goatley, Stuart Gray, forgot next ones name, me Mick Thwaites and I think Tony Howard

Mick Thwaites… Hi Angela, you’re right about a lovely woman called Pauline. Can only remember one Pauline and she was and still is lovely. We were married in 1988, but together a long time before that and still together now.

Val Matthews… my name Val and my brother, Edward-Ted-Hall worked the machines at Fracmo with Bruce Cameron, circa 1980s. I’m piecing together his life and having found your post about your Reunion, I wondered if Ted might be remembered by anyone. He was unmistakable as he had a curved back, his neck was bending his chin into his chest. He was also an irony, independent person and would mention little “fixes” to run a job more quickly. Ted finally gave up his battle with death on Feb 2nd. He was 72 and had defied predictions for over 60 years. Thank you for reading this and if there is a memory I could have, I would be so happy to include it. With kind regards.

Dennis Torrance… I worked with Charlie burgess Tony Howard at Collins and Hayes also Charlie Burgess was football player for saints Fc late 60s 70 and managed saints Fc he asked me then to play in his team .

Nicola Dobson… I worked there.as Telephonist/Receptionist around 71 to 73..the days of Telex and dolls eye switchboard.I remember a girl surname Hitchman and a chap in the buying dept used to pick me up in Elphinstone road each day to take me to work. I remember the open staircase where they used to stand and watch as you went up the stairs with a mini skirt on.

Julie Findlay-jones… My dad worked there til he retired in 1998 I think it was .

Fred Booth… I remember Ted Hall, I was manager of the machine shop and worked on the auto’s. He was a lovely man, who worked harder than most , and got frustrated when others around him didn’t work as hard. His disability didn’t stop him, I remember him with respect.

Julie Findlay-jones… Does anyone from Fracmo remember my dad Terry Hooper.?

Elfed Williams… Hi Fred worked with you and Peter back in 2001 in St Leonards on sea, was on cncs emco,
Hope you are well

Ian Janman… My mum, Margaret Postill worked there for a long time in the test department..

Christine Swain… Oh great days Happy memories .Know or knew them all .

Les Mitchell… I worked at the Ridge and Castleham, did 10 years and left in 1984, Barry Garrad is my brother in law.

Lisa Jane… My dad worked there for many years (mid 1960s until late 80s I think). He met my mum there in the 60s. I remember going to their family Christmas parties in the early 70s

Diane Leigh… Worked there 1975 at the ridge, then was going to leave but got asked to stay and I could work up at the factory at Castleham, remember Colin Jarvis.

Sylvia Demeza… my husband worked there but cant remember dates

Rena Beech… My husband worked there also.

Carol Acott… Did Bruce Cameron live in Vicarage Road years ago?

Tim Rose… Started my apprenticeship there in 1989 and was sadly made redundant in 1999, loved working there, great team and some great memories . Mick hasn’t changed l worked with Rob in inspection towards the end of my time there

Hot sound of Dave Holt Swingtet – 1974

Terry Pack… I played with this band around this time. The line up included Sid Acam on piano, Adrian Underhill on guitar and Bob Clarke on fiddle.

Jim Breeds… Snatch! Real name Jim, I think? I worked with him at Ashdown House, contemporaneously with this story. Nice bloke.

Terry Pack… Sid Akam used to work in Bexhill library. Spike Milligan used to sit in when we played in Rye.

Tony Bird… The guitar being played is a Harmony H77 built between 1960 and 1970

Publicity photo 1960’s Eversfield Place (Verulam Place) St Leonards-on-Sea

photo © Hastings Public Library

Shaun Allen… Great photo. In 1977 I started working for a Swedish company and my first project was to turn Verulum Building (the old Information Centre) ito a suitable place for classes for students and to include an information desk/sales place for T shirts etc, and a disco! It took me about 6 weeks to get that functional on a minimum budget. So, the Hastings mayor cut the ribbon around June ’77. Stressful, but good fun. It was pulled down in due course for the apartment block that was built there.

 

SMART coffee meet report no 76

The coming storm didn’t deter and we had a good turn out for our 76th meet at the White Rock Hotel. Among the newbies this time were Colin and Yvonne Mitchell. Colin was involved in many album covers, including Pink Floyd and The Beatles. Mo Elms had some Splash FM licence application forms and Eastbourne local radio 101.6 fm guide which included photos of Mark Briggs and Matthew Wheeler. Mo also had many photos of Radio Caroline, Mi Amigo and RNI Radio North Sea. Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland had a copy of The Beatles Please Please Me album with the brown and gold label, a Fracmo photo, another Collins and Hayes photo and a Steve Wright photo from the Radio One road show in Eastbourne. Merv Kennard had some Radio Essex, K.I.N.G Radio Invicta and Radio London badges and The One Shots Goodbye Caroline single and Radio Veronica 538 single. We have seen Ian Marketis impressive Freddie Mercury range before but this time he arrived with a bag full of Queen cd’s. Mick Thwaites had a copy of his sons autograph of Paul McCartney from The Monastery in Rye. He also had ‘Sticky Fingers’ cafe menu from Kensington and Bill Wyman’s matches! A bundle of Rolling Stones magazines, Rolling Stones 1976 tour programme and a ‘Lucky Stars’ magazine from ABC Television’s ‘Thank You Lucky Stars’ and a Froffy Coffee at The Pam Dor poster. Barry French was getting very festive and had with him Phil Spector’s Christmas Album, John Denver and The Muppets A Christmas Together and Don Estelle sings songs for Christmas LP. Pete Prescott was reminding people about the Jez Gillett tribute gig at The Carlisle on the 20th December with The Lost Boys, Stealer, Dead Calm and Vexed. I had a few more Melody Maker’s and a pile of sheet music. Pete Millington was talking about the ITT KP dance in 1975 with Ray McVay and his Orchestra and Spyke at The White Rock Pavilion. Chat was about Eric Harmer’s Christmas record, the new book by Jim McCarthy Flowers In The Rain The Move, Graham Nash coming to The White Rock Theatre, Soul Town Christmas soul party in memory of Phil Gill at The Angling Club on the 14th December, how wonderful the photos of the Bathing Pool are and our aches and pains!! 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.

Claire Lonsdale… Lovely time as always. Thank you Alan for your time and effort in putting it on. Xx

Cris & Merv Kennard… Thanks Alan for organising another meeting .Always a good afternoon catching up with everyone.

Eric Harmer… Great meeting pal, you are the reason we all catch up. Thank you Alan

Keith Veness… Thank you Alan great afternoon

Monica Bane… Thanks again Alan, Always good to keep up with all the friends here. Again appreciate all the hard work you do!

Mick O’Dowd… With the forecast I wasn’t expecting such a good turn-out but I was proved wrong. Now sitting on the naughty -step!  Had a very interesting chat with Chris Gentry and Claire Lonsdale about our experiences with some of the acts that we had worked with in the 70’s on the Pier and elsewhere. Some great memories rekindled. As usual there were a lot of people to chat to. None of this could happen without the hard work and organisation of Alan Esdaile. Thanks a million Alan!!

Richard Burks… I probably had those copies on melody maker back in the day

Andy James Long… I used to buy Melody Maker, N.M.E and Sounds every week at one time, usually scouring for articles about John Martyn probably!

Carrie Downing-Waite Sawatzky… Sounds an amazing get together

Mick O’Dowd… Carrie, you are always welcome to join us! We meet approx every 6 weeks so next one should be in January. We’d love to meet you.

Peter Houghton… Phil Spector’s Christmas is a great Album I’ve still got this Album with two different covers

Pete Fisher… Great you kept the Melody Maker’s Alan. Sadly I had to ditch all mine when I left home in 1973. Do you have any from 1970/1971?

Alan Esdaile… Hi Pete, they belong to Andy Knight and have had a few on display at the SMART meetings.

 

 

 

Demolition of the ABC Cinema – Cambridge Road Hastings 1971

photo shared from: Leigh Kennedy

Leigh Kennedy… Demolition of the ABC (Ritz) Cinema, Cambridge Road.  December 1971.

Eric Harmer… Minors

Leigh Mitchell… Yep, I was there the night before it closed to see Le Mans, I’d only moved to Hastings in September 1971!

Tracy Birrell… ABC Minors.

Chris Baker… Never went to ABC Minors, it cost money, which we didn’t have in those days.

Steve Fox… Yep, I was a minor. That was our Saturday morning.

Tony Davis… Loved that place. First ever gig I went to there Cliff and the Shadows 1963

Jackie Hersee… Tony, I was there too. Remember it well

Lynn Graham… Tony, and I was there. Front row seat A12

Colin Bell… I believe i remember reading it was the largest cinema in Europe when it first opened, it was criminal to see it demolished, i was a very happy ‘Minor’ in the 50’s & early 60’s

Micky Erends… really loved this cinema , went there most weeks throughout the early 60s with my school mate Mick Collins

 

 

 

Ray McVay & his Orchestra and Spyke – ITT KB Social Club White Rock Pavilion 10th Jan 1975

ray-mcvay-spyke-10th-jan-1975

416846_337812499585217_1901433380_n

supplied by Pete Millington https://pet842.wixsite.com/confeds-to-jinks

Pete Millington… Audience at the ITT Dance held at the White Rock Theatre on 10th January 1975 – My sister Jane is third from right front row (is in front second from right!) I recognise several other faces but not their names – any ideas?

John Gale… Dad would have loved that. He was probably even there.

Janine Hemsley… Ray’s been running the Glen Miller Orchestra for many many years now. My husband, on bass, has been with him since the beginning. Great guy.