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SMART coffee meet report number 78

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A lovely warm day for our 78th catch up. Among the new people were Shona Goobie, Ricky Adelaide and Ernie Blocksage. Shona was talking about the many groups she used to enjoy in the Yelton Hotel including Jinks and Grundy and talking to Kevin Burchett about the Scalliwags 50th reunion, which is happening on the 24th May in The Rum Shed on the pier. Ricky was talking about the many musicians he has worked with and the success of ‘The King Blues Band’. Ernie was reminiscing over the different groups he has performed with including ‘Shyboy’ and ‘Deja Blue’ and has happy memories of when he did his first recording with Mick Mepham. Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland had some photos of The Union Regal Cinema from 1932, photos of Silverhill before Asda, a photo of the cleared gas works and woodyard site in Queens Road, to make way for Safeways and an ‘Ore Community Association’ membership card from 1960. Mick O’Dowd had hardback books, of Pete Townshend, Sting, Keith Richards and Genesis ‘Supper’s Ready’. Mick Thwaites had with him, the ‘Rolling Stones Story’ Decca Boxset, picture discs and some amazing Stones caricature stand up figures. Ian Marketis was talking about the Freddie Mercury tribute gig for AIDS Awareness that took place on the 20th April 1992. He had the programme, tickets, banner and video. Merv Kennard had a collection of Radio 1 badges including logo, ring a 247 ding, road show, 10 years and a rare Radio Caroline ‘Loving Awareness’ badge from Nigel Kennard. General chat was about the shock news that the White Rock Hotel is up for sale, Beatles Day, the major incident in St Leonards, St Mary In The Castle, The Pier, gigs, hospital radio in Hastings is 50 years this year, the new record shop in Clive Vale and not forgetting lots of chat about health issues! 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 once again for a very pleasant afternoon. Lovely to see everyone. Xx

Colin Bell… Well done Alan, great to catch up with everyone and have a good chat

Keith Veness… Thank you Alan look forward to the next one

Mick O’Dowd… Yes I agree Colin. A good turnout from some interesting people old & newbies. Well done Alan!

Cris and Merv… Thanks Alan for organising another cracking meeting today? We had a good time catching up with friends

Lance Collins… Sorry can’t make it. Gig tonight so loading van. Takes ages at my age.

 

 

Happy Christmas and very best wishes for 2025

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 https://www.jigsawpuzzle.co.uk/gibsons-the-queens-speech-jigsaw-puzzle-40-pieces.p84363.html

A Big Thank You to everyone, for all your support, especially the people that regularly post and keep the SMART pages interesting. The website and the facebook page are doing very well and the coffee meets have exceeded expectations. Don’t forget if you are seeing friends or relatives over the Christmas period, we always need more old photos and cuttings that would be of interest and haven’t been posted before. One photo, can be so special for many many people. Christmas is a sad time for many  but I hope some of the postings keep the happy times and memories alive. Very best. Alan

Mick O’Dowd… It’s more of a big THANK YOU ALAN because without your expertise and dedication you would not be able to write the above. We would be totally lost without you. Happy Christmas and hopefully a great New Year to you.

Stephen Moran… well said Mick

Colin Bell… Well done again, for another year of bringing people together, you do a great job of making people happy. Happy Christmas my old friend, enjoy the rest!

Leigh Mitchell… I agree with what Colin said. Thank you for all your interesting posts and your Rambells Colin

Stephen Moran…. I couldn’t agree more Colin

Jacqueline Marsh… Thank you for all that you do, watch and read always with great interest Best wishes Jackie

Cris & Merv Kennard… Another good year of meetings and great info on the website. Thanks Alan for all your organising. Hoping you have a great Christmas and New year.

Jeanette Steve Jones… Thank You Ez & a Merry Christmas, Happy Healthy Prosperous New Year to You & everyone at SMART xx

Michael Andrew Curtis… Best wishes to you too Alan. You’re doing a great job!

Tracy Birrell… Happy Christmas to you all, and thank you Alan.

Lance Collins… Happy Christmas Alan. Looking forward to attending next year.

Lloyd Johnson… Have a smashing Christmas Alan and thank you for organising the SMART meets…

Pauline Sims…Thanks Alan – wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, healthy New Year.

Jacquie Hinves… Wishing you a fabulous, wonderful and peaceful Christmas. Thank you for everything and every memory you have shared.

Colin Norton… Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I’m sure that we all appreciate the work that you do for the benefit of us all! A HUGE THANK YOU!!

Peter Houghton… Well done Alan for all you do for the people in Hastings who are into the local Music Scene Happy Christmas and all the best for next year

Karen Sweatman… Merry Christmas Alan. Thanks for your continued efforts on a great page

Andy Qunta… Thanks, Alan! Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all!

Peter Ellingworth… Yup, massive thanks to Alan for all the hard work you do in bringing this together. Best wishes to all and hope to be along to the next coffee meet.

John Wilde… Best wishes Alan. Thank you for your tireless efforts, keeping memories alive.

Clive Garrard… Happy Xmas Alan, and thanks for all that you do. I always enjoy reading on here

Stephen Moran… Wishing you a very Happy Christmas Alan and thank you so much for all your help and support over the last few years

Mike Guy… You too.

Claire Lonsdale… Happy Christmas Alan. And thank you for all you’ve done this year. Really enjoy the SMART meets. Have a happy 2025 and look forward to seeing you and all the other lovely people next year. Xx

Bernard Goffedro… Happy Christmas Alan

Andy Davies… Happy Xmas Alan

Iain Cobby… Merry Christmas Al and all you wish for in 2025 (God, it sounds like something out of a Gerry Anderson Prog!!) AND thank you and your readers for keeping all our yesterdays alive!

Eric Harmer… Happy Christmas everyone. Thanks Alan for all the hard work you put into running this group. it brings people together

 

 

 

 

SMART coffee meet report number 74

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A packed White Rock Hotel and among the newbies this time were Joy Gilham, Keith Veness, Keith Forbes, Anne Wells and Pauline Hillier. Joy had great memories of the pier ballroom with the sprung floor and when lots of people were on it, it would bounce! Also remembering after dances, at the end of George Street they had a milk vending machine which they used, costing 6d and everyone called it the mechanical cow! Keith Veness arrived with some old tickets and membership cards from The Weeley Festival in 1971, YMCA sports centre, Fifty Eight Club Winchelsea beach and Aquarius George Street. Keith Forbes was talking about the success of the recent events at the Henry Ward Hall and looking forward to The Jonny Halifax Invocation who are there on Saturday 14th September. Anne was talking about The Pam Dor and had a couple of interesting photos of The Witch Doctor. Pauline had great memories of The Witch Doctor and remembers seeing John Wilde’s amazing dancing. Mick O’Dowd had with him massive folders of Hastings Pier photos and gig dates. Peter Ellingworth had a video of when he went for a ride on the Hastings Tramway trolleybus at the East Anglian Transport Museum in Lowestoft. Jackie Hersee was sharing some of her transport finds with Peter. One of the sheets was about ‘how to drive a trolleybus’ and referred to Hastings as ‘a rather upper middle-class community’ but then called Bohemia area ‘doubtfully named!’. Merv Kennard had with him northern soul dj Dave Evison signed book, plus cd’s of early pirate radio broadcasts from fort based stations, also Radio Sunk with Johnny Lewis, Radio Nova collection, Kenny Everett classics from 1979 Capital FM and Radio North Sea International close down record. Paul Mulry had a framed poster of RNI tune in turn on, which would have been 50 years to the day it closed down. He also had the wonderful record ‘Peace’ by ‘Peter’. Ian Marketis had his large collection of Marc Bolan and T. Rex 7”singles and a few LP’s. Good to see Phil Thornton and reminiscing about some of the groups he was in.Too many other people to mention and 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 and Merv Kennard… Thanks Alan for organising the meeting today, it was good to catch up with you and others. We look forward to these gatherings.

Mick O’Dowd… Nice meeting up with old friends with interesting chat! Another enjoyable & interesting Meet. Well done Alan yet again you’ve excelled!

Stephen Moran… Thank you for the great report Alan, I’m sorry I wasn’t able to be there on this occasion, I’m currently away.

Andrew Freeman… Here’s a bit of trivia! The shop in the picture – A Green – is the shop that supplied the HSSB (Priory Road) tuck shop back in the 60’s

 

Colin Bell SMART SOUNDS NEWS Can’t Seem To Come Down The American Sounds of 1968 and Don Fardon I’m Alive Anthology cd’s

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Hi all, with apologies, I’m currently unable to bring you the full Smart Sounds reviews that usually occupy this space due to personal issues. However there are 2 new excellent July titles from Cherry Red that I wouldn’t want to pass you by…they are….

Can’t Seem To Come Down – The American Sounds of 1968, Various Artists 3CD Box Set

A splendid romp through 80 tracks of American rock & pop nuggets all released in 1968 as per the title. From the very well known…Love, The Monkees, The Byrds, The Beach Boys, through to names you may have forgotten such as Spirit, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Quicksilver Messenger Service, H P Lovecraft..and on to some gems from obscurity including the baroque rock pop of Debbie Harrys first band Wind In The Willows, this release with its accompanying 48 page informative booklet delivers hours of pleasure for 60’s music lovers like myself.

Don Fardon: I’m Alive – The Don Fardon Anthology 1967-1974, 3CD

With a wealth of never before released material this new, & as far as I’m aware, first really comprehensive anthology of ex Sorrows lead singer Don Fardon is an absolute must for his many fans. Mostly famous for his international hit ‘Indian Reservation’ this 81 track compilation features his other hits and club favourites such as ‘Belfast Boy’ ‘Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’ Mod favourite ‘Treat Her Right’ & much more besides, including one of my all time favourite tracks ‘I’m Alive’, a track i wore out playing at my disco gigs back in the day. Here it is now. Enjoy.

For more information go to https://www.cherryred.co.uk

Til next time….take care, stay safe……Colin  

SMART coffee meet report 71

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SMART coffee meet report number 71

Wow! Wonderful! Jam packed turn out for our 71 meet and first off, I must apologise for not getting time to speak to half the people! 

Among the newbies this time were Alan Harding, Yukiko and Kazuhiro Hanai, Joan Fenner, Baz and Jane Cooper,  Diane Crouch, Sam Dook, Jim McCarthy and Brian Crowhurst. Alan was talking about when he worked for Vox and designed the amps for The Beatles and many others. He also had some of his wonderful photos of trolls woodland creatures and windmills. Yukiko and Kazuhiro (Rommy). He plays guitar for Japanese rock group ‘Ivory Gate’ and had flown in from Tokyo to see Robert Plant, they were made most welcome by everyone. Joan was chatting about here happy memories of 60’s and 70’s Hastings and especially the Fiesta coffee bar. Baz who plays keyboards with Dowliners Sect was talking about his new recordings and working with ‘The Rebels’. Diane was chatting about her memories of jazz in the caves. Sam was looking for anyone with a connection with working at Ponswood Industrial Estate. He’s interested in stories and memories as he’s working on making a radio show with the Parchment Trust charity. If you can help contact sam@lifesize.org.uk or the website lifesize.org.uk which is a music and arts community group. Jim was talking about the music books he has written and seeing if anyone could add anymore last minute information about ‘The Move’ as his book is due to be published shortly. Brian was talking about the exciting times, when he worked for United Artists records and EMI. 

Roger Ferris was talking about his compositions and the track he has just posted on You Tube by Glo Macari called Part Of Your Heart. Kerry Watling had with her cd’s of Barry Dransfield and Mike Wells, Chris Stovold had with him a collection of Nick Drake CD’s and book, Dave Jenkins had his George Hatcher Band records and autograph, Mick O’Dowd had cd’s of Radio Caroline 70’s flashbacks and We Love The Pirates with hits and Radio London jingles. Jackie Hersee had a list with dates of all the groups she saw in Hastings in 1965 and 1966 at the pier and Witch Doctor. John Busbirdge had a pile of Beatles records, Anthony ‘Nan’ Morland had a dvd of him documenting the Hastings Pier fire of 2010. Peter Ellingworth had a book of Trams and Trolleybuses by Robert Harley, Merv Kennard had a Blue Peter badge and more collectable pirate radio recordings and books, Cris Kennard had a Britex record needles tin, Linda Boiling had a photo of her YZ bubble gum machine, Ian Marketis had ‘The Solo Collection book of Freddie Mercury that included the cd’s and Pete Prescott had a pile of albums and the Bexhill hop photos and was talking about his new group ‘Stealer’.  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… It was great as usual Alan, but what an amazing turn out despite the weather. Thanks Alan for all your hard work xx

Pete Prescott… We had a great time !

Wendy Weaver… Thanks Alan. A good turnout

Cris and Merv Kennard… As usual a good afternoon catching up with everyone, thank you Alan for organising.

Colin Bell… Merv, Good to see you, interesting records!

David Martin… Thanks for all your hard work Alan I really enjoyed it & what a great turnout

Mick O’Dowd… Agree entirely. Wasn’t expecting so many because of the weather but I think it must have been a near record turnout. Not often you can rub shoulders and talk to a guy that was an recording engineer at Abbey Road on the Beatle tracks. That is one of the real beauties of these Meets is that you never know who will encounter. I was re-introduced to a young lady that was a girlfriend of a fellow DJ Simon Davis (aka Tony Kane(RIP) from 50 years ago! It’s also nice to see that we have a very diverse crowd now with growing numbers of ladies joining in. Keep going and don’t be afraid to come on your own. You are not alone! Well done to El Supremo Alan for organising!

Matt Thomas… I know there was a music merchandise wholesaler up on Ponswood

Jackie Hersee… Really interesting afternoon thank you

Roy Winchester… I was in bands with Colin and David.

Mick O’Dowd… This, to outsiders, is exactly what we get up to. Very diverse crowd of folks with a diverse group of interests and facts about our beloved town in the past. The music they witnessed when the Pier and clubs like the Witchdoctor/Cobweb at al made us one of the most important places for the big names to play. From Hendrix , The Who, The Stones and a wealth of other top names all played here. The Stones & Who several times. Hastings was an important stopover for bands. Next time give it ago and come along. You won’t be disappointed and you will be most welcome wether you have any things to show bring yourself.

Colin Bell… An excellent afternoon, great turn out & it was nice to talk to so many friends & re-connect with old friend Joan, after a mere 50 years! well done Alan, as ever, for bringing so many people together

Monica Bane… Yes Colin, Was a great turnout, So good to chat to so many! Good to see you x

Baz Cooper…It was great to finally make it along to a SMART meeting! In trying to look it up on line, to check the venue, SMART offered a site devoted to people in rehab from addictions!!! Maybe an addiction to 60s and 70s music???!!! Anyway it was great chatting to people there including my good friend Colin Tapp, who is also an old band mate and to various other interesting people, I only wish we could have stayed longer, because I would loved to have chatted to many more people there. Maybe next time!

Bob Searle… I was in bands with Stuart Moir Colin Fox and Dave Easton

Andre Martin… Well done Alan for everything to keep memories and old friends in contact. You will need to introduce a ticket in advance admission if this keeps this numbers.

Tony Davis… Sorry couldn’t make it but we had a gig at The Carlisle and the bands were arriving around 4pm. Hope to get there next time

 

Very best wishes to everyone and here’s to a healthier and happier 2024.

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Wendy Weaver… Happy New year Alan

Phil Little… Happy New Year.

Colin Norton… Happy, Healthy New Year!

Jeanette Jones… Thank You Happy New Year & thanks for another Year of SMART

Lucy Pappas… Happy New Year to you, too, Alan x

Stephen Moran… Wishing you a very happy new year Alan

Brian Scales… Best wishes to you Alan

Ann Graves… Happy New Year to from Ann &Stephen.

Mick O’Dowd… Happy new year Alan and to all other SMARTIES!

Jacquie Hinves… Wishing everyone a wonderful, Happy, healthy and very prosperous New Year. All my love to you all. Xx

Tracy Birrell… Happy New Year everyone. May it be kind to you.

 

Happy Christmas and very best wishes for 2024

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A Big Big Thank You to everyone, for all your support during the year, especially the people that regularly post and keep the SMART pages Alive. The SMART ninebattles.com website has gone from strength to strength and had one of its best month’s in October with view of 15,484. Also thank you to everyone that comes to the coffee meets, and a reminder that the next coffee meet is Friday 19th January 2024. If you are seeing friends or relatives over the Christmas period, we always need more old photos and cuttings that would be of interest and haven’t been posted before. One photo, can be so special for many many people. Christmas is a sad time for many but I hope some of the postings keep the happy times and memories alive. Very best. Alan

Karen Sweatman… Merry Christmas Alan

Cris and Merv Kennard… Thanks Alan for all that you do throughout the year and organising the meetings.

Colin Bell… Well done, I know how hard you work to put everything together, enjoy a well deserved rest over Christmas.

John Wilde… All the best Alan, may 2024 bring you all the happiness you deserve.

Dave Jenkins… Happy Christmas Alan have a good one

Eric Harmer… You are doing a great job Alan. Thanks

Claire Lonsdale… Thank you Alan for all your hard work, greatly appreciated ! All the best for Christmas and the new year! Xxx

Janine Hemsley… Merry Christmas Y’all

Stephen Moran… Wishing you a very Happy Christmas Alan, SMART is very special and something for which you should be immensely proud.

Leigh Mitchell… Although I have moved away from the area, I still enjoy being kept in the loop about what’s going on and also all the music related posts. Much appreciated Alan 😊 Have a lovely Christmas xx

Colin Norton… Merry Christmas, Alan! Thanks for all of the hard work that you do keeping the Seventies alive. It is really appreciated!

Lucy Pappas… Merry Christmas, Al! Thank you for keeping all if it going, you’re a real star! xx

Edward Adams… thanks and back atcha

Mick O’Dowd… Happy Christmas Alan. Thanks for all the time and effort you have put in over the past year(AGAIN!). It has paid off as at one time we met in the corner of the bar at The White Rock Hotel! Well done.

Peter Ellingworth… Thank you too, Alan, for all the hard work you do on this site and in organising the White Rock coffee meets. Trains permitting, I intend to be down for the next meet in Jan.

Tracy Birrell… Wishing you and everyone a peaceful time and thank you for your company.

Wendy and Graham Weaver… A Happy Christmas Alan. Thanks for all your efforts.

Dave Trodd and Rose… Thanks for introducing us to the SMART meetings – we’ve really enjoyed meeting old friends and new. Have a good Christmas. Love from Rose and Dave.

Ray Nickson… Thank you for all of your posts.

Tony Qunta… Happy Christmas and fabulous 2024 Alan!

Jacquie Hinves…Alan, Thank you so much for all your hard work by keeping us all updated and still in touch with each other throughout the 70’s, 80’s ,90’s and beyond. Have a wonderful blessed Christmas and a very happy new year. Xxx

Andre Martin… Good work Alan now have a well earned rest see you in 2024

Andy Qunta… Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you, Alan and to all the SMART people!

Paul Crimin… Happy Christmas Alan.

 

Happy Christmas and very best wishes for 2023

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A Massive Thank You to everyone for all your support during the year, especially the people that regularly post and keep the SMART pages interesting. Also to the people that come to the coffee meets, thank you. If you are seeing friends or relatives over the Christmas period, we always need more old photos and cuttings that would be of interest and haven’t been posted before. One photo, can be so special for lots of people. It is a sad time for many but I hope some of the postings keep the happy times and memories alive. Very best wishes. Alan

Lauren Lamb… Festive Greetings Alan!

Dennis Torrance… All the best also to you alan

Pauline Sims… Merry Christmas Alan and a happy New Year, Px

Karen Sweatman… Merry Christmas Alan. Thank you for keeping a fantastic page interesting and going

Nastassja Kaschevsky… Happy Christmas Alan

Gerry Fortsch… Merry Christmas Alan. Peace & Love

Chris Jolly… Merry Christmas Alan!

Leigh Mitchell… Have a lovely Christmas xx

Andrew Clifton… Merry Christmas to you and a happy new year. Alan.

Jaffa Peckham… Merry Christmas, Alan! Thanks for all you’ve done bringing us all together. Happy New Year, while we’re at it! Have a good one!

Tracy Birrell… Thank you for what you do. Maybe one day I will be able to get to a meeting. A peaceful and healthy Yuletide to everyone.

Mick O’Dowd… And a very Happy Christmas to you and yours Alan! Thanks for another amazing year of Meets and website content.

Colin Norton… Merry Christmas to you and yours, Alan! Many thanks for all of the great work that you do!

Andy Qunta… Thanks, Alan! Merry Christmas to you & all the SMART fans!

Lance Collins… Have a great Christmas Alan.

Wendy Weaver… Merry Christmas Alan and a really good 2023. We are grateful for all you do. xx

Jeanette Jones… Will try to do better in 2023 Alan. We’ve been seriously under parr. Off line for at least half of 2022 but hopefully coming back strongly now. Thank You for all You do

Colin Bell… I know the behind the scenes effort that goes into all the work you do to run the SMART site and the coffee meets. You’ve completed another year of bringing people together & i and everyone thanks you for spreading the joy. Happy Christmas!

Claire Lonsdale… Merry Christmas Alan, have enjoyed the SMART coffee meets immensely and look forward to the next one. Thank you for all your hard work in all that you do to run them and this page . Xx

Cris and Merv Kennard… Well done Alan for another year of SMARTS. We wish you well for Christmas and the New year.

Dave Nattress… May I wish you a “Merry Christmas” and “Happy New Year”. And, as I’ve said a few times, once again won’t hurt, thanks for putting SMART together and in my case for cranking up all the names of the old bands and gigs and venues etc. of the local Rock Scene.  An absolute revelation filling in so many gaps in the memory from the days I was doing it with Damaris/Samisen/Prisoners/The Charts, but also, for bringing back so many more memories of so many things locally. Very best wishes.

Was this you at the SMART meeting in October 2022? asks John Busbridge.

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John Busbridge… At the last meeting I was talking to a gentleman about recording and Garage Band and he told me that he had set up his own recording studio and about a superb guy on You Tube who was a great help to him . The person I was talking to told me the name and I remembered it until I got home and promptly forgot it, an age thing! If you reconise yourself can you kindly remind me who you recomended?

SMART coffee meet report 60

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A Great turn out for our 60th SMART coffee meet and among the newbies this time were Rod Stapley, Mike Raxworthy and Lea Mason. Rod was chatting about when he was singing with The Silver Songstars one of the first boy bands with 12 in the group. Coming from a musical family, his dad was a drummer in a dance band. Mike was talking about his busy schedule of events coming up on The Stade which include Midsummer Fish Fest on the 25th & 26th June, 8th July Eddie & The Hot Rods, 9th July Big Band event, 10th July six groups playing and the nearly on the beach event is booked for the 30th & 31st July. Lea was talking about his happy memories when he was a dj for Mecca at The Lyceum, The Tottenham Royal and at The Locarno Ballroom in London. Dave Jenkins had a photo album of the Jimi Hendrix museum in London and remembers seeing him at The Upper Cut Club in Forest Gate on the 26th December 1966 and this is where Hendrix wrote Purple Haze. Mo Elms had with her an autograph book which included autographs of Junior Campbell, Miki Anthony, the actors from Please Sir and also business cards from Free Radio Association 1970 and Broadside Free Radio Movement. Pete Prescott had a bundle of albums including a rare ‘Free Story’ Canadian edition, also interesting photos albums with some of when he worked for Collins & Hayes. Merv Kennard had a massive collection of pirate radio station albums and radio books. Colin Tapp had a pile of tickets and cards of The Humperdinks and The Mix-Sirs. David Muriel had with him the invite card for his 21st birthday party which was held at The Pam Dor in Hastings and the band that performed was The Preachers which featured Peter Frampton and original drummer of The Rolling Stones Tony Chapman. He also had publicity info from the book he wrote with Bruce Veness ‘Gridlock Spumes And The Case With No Name’ which is a spoof on Sherlock Holmes. Among his photo albums were photos of his dad John Muriel when he acted in Treasure Island with The Hastleons. John ran a chiropodist surgery in Wellington Square. General chat was about the sad loss of Ray Fenwick and Martin Stringer, The Pier, Eurovision, happy memories of the white rock baths and our aches and pains! This is just a small bit of what I remember, if you had anything interesting you were talking about then please feel free to add.

Lucy Pappas… I think I missed a good one! xx

Lance Collins… Sorry to miss it. Will catch you next month.

Stephen Moran… Thank you so much for hosting yesterday’s SMART coffee meet Alan. It’s something I always look forward to.

Claire Lonsdale… As usual, I really enjoyed it , chatting to like-minded people and look forward to the next one. Thanks Alan for organising it. X

David Jenkins… Had a great time, so good to see new people . Thanks Alan, you are doing a fantastic job , looking forward to the next one. Dave.

Mick O’Dowd… Wow what a turn out & it didn’t, unfortunately, bring me any bags of sherbert lemons (see ad for Meet online). Loved the collection of pirate radio albums as it contained an album that I was always after on Jumbo Records & Tapes label about Caroline. Interesting
chats with Colin Bell & Stephen Moran among others. Great to see so many newbies coming along and against many would be newbies fears, they are all still alive! A great deal of credit must go to our leader, Alan Esdaile/Johnny Mason for his sterling efforts and hard work in putting this all together for us. THANKS ALAN!

Merv Kennard… Hi Mick, if you want the Caroline story on vinyl look on ebay, I’ve just seen several copies for sale.

Stuart Moir… I must make the effort and get there to reminisce as there are many memories that are interesting to remember.

Keith Veness… Will get there one day

Merv & Cris Kennard… Really enjoyed the gathering this month, I hadn’t seen Paul Hugget since his day’s of commentating at Lydden Hill rally x. And the last time I saw Eric Harmer was 1968 when I left school.