peter millington

Pam Dor Coffee Bar – Early 60’s Hastings

by

7967_602664099766721_1786183870_n-2

supplied by Peter Millington

Peter Millington….Eric behind the counter at the Pam Dor Early 1960’s.

Mick Knights….That’s the ever popular Eric, the owner, serving. I, along with just about every teenage lad, was banned by him at one time or another!! The Pam Dor had the first Discotec in Hastings, which was on the second floor, a place I never entered, nor did very many, as it soon closed. its second incarnation was the Astral club, which morfed into Toff’s.

Peter Pursglove….i did the door up there for a few years until it closed Alan ,Mollly Russell ran it ,busy little club

Tom Boyer….Great times, we loved it, a fabulous place to meet. Tom & Lin Boyer (nee White)

Sue Bartholomew (Nee Finch)… I remember the Pam Dor, it was the best place to go, we paid a shilling entrance and that also got you a coffee or a frothy hot chocolate, and sit in there for as long as you wanted, it was always busy and behind in Middle Street was a long line of Lambrettas or Vespas belonging to some young lad who was in the Pam Dor.

Colin Bell… Love this photo Pete, met my first ‘proper’ girlfriend there…happy days…

Mick Mepham… Who were your ‘improper’ ones Colin and are you still in touch with them?

Nicola Dobson… Spent a lot of time in there…I remember that seating area..they should have coffee bars again Im sure they would be popular!

Read more

Peter Millington with Paul & Linda McCartney – 1995.

by

11044610_944496222250172_2505622573996671548_n

supplied by Peter Millington

Peter Millington… 23rd November 1995

Stuart Moir… Nice pic Pete’ even McCartney looks young there

Pete Shaw… Looks like Paul and his wife Linda are approving a care home place for you Ginge!! Did you get a good deal? What’s the food like? Double room?

Peter Millington… Ha ha Pete  won’t be long, they’re putting in a bar just for me

Mark Randall… When was Cilla’s hair this long?

 

The Confederates – Grove School practice 1965

by

15966311_1467017699998019_1265626826884909831_n

supplied by Peter Millington

Pete Millington… Confederates in 1965 L – R = Peter Millington, Paul Burton, Johnny Conroy, Terry Chedzoy, Trevor Spears – Remembering Paul Burton RIP who passed away on 14th January 2015.

Chris Baker… Blimey! They look about twelve!  

Pete Millington… Not quite Chris, I was 16 along with Trevor. Johnny Conroy was 15 and Paul and Terry were 17/18 – so long ago! We used to practice in the library at the Grove School. We had several pictures taken there for publicity after or before practicing. Sad that even where we practiced is now a pile of rubble awaiting re-development. It should have been listed and graced with a Blue Plaque LOL

Robert Searle… Great photo

Dave Nattress… Great photo indeed. I’m not or wasn’t acquainted with any of the guys, but have seen most of their names on SMART. But what an iconic photo – i know “iconic” is much over-used. A real, total 60’s “Beat Group” look. Smart matching suits and ties, smiles, smart haircuts, clean image, guitars, a Vox AC30? and an old Selmer combo. Wonderful example of it’s time and local stuff!

Harry Randall… What Selmer is that in the corner? It looks a lot like my thunderbird 30 I sold to someone down the old town loved those legs!

Peter Millington… A Selector-Tone 30 watt if that’s the same Harry

Harry Randall… Well now you know! The Thunderbird thirty came with catchy legs and selector tone buttons on top kept blowing rectifier tubes if my memory serves me if correct! That could even be my old amp! Whilst in “The Chain Reaction ” I had the Selmer Thunderbird 30 and John Petrie had the Selmer Zodiac both looked very similar I sold mine to a bloke halfway up all saints street in the old town.

Pete Fisher… great photo…not many people had a real Fender Strat and Precision bass back then,,,nice colours too!!

Pete Prescott… Great photo !

Peter Millington… Memories are very clear about this picture. We used to practice at the Grove School and this pic was one of many taken at a photo shoot there around April 1965. We changed into our stage gear and posed lol, before getting down to rehearsal business. Paul Burton had just joined after Tony Goodman departed and moved to Leicester. The other change was the addition of Terry Chedzoy on drums after Dave Johnson also left in early 1965.

Chris Barrett… Pete, great photo do you still own that bass ?

Peter Millington… I wish I did. Sold it in 1967

Harry Randall… This is me with my Selmer Thunderbird 30 and Watkins Rapier 33 circa 1965 ish ” The Chain Reaction”!

 

Hastings Pier video walk – Big Beat Reunion 14th Nov 1987 – by Peter Millington

by

Peter Millington….. This video captures the walk onto the pier to see one of the last shows. On 14th November 1987 Lloyd Johnson and Chris Sayer twisted a few arms and “bankrolled” The Big Beat Reunion party on Hastings Pier. Local groups The Confederates and the Talismen worked for free and so did many other contributors to this great evening. The Searchers headlined the evening and were stunning. Cliff Bennett was also on terriffic form with the help of Ray Fenwick and members of the support groups. Depending on the number of likes, and comments, I could be persuaded to upload some to the show’s highlights. The video isn’t of good quality and the sound being picked up by the camer microphone only picks up what the camera is pointing at – hence no stereo or hi-fi. Hell, it’s a precious memory of our beloved Pier which can never be repeated.

Jim Breeds…..What Pete says about the smell! And having your hand stamped. I always tried not to wash off the stamp too soon, so that people would ask what I’d been to see .Nice video Peter.

Peter Fairless… Nice to see it before they messed it up, Chris, isn’t it? How many times did we do that walk?

Chris Giles… I  know loads sometimes never remembered the walk back though. Seeing the walk from the seafront and it was quite a long way to the ballroom… Taking the tickets and hand stamped… It was never the same when it all was done up.

Mick O’Dowd… Walked that walk many, many times. At least this part was in the dry!

 

The Talismen & Cliff Bennett – Big Beat Reunion 14th November 1987 video by Peter Millington

by

Peter Millington…..video features The Talismen, another group local to Hastings and who were very popular. They played a mixture of pop and rock in the 1960s and also reformed for his very special event.

Peter Millington…..The Big Beat Reunion party on Hastings Pier on 14th November 1987. features Cliff Bennett and Friends, Ray Fenwick, Pete Shaw, Pete Head and co-organiser of the event, Chris Sayer.

Alan Esdaile….WOW, we are spoilt today.

Stuart Moir….Ray Fenwick on Gibson Les paul lead guitar, and Pete Shaw on drums and of course Peter Head on bass. We were support band for Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers around that time playing at Chislehurst Caves.

Peter Millington….I think you’ll find that Ray was playing a Yamaha and not a Gibson Stu!

Pete Shaw…..I remember it well! We all met, on the pier late that afternoon and ran through some numbers that Cliff had outlined…a couple were really versions of Johnny Mars set pieces as Ray and I were still gigging with Johnny…Cliif B was great  and after the gig he asked if we could work with him at other gigs he had…Ray and I did some more for him but Pete H and Chris S could not! Great fun and hey, that kit wasn’t even mine but even with only a couple of cymbals it sounded period authentic although some of my staggered breaks were a bit modern! Ray’s guitar was one of two Yamaha specials he had picked up from Yamaha themselves?? His accomplished and searing sound accompanied me and my kit for years!! I’m very thankful for his friendship at that time…Chris Sayer and Pete Head all time Hastings musical heroes! Thanks Pete for posting this…I’ve never seen it before!!

Caz Simpson…. I can’t believe I missed the Big Beat Reunion on Hastings Pier in 1987! Cliff Bennet played, where was I??

Jinks – Through The Sound Barrier cassette 1994/95

by

cassette supplied by Pete Prescott, photo Pete Millington

Pete Millington… JINKS – around 1995 I think L-R Trevor Spears, Peter Millington, Kevin Hoad, Terry Chedzoy, Rod Trowell – Coloured from a black and white original and from memory er!

Pete Prescott… I’ve had that cassette over 26 years !

Spyke – Queens Hotel Hastings – 10th April 1971

by

SPYKE

16114930_1471264796239976_1793977240890701518_n

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

Chris Sayer, Ian Williams, Terry Chedzoy,  Peter Millington.

Pete Millington… The fourth line-up of SPYKE playing at the Queens Hotel 10th April 1971 – Looks like we’ve just been told “Trust me lads – the cheque’s in the post”

Chris Baker… I thought I was the only one with a daft haircut in those days! 😁

Pete Millington… We all had ’em along with everyone else!

Yvonne Cleland… Ah still miss Chris. x

Tony Court-holmes… who remembers the band called the Town Council?

John Busbridge… I always remember Chris singing “Lady came from Baltimore”!

The Confederates – Home Grown 22nd March 1966

by

163088_168999666466502_5605097_n

18465_101278746571928_6125757_n

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

Here’s the recording…

Peter Millington….The Confederates on 22nd March 1966 just before appearing on “Home Grown” a Television competition which was an early version of The X-Factor. Judges were George Melly – Jazz Singer, Johnny Morris – Animal man and children’s TV presenter, Mike Mansfield – Director of Southern ITV and Eve Taylor – Aritist Agent. The show was compared by Bill Pertwee of Dads Army fame (The Warden). — with Terry Chedzoy, Peter (Ginger) Millington, Keith (Budge) Harrison-Burgess, Paul Burton and Johnny Conroy.

Barry French… Great photo. What an amazing experience that must have been.

Pete Millington… That was certainly a “brown trousers” experience. So many heats to get to that final then to come second – hey ho, loved every minute of being a Confederate between 1962 to 1966/7

Robert Searle… Great photo Pete.

Colin Bell… You haven’t changed much Peter, have you got a picture in the attic..

Pete Millington… You’re too kind Colin. No I haven’t and I still avoid mirrors 😩 Oh to be 19 again