Pete
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Post by Pete on Nov 8, 2013 11:51:32 GMT 1
Hi Harry, and good to see you here as I'm sure several people will have things to ask you! Personally, it would be great to see a photo of your Dad and his band if you have one - I was just a bit younger than your Dad and I don't think I actually knew him, but we were all playing in our own bands (or 'groups' as they were known then) around the same time. I was in The Aces, from Coney Hall and The Unattached from Beckenham - you can find a few bits on us elsewere on this site. Good luck in finding any new info on your Dad anyway - as for the jukebox - I'm just about to get one myself! Pete ;D Hi everyone, I was just searching for the Soundsations on Google and this topic came up so I hope you don't mind me joining the page and bringing up an old post but I am Denny's (John's) Son. Sadly dad passed away in 2008 when I was 17 but he used to tell me many stories of his past and I remember hearing a lot about Beckenham! Sadly back then I didn't have such an interest in his past but recently have had a great determination to learn as much as I can as he seems to have left a lot of memories with many people. We still have quite a collection of letters and pictures from his time with the band and I've also managed to collect a few records recently, one of which has just found itself in the Jukebox I have just purchased! Anyway I would love to hear any memories of dad or the band as he really was a wonderful dad and an inspiration to me. Thanks, Harry Harrison
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Pete
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Posts: 124
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Post by Pete on Apr 18, 2013 11:06:36 GMT 1
I've only just spotted this Nigel, and a few names I had forgotten in there, especially Mr Spalding who I think everybody liked! It's good to hear you had somewhat better a time than I did, but whatever times we had as individuals, I certainly think we came out of it better than they seem to today. My years were 1960 to '62, so I wasn't there that long as I had the option to leave after the episode at the hands of Beecham (I find it difficult to refer to him as 'Mr' Beecham I'm afraid). From there I went to Hayes, a totally different way of schooling altogether. Yes, 'The Bars' at Hawes Down were the most terrifying prospect as a new boy, somehow we all got to learn about them in the run-up to starting at Hawes Down; luckily for me my best mate (who was already over 6 foot tall!) was already there and kept me out of trouble with his infamous glare!!! The games teacher's name escapes me I'm afraid - it was possibly Mr Brent, as you say. I do remember the showers though and I was never keen on that. Mr Dawson (known as Dolly) seemed quite fair, from what I remember. My favorite teacher was Mr Short (Ben). He was great, and I swear I learned more from him in one lesson than all the rest in my whole time there. I distinctly remember his 'Book Of Books' and how he seemed to have the answer to just about everything in there! To this day I have kept my own 'Book Of Books', and still draw bits of information from it taken over the years. He treated us all like human beings and everyone liked him. Some interesting memories here.
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Pete
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Posts: 124
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Post by Pete on Apr 18, 2013 10:06:09 GMT 1
That's strange Nigel, I wonder if that's where the shop was before I knew it? The years I used to go in there were between 1966-68. I too can remember the Jaws Harps in the window, and wondering what on earth they were!
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Pete
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Posts: 124
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Post by Pete on Mar 19, 2013 17:24:29 GMT 1
Yes, that was real Rock n Roll! I can remember playing the originals, and that they were written by Martin Knell, but sadly no memory of how they went or what they were called.
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Pete
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Posts: 124
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Post by Pete on Jan 29, 2013 15:27:25 GMT 1
What a fine idea Cliffball, I'm doing the same thing (the life story bit) so might add the photo to the top of mine too! Funnily enough, only yesterday I learned it was some sort of home for the elderly - maybe it's the calling and we're all gonna end up there!!! ;D At the age of 65 I too have started to write a life history beginning at Stone Park Maternity Hospital on 27th August, 1947. I lived in West Wickham until 1953 when my father moved us to Blackburn in Lancashire. So I am Kentish born and Lancashire bred - I fine combination! I would like to thank you for uploading the image of the hospital; I have included it at the beginning of my story!
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Pete
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Posts: 124
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Post by Pete on Jan 29, 2013 15:09:57 GMT 1
Yes, my memories are vague to say the least, and only from going there to play in the group, so you will have far more than me! Where did the time go??? I have just had a look on the satellite map Pete, and you are right, the flats are where the youth club used to be, the park is a bit further up the road, my school is in Lennard road and our playing fields were close to the church, it is nice to see that the playing fields are still there and I think the swing park is too.
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Pete
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Posts: 124
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Post by Pete on Jan 28, 2013 14:47:07 GMT 1
Hi Wendy, just in case you don't know where the Hospital was; it's on Stone Park Avenue near the junction of Village Way, and now called Ralph Perring Court.... it's all clearly visible on Google Maps. At a guess, the park you used to walk in was called Kelsey Park, with an entrance just a bit further along Stone Park Avenue. It was a really nice place from memory, and it has a lake - I'm not sure if there was a paddling pool, but someone else may be able to help there. As for missing the sun - I too am stuck "oop north" , right opposite you on the chilly east Lincolnshire coast! Hope that helps a bit anyway, there are plenty of people on here who will tell you anything you need to know about Beckenham. Pete Hello, i,ve long been aware that my birth place was Stone park maternity but i know absolutely nothing about the place as i was shipped about from pillar to post and am now settled in Wirral. Is the hospital still there? I was born there in 1970, i know nothing about Beckenham except walks in a park, a paddling pool (i presume it was), and it always being lovely and sunny. Living in the Northwest of England you tend to miss hot weather and sunshine! Just kidding!All i really would like to know about is the hospital, it seems to be important to know where i am from now.
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Pete
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Posts: 124
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Post by Pete on Jan 24, 2013 14:12:05 GMT 1
I'm told the Youth Club was directly oppposite the Holy Trinity Church on Lennard Road itself Chezzie. The church is right on the juction of Lennard Road and Cator Road, so the Youth Club will have stood where the modern flats are today. For some reason I seem to recall going down by the side of the Church itself, but I guess I must be mistaken - unless we had access to another room at some point. The old memory plays tricks over time! ;D Yes, I went to the Trinity too. I went to school at Cator Park and it was in the church hall just up the road opposite the park if I remember rightly.
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Pete
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Posts: 124
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Post by Pete on Jan 22, 2013 15:07:37 GMT 1
Hi. Does anyone know if there are any records kept (newspapers, entertainment pages etc) regarding musicians or bands in the Beckenham area during the 1930s? I put up a post regarding my uncle Vern's band The Modernists a while back but didn't get any response, so I thought I'd try a different angle. Vernon Fisk's played the Clarinet and Sax, and the band was actually called Al & His Modernists, so it appears Verne wasn't the band leader as such, but I believe he was quite well known in the area as I have a business card promoting his services as a musician. Thanks, Pete Fisk
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Pete
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Posts: 124
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Post by Pete on Jan 21, 2013 14:37:44 GMT 1
Hi Chezzie, and yes, this is a good site! I remember Kings Hall Road from 1966, just along from The Drum. We played the opening night at The Drum on the 17th September 1966 supporting The Herd - were you there? If you look through my posts you should find the poster from that very day! We also played Trinity Youth Club and The Mistral around the same time so you may well have been at some of our gigs! We also played Streatham Ice Rink, supporting The Mindbenders (Groovy Kind Of Love); we were on a revolving stage and went on first - I remember them being a bit put-out we played their song before they did!!! I've played in Holland many times, although not actually The Hague... we used to play around Breda and Tilburg a lot, Maastricht etc... good days and I've always wanted to live there. If you're still into music you can check out our current MySpace page - I hope it's ok to post the link on here. You'll find about 8 of our own songs on there and a few photos. www.myspace.com/gypsyrockedHope it's a bit warmer where you are than over here! Pete
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Pete
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Posts: 124
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Post by Pete on Jan 17, 2013 21:58:01 GMT 1
Thanks for that Chezzie, it would be nice to be able to confirm it was actually Linda who gave me the Gonk! I'll take another look at the photos and see if there's anyone else clearly visible; the description of the two Lesley's does ring a bell, but it was a very long time ago! The two Lesley's were easy to spot, one had very long dark red hair and the other was a little on the late size with short black hair, they were always with Linda, I will mail her for you Pete.
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Pete
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Posts: 124
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Post by Pete on Jan 12, 2013 17:52:41 GMT 1
That's right Chezzie! We loved it too, and when we (me and my old mate Charlie) first came up here (aaaaggghhh, let me go HOME!) we went in the local chippy and asked for "Rock n six" and the bloke looked at us like were from outa-space! Then his mate turned round and said "I know where these two are from, Saarf London, give'em some real fish n chips!".To be honest, the fish up here is good but I often crave a bit of the old Rock. The good old days... Rock is catfish, I used to love it, one big bone and no small ones!
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Pete
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Posts: 124
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Post by Pete on Jan 12, 2013 17:23:31 GMT 1
Hi, does anyone recall a bass guitarist in the Beckenham area called Bill during the 1960s? I have no idea what his surname was, but he played in The Unattached in 1965 and had a white Fender Precision style bass. He was tall and thin with blonde hair. We also had a drummer called Colin, but again I have no idea of his surname and would like to know who he was. Colin was dark, and from memory may have had some connection with The Downliner's Sect. Other members of The Unattached were: John Berry, Rob Jackson, Barry Collins and myself, Pete Fisk. Barry is also someone I'd like to find, but as he lived in Thornton Heath I doubt if I will find him through this. Any information on either would be appreciated. Thanks.
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Pete
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Posts: 124
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Post by Pete on Jan 12, 2013 17:05:19 GMT 1
Ha! I wonder if that was my Gonk!!! I still haven't heard from Linda, although I did wonder if the email address I was given was wrong... Rob (Jacko, the drummer)'s sister (Jackie) passed on an address to me but it failed, so, if you speak to Linda again perhaps you could mention me? It seems I may have some photos of her at The Drum if she cares to get in touch! Ta. I don't remember the other two girls you mention by name, but they may also be on the photos I have! Good lord, what a surprise, I went to school with Linda Tiles and have had contact with her recently via Friends Reunited. Lesley Alderson and Lesley Alderton were always with her so you probably knew them too, I remember a bit of a tiff when one of the Lesley's wanted a bendy toy that was on the mike stand. I went to the Drum but it was a risky business because my father taught at the school across the road so I had to keep a low profile.
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Pete
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Posts: 124
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Post by Pete on Jan 12, 2013 16:56:05 GMT 1
I'm on my way!!! ;D I know just the place!!!!
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