Trevor Spears

The Confederates – Grove School practice 1965

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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”!

 

Jinks – Through The Sound Barrier cassette 1994/95

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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 !

The Confederates – 1963 to 1965 Grove School, White Rock Theatre and Broadstairs.

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supplied by Peter Millington 

Peter Millington… (photo 1) Anyone who watched part 1 of the Sky Arts programme about Queen recently would have seen Paul Watts of EMI talking about Queen from the record producers point of view. Here is a picture of Paul singing with the Confederates in July 1963 at the Grove School Summer Dance with Peter Millington in the background (with the mandatory Hank Hornrims). Paul was a founder member of The Confederates with Peter Millington on Bass, Lucian LeCoix-Lead Guitar and Dave Saunders-Drums.  Record Collector in 1998 says… Justifiably proud, Paul Watts, then General Manager of EMI’s International Division, decided to commemorate the award(The Queen’s Award To Industry For Export Achievement) with the release of a special single. The choice of artist was easy: “The award represented the way in which Queen were so much a part of the fabric of the company,” he recalled. “They were central to what EMI was doing”. “Bohemian Rhapsody” seemed the natural choice for the record, as it was such a milestone and had been the single that had catapulted Queen into international superstardom.

To read more about the formative years of the Confederates/SPYKE/JINKS have a read and chuckle here –

https://pet842.wixsite.com/confeds-to-jinks

(photo 2) THE CONFEDERATES playing at the Observer Christmas Dance at the White Rock Theatre – December 1965 – Posted by Peter Millington – Photo supplied by Margaret Ross

(photo 3) An early picture of THE CONFEDERATES from 1964. Playing in Broadstairs – L-R Tony Goodman, Dave Saunders, Johnny Conroy, Trevor Spears, Peter Millington.

Jinks – Kings Country Club 1983

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

L-R Trevor Spears, Terry Chedzoy, Rodney Trowell, Peter (Ginger) Millington.

Tony Court-holmes… Sundowners Club over the road now I do feel old. On the way back Taffys for chips

Peter Millington… Played there as well Tony. Great place late on a Friday night………

The Road – 1970’s

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Supplied by Trevor Spears & Hastings Groups from 1958 to the present.

Bob Aylwood, Trevor Spears, Roy Sanderson, Tony Kenward.

Colin Fox…..I think this was around 1970, as that is when Trevor left and I joined. I have a photo of a gig at Hailsham cinema when Trevor did the first set and left, and I did the second set.

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supplied by Colin Fox

Colin Fox…..My second gig with ROAD at Westham community centre 1970. L to R: Ray Harper, Tony Kenward at the back, Roy Sanderson in front, Colin Fox and Bob Aylewood.

Andre Martin…..Did Roy ever smile ?  Knew him well when he played with Trev Spears back in time………………..

Colin Fox…..Roy had a great dry sense of humour and laughed a lot, but he thought it was cool to look moody lol

 

Confederates with the Dormobile Workabus 1963

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supplied by Pete Millington

Pete Millington… 1963 – Confederates with the Dormobile Workabus – brilliant van with seats for all (except the roadie – Chris Huggett who was loaded in the back with all the gear) L-R Trevor Spears, Peter Millington, Johnny Conroy, Tony Goodman, Dave Saunders, Chris Huggett

The Confederates reform after 52 years

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supplied by Peter Millington

Pete Millington… Yesterday (21st April 2017) the Confederates reformed after 52 years. The 1965 picture was taken at Southampton University when the Confederates played alongside the Soul Agents (Rod Stewart, then an unknown, was their lead singer). To make this happen John Conroy, flew in from Toronto and Tony Goodman, drove down from Leicester. A pretty hectic weekend is well and truly under way. L-R Peter Millington, John Conroy, Tony Goodman, Trevor Spears and Terry Chedzoy. Several toasts were made to members of the group who have passed away – David Saunders, Dave Johnson, Keith Harrison-Burgess (Budge) Paul Burton and of course the manager Bob (Spyke) Millington.

Pat Ritchie… So can we see a video of it ?

Colin Norton… Great stuff guys! Did you play together as well?

Patricia Landamore… w that’s so good to see you all back together, lovely

Robert Searle… Great photos Pete, great to have that heritage

Andy Qunta… That is fabulous! Well done, you guys! Have fun!

The Confederates on stage Methodist Hall, Battle Road, St Leonards 1964

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photos supplied by Pete Millington, http://pet842.wix.com/jinks-the-group

Tony Goodman – with a Burns Sonic Guitar, Peter Millington – with a Burns Sonic Bass,  Trevor Spears – with a Burns Super Sonic Guitar, Johnny Conroy – Vocals and Dave Saunders – Drums.

Robert Searle… Great photos

Tim Moose Bruce… Drool at those Vox amps…

Chris Barrett… They are fantastic

Pete Millington… All cost around £150.00 each back in early 1964 – broke the bank for a couple of years I can tell you! I expect someone can do the maths as to what £150.00 would be now – gulp!

Gerry Fortsch… John Conroy sang with my old band The Earl Dee Sound for while after this, what a nice guy and a good singer and mover. John sang with myself Graham Bradley and Paul Ritchie prior to his move to Canada, I think that Graham stayed in contact with him.

Pete Millington… He lives in a town called Midland which is on the lake north of Toronto. There’s a video of him singing some blues in a studio in 1974. I’m sure that it’ll pop up if you search John Conroy Toronto, Red House in studio.

Val Shoesmith… Remember these well. Church hall dances is Wishing Tree Road.

 

The Confederates 1963 and 1966

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supplied by Peter Millington. http://pet842.wix.com/jinks-the-group

Peter Millington… The 1963 picture of the Confederates, L-R Tony Goodman, Peter (Ginger) Millington, Dave Saunders, Johnny Conroy, Trevor Spears. This is one of the earliest pictures of the group after Conroy joined which would put it at July 1963.

The 1966 (January) Confederates pic was taken at the Grove School, where we practiced and shortly after Dave Johnson departed and was replaced by Terry Chedzoy. L-R – Paul Burton, Peter Millington, Johnny Conroy, Terry Chedzoy, Trevor Spears.

Colin Fox… Love the Hank Marvin specs. lol. Obviously worked, as I have never seen you wearing glasses before. I know a lot of guys in bands used to wear glasses in the Shadows era even if they didn’t need them, in fact I think I did for a while. What a plonker.

Peter Millington… Correction glasses or a white stick, no choice really. Good enough for Buddy Holly good enough for me, LOL. Trev looks like a Jap fighter pilot – Kamakaze lead guitarist – explains a lot. Colin – now promoted to contact lenses – kept tripping over the white stick!