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A Reunion of "The
Depot" - Fifty Years On
Yes... it's been mentioned on Simply Whitstable in the past and now it will
become a reality..... because Ivan Knowles is hoping to arrange a reunion of all
members of the private "Depot" club of the late 1950s and early
1960s. It will all take place at the Marine Hotel on 10 September 2011.
Of course, there is a problem! Where are all those club members
now?!!! And, that's where Simply Whitstable can help.... by spreading the word and
tracking them down. We supply a list of names below..... but, first, let's take a
look at the history of it all
The Depot Club
The Depot started life during the winter of 1959/60 and lasted a couple of
years. It was the brainchild of a handful of local youngsters - including John
Fryer, Ray Leeden, Robin Tubb (sadly no longer with us), Mick Croft, Alan Biggs
and Ivan.
There wasn't a lot of cash around in the pockets of youngsters in those
days..... but there was a lot of enterprise and invention. They hired an
upstairs lockup room at the yard of local builders Stanley Reeves of Warwick
Road... and called it The Depot. The rent was "30 bob" per week
(£1-10 s in old money or £1.50 in the decimal coinage of today).
Warwick Road Building Today
It was dark
and there was no heating... but they made it homely using old carpets and
furniture that had been discarded by their parents. In a message to the Simply
Whitstable Visitors Book in 2005, Sue Pidford described it all as follows....
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I remember the Depot as being in the loft of a builders yard - accessed by
wooden steps. The interior was dark and strewn with cushions. An old piano
served as a bar.
Sue Pidford - 21/10/05 |
The Depot private members
club was now fully furnished.... and alive and kicking. It all sounds very easy.... until Ivan explains it in a bit more detail. The
room was only accessible via a ladder and a doorway that was
just 4 ft high!!! The biggest problem was installing the bar - an upright
piano from which the innards had been extracted in order to make way for ale.
Mick Croft under that low roof with the
infamous
" piano bar" in the background
Beer supplies came from the nearby Sovereign pub in Victoria Street. The
photo below shows members of the Depot at the doors of the
pub.....
Of course, the Sovereign closed some years ago but, for one
Depot member, it hasn't totally disappeared.... because he has the
pub's original beer pumps in his home in West Vancouver. That of
course is another fascinating story.... and one that you might
like to read on our "Pieces of Old Whitstable"
section (click
here to view).
Despite its humble circumstances, "The Depot" became a place to
"hangout" and kept the youngsters off the streets during that austere time between
the aftermath of WWII and the impending affluence of the Swinging Sixties.
Above: Teddy Backhouse
and sister Sue performing one of their classic mimes.
The wallpaper was carefully chosen from three different
rolls and the window drapes added a touch of
sophistication. Power was fed from the ceiling light
socket to drive the record player in the background. In
the 1950s, T-fittings could be obtained to achieve this
and many people installed them. Fortunately, such things
have long since been outlawed and, hopefully, they are no
longer available!!! If you still have one, get rid of it
and call a qualified electrician to fit a proper wall
socket!!!! |
In fact, it was perhaps the start of young people using their initiative
and invention to cater for and entertain themselves rather than become clones of
their parents. It could be argued that it was just such creativity that cleared
the way and set the scene for the Sixties to become truly
"Swinging".
Eventually the Depot was relocated to the Warwick Road end of the building
where there was a safer and more sensible entrance. Things were done
"proper" - including documentation. Evidence of this remains to this
day as Ivan explained in a Simply Whitstable visitors book entry back in October
2005....
| My cousin Annette Brightman (nee Stringer) still carries her membership card
Ivan Knowles |
The Depot's Demise
Whilst youngsters of the late fifties were inventive and did some things
"proper", they weren't so knowledgeable in legal matters. As a result,
not all things were done "proper" with regard to 1950s alcohol laws...
which prompted Ray Leeden to describe the club as "under the radar"
in a recent message in the Simply Whitstable Visitors Book!
The absence of a "drinks" license attracted the interest of
the local constabulary... and the organisers were summoned to the Bexley Street
police station for an informal lecture by Sergeant Sandford. Thus, the Depot's
short life came to an end.... BUT the memories live on around the globe and it
is now time to celebrate them by bringing everyone back for a reunion and
a few "above the radar" drinks at the Marine Hotel!!!!
The Depot Reunion
It is hoped that the reunion will take place as follows....
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Reunion of Members
of The Depot
7.30 pm 10 September 2011
Marine Hotel, Marine Parade,
Whitstable
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Attendees will not be required to shift a piano
up a ladder or carry it through a 4 ft high door. However, if you still
have some ten shilling notes handy, please bring them with you as it is
possible that several weeks rent is still owed to Stanley Reeves.
Members and friends wishing to attend should contact Simply Whitstable
as follows....
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We will pass messages on to Ivan Knowles.
Can You Spread the News and Make
Contact?
Ivan is already aware of some of the The Depot membership...... including
John Fryer, Ray Leeden, Mick Croft, Alan
Biggs, Sarah Carlton, Roger Payton, the Backhouse family (Ted and his
sister Susan) and Hazel Mew.
However, other names have been mentioned for which Ivan no longer has contact
details.... such as David Lomax, Philip Rapley, Terry Richards, Gordon
Bartlett, Anne Boothman, Derek Comfort, Dave Jones, Mick Roberts, Dennis Sexton and
Roy Kendal.
You may find that there is a connection with Seasalter Golf
Club and/or Herne Bay rowing club as it is known that some Depot
members took up "seven irons" and oars in later years.
If anyone knows these people, could they mention the reunion to them
and invite them to make contact with us. There may also be others whose names escape us for the moment. If you know of
any Depot members that we have missed, please let us know.
Finally, does anyone have photos of The Depot? These would help us establish
a permanent page about the club on Simply Whitstable.
Over to you folks. We have a couple of weeks to come up with the goods!!!!
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