Gerrards and music shop, High Street, Beckenham

[Pete]

Hi.
Does anyone remember Gerrards, the greengrocers, on Beckenham High Street during the 1960s?
This is of no real importance, I would just like someone to be able to confirm it was where the Cancer Research shop currently resides, next door to the Slug and Lettuce pub, adjacent to the alleyway?
I worked there for a very short while, possibly around Christmas 1966.

Also, there used to be a music shop on the High Street - no, not Normans on the corner of Village Way, but almost oppposite, right on the bend. This may not actually have been a dedicated music shop (as was Normans), but I do recall drooling over a spanking new red Fender Stratocaster in the window for £125, totally out of my reach!
I would just like to know the name of the shop if possible.
Thanks.
Pete

UPDATE:
I have, at last, found an old photo showing the location of GERRARD'S.
The present day numbering shows it as 162 High Street, Beckenham, and clearly to the LEFT of the passage, not to the right as my memory would have me believe.
It's nice that this also confirms Chrisdoran and Historian's research as correct.

Also, as I'm currently updating this post.... the music shop I asked about is now confirmed as Robertsons - thanks to Nigel for that.
Pete

[The Historian]

I remember the music shop, you went upstairs to the record dept. Would be about where Holland and Barrett is today, it always was dark inside. Seem to recall the name began with a B.

[chrisdoran]

From Kelly's 1966 "Alphabet" directory of Bromley Borough, Gerrards was at 164 (the 1972 'phone book says 162 -- maybe double-fronted). The present Cancer Research shop is at 158.

The closest possibility to H&B at 216 for the music shop is Kingsons at 224. It's listed under "Radio & Television", but I think The Historian once said here or in a private e-mail that their Penge branch also sold records.

[Pete]

Thanks for the info again Chris and Historian, funny how time plays tricks on the memory; it seems Gerrards was the other side of the passage to how I remember it.
As for the music shop.... the H&B shop front fits perfectly as I recall standing just inside the doorway looking in the side window, so spot on there I reckon. I'm not sure I ever went inside so, unfortunately, I can't elaborate further on the shop.

[joykentishmaid]

I remember the music shop and, if my memory serves me correctly, Denny someone was there signing covers of his record, way back in time :-)

[Pete]

Hi Joy... at a guess this was probably Denny Mitchell and his 1964 single, "I've Been Crying". I can't recall another local muso called Denny, though I could be wrong.

[joykentishmaid]

That was it! Thank you. I kept thinking Denny Laine but, no, it was Denny Mitchell. Wonder what happened to him. Just listened to the Denny Mitchell Soundsations "I've Been Crying" on you tube. I used to have that record but unfortunately got rid of my records a few years ago.
www.youtube.com/user/kernowgypsy2000

[Pete]

You're welcome Joy, glad to be of help!
Pete

[pete53]

Ah yes, I saw Denny Mitchell and the Soundsations play at the Assembly Halls in Coney Hall, West Wickham in late 1963. As a result of that I bought the single (on Decca?) "I've Been Crying". I remember hearing it played on Radio Luxembourg.

[joykentishmaid]

Well, in 1963 we were living in Hayes, only a short walk from Coney Hall - may have seen you there!

[Pete]

Hi Pete53 and Joy.
Pete...
Re. the Denny Mitchell gig at The Assembly Rooms in Coney Hall... can you remember if their's was the only band on the night, or were there several bands playing?

I'm trying to piece together my own band's movements around late 1963 / early 1964, and I am told my own band (The Aces) played at the Assembly Rooms at some point, but I don't have record of this in my diary.
I do know we did the two Wickham Goes Pop! gigs at Wickham Halls, but can't find anything to confirm the Assembly Rooms gig at all.
A long shot, but thought I'd ask!
Thanks,
Pete
CORRECTION! I can now confirm the second Wickham Goes Pop show was at The Assembly Rooms, Coney Hall, NOT at Wickham Halls as I at first stated above.

Joy.... did you go to Hayes school in 1963 then?

[joykentishmaid]

May 3, 2010 16:29:05 GMT 1 Pete said:

Hi Pete53 and Joy.
Pete...
Re. the Denny Mitchell gig at The Assmbly Rooms in Coney Hall... can you remember if their's was the only band on the night, or were there several bands playing?

I'm trying to piece together my own band's movements around late 1963 / early 1964, and I am told my own band (The Aces) played at the Assembly Rooms at some point, but I don't have record of this in my diary.
I do know we did the two Wickham Goes Pop! gigs at Wickham Halls, but can't find anything to confirm the Assembly Rooms gig at all.
A long shot, but thought I'd ask!
Thanks,
Pete

Joy.... did you go to Hayes school in 1963 then?

No, I was at Bromley Tech., Bickley / Chislehurst.
My memory is being stretched! - there was a hall in West Wickham, I used to go there with a friend, but I cannot remember who used to play there; may have been something to do with Ian Roffey or his father, or maybe Pete Frampton.

[Pete]

Hi Joy.
Thanks for the reply.
There were several halls supporting band gigs in the Wickham area at the time, such as Justin Hall, Wickham Halls, Coney Hall Assembly Rooms... Shirley apparently had one too as I just found a Konrads gig with the Trubeats.
If you want to read more on the Wickham Goes Pop gigs, see my post in the Memories section of this forum.

Re Ian Roffey.... wasn't he in a band called The Strangers? They used to play at Hayes School in 1962/63.
Pete Frampton was with the Trubeats of course.
Keep 'em coming!
Pete

[nigel]

Peter Frampton wrote that he worked in a local music shop .
I'll dig it up for you.

Hayes School in 1962/63 Vocals Susan Dibley's brother ?
Guitar maybe Terry Brown
Guitar maybe Pete Sears

Peter: Well, therein lies the tale. He didn’t know I was in the band. What happened was I was working on Saturdays at the local music store, which was actually a department in the big Robertsons Electric Store. You could buy a washing machine, a record player. But, there was a music division and they went overboard and we had Gretschs, Strats, Teles. www.modernguitars.com/archives/004674.html

[joykentishmaid]

Aug 7, 2010 16:22:02 GMT 1 nigel said:

Peter Frampton wrote that he worked in a local music shop .
I'll dig it up for you.

Hayes School in 1962/63 Vocals Susan Dibley's brother ?
Guitar maybe Terry Brown
Guitar maybe Pete Sears

Peter: Well, therein lies the tale. He didn’t know I was in the band. What happened was I was working on Saturdays at the local music store, which was actually a department in the big Robertsons Electric Store. You could buy a washing machine, a record player. But, there was a music division and they went overboard and we had Gretschs, Strats, Teles. www.modernguitars.com/archives/004674.html

Thank you. Pete Frampton looks taller than I remember him.