Gravesend’s answer to The Beatles. Voted second best band in Gravesend in 1963. So still a lot to do before that recording contract & tour of the USA.
From a studio shoot of the band I did with the assistance of Sara Morgan & Ian Holliday in 1964.
The key members, Chris, Bob and Clive were all, like me, from the Gravesend Technical High School for Boys. The High bit was added to last year we were there. We might have preferred to have attended the Gravesend Technical High School for Girls but sadly we were not given this choice. Sara was from the Girls’ Tech.
The band in 1964
Roger Cramp. Lead Guitar.
Bob Ellis. Bass Guitar.
I won a photographic competition with this one.
Chris Easdown. Vocals
Doug Toulson. Rhythm Guitar
Clive Davies. Percussion
Dance in Higham Memorial Hall on Saturday 21st March 1964.
On this occasion we paid the band £8 and made £11 for the Club’s funds.
This was the last time we could afford this band and from then on it was the Alfabeats (the who?) and later the Aftermath (who might have been the Alfabeats by another name)..
The arrival of the some fans. Or those with nothing better to do. Sara Morgan looking most becoming & rather oriental, Anton expressing his high regard for the photographer in his usual manner, John Bardoe (au centre), Malc Redsell and Don Walker on suicide ladder to mezzanine (but we had ever heard that word back then). On the far right Tony Bracey who would in the future join the band as The Toys, playing keyboard. Tony used to give me piano tips at his home in Napier Road during lunch breaks. I adapted these for the Harmonium (err?). I switched to guitar when the folk revival came along and became Higham’s answer to Ralph McTell. A very poor answer perhaps, but an answer nevertheless. I still play at least one of my guitars every week but it’s very seldom folk these days.
With fans from Gravesend & villages.
In Higham Memorial Hall sitting on the portable bar.
Clive Davies on drums.
Roger Cramp- lead guitar
If maracas are considered essential equipment by Mick Jagger, they’re going to be shaken by Chris. “Not Fade Away” perhaps?
Let’s go back a bit….
First dance organised by Chris & me at Medway College, during our break, on my first day at college on Monday 16th September 1963. I have the diary to prove it.
Dance held on 26th September 1963. Who said modern life is speeding up?
Original bass player Ray Glover.
Ticket designed by me and reproduced by my Dad at work. He was the Chairman of the Memorial Hall Committee so we could get the hall at short notice and we paid nothing for it. This allowed us to pay the band the unheard of amount of £5.
Autographed ticket that was supposed to make my fortune. What happened guys?
A terrible photograph but it shows Higham Memorial for what it was; a over-sized Nissan Hut.
Have you finished that bass intro yet?
21st December 1963
The next booking was for a Christmas Dance. Same place, same group, better camera.
Let’s take a closer look.
You are not supposed to be snogging in the cloak cupboard. There’s a great band playing out there!!! Oh well, I suppose it is Christmas.
Fans on their way to see Chris & The Breakaways at Shorne Village Hall in December 1963.
