smart coffee meet

SMART coffee meet report number 73

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Our 73rd meet and it was a wet and windy day but didn’t stop a great turn out. Among the newbies this time were Rose Pearsall and Jude Montague. Rose was chatting about her favourite sixties singles and Jude was talking about her duo Montague Armstrong and her fine art printmaking studio shop in Kings Road St Leonards, as well as working on her research into ‘Grey Owl’. Peter Ellingworth had with him books of The British Trolley Bus Scene 1950 to 1969 and British Trolleybus Centenary 1911 to 2011. Both featuring a few Hastings and St Leonards photos and a couple of wonderful photos of ‘Happy Harold’. Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland had a great photo of the ABC cinema from 1971 and a bizarre heavy piece of merchandise from The Beatles! It was a boxed brick from the Salvation Army children’s home at Strawberry Field Liverpool with certificate of authenticity. Mick Thwaites has been delving into his massive collection of Rolling Stones memorabilia and had with his a range of small kaleidoscopes from the Voodoo Lounge tour, Sticky Fingers cd in a wooden shaped box, Rock and Roll Circus dvd and cd box set, as well as some fishing floats made by Mick Erends. Paul Mulry had a couple of interesting vinyl album releases with him. The 60th anniversary edition of Booker T & The M.G.s Green Onions, in green vinyl and Mirwood Records Northern Soul compilation. Linda Boiling had a photo of the Dick Whittington pantomime from 1963, which took place at St John the Evangelist Church Upper Church Road St Leonards and featured a very young Nicholas Ball, who we sadly lost recently. Merv Kennard came up with some more rare pirate radio cassettes, cd’s, videos, records, from Radio Caroline, RNLI, Hauraki and more, as well as a recording from the Radio One Roadshow in Bude in 1978 and the single ‘What shall we do with the drunken DJ’!  Chris Stovold had some interesting cd’s with him ‘The Psychedelic Years compilation set, Family, The Idle Race, Nuggets and Wishbone Ash. Ian Marketis had a number of Meat Loaf releases, including tour programmes and cd’s with one autographed. Alan Harding had albums of his wonderful photos and Pete Prescott was chatting about his new group ‘Stealer’ who have a number of gigs coming up and you will be able to see them live at the Bexhill 70s Explosion on Saturday 20th July.  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… Thank you Alan. Was lovely to see everyone despite the foul weather. X

Monica Bane… Very enjoyable afternoon. Meeting more new interesting people. I know how much hard work you do, so thanks again Alan x

Merv and Cris Kennard… Thanks Alan for organising another meeting, great to see everyone and swap yarns.

Mick O’Dowd… Another good Meet Alan. Thanks!

Jim Breeds… Sorry didn’t make it. Had been up all night watching election.

Claire Lonsdale… Jim, me too! But that didn’t stop me! You’ve got no stamina Jim!

Jude Montague… loved meeting you all thank you Alan

Stephen Moran… Thank you for the report Alan, I’m sorry I wasn’t able to join you on this occasion.

Mick O’Dowd…  Good vibes and talk as usual. Chris Gentry and myself were talking about some of the strange venues that we had been booked into over the years. Great memories. Well done Alan for yet another interesting MEET!

Carrie Downing-Waite Sawatzky… Had forgotten Kings, went there a few times

SMART coffee meet no.71 – Friday 22nd March 2024

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Gill Smith… Would love to come along! Been down here since 1976!

Alan Esdaile… you are most welcome to join us Gill.

Jim McCarthy… Hi I am Jim, currently writing a book on (the Move) living in Bexhill and talked to Colin Bell recently. I’d like to come along, I better put this in my diary thank you, hope all is well 

Alan Esdaile… look forward to seeing you Jim

Alan Esdaile… Pete Prescott will have on display the photos albums of Bexhill Hop 1980’s, for anyone who missed them last time.

 

 

SMART coffee meet report 70

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Great turn out for our 70th meet. Shaun Hanson was chatting to Colin Bell and Andre Martin about Boom Radio and 60’s and 70’s radio. Colin had with him an early Hastings Rock photo and one of his popular Top Sounds reviews. Mo Elms had indie band ‘Brinkman’ His Master Voice cd’s and mini discs of Queen, Fat Boy Slim and Now. Peter Ellingworth had books of Hastings Tramways Company 1899-1959 by Cliff Mewett and How The Railways Came To Hastings by Hastings Area Local Studies Project. Chris Stovold has a number of 78’s for sale and Pete Millington had gig tickets of when his group supported Rod Stewart Soul Agents. Barry French had a very early Hastings Pier postcard, where the person writing the card had added a pencil x to the photo, to show where the fire had started in 1917. Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland had a 1960’s photo of people outside ‘Photo Trade’ which was in Tackleway, in the Old Town Hastings. Dave Trodd had a photo of Pete Treger and a 1957 photo of the first intake of foreign students with locals. Lyn Williams had some ‘Record Song Books’ with cover prices of 9d and 1 shilling. Merv Kenard had a 7” single of Wonderful Radio London and a whole host of pirate radio recordings. Ian Marketis had Queen Box Set and also Queen postage stamps. Pete Prescott had photo albums of Lets Go to The Hop gigs in Bexhill in the 80’s. Sorry I didn’t get chance to get round to everyone. 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.

Colin Bell… Great to see everyone & catch up. A busy afternoon! well done again Alan, take it easy now for the weekend. Great to join in so many interesting conversations all round the room

Mick O’Dowd… Colin, That last bit of sentence reminds me of the old TV show. Wheeltapppers & Shunters and the guy with the alarm bell to call order! Another classic Meet Alan! Interesting chat with Merv Kennard and Colin and a few others. Good turn out after a slow start. Happy anniversary Smarties! Well done Alan as usual a great well organised Meet. Keep the faith! Well done

Wendy Weaver… Thanks Alan. A really good afternoon. Graham and I enjoyed it.

Pete Prescott… I Really enjoyed it as usual.

Cris & Merv Kennard… Thanks Alan for another good afternoon catching up with lots of lovely people.

Eric Harmer… Thanks Alan. If it wasn’t for you We all would not get a chance to get together. Well done pal, great afternoon

Claire Lonsdale… Thanks Alan, very enjoyable as always. Looking forward to the next one! Xx

Jim Breed… Apologies for absence. Doctor’s appointment (shingles jab – how rock n roll is that!?) and some other chores

Peter Fairless… Shingles Jab’ was a 1971 ‘B’ side for proto-ABBA Scottish pop outfit Middle Of The Road, Jim…or perhaps not

Stephen Moran… I ’m really soon I couldn’t make it yesterday Alan. Great review as always.

Andy Qunta… Sounds excellent!

David Martin… Well done Alan , sorry I couldn’t make it I’ve got a dreadful cold. See you on the next one.

Colin Winn… Sounds like fun!

Darren Johnson… When is next one Alan. I must remember to put it in my diary.

Alan Esdaile… Usually every other month, so probably mid March, will confirm nearer the time. Someone did mention you, can’t remember who but they were talking about Slade.

Wendy Weaver… Darren, Graham took his Slade book and a few people were interested and discussed it with him.

Peter Houghton… Alan sorry I couldn’t make it as I had an Hospital appointment

Jacquie Hinves… I’m so sorry not to have been able to join you today. Next time. Xxx

Monica Bane… Another interesting afternoon! Thanks again Alan, For all the hard work that you do!

Peter Ellingworth… Thanks again for an excellent coffee meet Alan

Joan Ann Cooper-fenner… Would love to come to one of these!

Shaun Hanson… I found it all quite fascinating, talking about the background of so many artists before they were famous. Boom Radio gives a helping hand with that as well. Thanks for a great afternoon

Roger Carey… Sorry I missed this, was working on a jazz gig for Friday night and rock gig on Saturday 20th, different sets of music and equipment required, more this weekend, will announce on Facebook. Hope to be at next one and find some ‘new’ items, nothing I haven’t submitted before has come to light so far but since moving I have lots of stuff to still go through!

 

SMART coffee meet no.70 Friday 19th January 2024

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The next SMART coffee meet is on Friday 19th January 2024. Hopefully you can make it and please mention it to other like minded people. We usually do one, every other month but due to Christmas, the next one won’t be until January. Thank you as always for your support and would like to wish you a very happy Christmas and healthy new year. Don’t forget if you are seeing any relatives or friends over the Christmas period and think they might have some old photos that are suitable for the website, then this would be very much appreciated. Very best wishes. Alan

Claire Lonsdale… Happy Christmas to you Alan . I hope you enjoy the festive season. Xx

Mick O’Dowd… Remember to make a New Years Resolution if you’ve not been before. Make it in 2024 and see the superman who runs the whole shabang and is known as Alan Esdaile Johnny Mason.

Colin Norton… I really hope that I can make it one day! Would love to meet everyone!

SMART coffee meet report number 69

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SMART coffee meet report number 69

Among the newbies this time were Kerry Watling, Trevor Webb, Jackie Hersee, Tom O’Brien, Jacky Scales and Paul Mulry. Kerry was talking about when she ran the shop Vinyl Countdown in George Street, Trevor mentioned that One Hastings Many Voices have their next event at Lamarina White Rock Hastings next Sunday the 5th November and performers and others are most welcome. Jackie Hersee had a photo book of the group The Town Council and an autograph book with Graham Nash, Bobby Elliot (The Hollies), The Who, Dave Clark, Mark Wynter, The Searchers, The Merseybeats and many more. Tom was talking about his recent success with Fairytale Of New York at The Stables Theatre and he is working on a new play about Liam Clancy of The Clancy Brothers. Jacky Scales was talking aboutThe Rolling Stones and had a copy of ‘Their Satanic Majesties Request’  album with the special lenticular 3D cover. Paul was talking about his love of radio and had a copy of ‘The Radio Nordsee International Story’ double LP with him. Mo Elms had some rare Capital Radio posters in mint condition featuring Kenny Everett, Roger Scott and All The Hits and More 194. Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland had a signed Acker Bilk programme from Hastings Pier in 1962 and a Bill Haley & The Comets first tour of the UK in 1957 programme. As always he had some interesting photos of Hastings Secondary Schools For Girls, Ore Village in 1962 with Les Levett ironmongers shop. Also a photo of ‘Nan’ hop picking at Eyelids Hop farm and a large photo of Ore Centre youth club from 1962. Peter Ellingworth had with him a book on Hastings Tramway Centenary 1905-2005, Hastings Trollybuses book  and a very interesting book on Hastings & St Leonards In The Front Line about the second world war bombing. Chris Stovold had a pile of 7” singles, with a number of them very collectable. Ian Marketis brought along his complete collection of Queen CD singles which have reproduced the original 7” singles. Pete Houghton had with him, some autographed posters from The Cobweb and autographed albums from Wild Turkey and The Groundhogs. 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.

 

Monica Bane… Enjoyed this afternoon Alan so did my sister in-law

Claire Lonsdale… Thank you Alan , for once again, organising a lovely meeting. Great to see the guys and meet new ones, had some lovely conversations. Xx

Mick O’Dowd… Had a great time Alan. So many interesting people to talk to. Kept you very busy with all the items that were bought along. Well done!  I had that book H& St.Leonards on the front line but I lent it to someone doing research on the subject and never saw it again!

Cris & Merv Kennard… We’re back from our hols, so hopefully we will get to the next meeting.

Tony Qunta… Use to love that album!

Andy Qunta… me too, especially 2000 Light Years From Home!

Peter Ellingworth… Once again many thanks for an excellent meet up, most enjoyable