Memories

[RDBFAN]

Hi People

First, rgds to Terry, Ma and Glen, and the blond barmaid who used to to pour quite large light and bitters (Sorry Terry!).

Highlights

Any RDB Gig
Gerry McAvoy
Any Xmas Eve Gig
Any Filthy McNasty Gig
Geoff Whitehorn
Glen, writing me out deposit reciept no 1 for "A week at the Bridge"
When Jenny Haan jamed with Gerry McAvoy.
Playing Pool with Messrs Stratton & Edwards on a Sunday night.

Lowlights

The night when Dave Edwards did not turn up for RDB, the soundman played rythym guitar - think that it was Linda Lewis's brother.
The Sunday night when we turned up for RDB gig and a a band called Qtips played - only stayed for 30 mins.
The night the the Bridge closed.

Rgds

Andy

Down in the country

[Oggy]

I knew both shirley and linda( through my sister) from St joachims school, wasnt aware of a brother, but will stand corrected if wrong 
 Oggy

[TerryMurphy]

Yes that's right Oggy ,Linda Lewis brother did play with R.D.B,HE CAME IN When Steve Goff electrocuted himself,,he was a very good Bass Player,
When Steve recovered,and returned to the band ,he would Still come and Jam A few numbers,i cannot remember his first name?,of cause the family   had the Red House Pub near the Abby ARMS, Good to hear my old schools name St Joachim in Custom House, anyone remember Miss Fallon?T.M

[Oggy]

Thanks Terry, i used to sit opposite shirley(fredericks) lewis in St joachims!, my sister used to know linda a bit more than me.
 I recall lil fredricks, she used to run the Lord raglan before going onto the Red house.
 We had an early gig in the red house, before getting support gigs at the "Bridge".
 I recall Lil when used to work on the buses!, she used to let me and my mum off the fare!!.
 My late father Patrick o'grady used to talk about Miss fallon, i think she was a bit strict by my late dads account!.
 We did have a girl singer doing backing voacls on some of our early demos called Debbie Mac, who's brother sean played on our band, i think she sang with linda on occasions, her mum was Eileeen webber, who ran a few pubs too , and sang also.
Oh happy days  !
 Cheers Terry
 Oggy

[TerryMurphy]

What happened to the good old years at the bridge house, when the power pack use to play there. I'm talking about the 60's, When procal harem broke up and there drummer Bobby Harrison joined the band. Now they where what you call good musicians. Bill and Joyce managed the pub and there where go-go dancers on stage, Terry was the lead guitarist, Rudy was base guitarist, Bobby Harrison on drums and terry Goldberg on organ. There was always a fight in the bar and you could hear the band for miles, real old east end times lol. Come on do some more research, look for Johnny whiskin ,his family almost lived there with all the regulars, i don't know where Johnny went, think he is in south end somewhere, he did own the Queen Vic in Stratford E15 for a while, but they where a big family so shouldn't be to hard to find.
 Pam
Thank you Pamela hope we can get some replies

[Philbytx]

Hello Pam,
Well, I was one of the regulars in the late 60's and for most of the early and mid-70's. I occasionally worked behind the bar (for Yankee Bill and Joyce) and also used to sing with Powerpack while Terry got stuck into his (most excellent) guitar playing.  Powerpack was Terry Newman (worked in insurance IIRC) vocals and lead, Rudy (real name Vic Swan, who worked in the print) on Bass and vocals, Dave Turner (dentist) on Hammond and Terry Short (delivery driver) on Drums.

As far as regulars go, these come to mind. Do you remember one armed Lenny with the scar on his face and the permanently bandaged arm? Richie (big burly fella with a moustache) and his brother (IIRC it was Alan) both dock workers. 

Freedom used to play regularly there in the 70's. Roger Saunders (lead and vocals), Walt Monaghan (bass and vocals), Bobby Harrison (bass and vocals). Later came Pete Dennis (bass), Steve Jolley (lead/rhythm). I occasionally roadied for both Powerpack and Freedom and was good mates with Rog Saunders, who sadly passed away a few years back.
Both bands also used to play at the Plough and Harrow Leytonstone. IIRC both pubs were owned by Phil Jacobs, his brother Lammy ran the P&H and Bill and Joyce the BH.

I well remember Den Stratton and Micky Harris as young men, before their RDB days ! They used to hang around with PP and Freedom and Micky used to flick his hair and do "Wot! Eh?" (emulating Roger). Micky had a wicked grin and a ready laugh too.......used to take the piss out of me something terrible. My nickname (Bobby Harrison gave it to me) was "Chin".....I ran into Bobby in Chicago at a party at Joe Jammer's place. First thing out of his mouth was "Blimey it's Effin' Chin...wot u doing here!" .

Also. I well remember Alan Gibson, the DJ (he lived in Ilford) and Viv and Pam the two go-go dancers. I occasionally helped Alan when he did weddings and events. I was friends with both the girls (especially Viv ) and Pam actually ended up marrying Terry Short the PP drummer. Filthy McNasty....yeah! Great times....Two great vocalists, excellent guitarists....lots jammin' and buskin' !

I left for the States in 1979 and been here ever since. Now retired and living in Texas. Still think about the BH a lot. Great music, great times and the camaraderie was wonderful! Took my missus there in 1978 (just after we were married) to show her my old "stomping ground". Being a Yank it was a right old culture shock for her LOL!!

Would love to hear from anyone that remembers....

[TerryMurphy]

Hi Phil,i wonder if i ever met you when i took over the B.H. in august 1975,My brother John was the landlord a couple of year before me.from 1973 ?
I met most of the guys you mentioned,Steve Jolly got a funky band together and played regular,You mentioned Filthy McNasty did you see them.
at the Bridge,they toured America importing the dooble bros,Under the name Night,When my time at the Bridge came to a end ,i applied for the Plough and Harrow,But the football player Terry Venables ,got in first and put his dad in charge,so i moved on great to here your story,any more memories.We had a Johnny McGeady  who was called John the chin,he played in a couple of band manly, The Tickets. 2 coincidences there/the plough and the chin Regards Terry Murphy

[Philbytx]

Hi Terry,

Unfortunately, we never "officially" met.  I was less of a regular during your regime as was living out by Heathrow then and was assistant manager at The Pheasant in Harlington.  I  had indeed met John and actually do remember you (who wouldn't !.
Yup! Saw Scarecrow, Filthy McNasty and RDB a few times. I also knew (and destroyed a few brain cells with) Rory and Wilgar (God Bless 'em!). Billy Puplett was one of the finest guitarists I ever knew. He was quite shy and introverted and really got lost in his playing/music. I was round his flat once with (IIRC) Roger Saunders and Pete Dennis  and he brought out his acoustic and blew me away with a version of Concierto de Aranjuez. His fingers moved around like worms on the frets.....some things you just don't forget .

Thank you so much for keeping all these memories alive and being so supportive. The BH was always a musical beacon and deserves its place in music history.

BTW - I have a ton of stories to be told about the BH and some of its characters! (Then again, you probably know most of them anyway LOL!) but that is always best done over a fine ale. When I first worked at the BH, I learned cellar management for, as you know, back then we had wooden barrels (remember letting them settle, spiles, bungs and Xmas trees).  Making sure you put the right ullage back into the right barrel (properly filtered of course !! I remember one dopey barmaid that poured the bloody lager ullage in with the bitter!!

Lovely to chat with you mate. I'm still digging thru the resources on this forum checking out the pics and seeing if I can add any more to the history. Would love to share a pint with you but I don't come over to the UK much any more since we retired.
All my family is pretty much gone or moved away now and I lost a couple of my close mates the past couple of years. Was always nice to come back and revisit but Blighty has changed so much. I actually felt a little bitter about it when I came over 2 years ago.....felt the place had gone downhill, basically to sh*te. Couldn't find an Englishman in London!!!
Not that the U.S. is on the upward slope either.....but, fortunately, Texas is a little different than the rest of the others and has its own "attitude". Really good music scene around the state too with Austin being a major music influence over here. Lots of great guitarists and song writers abound in the Texas Hill Country.

If you have Terry Newmans Email addy, would love to chat with him directly. Also, you can ask Den and Micky if they remember me at all !

I'll keep posting as I remember.....all the best Terry.

[TerryMurphy]

The final shoot of the documentry of there life of music Met at the  Cutty Sark Greenwich tomorrow Tuesday at 4pm.
Terry M

[TerryMurphy]

These cockneys are not Rejects,they opened this restaurant for the final shoot,as a thanks to us loyal members,it was free food and drink all night,also big thanks to Producer Richard England and he co producer Karen Janody,all great hosts. film premier  soon.
Thanks to Tony Nicholl from B.H 2 helping me to get there and Lea Dury for making more noise than all of us put together Regards Terry M

[Lee Drury]

Hello Terry, Who is this Lea Dury? I didnt see him! Had a real good time and I hope the final outcome will be worth it and not too embarrassing for anybody (when you are miked up its easy to say the wrong thing!). Even Vince turned up! Looking forward to the premiere. Any ideas on when that will be?
PS. Thanks for the lift home after our docklands light railway adventure!
Lee.

[TERENCE]

yes Mick said it at the CO, CO T

[Lee Drury]

Listening to panet rock at the weekend and they played some early Iron Maiden so I didnt switch it off. At the end the DJ said "aah the guitar playing of Dennis Stratton. Where are you now Dennis" I shouted back he's probably playing at the Coach and Horses.
He most likely was too!