Willow wilson
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Posts posted by Willow wilson
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That big players warehouse had a large basement which was the hq of the 31st Players Own scouts, my group. We had no idea of what was going on above our heads. There was a large grass field at the back. When we went to annual camp we borrowed 3 of players 7and half ton box vans. Kit bags and tents went in one and 30 or so scouts and masters in the other 2. The roller shutters were left half open to give us light and air. Sounds lethal but we never lost anyone.
Back to tanks. I had a friend who worked as a civvy at Chilwell REME stripping an rebuilding Meteors. He worked there since the 40s. He later retrained at Jaguars factory to work on the new lightweight tank engines. A very meticulous and methodical man he was. I worked on his car with him occasionally and he wouldn't take short cuts, everything had to be by the book.
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Being new I'm coming late to these topics. But did anyone go to the "Juke box jury" type show in the Gaumont/Hippodrome venue sat mornings around 1960? About once a month I took a bus to the famous Hanley street then a short walk to the Gaumont. It was full of youths and girls. I think the Beatmen played on the show a few times. One of the records the jury had to comment on was Sellers and Loren, "Goodness gracious". I stil remember it clearly. When the show was over a couple of us would go in Brentnalls and ogle the guitars hoping to play a few but no luck. Then down to Woolies cafe for some lunch. Most Saturdays though were spent ice skating.
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By the way I'm a newbie here, sorry for plunging in without introducing myself but Im slow to work out these boards. I joined because there are some fascinating contributions about everything in Notts. Thanks.
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My father was in the Auxiliary Air Force 504 Sqdn in the 30s which I think was based at Hucknall, since it was the county of Nottingham squadron. He did weekend training as an airframe rigger. They had a fortnights training at Hawkinge every year. They flew mostly Hawker Horsleys think, from the air to air photos I have from his time in the AAF. The riggers often had to fly as ballast when the official rear seat observers were busy playing cricket etc. When the fortnight was up he would sometimes cadge a lift in an Airplane coming north. He left in the late 30s but the government caught up with him in 1943 when he was conscripted and stationed at Little Rissington/Windrush with No8 maintenance and storage unit. He was 35 when conscripted and quickly got his sergeant stripes. In his first week there a lanc was in for Mtce and the senior ac gave him a box of 96 spark plugs and told him to clean and adjust. Ha, what a task. Riss I think was also a conversion training unit and my father relates some tragic stories through lack of experience and the rush of training. He often volunteered to stay up into the night as official guard over the wreckage around the airfield and its environs. 504 was re-equipped with spitfires and sent to the southern airfields in 1940 finishing the war on Meteors. His advice to riggers on merlins, don't drop a plug down the V. I think all this is roughly accurate, put me right if it ain't. Sorry to go off subject but when I start rambling the thought train goes anywhere. Father passed away in 1992 after retiring as SEO in the civil service.
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I went to evening classes in the Technical College in the early 60s our lecture room overlooking the Spread. In winter the rule was if it was getting foggy and we can't see the lights of the Spread we went home early.
Via the Spread of course.
It only happened once in 2 years
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I remember playing in a band with blond Ivan supporting RGTrio in The Beacon Aspley in 1960. There was also a skiffle band on the same gig. Reg asked me if I would join him as a bass player but I had other things doing. I next saw RGTrio doing a week at pontins near Lowestoft in 1963? Great atmosphere in those gigs. Last I saw was a band calling itself Reg Guest Trio playing upstairs in the Thurland in Nottm in 1984ish but I didn't recognise him in the band.
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On 20/10/2013 at 1:15 PM, Radford Boy said:
Anyone remember a band called MI5?
They used to play a fair bit at the Blue Ball at Risley.
I remember MI5 playing at the Cherry Tree at Calverton. The guitarist I believe was Ian Rowe. He attended Ellis same years as me.
Any Teddy Boys?
in Owt' Abaaht Nowt !
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This would be a man who called himself Carl Danger. I and few friends backed him in a gig in a pub on Birkin avenue (Albany?) Hyson Green in 1960. He was a very good Gene Vincent lookalike and was quite handy playing piano. He liked singing Pistol Packing Momma.
I think he was a Scotsman and he lived in the Bobbersmill rd. area. In his back yard was an old Rudge motorbike with girder forks. I'd never driven a m/bike but I had a go at this one up and down Bobbers Mill road until I got the hang of it.
Carl once did a 24 hour piano playing marathon in the Commodore rooms.
I saw the real Gene Vincent at the Empire Theatre.