Why would anyone be interested in this old stuff?

At the Institute
At the Institute

Back row: Ian Holliday, John Bardoe, Anton Britten, David Green, Malcolm Redsell, Steve Ditchburn, Phil Leeson.

Middle row: Geoff Allen, Jack Watson, unknown, Sue Kent, John Goldsmith, Carole Winslade.

Front row: Les Baker, Heather Hearn, Theresa Thomsett, Rachel Nott, Margaret George, Barbara Britten, Barbara Driscoll, Adrian Hearn, Pat Driscoll.

Well many wouldn’t be but you have landed on this site so you might just hold a passing interest.

Remarkably enough the Higham Village History Group is often interested in anything to do with this rather unexceptional Kentish village; even the antics of a few young people who can remember the 1960s better than anyone who was really cool at the time is supposed to.

I have a lot of photographs that some people might like to have on their screen saver to remind themselves of how wonderful they looked when they were teenagers. I will put various snaps on this site so long as I get a bit of feedback to reassure me that there is someone out there who is interested.

Mike Kent

Finally a document from the archives found by Anton Britten.

File2784]File2785

O.K.. So it’s not exactly an original idea.

9 Replies to “Why would anyone be interested in this old stuff?”

  1. The lead/rhythm guitarist in Chris and the Breakaways was my husband Roger Cramp aged 17 in 1963. Sadly he died in 1980 aged 34.

  2. I recall that Roger died young, Marilyn, but not how very young. I have other photographs of him that I will add to the site so you can take copies if you wish.
    I went to Gravesend Tech with Chris Easdown and Colin Davies. This is the link.
    Mike

  3. Thank you for the photos on website of Roger. Although I have some newspaper cuttings with pictures from circa 1963\4 these ones were new to me and very much appreciated. One of Roger’s sons is so much like him in looks and ways and he can see it himself in the photos. Both boys (men now and not so young – 37 and 41!) are guitarists. Sorry it’s taken me so long to reply and to say thank you.

  4. I remember Roger Cramp as a teenage gentlemanly person and a gifted guitarist. At a time in the mid-60’s, we were both members of local bands, became Dylan fans, and played a few of songs together. We went to the West End one day, because he wanted to get hold of a Swedish Levin acoustic, and was maybe seeking a second opinion about the sound. It was excellent, and he bought it. I would have no doubt,remained friends, but moved from Gravesend not so long after. So sorry to hear he’s gone on, Marilyn. So sad.

  5. On the group photo ‘At the Institute’ on the bottom row you have the name Julie Driscoll – this is in fact me, Barbara Driscoll, Pat Driscoll’s sister. Thanks, good to look back at friends from long ago.

  6. Thanks for the up-date, Barbara. I remember that you were a friend of Sue’s but must have forgotten your first name over time. We did have two Julies at the Hicoey. Julie King, of course, but also a Julie whose surname I forget; she was Anton’s girlfriend and a friend of his sister, Barbara.I remember this latter Julie engaged in a non-stop twisting competition at The Institute, with occasional leader Tony “Angus” Ogilvy as her partner. Boy I hated that inelegant, contrived dance. However, those silly dances such as the Locomotion, the Mashed Potato & the Hitchhiker did give rise to some classic 60s recordings. But who really did Twist & Shout? Shout what? Maybe Lulu knows.

  7. Always wondered about a group that played in memorial hall in the late fifties, maybe 1958
    Two musicians and a singer. The singer was a Cliff Richard lookalike.

    Just curious,
    Sincerely
    Betty Allen

    1. Thanks for the info Betty. I was only 11 in 1958 but I remember being taken to dances my father ran in the hall on Saturday nights. Unfortunately he only booked rather boring dance bands.
      Regards
      Mike

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