Chain Reaction – Battle Memorial Hall & The Railway Club St Leonards 1964/1965

supplied by Harry Randall

John Petrie lead guitar, Phil Booth vocals, Roger Messier bass, Harry Randall rhythm guitar and Archie Pelham on drums.

Yvonne Cleland… Aaaah – Battle dances. Those were the days!

Jacqueline Marsh… Yea, we did a few gigs out there and I went there earlier this year for a meeting, and so many memories came flooding back. This was one of the first places my mum and dad ever saw me performing with the Debs and my mum said, Jacqueline, your a different person when your up on the stage, never forgotten it, bless her.

Harry Randall… John was using a Selmer Zodiac,Roger the good old treble and bass and me Harry a certain triangular Watkins I’d give my right arm to own now I then moved onto a Selmer Thunderbird thirty the one with those brass legs that got caught on everything when wheeling it about!

Virginia Davis… I remember they used to have a disco every Friday night back in the 70s

Peter Gladwish… Never realised I had shared a stage with such illustrious company Harry. This was also around 1964 at the Railway Club. (P.S. I played lead guitar in those days)

Geoff Peckham… Is that Andy Franks I see, Pete?

Peter Gladwish… It certainly is Geoff. I believe we’ve had this conversation before!

Geoff Peckham… Yes, I remember. Just wanted to put his name out there again. I’ve just started what will inevitably be the lengthy process of compiling a cd’s worth of songs and tunes we played together in Uncle John’s Band. I’ll send you a copy when it’s done – but don’t hold your breath!

Peter Gladwish… I’d love to hear it Geoff. Please let me know if you ever manage to get it together. Andy was certainly one of the ‘gooduns’ taken far too soon. There must be a fanastic band or three up there by now!

Harry Randall… Roger Messier I think was from another band Roger Messetter was the Bass player in The Chain Reaction I see his name comes up in Smart 29 in a band called Country Air -early 70’s Carlisle asking who was the bass player? Well I bet it was him.Lived in Sedlescombe RIP!

Paul Huggett..Wow, Roger Messetter was an old mate of mine, he always played rhythm guitar in the bands we were in. Good ol’ boy, we had some capers. I was bass player in Country Air!

Harry Randall… Well I never knew ! I always thought he was just a Bass player .That is Roger from Sedlescombe ? Just wondering if that’s my old Selmer Thunderbird thirty Peter Gladwish, I sold it to someone who lived in the old town I think up George Street?

Paul Huggett… I don’t remember Roger (Messetter) playing bass? I was in a few bands with him always on guitar.. And that looks as though the bass player is left handed, which he wasn’t. Must be another Roger!

Peter Gladwish… Sorry to disappoint Harry Randall but the Selmer amp was brand new. Bought from Alan Jensen at the Disc Jockey and paid for by Mrs Mastin (owner of Mastin’s department store). She was the Grandmother of our singer.

Harry Randall… Mine had those horrible fold up brass legs everyone chucks in the bin

Iain Cobby… Hey Harry, bet there still in the loft like the rest of your 100 plus guitars and amps and keys. Love you old friend!

Harry Randall… No I don’t believe it!

John Gale… What a great little venue the Railway Club was? Had many a night there watching my late dad, drum there, great photo…

Gerry Fortsch… That takes me back.

Ken Copsey…. Great picture including the ubiquitous Watkins Rapier 33.

Richard Downer… John Petrie lived up near me on Harold Road. I’m sure his dad had a fish and chip shop in the Old Town.

Harry Randall… yes he had the Lifeboat fish and chip shop and John took it over when his dad retired

Graham Sherrington… The Lifeboat had the best Plaice and Chips in town well back in the early 60’s bread and butter smashing place. Is it still there?

 

 

Same Size – 1968/1969

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supplied by John Petrie

John Petrie, Mick Tordoff, Les Frethy, Pete Bailey, Steve Elliot.

Phil Thornton… cool shirt Johnny P !!!

John Wilde… Wow great look boys!

Robert Searle… Fremantle second left. Second left is Paul Freeman,I’m sure it is.

John Petrie… Its Paul Freeman in the second photo, not Steve.