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Post by Les on Jan 9, 2018 9:34:22 GMT
Maidstone I remember it well: Many in this listing recall the Kingfishers and claim Tony Bathurst as the singer however the original singer was Dave King hence the Kingfishers. Dave was in my class at Maidstone Tech College where we did apprenticeship day release. Does anyone remember the craze for 50 mile walks? before the day of the current marathon, Dave who lived at Yalding trained by running into work every day. I can't remember but I think Dave worked at Roots. He subsequently went to Australia. Other local bands I remember were the Zeyphers, Whirlwinds who had an old ambulance as band van. I was bought up on the Granada package pop shows Tommy Steel, Russ Conway, Petula Clarke, Little Richard, Gary US Bonds who more recently had a second run at pop stardom under the direction of Bruce Springstein.Jet Harris and Tony Meehan, Marty Wild, Shane Fenton and the Fentones later to have a second career as Alvin Stardust. All the leading names of the late 50's and 60's played the Granada although strangely Cliff Richard and the Shadows never did nor the Beatles or Stones. I later went into Venue Management and over the years have staged concerts by many of the 60's bands including haveing done Billy Fury,s last concert to a ticketed audience a memorial fundraiser in his memory featuring many of the pre Beatles UK stars, PJ, Marty, Joe Brown, John Miles, ( guitarist for Tina Turner at her height) Clem Cattini Tournado's drummer and many others. Few ever note the name of promoters but many of the 60's package shows were staged by Arthur Howes , I still deal with his son Mark who remains an active concert promoter across the UK
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Post by Les on Jan 10, 2018 4:29:32 GMT
Terry McKenna : Maidstone I remember it well: Hi Les: Have to disagree with Roger Edwards with regards to The Rolling Stones NOT appearing at the Granada: In 1964 my elder brother Michael (Max) took me to Hastings to see this unknown R&B band called The Rolling Stones and they were just brilliant (Brian Jones who actually formed the group) and all. The following year 1965 or 1966 they were in Maidstone and turned up at Godfrey Holmes in a chauffer driven Oldsmobile car from the USA with a brake problem, which I fixed for them. This was at our brand new shop in Glanville Road just off Boxley Road. The guys came into the shop and chatted to staff and customers alike AND drank TEA!! Hardly Rock N Roll but they did give us tickets for the second show that night. Elsie and Doris Walters were the very famous sisters of Jack Warner AKA Dixon of Dock Green. This series came about in 1954 running for 22 years after Dixon had been shot dead in the film The Blue Lamp and that scene caused a major debate. The show always and closed with the same two words: Evening All. To shoot a policeman in those days, film or not was a No No in anyone's language. He also starred on the radio (the light programme) in: Meet The Huggets with Kathleen Harrison. Billy Fury was a particular favourite of mine and was a very talented singer/song writer. He suffered with heart problems ALL his life and died of a heart attack on his farm in Wales. Not sure if The Beatles did ever appear in Maidstone BUT I did see them twice at Dreamland Margate. The screaming was deafening and I never actually got to hear them singing or playing!! The KM 50 mile walks were the brainchild of J.F.K. to promote the good of the youth of the day AND it worked!! They started at Dreamland in Margate via Ashford and Canterbury ending up at the Army Barracks on the Sandling Road. I did manage to do all three and remember grinning at my folks in our shop in Holland Road as my great friend Trevor Miles and one year Anita Whybrew and myself went by. Some great memories of those walks and two very sadly missed special friends.
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Post by Les on Jan 10, 2018 4:33:16 GMT
Yes I remember a mate came into work just after telling everyone how brilliant they were.
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Post by Les on Jan 10, 2018 4:40:02 GMT
Roger Edwards
Maidstone I remember it well: At risk of war breaking out Terry may remember the Stones having a car break down sorted in Maidstone but..................... they never played the town the nearest they got was Rochester Odeon bottom of the bill headed by The Everly Bros with Bo Diddley 2nd Top, this was their very 1st tour on a concert package, I was there and still have the signed programme. The Beatles also came nearest to Maidstone playing a dance hall in Chatham, I think called the Invicta? autumn 62
I have been interested to note the OLdborough Manor reunion in the listings. I also went to Oldborough 58-61 although I lived in Barming and would be pleased to hear from anyone from that period. Classmates came from all over Yalding,Farleigh and around.
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Post by Les on Jan 10, 2018 4:44:13 GMT
Thank you Roger 08/01/1964 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rolling_Stones_1st_British_Tour_1964
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