jazz

Brian Towers Celebration Of Life – 26th May 2025 in Hastings

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all photos supplied by Katie Towers

Katie Towers…I am the daughter of Brian Towers, who was a member of the Dolphin Jazz Band and co founder and leader of the Jazz Caverners. Brian continued to play Jazz once he left Hastings for a banking career in Canada and led the very successful Hot Five Jazzmakers of Toronto for 34 years. The Hot Five made many tours to New Orleans and festivals throughout Europe over the years. The band continues to this day, led by Brian’s wife Janet. Unfortunately Brian died on the 6th August 2024, two days before his 90th birthday. There will be a Celebration of Life for Brian on Bank Holiday Monday 26th May 2025. 2pm til 5pm at East Hastings Sea Angling Association Clubhouse, The Stade, Hastings Old Town, East Sussex TN34 3FJ.  All are welcome but can they let me know by email if they will be attending. Also if anyone has any photos or cuttings could they send them through to me. Thank you. katietowers@hotmail.co.uk

 

Alan Whitmore jazz, skiffle and other groups – Railwaymans Hall St Leonards 1958/1959

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All photos © Hastings Public Library

Listed as Railway Mans Hall but maybe wrong. Anyone confirm and any names?

John Gale… Interesting photos Alan. Do you know if the Railway Mans Hall was renamed as simply the Railway club ? I remember dad playing drums at the Railway club in the 70s , on the hill of St John’s Road . He had a residency there with various different artists , mostly on a Sunday night.

Alan Esdaile… Yes, I’m thinking it could be the one by Warrior Square station but maybe wrong.

Lloyd Johnson… Pete Treger in cap and beard

Andy Wright… I’m not a great fan of skiffle, but this bunch of pics convey such a brilliant vibrancy.

 

The Trilogy – Prinny’s Club 30th August 1969

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supplied by Sarah Harvey

Tony Davis… Does anybody know who was in the Trilogy?

Sarah Harvey… Stating the obvious…..Probably three musicians….. about as much as I can ascertain!

Tony Court-holmes… I drank in there but never remember any bands

Phil Gill… Ha! Our old Maths/Form teacher, John “Lester” Piggott, used to play in the jazz band there. Came in hungover every Monday and, at lunch time, would fall asleep sat at his desk in a little office at the back of the form room, with his head on his arms. Prinny’s is now Lathams.

Alan Elsdon & His Band – Combe Haven – 1970.

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alan elsdon band

Kevin Sherwood… Looks like a evening to stay in!

Andy Knight… I remember the Elsdon band when I worked there as a bar boy in 66

Terry Pack… Crikey! I did a few weeks there in the early 80s, backing the cabaret acts and playing dance music with a quartet called Tuxedo Function! Pure class! The keyboard player, a very nice man called Rod, sang, reading the pop stuff from buskers’ books. He had clearly never heard half of the songs, and his pronunciation of certain words was fantastic. In Get Back, he sang that ‘Jojo left his home in Tuck sun, Arizona’.

Veronica Lingley… Does anyone know what happened to the Margaret Mason duo?

Corin Moore…  Hello Veronica. In 1971 I worked my second season at Combe Haven as an Entertainments Organiser/’compere’ with Margaret and Ian. Midway through the season we three were ‘sacked’  – due to Ian ordering a young lad to get off the stage as he was pushing the amps and speakers. I knew nothing of this until later. We all left the following day and I instigated court proceedings. David paid me my contract and costs, a week before the Hastings hearing, but I was unaware of how it was resolved with Ian and Margaret. They had to leave their house (owned By David) and move back to London. Many years later Margaret phoned me wondering if I had seen Ian as he hadn’t been home for two months. I liked both Ian and Margaret and believe she continued playing local gigs etc. Many, many years later she telephoned asking if I had seen Ian as he hadn’t been home for two months! I trust the family and their children, who are probably married with kids themselves by now, are all well.