the continental

photos from The Continental Fancy Dress Competition 1976. Supplied by Jill OHalloran (nee Sullivan). Jill (Kermit) and friends who played Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and Gonzo won the fancy dress comp.

Leigh Wieland-Boys asks…Does anyone remember the nightclub under the Cafe Continental in Bexhill?

Charlie Ball… I remember Shunters ? Used to go to Shunters at Bexhill, also the queens Head king offa way, and another just round the corner ?

Leigh Wieland-Boys… I don’t remember that name Mr B – I worked at the Continental in the restaurant early 70s whilst at college. Only remember the nightclub at the Con, can’t remember what it was called but it was very popular & always crowded at the weekends.

Yvonne Cleland… Yes, I used to go to that club! It was ok, as it happens!

Gaynor Duke… The club was called the Continental, the Cont by locals , it opened in the early 60s.

Charlie Ball… The York, Leigh, you must remember that one ?

Leigh Wieland-Boys… May & Headley Storkey ran it with their sons Brian & Ronnie(?) – they also owned The Bexhill Club across the road.

Bob Shoesmith… Shunters was in Terminus Rd (it’s an auction house now I think) – pretty sleazy!

supplied by Peter Horton at The Happening Club Kings Road

The local ‘Deep Purple’ around 1967 with original singer ‘Kevin Clark'(who was later replaced by Tich Turner). So I think the rest of the band are Peter Horton, Tony Bird, Ian McGilvray & Len Benton.

Joe Knight….WOW!!!!

Mick O’Dowd….This pic was taken at The Happening in Kings Road St.Leonards the home of Jon Wilde!

Geoff Peckham….I saw them several times in Bexhill. Enjoyed a bit of faux-fame because of their namesakes and even covered “Hush”. Loved Mac’s drumming. Eventually changed their name to Whiskey Mac.

Alan Esdaile Johnny Mason….When I first started going to gigs I think every band played ‘Hush’ and ‘Knock On Wood’.

Geoff Peckham….I played those and Midnight Hour, Hold On, etc. in my early bands too. But when I first heard the Bexhill Deep Purple playing Hush, I asked Mac if it was his band that had the single; he just put his finger to his lips and went “ssshhhhhh”!

Tonny from Cornwall…..Any idea how long the Bexhill Deep Purple existed? I’m trying to work out if some info I have about ‘Deep Purple’ supporting Kippington Lodge end of May 1968 in Goudhurst, Kent relates to ‘your’ Deep Purple or the more famous later version who were just back from a tour of Denmark. Kippington Lodge were on Parlophone records; so were ‘Deep Purple’ of ‘Hush (and more) fame….

Andre Martin….If it helps in the calculation – Friday 27th September 1968, they had their first public appearance as Whisky Mac at the Tackleways Boys Club in Hastings. Kippington Lodge were one of the “back-up” bands for Hastings Pier, when John Schofield ran the Sat & Sun nights, they would appear almost at a moments notice. They were still playing a Deep Purple up to April time, I have some reference to this at the Regent Hotel. I have posted this picture before – in the write up it mentions that they will be playing the Witch Doctor – or the newly renamed club the Cobweb, that did not open until the end of February 1968 !

Andre Palfrey-martin collection

Andre Martin….The group played in Eastbourne – The Continental in October 1967 – billed as The Deep Purple

Battle Memorial Hall November 1967

Ken Copsey… Great picture

John Wilde… Wonderful to see these images. I was there in my Fathers club The Happening.

Paul Sleet… I remember seeing them at Woodlands Girls school if memory serves me right. Must have been around 1968 or 69.

The Continental and Bexhill Nightclubs and Record Shops

Deep Purple – The Happening Club around 1967