Wickham Goes POP!

[Pete]

Jun 13, 2016 23:43:09 GMT 1 chrisjeepman said:

I remember Wickham Goes Pop very well. Terry Nicholson was my pal at Pickhurst, but became very involved with his band, The Truebeats. He and his pal Pete Frampton would practice at Pete's house in Woodlea Drive. Meanwhile I was becoming more and more taken with my chosen sport, cycle racing and also being a member of 22nd Bromley 3rd Hayes Scout Group and learning to cook over an open fire at Wiberforce Camp near Biggin Hill.

My home town was Bromley, and I would cycle frantically each day the three or four miles to school using the Red Lodge Road route across Beckenham Golf Course. Usually late for school, I was given three strokes across the backside by Mr Powell or Mr Brent on more than one occasion for being late - often in front of the whole school who were queuing at attention in their year groups on the playground awaiting to go to registration. On standing up one had to say 'thank you' for the caning, and this tested one's ability not to 'lose it' to the limit, because it hurt like bloody hell!

Terry and I lost touch when I went on to Hawes Down aged 11 or 12, while Pete went on to Bromley technical School where I understand his dad was a teacher there.

Wickham Goes Pop I believe was organised by Rhett Davies' dad, Ray. Ray Davies played lead trumpet on a hit record called Legions Last patrol, the theme tune to a film of the same name. I left Hawes Down in 1963/64 for a job at Corkscrew Hill Garage to learn panelbeating - car body repairs in today's terminology - while Rhett I believe went on to produce records, including Bryan Ferry, (but don't quote me!).

All these healthy, boyhood pursuits came to an abrupt halt with the discovery of a new and exciting pass-time in 1964....girls!

Ahhhh....happy days!

Hi Chris, and thanks for the input!
I can relate to just about everything you mention, including Rhett Davies who was in my class at Hawes Down.
I could be wrong, but I don't recall his father being involved in the Wickham Goes Pop shows - at least, I don't recall his name, but as I said, I could be wrong. I also didn't know Rhett went on to be in the music business, so that's an interesting piece of information!
Had I remained in Wickham I imagine our paths would likely have crossed again as I stayed in the music business, but not in London - that is, apart from a short while in the 1980s.
I do recall my mother getting me an interview with Decca Records - I have no idea how or why, but sadly, time has now taken it's toll and it's well beyond my recollection.

Terry Nicholson was also in my class, but not until 1962 when I was transferred to Hayes School - unfortunately, I had a bit of a run-in with a teacher at Hawes Down and it was decided one of us 'had to go', to which I readily volunteered given the lure of the GIRLS(!) at Hayes. So, like you I decided to take-up this new and far more exciting pass-time and off I went, never to look back! :-)
Terry, from memory, went on to marry Wendy Nichols - oh how we all loved Wendy, but sadly it was Terry who won the day... . I have never seen or heard from either of them since, despite looking on all the usual websites (FriendsReunited etc).. it would be nice to know what became of them.

Re getting '6 Of The Best' from Mr Powell and having to say "Thank you"... I remember that well as I had such pleasure myself - how things have changed since then, these days it seems the kids are in charge.
Happy days...? I'm not so sure (thinking back)... they were in many ways and we were certainly the better for how we grew up.... probably, most of them were happy, I just didn't enjoy school at all.
Good to hear from you anyway Chris, if you can recall anything more about Wickham Goes Pop it would be nice... thanks. :-)

[andy]

I was very interested to see the comments about Wickham Goes Pop. Actually Peter Frampton had left the Trubeats by then. My father was the one who organised the Richard Chamberlain visit which was at the Church Hall in the Avenue where the 44th Beckenham Scout Troup met. Chamberlain had family living in Langley Park and my father managed to persuade him to make an appearance. Terry Nicholson did not marry Wendy Nicholls and not sure what happened to her, but I do have many photos of the dances if anyone is interested. Terry was my older brother but he sadly died in 2004. The Trubeats were Terry Nicholson/Bass and Vocals - Dave Roffey/Guitar and Alan Chamberlain(no relation) Drums.
Peter Frampton went on to the Preachers and then The Herd, I am still in touch with him today. oh by the way I think David Myers (lived in the Avenue and worked for Tree Top Drinks) was one of the organisers of these big gigs.

Would love to hear from Chrisjeepman/Pete or Nigel or anyone.

[The Historian]

Oct 26, 2016 23:19:33 GMT 1 andy said:

I was very interested to see the comments about Wickham Goes Pop. Actually Peter Frampton had left the Trubeats by then. My father was the one who organised the Richard Chamberlain visit which was at the Church Hall in the Avenue where the 44th Beckenham Scout Troup met. Chamberlain had family living in Langley Park and my father managed to persuade him to make an appearance. Terry Nicholson did not marry Wendy Nicholls and not sure what happened to her, but I do have many photos of the dances if anyone is interested. Terry was my older brother but he sadly died in 2004. The Trubeats were Terry Nicholson/Bass and Vocals - Dave Roffey/Guitar and Alan Chamberlain(no relation) Drums.
Peter Frampton went on to the Preachers and then The Herd, I am still in touch with him today. oh by the way I think David Myers (lived in the Avenue and worked for Tree Top Drinks) was one of the organisers of these big gigs.

Would love to hear from Chrisjeepman/Pete or Nigel or anyone.

Hi,

I'm very interested in any photo that you have. Contact the main site then I will email you with my email.

Is the Richard Chaimberlain the actor who played Dr Kildare?

Admin.

[Pete]

Oct 26, 2016 23:19:33 GMT 1 andy said:

I was very interested to see the comments about Wickham Goes Pop. Actually Peter Frampton had left the Trubeats by then. My father was the one who organised the Richard Chamberlain visit which was at the Church Hall in the Avenue where the 44th Beckenham Scout Troup met. Chamberlain had family living in Langley Park and my father managed to persuade him to make an appearance. Terry Nicholson did not marry Wendy Nicholls and not sure what happened to her, but I do have many photos of the dances if anyone is interested. Terry was my older brother but he sadly died in 2004. The Trubeats were Terry Nicholson/Bass and Vocals - Dave Roffey/Guitar and Alan Chamberlain(no relation) Drums.
Peter Frampton went on to the Preachers and then The Herd, I am still in touch with him today. oh by the way I think David Myers (lived in the Avenue and worked for Tree Top Drinks) was one of the organisers of these big gigs.

Would love to hear from Chrisjeepman/Pete or Nigel or anyone.

Wow! some interesting bits in there Andy! :-)
You're absolutely right regarding Terry not marrying Wendy, of course - I learned of this only this week, how weird is that!
My mistake, I take my hat off to that one.... although I was only going on hearsay.
I'm so sorry to hear about Terry, I didn't know him that well but remember him very clearly from school. I looked for him on Friends Reunited but he never appeared.

So, the Richard Chamberlin who made the guest appearance was actually the one who played Dr Kildare?
There's been a couple of comments on this, I just assumed it had to be someone related to Alan Chamberlain, but I had absolutely no memory of it at all anyway.
The Aces played the Church Hall on The Avenue shortly after the Wickham Goes Pop gigs, and that was also with The Trubeats, but there is a bit of mystery surrounding that on my part as I don't recall the gigs at all - I think I may have left by then.
Sadly, Martin Knell (our lead guitarist with The Aces and close friend of Peter's at the time) passed away this year, and he would have been the best person for you to speak to regarding any of this. We often spoke about all this though and he recalled The Avenue gigs, although he never mentioned the Richard Chamberlain bit. Our bass guitarist, Robert Minting, is still with us - his father was Harry Minting, owner of the music shop in Coney Hall, and he may be able to come up with some more bits of interest - it's always good to get another angle on things, and between us (Martin, Robert and myself) we are just about run out of memory!

Re Peter Frampton's time in The Trubeats....
We may have to agree to disagree on this(!), but I remember Peter at both Wickham Goes Pop gigs as if yesterday - they opened the night and we went on second at both shows. This was October/November 1963, so very early days for us all as we were still only a couple of years or so into secondary school - I was 14 and Peter was 13. Peter was playing his Hofner as I distinctly recall him carrying it (and his precious echo-chamber - oh how I wanted that!) down the rickety old wooden steps from the stage - actually, this triggers another memory, as the wooden steps I remember were definitely at Wickham Halls, so given I also recall him playing his new Guild Starfire at a gig, this could possibly have been at the second Wickham Goes Pop gig at the Assembly Rooms.
I could be wrong there and he may have got the Guild after these shows altogether, but Robert Minting mentioned only recently Peter ordering the Guild from his father's shop, although unfortunately couldn't put a date to this.

That's irrelevant anyway, but another clue to support Peter's playing at the Wickham Goes Pop shows is...
I started work at David Greig on Station Approach, Hayes in April 1964. My mother worked just down the road at Woolworths and I think she must have worked with one of the Trubeats' mothers as she told me Peter had just left and they were looking for a new guitarist. I asked her to put my name forward but I don't remember what happened after that - either way, I didn't get the job! :-(
I wish I could ask Mum who the lady was, but unfortunately she is no longer with us either.

Anyway, sometime after this, Peter joined The Preachers (1965 - I originally had this down as 1964, but it was definitely 1965), after which he went on to join The Herd.
I seemed to follow him around with gigs - one gig I recall in particular was at The Drum, Penge where we played the opening night.
My group by then were The Unattached; we opened and Peter 'headlined' with The Herd - this was 17th September 1966 and I'm actually looking at the original poster on my studio as we speak!

After that there was no stopping Peter as The Herd went from strength to strength. The last time I saw him was at Orpington Civic Hall... I can't remember the date but I think it was 1968.
I never saw or heard from him again and neither did Martin. Martin was more Peter's friend than I was anyway as they were at school together, I just got to know him through Martin.

I must get in touch with Robert - we speak regularly but I owe him a call so I'll mention you, I'm sure he'd like to speak to you - you may even know him!

Thanks for adding to the post anyway, it's great to get follow-ups on here as it keeps the Beckenham History Forum alive - there's some great stuff on here!
All the best, Pete
PS.. it would be good to swap emails perhaps, if you wish to just send me a PM.

[mikepad]

Just picked this up Chris. Hawes Down School. Mr Powell the only teacher that could bring 500 hundred boys to attention by tapping his cane on the side of his leg. He used to stand on the firescape from the Junior School it would only take a dozen boys to spot him and the whole School would come to standstill. Amazing days. Did me no harm.