Web Page 1108
29^th December 2012

First of all I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. Pam and I would like to thank you all for the cards, ecards and best wishes which have received from all over the World in the last week or so, they have been really great. So now lets look ahead to 2013 but unfortunately I start this year with three sad pictures of the interior of the Essoldo (Carlton) in Cosham High Street as it was being demolished. How many happy hours some of us spend in the back row there ?!!!!!!

 Top Picture: Front Row of the Stalls.

 Middle: View from the back row.

  Bottom Picture: Foyer.

Firstly a very happy New Year to you all and off we go into the 11^th year of this blog. It does not seem possible

Having spent 21 years of my life in the Drayton Farlington area I have come across a few odd tales and stories about the area. Here are a selection.

Ghost

Farlington has its local ghost, as recounted in the magazine for November 1865. She was Alice Noyes, who lived at Farlington Farm House (beside where the Sunshine Inn now stands) in about 1765. She was a well brought-up young lady who became the victim of irregularity and idleness…. She lost her faith in God, and she had no-one to turn to for help in her shame…”. It doesn’t take too much imagination to surmise what was probably the reason for her shame, knowing the moralistic attitude of the time.  The account goes on to accuse Satan of putting the idea of committing suicide into her head, which she eventually did by drowning herself in the farm well. She was buried on the north side of the chancel of St Andrews Church “but when the new vestry was built over the place about in about 1800, the tombstone was removed, and laid flat outside the entrance door, where it still forms a threshold to the room”.

Her ghost seems to have operated around the church, rather than around the farm. The old parsonage house, replaced in 1826, was reputedly haunted. The December 1865 magazine tells how the ghost was laid “about the time of the commencement of the French Revolution”. The rector, who did not believe in such things, had asked to be informed when the ghost next put in an appearance. One night near midnight, there was a scream from one of the maid’s rooms, and she called out “there it is, sir, by the pea sticks”. The rector had loaded his gun with parboiled peas; he opened the window, took careful aim and fired – whereupon the maid cried out “Oh, Sir, you’ve shot my Billy Boy, you’ve shot my Billy”.  The ghost may have been laid, but in the late 1970s a young lady parishioner said that she went up to the church one dark winter’s Sunday evening to see if there was an evensong that night; on approaching the church she was overcome with irrational panic, couldn’t so much as set foot in the churchyard, and swiftly turned tail for home.

A further graveyard tale.

Known only from the registers is a man called Luke Kent, who was buried on 13^th August, 1808.  After a varied career, he became guard on the Portsmouth to Chichester stagecoach, and was the first guard on the Royal Mail coach that took its place. On his death, he left a sum of money to be paid to his successors on condition that they blew the coach horn as it passed Farlington church. I wonder if this applies to bus drivers today?

Other interesting tombstones that survive include one commemorating Thomas Atkinson, First Master Attendant H.M Dockyard, Portsmouth. “He was Master of several of Admiral Lord Nelson’s flagships, including the “Victory” at Trafalgar”, and another remembering a man called Peter (the surname is illegible) who died in 1724 and whose tombstone has a skull and crossbones engraved on it. Local tradition has it that he must have been a pirate or a smuggler, but the skull and crossbones on tombstones were not uncommon at that time – but there again, neither were pirates or smugglers!

Industry

Whether we consider the parish of Farlington in its old north-south alignment taking in Wymering and Widley or in its modern east-west one, it was always basically rural, until housing development and latterly light industry occupied most of the modern parish. Housing spread gradually eastwards from Cosham along the main road, so that by the early years of the twentieth century, there was already some building north of the main road in Drayton, while Farlington itself still consisted largely of the Church, the farm, the old rectory, East and West Lodge, and Farlington House which was on the land between Gillman Road and the church. Farlington’s only significant industry apart from agriculture has been the waterworks. Grant, Evelegh, Galt, Gillman, and Blake were all directors of the water company who are commemorated in the names of local roads. It’s perhaps just as well that it was decided not to name a road after the chairman from 1857-9, who rejoiced in the surname of Dalrymple-Horn-Elphinstone. There is an intriguing story about Peter Taylor, Lord of the Manor 1769 -1777.  He sought a source of water by digging an immense well downwards from the top of the hill, variously stated as being from Crookhorn Copse or behind the site of the later Farlington Redoubt; there were four such wells, the first at the Copse, the fourth at the Redoubt, with the others in between. The intention was then to tunnel into the hill from the south to meet the well(s), with the hope of striking enough water to provide a piped supply to Portsmouth. Some sources say that the works didn’t get very far; others that the tunnel was at least partially brick-lined, and emerged either at the back of the church-yard, or “80 yards SW by S” of the church. Another story to appear in print is one of a horse and cart sinking into some sort of hole on the side of the hill, which turned out to be brick lined, and assumed to be part of the tunnel. In any case, no water was ever found.

Leisure

One nearly forgotten feature of the parish is the racecourse, which from 1891 to 1915 occupied the land south of the railway line at the bottom of Station Road and to the east of what is now the Eastern Road. The War Office commandeered the course the year after the outbreak of the First World War the last big race being held on 17^th April, 1915 and was won by the appropriately named Final Shot at 10-1. The course was in its day as prestigious as any in the country and there was a palatial grandstand in the north-west corner, and extensive railway sidings and a station that appeared sporadically in the timetables. The station is shown on a 1910 railway map as Portsmouth Park. The Ordnance Survey map of 1897 calls it Farlington Station, while that for 1932 names it Farlington Halt although photographs taken in 1936 clearly show the name board as simply Farlington. It finally closed in July 1937. Curiously, although this latter station was located in the north-eastern apex of the triangle of lines there were platforms only on the Portsmouth-Havant part of the triangle so although there was a shuttle service of trains between Cosham and Havant, they couldn’t call at Farlington.

The Race Course was taken over after te last race by the Army Veterinarian Corps as a hospital for their horses. In fact there is a post card showing the  `Farlington Veterinary Hospital Staff’, at what is clearly the footbridge giving access to the station from the bottom of Station Road. Extensive research has failed to find any more about this establishment.

Stay in Touch

Peter

DUSTYKEAT@aol.com

Pj.keat@ntlworld.co.uk

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It was announced in November that former Beatles manager Brian Epstein will be honoured with a statue in his native Liverpool, provided supporters can raise the necessary £60,000. The city council has already given approval for the statue, to be placed at the one-time home of his father and grandparents, now known as Epstein's Guest House.

On this day 29^th December 1960-1965

On 29/12/1960 the number one single was Starry Eyed - Michael Holliday and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was not listed and the box office smash was North by Northwest. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Burnley were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was the day after next was the last day for being called up for National Service.

On 29/12/1961 the number one single was I Love You - Cliff Richard & the Shadows and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was The Russ Conway Show (ATV) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 29/12/1962 the number one single was Moon River - Danny Williams and the number one album was Another Black & White Minstrel Show - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money wasworth £12.89 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 29/12/1963 the number one single was Return to Sender - Elvis Presley and the number one album was Black & White Minstrel Show - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 29/12/1964 the number one single was I Want to Hold Your hand - The Beatles and the number one album was With the Beatles - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

 On 29/12/1965 the number one single was I Feel Fine - The Beatles and the number one album was Beatles For Sale - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

Web Page 1106
22^th December 2012

Top Picture: My Christmas card to you all

Second Picture: Christmas Carry On Poster

The bottom picture shows Station Road in Drayton when a combination of high tides and heavy rain last week caused flooding.

Christmas Overseas and at Home

This week’s page is written by Martin in the USA and he is looking at the differences between a GB Christmas and a US Christmas. Plus a Cosham Christmas from Anida.

First Martin.

Christmas in United States of America

Santa Claus was born in US in the 1860's he was named this as he had a white beard and a belly, so he was named Santa Claus as this was the Dutch word for St Nicholas, Sintaklaas. Although the Dutch had bought him with them in the 17th century, he did not become an important person at Christmas until Washington Irving put him in a novel in 1809. This first Santa Claus was still known as St. Nicholas, he did smoke a pipe and flew around in a wagon without any reindeer, but he did not have his red suit or live at the North Pole, he did however bring presents to children every year.

In 1863 he was given the name Santa Claus and bore the red suit, pipe, and his reindeer and sleigh.

Now Christmas celebrations vary greatly between regions of the US because of the variety of nationalities which have settled in it.

In Pennsylvania, the Moravians build a landscape, called a putz - under the Christmas tree, while in the same state the Germans are given gifts by Belsnickle, who taps them with his switch if they have misbehaved.

Early European settlers brought many traditions to the United States. Many settled in the early days in the South, these settlers would send Christmas greetings to their distant neighbors by shooting firearms and letting off fireworks. In Hawaii this practice hapens as under the sunny skies, Santa Claus arrives by boat and Christmas dinner is eaten outdoors.

In Alaska, a star on a pole is taken from door to door, followed by Herod's Men, who try to capture the star. Colonial doorways are often decorated with pineapple, a symbol of hospitality.

In Alaska, boys and girls with lanterns on poles carry a large figure of a star from door to door. They sing carols and are invited in for supper.

In Washington D.C., a huge, spectacular tree is lit ceremoniously when the President presses a button and turns on the tree's lights.

In Boston, carol singing festivities are famous. The singers are accompanied by hand bells.

In New Orleans, a huge ox is paraded around the streets decorated with holly and with ribbons tied to its horns.

In Arizona, the Mexican ritual called Las Posadas is kept up. This is a ritual procession and play representing the search of Mary and Joseph for a room at the inn. Families play the parts and visit each other's houses re-enacting the drama and, at the same time, having a look at each family's crib.

In Hawaii, Christmas starts with the coming of the Christmas Tree Ship, which is a ship bringing a great load of Christmas fare. Santa Claus also arrives by boat.

In California, Santa Claus sweeps in on a surf board.

In America the traditional Christmas dinner is roast turkey with vegetables and sauces. For dessert it is rich, fruity Christmas pudding with brandy sauce. Mince pies, pastry cases filled with a mixture of chopped dried fruit.

The majority of Americans celebrate Christmas with the exchange of gifts and greetings and with family visits. For many, the day begins on Christmas Eve with the Midnight Mass. At Christmas it snows in many states, so dinner is usually eaten indoors. Dinner usually is roast turkey, goose, duck or ham with cranberry sauce, then plum pudding or pumpkin pie followed by nuts and fruit.

American homes are decorated with holly, mistletoe and branches of trees, most have a Christmas tree hung with electric lights, tinsel, baubles, and strings of popcorn and candy canes.

In Colorado, an enormous star is put on the mountain; it can be seen for many kilometers, while in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, a star is lit in early December.

Polish Americans on Christmas Eve spread hay on their kitchen floor and under the tablecloth to remind them of a stable and a manger. When they make up the table for dinner two extra places are set up for Mary and the Christ Child in case they should knock at the door to ask for shelter.

In Philadelphia, a procession called a mummers parade runs for a whole day with bands, dancers and people in fancy dress.

There are two homes for Santa Claus in the United States one is in Torrington, Connecticut, where Santa and his helpers give out presents. The other home is in Wilmington, New York, where a village for Santa and his reindeer is located.

In Arizona they follow the Mexican traditions called Las Posadas. Families play out the parts of Mary and Joseph searching for somewhere to stay. They form a procession and visit their friends' and neighbors' homes where they admire each family's Nativity crib. In parts of New Mexico, people place lighted candles in paper bags filled with sand on streets and rooftops to light the way for the Christ Child.

Christmas in Florida

The weather outside may not be frightful, but Christmas in Florida can be so delightful. While balmy breezes and swaying palms may not be everyone's idea of a typical Christmas, Floridians have found some pretty unique ways to celebrate and for those who just can't do without ice and snow, we have that too... we even have a town named Christmas!

There really is a Christmas, Florida it may not see much snow, but the small post office near Fort Christmas sees lots of activity prior to the holidays. People come from miles to have their cards postmarked "Christmas, Florida!" If you go, expect to wait in longer-than-usual lines for what has become a holiday tradition for many. Additionally, the first weekend in December Fort Christmas celebrates a "Cracker Christmas" with pioneer demonstrations, homemade crafts, exhibits and barbeque. Christmas, Florida is located about 20 miles east of Orlando on Highway 50 at 1300 Fort Christmas Road

Even if we sing "Let it snow... let it snow..." - getting in the holiday mood in Florida is sometimes just plain hard. Enter any of of te Christmas shops and be transported into a winter wonderland. Lavishly decorated trees, twinkling lights, ornaments that shine, garland that shimmers and snow covering everything combines with the scent of pine to take you into another world. Whether you live in Florida or somewhere in the frozen north, you are probably looking for a great way to showcase those shells you picked up on the beach during your last vacation. Why not use them as decorations on your holiday tree? You're only limited by your imagination and we'll even give that a jump start with a few ideas, how-to craft projects, and places to purchase themed lights and ornaments.

It isn't hard to believe that after Santa spends much of the year at the North Pole that he wouldn't enjoy the warmth of Florida. It seems he gets away to the Sunshine State about this time every year for a little R&R before his all-night Christmas Eve sleigh ride, because he is sighted in the most unlikely places.

The Real Story of the still Number One Christmas Song White Christmas

"White Christmas" was written in 1940 by a Irving Berlin for the 1942 movie "Holiday Inn" starring Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire. Berlin's assignment was to write a song about each of the major holidays of the year. But Berlin, who was Jewish, found that writing a song about Christmas was the most challenging. He drew upon his experiences of the holiday in New York (including Christmas Trees erected by neighbours when he was a boy) and Los Angeles, but still felt that the end result was wanting. However, when Bing first heard Berlin audition "White Christmas" in 1941 he reassured Irving that he had created a winner. Bing's preliminary evaluation turned out to be a gross understatement.

Bing Crosby introduced "White Christmas" to the public on his NBC radio show on December 25, 1941. Apparently, no recording of this broadcast survived the War. He then recorded the song for Decca on May 29, 1942. "Holiday Inn" was released in August, 1942. By the end of the War it had become the biggest-selling single of all time. Bing's recording hit the charts on Oct. 3, 1942, and rose to No1 on Oct. 31, where it stayed for 11 weeks. In the following years Bing's recording hit the top 30 pop charts another 16 times, even topping the charts again in 1945 and January of '47. The song remains Bing's best-selling recording, and the best-selling Christmas single of all-time.

The success of the song led to a movie based on the song. "White Christmas" was released in 1954 and became the main box-office draw of 1954. The movie was supposed to reunite Crosby and Astaire for their third Irving Berlin extravaganza of song and dance. But Astaire bowed out after reading the script (another source says that Astaire was ill at the time). Donald O'Connor was selected to replace Astaire, but he, too, had to exit because of a back injury and was replaced by Danny Kaye.

Bing's "White Christmas" sold more than 30 million copies worldwide and was recognized as the best-selling single in any music category for more than 50 years until 1998 Elton John's tribute to Princess Diana, "Candle in the Wind," overtook it in a matter of months. However, Bing's recording of "White Christmas" has sold additional millions of copies as part of numerous albums, including his best-selling album "Merry Christmas", which was first released as an L.P. in 1949.

The most familiar version of "White Christmas" is not the one Crosby recorded in 1942, however. He was called back to the Decca studios on March 19, 1947, to re-record "White Christmas" as a result of damage to the 1942 master due to its frequent use. Every effort was made to reproduce the original Decca recording session. The resulting re-issue is the one that has become most familiar to the public.

Sheet music to White Christmas is not included in any major published collection. During his lifetime, Mr. Berlin jealously guarded the lyrics; "frostily refused permission to reprint his lyrics even to friends."

.

William Studwell, The Christmas Carol Reader

Because "White Christmas" may be the most popular American secular Christmas carol, rivaled only by "Jingle Bells," it could easily be presumed that it was treated as a star from the moment of its 1940 conception by Irving Berlin. Before its presentation to the public in the 1942 black-and-white movie Holiday Inn, the expected hit was to be the Valentine's Day song, "Be Careful, It's My Heart." That song quickly lost out to "White Christmas".

The honours for "White Christmas" commenced soon after its premier. It received the Oscar for best song of 1942.

ASCAP

According to a 1998 press release from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), "White Christmas" remains the number one performed Christmas carol, and is the most recorded Christmas carol (over 500 versions in "scores of languages"). The other top five are "Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town," Mel Torme’s "The Christmas Song," "Winter Wonderland," "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" and Leroy Anderson’s "Sleigh Ride."

By 2003, however, "White Christmas" had slipped to the number two position on their list of Christmas songs. The number one song was "The Christmas Song" (Mel Torme and Robert Wells). The other three in the top five are "Santa Claus Is Coming To Town (J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie), "Winter Wonderland" (Felix Bernard and Richard B. Smith), and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" (Ralph Blane and Hugh Martin). By 2007, "White Christmas" occupied the number five position (based on airplay over the preceding five years).

The Christian Science Monitor

Nostalgia with all the trimmings

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas just like the ones I used to know ... in Beverly Hills, L.A.?

We all know that Bing could sing. He could sell, too, as 396 of his tunes hit the charts, including 38 No. 1 hits (the Beatles, by comparison captured the top spot 24 times). Worldwide, Crosby has sold more than 400 million records, but for all of his tunes - most done, famously, in a single take - one outsold, out-stripped, outlasted them all: "White Christmas," with total sales of more than 100 million copies. Even though the song has been covered by everyone from underground pop whiz-kids The Flaming Lips to Michael Bolton, The Three Tenors to Kiss, it's still Bing Crosby's 1942 version that defines the song.

Irvin Berlin was a Jewish immigrant from Siberia published 812 songs, of which 451 became hits. He did Hollywood and he did Broadway. He wrote in a variety of styles, keeping his songs in step with what America wanted - war songs, ragtime, or, in the case of "White Christmas," nostalgia for something lost.

What's so strange in all of this is that the now-deleted first stanza of the song endows the tune with the stuff of satire, not longing:

The sun is shining.
The grass is green.
The orange and palm trees sway.
There's never been such a day
In Beverly Hills, L.A.
But it's December the twenty-fourth,
And I'm longing to be up north.

It was Berlin himself who ordered the stanza cut from all future sheet music in 1942 after hearing the power of the song by Crosby and watching "White Christmas" rocket up the charts a full four months before Christmas. Ironies, abound, of course, since a secular Christmas song written by a Jewish immigrant became the embodiment of holiday nostalgia. Further, the very selling of the idea of a more tranquil, innocent, idealized holiday past helped fuel the American commercialization of Christmas.

When Irving Berlin first conceived the song "White Christmas," he envisioned it as a "throwaway", a satirical novelty number for a vaudeville-style revue. By the time Bing Crosby introduced the tune it had evolved into something far grander: the stately yuletide ballad that would become the world's all-time top-selling and most widely recorded song.

Today, the song endures not just as an icon of the national Christmas celebration but as the artistic and commercial peak of the golden age of popular song, a symbol of the values and strivings of the World War II generation, and of the saga of Jewish-American assimilation. With insight and wit. American GIs made "White Christmas" their wartime anthem, and from the American past Irvin Berlin's masterpiece lives on as a kind of secular hymn.

A COSHAM CHRISTMAS

At this time of the year there is always a desire to look back at Christmas’s past and reminisce about how uncommercialised they were and much less hard work that today.  My own memories of Christmas in the 1950’s and 60’s were all about family.  Not that I had a huge family being an only child but there was a large extended family, who, at the time, seemed pretty ancient but in reality of course were probably only in their late 40’s and early 50’s.  I had a whole battalion of great aunts a few of whom were pretty exotic, and certainly brought some glamour and style into those rather austere years after the war.  Take Auntie May for example, she was a widow, Uncle Jim having died as a result of the first world war.  She was, shall we say ‘stately’ and had platinum blonde hair usually styled in a Marcel wave, owner of a mink coat this was generally worn draped over one shoulder.  Usually just before Christmas the whole family would gather at her house in Southsea where presents would be exchanged followed by a musical interlude when, accompanied by the piano, Auntie May would sing in her own inimitable way, a rather warbling soprano.  Thankfully if enough, Stones Ginger wine, sherry and brown ale had been consumed then soon everyone would be joining in a good old Christmas sing song.

Christmas day itself would generally be spent at my Grandparents house in North End or when they were older, along with my grandmothers sister ‘Auntie Laura’ they would come to Cosham.  Laura was as broad as she was tall and could consume extraordinary amounts of food.  Come to think of it we all seemed to eat a good deal more on Christmas day than we do today.  Christmas lunch would generally be around 12.30, this would be a capon as turkeys were unavailable and as chickens were pretty scarce then a capon was considered the height of luxury. Christmas pudding followed set alight and brought ceremoniously to the table, absolutely no suggestion of any concession to those who might not like its richness or taste.  If you really couldn’t manage a piece of pudding then you might be grudgingly allowed a single mince pie dredged with sugar and moistened with the same Bird’s custard that was poured over the pudding.  Lunch would be followed by Christmas cake and mince pies at about 5.00 to tide everyone over until supper.  In the gap between we would all assemble around the dining table to play cards, usually ‘Chase the Ace’ or ‘21’s’ using pennies, chocolate coins or matchsticks as currency.  The men would have glasses of shandy and the ladies a sherry or a port and lemon which I would be allowed to sample.  The air would be filled with cigarette smoke which nobody seemed to mind or even notice and would curl around the crepe paper streamers strung from corner to corner, which my father made on the sewing machine.  Inevitably somebody always had to sit dangerously near the coal fire and if you got too hot then everyone moved around to prevent you bursting into flames.  There we would be ‘Tapas’ of liquorice allsorts, sticky dates in frilly boxes, sugared almonds, Quality Street chocolates, Turkish delight and, of course, mixed nuts in their shells just in case anyone should feel a little peckish.

Cards would finally be abandoned and the table cleared ready for supper, this was always my favourite and looked forward to with relish.  Out would come the large boiled ham, slices of left over capon, Pan Yan pickle, piccalilli, pickled onions (home made), celery and a huge bowl of mashed potato personally mashed until every lump had been eradicated by my father.  Just writing this is making my mouth water, today this meal is replicated on Boxing Day along with bubble and squeak as we don’t seem to be able to manage to fit supper in on the day itself.  There would be happy chit chat and good natured teasing along with some gossip about what other members of the family had been up to.  It was all very simple, I suppose it was hard work for my mother I can remember her making and icing everyone a Christmas cake as well as the pudding.  There was usually a Dundee cake as well although why it was thought necessary to have both I cannot imagine.  All this food was produced in our very small kitchen, the walls and windows would pour with condensation and anything that had to be kept cool was kept in the ‘meat safe’ just outside the back door.

So as I put my Christmas shopping requirements into the computer for home delivery a few days before the big day, I cannot help but reflect how different it all was.  Our family is now so small we barely fill all the chairs around the table but there still seems to be the same amount of work and expectations are so much higher.  Do I yearn for those old times, of course not, bring it on Tesco’s!

Happy Christmas everyone! Anida

DUSTYKEAT@aol.com

Pj.keat@ntlworld.co.uk

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How about this for a line up for the 2013 American 7 day Malt Shop Cruise.

NEIL SEDAKA, THE FOUR TOPS, PETULA CLARK, BBOBBY RYDELL, RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS' BILL MEDLEY, LITTLE ANTHONY AND THE IMPERIALS, LESLEY GORE, GARY U.S. BONDS, SHIRLEY ALSTON REEVES (ORIGINAL LEAD SINGER OF THE SHIRELLES), FREDDY CANNON, CHRIS MONTEZ TO NAME BUT A FEW

I have no idea of the cost of a ticket!

On this day 22nd December 1960-1965

On 22/12/1960 the number one single was It's Now Or Never - Elvis Presley and the number one album was South Pacific Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Knight Errant (Granada) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 22/12/1961 the number one single was Tower of Strength - Frankie Vaughan and the number one album was Another Black & White Minstrell Show - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 22/12/1962 the number one single was Return to Sender - Elvis Presley and the number one album was West Side Story Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 22/12/1963 the number one single was I Want to Hold Your hand - The Beatles and the number one album was With the Beatles - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 22/12/1964 the number one single was I Feel Fine - The Beatles and the number one album was Beatles For Sale - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 22/12/1965 the number one single was Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out - The Beatles and the number one album was The Sound of Music Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

Web Page 1104
15^th December 2012

Top Picture: 1950’s Christmas Tree

Bottom Picture: Pat Leonard in typical Principle Boy costume. (I have no idea who pat Leonard was or where the photo was taken!)

Christmas is coming

Barry mentioned to me the other day how he remembered going to see Father Christmas in December when he was a little lad. He, like many of us was taken to the Landport Drapery Bazaar (LDB) to go off on this magical journey. We were taken into the basement of the building were we were led into a submarine or spaceship or into a woodland scene to be taken off, far away, to see Santa. Sometimes to get to Santa's grotto, we went on a sleigh ride with plywood cut out reindeers on either side of the seats. With hindsight  we know that once the lights dimmed in the particular form of transport and the noises,(rocket sounds or underwater sounds) scenes were taken past the windows to give the impression of movement and low and behold, when we reached the end of our journey we were taken by a helper to see Santa and miraculously our parents would be there to meet us and we never queried how they got there when they did not go on the journey that we had just undertaken.

I seem to remember the Handley’s in Southsea also had a trip to see Santa as did McIllroy’s in North End.

  Then after the visit and tea in the cafeteria we would go outside to see the stars from the Theatre Royal Pantomimes switch on the Christmas lights from a podium set onto the top of the roof of the canopy of the LDB. Stars that very different from the cast of today’s pantomimes! For example in 1957 Charlie Drake and Bruce Forsyth appeared in Puss in Boots, in 1958 Mike and Bernie Winters along with the Morton Fraser Harmonica Gang took part in Babes in the Wood and in 1959 John Hansen starred in Cinderella.

But Christmas was a time for eating, cakes, pudding and biscuits. Do you remember Peek Frean Biscuits? As kids we knew nothing of the company we just loved the product

The first Mr Peek was a partner in the firm of Peek Bros., tea merchants in the City of London. His sons, Charles and Edward, refused to join the family business so James Peak decided to set them up in a different business. In the West Country, lived George Hender Frean, a miller and ships' biscuit maker who had married one of Peek's nieces. Peek wrote to him explaining he would set up a biscuit factory for his sons if Frean would become manager and partner, he accepted. Sadly Charles left and went to the provinces where he died and Edward gave up business in favour of religion.

It became clear the factory needed more technical help and Frean remembered an old schoolfriend John Carr. An unlikely candidate because he was a brother of the owners of Carr’s, a major biscuit manufacturer in the North. Whilst he has completed an apprenticeship at his brothers’ firm, he had disliked it and had severed all connections with it. Despite these facts Frean wrote to John Carr inviting him to join the business. Carr was considering the offer when one morning an elderly Quaker lady who was staying with them remarked ‘You have a letter from London in your pocket which will turn out for your good’.

Carr’s mind was made up and he joined Peek Frean & Co in 1860. The turn of fortune for John Carr began when he produced his famous Pearl biscuit, this was the pioneer of the modern biscuit. These new biscuits swept the country.

Carr and Frean introduced machinery. The firm grew. The bakery in Mill Street, Dockhead, became too small. Peek Frean found an area of market gardens in Bermondsey in 1866.

The Franco-Prussian war brought them into prominence, 10-11 million Navy biscuits were ordered. The old factory in Mill Street was burned down. The sight was so amazing that the Prince of Wales (later King Edward V11) had gone there on a fire engine to see it.

In 1902, the introduction of the new Pat a Cake biscuit sold nearly 3,000 tins in the first week. Celebrated lines invented by Peek Freans were Garibaldi (1861);Marie (1875); the first chocolate coated biscuit Chocolate Table (1899); Golden Puff(1909); Creola then Bourbon (1910); Shortcake (1912); Glaxo (1923) and with the cocktail age, Cheeselets and Twiglets.

The company were pioneers in supplying medical, dental and optical services for their work staff. The Peek Frean Club was founded in 1920, its precursors were an athletic club and dramatic society (1908), a musical society (1907) and a cricket club (1868).

 The Peek Frean biscuit factory provided Bermondsey and Rotherhithe with a major source of employment until it closed down in 1989.

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Peter

DUSTYKEAT@aol.com

Pj.keat@ntlworld.co.uk

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Andria Writes:-

When I left school and before I went to Portsmouth College of Technology to do a year's Business Training Course (mainly shorthand and typing), I had a summer job on SSPier, together with another girl from my school. The two top starring artistes that year were Bob Monkhouse and Yana ("Climb up the wall" - not many people remember that song!)

We had to clear and clean the tables in the cafeteria on the pier and also walk around the outside up to the end of the pier and back, selling icecreams. Then the management had the bright idea of getting us to load up our icecream trays with bottles of Coca Cola - so heavy that it nearly broke my neck! My friend and I rebelled and soon we were back to selling icecreams. We had both chosen this summer time job because we both fancied a boy from church, who had a summer job working in the box office - innocent days! 

News and Views:

Pioneering jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck has died, aged 91.The musician, whose recordings included Take Five and Blue Rondo a la Turk, was once designated a "living legend" by the US Library of Congress. He died last Wednesday morning in hospital in Connecticut.

Very sad news of Sir Patrick Moore dying he was one of the great Characters of television..

On this day 15^th December 1960-1965

On 15/12/1960 the number one single was It's Now Or Never - Elvis Presley and the number one album was Tottenham Hotspur. The top rated TV show was The Army Game (Granada) and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £not very interesting and 13.68 were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.The big news story of the day was Bootsie & Snudge (Granada).

On 15/12/1961 the number one single was Tower of Strength - Frankie Vaughan and the number one album was Another Black & White Minstrell Show - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 and Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 15/12/1962 the number one single was Return to Sender - Elvis Presley and the number one album was West Side Story Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 15/12/1963 the number one single was I Want to Hold Your hand - The Beatles and the number one album was With the Beatles - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 15/12/1964 the number one single was I Feel Fine - The Beatles and the number one album was A Hard Day's Night - Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

On 15/12/1965 the number one single was Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out - The Beatles and the number one album was The Sound of Music Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street (Granada) and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

Web Page 1102
9^th December 2012
Top Picture: Tab shirt of the 1960’s

Bottom Picture: Mens Fashion 1960 style

                                Where’s me Shirt?

“Where’s me shirt? I cannot find me shirt anywhere. Where’s me shirt?” How many of you remember those words from one of Ken Dodd’s characters in his radio show in the 1960’s. I heard a repeat of one of those shows the other day and I got to thinking that we lads in the 60’s had a large range of shirt styles to pick from. The differences were in the collar styles and I think at one time I have tried them all.

Firstly there were the two types of Cossack collar, those with the neat row of buttons along the side of the neck and the smarter ones that had a row of poppers to close the collar up. One of the most popular types of collar was the Tab Collar and these came in all styles and colours sometimes even with matching tie and handkerchief for the shirt pocket. I remember having an orange tab shirt with a matching tie but no hanky. But my pride and joy in the Tab Collar range was my Black Watch Tartan one, which I bought from the Shirt King in Cosham High Street.

Similar to the Tab Collar was the Pinned Collar. This was a shirt, which had a gold coloured rod with a threaded end, which went through the collar under the tie. Nice shirts but I was forever loosing the pin thing.  And the final type of collar restraint That I remember is still around today, in fact I still own some and this is the button down collar, they may have changed over the years but they are still basically the same.

One collar style which seems to reappear on a regular basis over the years is the Grandad shirt, with a top button but no actual collar

We have never actually lost the fashion of the open necked shirt but it has gone through several phases over the years. An open neck shirt with a white tee shirt underneath, rather like James Dean in Rebel without a cause has be constantly popular over the decades but the open necked shirt with accessories soon died a death. These were the shirts with either a matching or toning neck scarf with a golden holding ring at the top to keep it in place. Not very macho I think.

Finally over the years the length of the points of the collars have gone from very short and rounded to the very long and pointed, they always seemed to change with the season. 

The one shirt collar that I missed is not really a shirt at all and that is the Kaftan with its wide open neck hole. I never had one and never wore one so I cannot pass any comment on them, as these were more for the Beatnick and Hippy Brigade.

Ah well back to ironing my conventional shirts again, although I must admit to having a lot of sports shirts and tee shirts in my cupboard these days!!!!

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Peter

DUSTYKEAT@aol.com

Pj.keat@ntlworld.co.uk

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Nothing this week.

News and Views:

Bill Dees-- one-time co-writer with Roy Orbison-- who gave us such hits as "It's Over" and "Oh, Pretty Woman," died of brain cancer at a nursing facility in Mountain Home, Arkansas Wednesday in October. He was 73. Among the other artists who recorded Bill's songs were Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and Glen Campbell.

On this Day 9^th December 1960-1965

On 09/12/1960 the number one single was It's Now Or Never - Elvis Presley and the number one album was South Pacific. The top rated TV show was Armchair Theatre (ABC) the first episode of Coronation Street on shown and the box office smash was Psycho. A pound of today's money was worth £13.68 and Tottenham Hotspur were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.

 On 09/12/1961 the number one single was Tower of Strength - Frankie Vaughan . The top rated TV show was Coronation Street and the box office smash was One Hundred and One Dalmations. A pound of today's money was worth £13.25 Ipswich Town were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. The big news story of the day was Sunday Night at the London Palladium (ATV).

 On 09/12/1962 the number one single was Lovesick Blues - Frank Ifield and the number one album was On Stage with the Black & White Minstrels - George Mitchell Minstrels. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street and the box office smash was Lawrence of Arabia. A pound of today's money was worth £12.89 and Everton were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions

 On 09/12/1963 the number one single was She Loves You - The Beatles and the number one album was With the Beatles - The Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street and the box office smash was The Great Escape. A pound of today's money was worth £12.64 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. Christine Keeler arrives in prison to serve her sentence of nine months for perjury.

 On 09/12/1964 the number one single was Little Red Rooster - Rolling Stones and the number one album was A Hard Day's Night - Beatles. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street and the box office smash was Dr Strangelove. A pound of today's money was worth £12.24 and Manchester United were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions. Poet Edith Sitwell dies.

 On 09/12/1965 the number one single was The Carnival is Over - Seekers and the number one album was The Sound of Music Soundtrack. The top rated TV show was Coronation Street and the box office smash was The Sound of Music. A pound of today's money was worth £11.69 and Liverpool were on the way to becoming the Season's Division 1 champions.