seventies

Aquarius Club, George Street, Hastings circa 1973 – Tony Howard photos.

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All photos © Tony Howard

Peter Fairless… Wow, a proper venue! Never seen it like that before.

Anne Murray… What was the nightclub that burnt down called?

Lucy Pappas… Anne, Are you thinking of the Hi Fi?

Anne Murray… Yes that could be it. I remember being outside and my friends brother was one of the fire crew!

Jacquie Hinves… Happy days spent there.

Lucy Pappas… Wow! I don’t remember it being like that!

Martyn Baker… It was the first club that I had ever heard proper seamless DJ mixing between dance tracks. I was 16 at the time, and it totally knocked me out!

Glenn Piper… I only went in once, and that was to work on a Budgie gig

Stuart Moir… Played that stage many times, lovely memories of my band mates above

Judy Atkinson… Used to go Thursday nights – Steve Maxted on his trapeze!

Reg Wood… Judy, Me too. Great memories.

Tony Davis… Had some fun nights there either djing or drinking

Kathy Harding… I met my husband there in 1972

Vivienne Gibbs… My father worked on the doors back in the day

Ian Watling… Fond memories, great place, thanks for posting

Mick O’Dowd… Saw some class acts here including Centre Page!

Clare Bennett… It wasn’t my sort of place don’t think

Christine Giles… Saw The Sweet there and Lindisfarne

Mark Randall… Would this be where I saw Haircut 100? Was it at some point called ‘Thursdays’ or some such ?

Merv Kennard… Worked with Tony from early 70s. Haven’t seen him for a few years. Hoping to be at next meeting with another newbie.

Robert Searle… Sweet were top notch, fantastic vocals and great backing, a harmony rock band.

Christine Giles… Robert, they were I was surprised

 

Did anyone go on the Magic Bus coach trips in the 1970’s?

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Leigh Mitchell… No – but I’d go on one now at those prices

Rebecca Roach… What a memory – delighted to find this – I went on the Magic Bus to Athens from Kings Cross station in 1972/3 (?) stayed at The Funny Trumpet hostal in Athens – that was an experience!

R Stene… Yes. London to Athens in 1978. I was the oldest person on the ride (36) and best dressed it turned out. No head rests for three days and a memorable toilet stop for two girls on the side of the road in Yugoslavia in the snow. Lots of interesong smoking going on in the back seats.

Mike Curtis… No. Cos it was “too much”

John Wilde… Yes twice to Amsterdam.

Vicki Campbell… Yes, Athens to Amsterdam 1975. Yugoslavia we broke down near Skopje.  Pretty rough travel but the price was right! I remember how happy everyone was to cross into Austria! The fresh produce in Yugoslavia was the best anywhere.

Heather Sidery… Yes.. France and back. We we’re stopped in UK, and searched by police. Nothing found…..

Julie Findlay-jones… My uncle used to drive for them in the 70s.

David Hamblett… Went to Athens 1979, it cost £28,Should have been 3 days but took 4 as Yugoslavia police stopped the bus and took away the driver, Fantastic

Amanda Darling… David, I was on that bus too! My son was conceived on the roadside in Yugoslavia when the bus driver was taken off by the police!

Joan Hicks… I (a Kiwi) traveled Athens to London 1976. Alan was the lone driver. He had his kids Claire and Roger with him. Alan had a kidney stone attack in the Alps, so the whole busload baby sat until he came back. Also got stuck at the Yugoslavian border, the border guards demanding $200 US for a Visa I already had. Also got an unplanned day in Amsterdam. Brilliant trip. Made some good friends and still keep in touch with a couple of them. Traveled on with Alan down to Cornwall and stayed with him and his wife Flora for a few days. Happy days!

Meryl Gay… Yes, I took the 3day trip in 1975 from London via France, Italy over the ferry at Brindisi to Greece down to Athens. What a adventure. We had a puncture in France! Had many happy memories.

Peter Ellingworth… I didn’t myself but my youngest cousin Moira, sadly no longer with us having succumbed to cancer, and over from Australia at the time (1975-8) on their traditional overseas rite of passage, did so with her Canadian flat mate she lodged with in Shepherds Bush…..and ended up in Athens marrying a Greek. Did the bus go from the old coach station half way up Pentonville Rd., (now an upmarket restaurant) or from outside King’s Cross Rail station itself, most likely in York Way ?

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Paper Dolls 5th Oct and Paper Lace 28th Sept – Aquarius 1973

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supplied by Nick Prince

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Paper Dolls Photo – Dutch National Archives, The Hague, Fotocollectie Algemeen Nederlands Persbureau (ANeFo), 1945-1989,   Paper Lace  Photo –  Beeld En Geluid Wiki – Gallerie: Toppop 1974

Tony Qunta…Used to love the Paper Dolls!

Andy Qunta… Me too! Have that song on my iPod!

Tony Davis… I was the DJ for Paper Lace with the International Strip Show. I was allowed to keep my socks on though!

Robert Searle…I saw Paper Lace at the Aquarius, I spoke to the drummer/lead singer. He said they were only being paid a wage, you could tell, he was smoking No6 ciggies

SMART coffee meet report no. 81

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 Beautiful day for our 81st coffee meet. Among the new people this time were Tony Goodman, Richard Padgett and Nigel Schofield. Tony had happy memories of when he played with The Redcoats and The Confederates. Also when he played in Hastings with the popular group ‘Midnight Blue’ in the 90’s and hope to have some photos soon. Richard was talking about his group ‘Loggerhead’ and remembers promoting Die Laughing and Dawn Watcher on Hastings Pier. Also memories of guitar lessons from Ray Fenwick and great times buying records from The Disc Jockey. Nigel Schofield was talking about the great bands he saw when he was at Manchester University. Including Led Zeppelin, Canned Heat, Free, Deep Purple and many more. Also when he played football for Hollington Rangers and the day he scored six goals in the Observer cup. Mo Elms had photos from Jan, of the Alexandra Park gates, when they were removed for the war effort in World War 2. Colin Bell had a very interesting early Hastings publicity leaflet, with the title ‘Hastings Conquest’ ‘It captures the hearts of all Holidaymakers’. Antony ‘Nan’ Morland’ has finally managed to get his Dansette auto change record player working again and had a great photo he has taken, surrounded by some of his favourite records. Barry French had an embroidered Status Quo waistcoat, Valentine pop special no 4 Elvis, Cliff, Adam book and a copy of the Die Laughing single. Nick Strickland had a couple of records with ‘Masons Music’ price stickers on, of Haircut 100 12” and Country Gold compilation. So much to my memory of being a cool shop! Merv Kennard had an impressive presentation wooden box of ‘Radio 1’ badge. A Shure Unidyne microphone. They were very popular in the seventies and pretty sure I used to use one. He also had Radio London books, RNI Jingles, pirate radio cd’s, happy birthday Radio Caroline 1984 leaflet, Mebo 2 registration certificate and a list of things to remove and observe on Radio Noordzee International. Tim McDonald was pleased with how things are moving along with the Hastings Music Resource Centre. Tim who was a senior music producer with the BBC is looking to turn St Mary In The Castle into a music resource centre where you can access music, use recordings and rehearsal area. If you want to get involved, help or find our more information please contact: tim@timmcdonald.co.uk  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.

Cris & Merv Kennard… Thanks Alan for organising another meeting. Good to see everyone and meet some new members.

Mick O’Dowd… Well said Cris & Merv!

Colin Bell… Good to see you & Cris as ever

Matt Thomas… Haircut 100

Mick O’Dowd… A good afternoon although it was pretty warm in there even with the doors open. But we survived. Interesting chats with Colin Bell,  the guy from Loggerhead who I promoted at The Carlisle. Claire Lonsdale and and a guy who’s an author(sorry the name escapes me at present) who wrote what appears to be inspired by Spike Milligan. And a guy was asking me about The Aquarius and Witchdoctor.

Barry Upton… Hi Mick, that second picture looks so like the keyboard player in Beez Neez Jackie ?

Mick O’Dowd… Barry, The one and only one !

Claire Lonsdale… Mick, the author was Dave Muriel

Alan Esdaile… and the book is this one

 

 

 

Penguin Cinema Hastings 4th September 1974

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Chris Baker… Where was that? (and don’t say opposite the Car Park!)

Keith Blizard… Well it was Chris…lol

Alan Esdaile… The Snooker Club, Priory Street, Chris.

Tony Court-holmes… and the small one next door

Wendy Weaver… The one next door we called ‘Alf’s. Oh how i miss the Penguin, it used to be my second home (or maybe my first)

 

Lew Lewis Reformer, The Teenbeats plus more – Rye Festival 1st September 1979

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supplied by Teenbeats Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Teenbeats-193261605554/

Peter Fairless… That was great, if a little odd… The Photos were good!

poster supplied by Ken Copsey

Ken Copsey… Aggro with the skinhead contingent which wasn’t very Greenpeace. Looking at the list of promoters at the top of the poster I wonder if that is the Andy McConnell the glass specialist who lives in Rye now?

Tony Ham… The name I remember is Blast Furnace and the Heatwaves, think they only had two as the ice cream van got tipped over by skinheads.

Ken Copsey… Blast Furnace was Charles Shar Murray’s band. Lee Lewis was always great. We played with him again in Swansea.

 

 

Mungo Jerry – Hastings Pier 28th August 1976

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I did have this date down for The Sounds Summer Rock Show but could that have been 1975?

Lance Collins… Gerry, did you support at this gig ?

Gerry Fortsch… Lance, yes the old Hippo Band was there and enjoying a beer. The lads in Mungo Jerry were a great bunch of guys.

John Mcewen… I was there! Great night. Hippo good as always!

Stuart Moir… Great band saw them in the early years in London.

Marcus de Mowbray… “In the summer time When the weather is a bit naff, grey, cold and damp”  Pretty bad lyrics, but more likely than the original ones!

Kate Recknell-Page… I loved them great music x