Comments on: A Rave on Eel Pie Island in August 1960

By: peter hall

peter hall — Thu, 23 Jul 2020 21:09:57 +0000

I am the Peter Hall photograhper in question who shot ths Eel Pie Island pix while at Keystone Press Agency where just turned 21 I was the youngest photojournalist ojn Fleet Street, beating Terry O’Neil by about two months. It was one of my first feature jobs for Keystone and required several trips late at night. It paid off because I was also on commission and Weekend Magazine published the photos in a major spread, and later The Sunday Times. Fortunately, I still have 16×20-inch prints of them for old times’ sake. Music was Temperence Seven jazz and similar. Now living in Cornwall after an adventurous life publishing a newspaper under Papa Doc in Haiti which will soon become a world’s best seller! AGENTS PLEASE MAKE CONTACT.

By: David Shanahan. {Shan}

David Shanahan. {Shan} — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 18:23:52 +0000

I knew both the ladies in the first photograph very well, especially the dark one whose name was Helen.. I forgotten the blonde ladies name now, but she is wasn’t Gillian Hill as someone suggested. It’s a very long time ago now, but as far as I recall, she was a bit younger than Helen when that photo was taken, being at a guess, about 17.

The photos were taken and first published in a paper called Weekend” I was there when they were taken and was in one of the photos they published as were a number of others.

The music was definitely Tad, with the bands being Acker Bilk, Terry Lightfoot and Kenny Ball plus a few others. This would have been a year or so before R@B began to take over from Trad, and then came the Stones.

Shan

By: Clive Higgs

Clive Higgs — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 19:11:21 +0000

I first went to eel pie island before the bridge was built using the ferry. After the bridge was built you would have people jumping off it. My footprints are on the ceiling in the bar room. I saw the Stones, Georgie Fame, Long John Baldry and many others. we went to see the museum recently and it brought back good memories.

By: David

David — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 17:17:10 +0000

I was at Kingston school of Art from 1955 to 59 and spent a lot of time on the island. I’m old enough to remember crossing over on the punt ~ or ferry before the bridge was built, and helped little Paul with the murals. The dark girl in the famous photo was called Helen, though I’m afraid I forget her friends name. If your out there helen I’d love to hear from you Shan.

P.S I have a few photos that were taken inside the hall of myself and my girlfriend Monica at the time, which I guess would be 1959 ish

By: Giselle Houston

Giselle Houston — Wed, 30 Nov 2016 23:26:30 +0000

I too used to travel Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday by train from Windsor, Where I come from, as you, Guy. I used to love going to the Island and some fun times. The lady on the bridge when I went there mid 60s was called Rosie and I then had to pay four old pennies to go and come back. If you came later in the evening you got across free as Rosie did not stay too late. Colin on the door stamping your writs. You had to watch where you walked at times with the bits of floor that were rotten. Drinking Newcastle brown ale from the bottle. Odd Police raids, messing the evening up. I still have my eel pie passport. Trad jazz dancing. Spencer’s washboard kings and many more. George Melly and friends were a regular sight in the pub. I went to a get together in summer 05 for to celebrate Arthur’s birthday. Colin from the door was there. I went there with a girlfriend I knew from the eel pie days that we are still in touch with.

By: Domonic

Domonic — Mon, 04 Jan 2016 21:02:36 +0000

We were regulars at Eel Pie in late 50s early 60s. Can remember the music being stopped if the stomping got the dance floor vibrating too much. Arthur was a great guy and was flexible on the entry fee if you were short. We sometimes got a lift with the bands if they were going back to jam at Ken Colyers all nighters as they often did.we are still in touch with Karl and Ginger Eddie and other survivors and keep on raving round the Jazz,folk and bluegrass festivals. Domonic & Mary

By: Paul Endacott

Paul Endacott — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 12:03:07 +0000

We’d also be very interested to hear from anyone with videos, photos and memoirs of Eelpiland and Crawdaddy club or any of the other music haunts in London in the 60s that were pivotal in promoting the many iconic bands of the time. Please email me on end@cotts.co.uk

Paul

By: Paul Endacott

Paul Endacott — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 11:38:14 +0000

If anyone else is interested in finding out more about the wealth of 50s and 60s music heritage of Richmond, click the link and like the page…

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Richmond-upon-Thames-Music-Heritage/1531374540416841

Thanks

Paul

By: Paul Endacott

Paul Endacott — Sat, 20 Sep 2014 11:32:54 +0000

Hi Rob

You may be interested in finding out more about Eel Pie Island on the above FB page. Would be good to hear from you… and if you like, LIKE our page. Lots more to come

All the best

Paul

By: stella rosenoff

stella rosenoff — Tue, 06 May 2014 03:27:59 +0000

I began going to the island in 1962. became great friends with Arthur, and we were still in touch up to his death.

last saw Arthur around 10 years ago. I keep a photo of us both, taken then, in my sitting room. always say hello to him when listening to the music that takes me back.

would love to hear from any one who remembers me. I remember bridget, Harold, graham married to rene, went to Canada, jean – arthur’s partner; auri, another partner. neil pharaoh…lots of faces, not many names! oh, and big john on the door. wendy and I used to get beer from the bar for him.

a great place, great times – all thanks to a great man – Arthur.