Just looked at the picture of 'hippies on the beach'. In my previous comment on this site, I mentioned Wizz Jones, and lo and behold it is him sitting at the end of the boat, and I think it's me sitting there playing the guitar with him.

Thanks for that John. I thought nobody was going to respond to this photo. I wonder if the comment below raises up any vibes? It came from the 'Arches' page. Is there any chance one of the other blokes on the beach is the man called Rod, as he admitted in a recent interview that he was a hippie for a period in Brighton? Cheers.

"This brings back memories of days on Brighton beach helping Rod Stewart get back to London and inviting him to come visit Eel Pie Island. I spent a lot of time in Brighton and on the old barge at Shoreham."
By Dolores (17/06/2008)

I have memories of hippies and previously beatnicks, living on the beach at the bottom of West Street. A semi circle of dark pebbles. As a young teenager I was often in awe of them. Blankets on their backs and a 'freedom' that I so desperately wanted. Psychedelia at weekends (The cottage) and Patcham Fawcett during the week.

Wasn't there a woman who used to give them food? Chip butties I think it was. I used to hang out at the Cottage, smoking roll ups ("That isn't what I think it is, is it?" "No, just Sun Valley"). I remember getting thrown out of the King and Queen with my boyfriend of the time because "We don't want your sort in here". I used to dream about going on the road, like Jack Kerouac, but never had the courage. Oh well.

The woman on the beach who fed the hippies/beatnicks with fish, chips and butties was Mrs Smith. I was not one of them, but I know a man who was, he always speaks fondly of her. The fish and chips came from the chippy in Boyce's Street: she used to send one of them up there.

I haven't looked at this page for a while, but glad to see a few new comments. This might trip a few memories as well. Among the so called 'hippies' on the beach, especially Easter and other bank-holiday weekends, were Colin Hicks (Tommy Steele) as he was later known, Russel Quaye and the City Ramblers, Wizz, Long John Baldry, Cousin Will, Moxy, Pete Stanley and many, many more. There was also a fairly strong local contingent. I was just starting at the art school then and we all used to meet at Mrs: Q's - the landlady of the Running Horse in Black Lion Street, and after chucking out time, at The Ballad Tree just down the road next to what we called the New Bank. I lived upstairs at the Balad Tree for a short while, and one day when we lost our keys, Peter Green and myself climbed over the bank roof to try and get in; we were promtly arrested for attempting to break into the bank. At least, that's what they said. There was also the Easter 'Ban the Bomb' marches, when a whole lot of good intentioned people set out to Aldermasrton and at Clayton tunnel turned back, either to finish the day in the pub or 'doss' on the beach again. Later we all started going in the Cottage and the King and Queen, and Laurie Poore and myself played over the road in the Norfolk Arms. By this time, most of the so called Hippy Generation had stopped coming down to Brighton. Those days of the five o'clock milk train sadly died. Rod Stewart used to play with us all in the Heart and Hand in North Road too, and an Everly Brothers type duo called Chuck and Giddian who, eventually made it into the top ten at the time. Somewhere around that time I started the Country and Gospel Club at the Heart and Hand upstairs until it got so crammed full we had to move. We had all manner of guests who just seemed to drop by for the fun of it. Wizz played there, Pete Stanley, Tom Paxton, John Pearse and even Rod came up and played a couple of blues. (Nobody knew who he really was then, as he was trying to do a Dylan act.) Anyway great days, and I'd do it all again given half a chance. And, something I just remembered, somebody mentioned the house boat at Shoreham (and I pressume they also knew the Lady Jane pub) well, Stewart lived there for a while like us all, and Leo Sayer started from there. There was also a 'Maidstone Mick' and another little crowd who brought a beautiful Dutch barge down from the Medway to live on. I think the remains of it are still there, but not recognisable now.

Glad my picy raised so many memories for you John. I only saw Tommy Steele's brother in a Brighton pub on the Kings Road. Should have had my camera with me... As a matter of interest, what were the journalists up to, and were they from the Brighton and Hove Argus? Did you get interviewed?

It wasn't Tommy Steele John, it was his brother. Tommy real name Thomas Hicks was already famous in the 1960s. I'm almost sure his first hit was in 1956 and on the Decca label. Colin Hicks had also sung with skiffle bands on the seafront near the Palace Pier in the 1950s.

Lots of great stories about the 60s here. I'm currently working on a project about the music scene in Brighton during the 60s, if anyone would care to spend an evening over a pint and tape recorder please contact me at the following email address: smyth_johnson@yahoo.co.uk  Cheers.

I used to be with Mrs. Smith and occassionally bought the chips. I hung out with Girl Geordie, Mary Lytton and Hamish, and Shoreham John to name a few.

Just a quick one to correct a couple of facts by Peter Groves just for the sake of history. As a member of the "Hippie" group who well in my case lived on the beach by the subway has fond memories of Mrs Smith. She never for as long as I knew her purchased fish, it was always chips and one large white loaf no butties as such. I do remember being be-friended by the owner of the chip shop in Boyce's Street and turning up every night at closing time for the left overs. Huss, Huss and more Huss and to this day I do not eat fish an chips.

I was one of Mrs Smith's hippies for a summer - until I emigrated to Hastings! She was a curious lady and liked to chat for hours about our lives but we never found out much about hers. Does anyone remember an old hippy guy called Leo? He lived on the beach during the day but disappeared at night.

Leo Griggs! Lots of bead necklaces, liked to offend just before Xmas so he had somewhere to go. Even walked out in front of a bus and got a broken leg. Bonus that year!

Linda Brown:  Did you sleep under the West Pier then go to Newquay?

If anybody is interested, you can find wedding films of Tommy Steele and his brother (as best man) in the Pathe News site. They are very similar in looks, and I gather, part scandinavian in origin. The 'Steele' is a corruption of a family name from that past, and not an agent's addition for marketing purposes, although I suppose it came to the same thing in the end.

I lived on Brighton beach in 1965 and remember Zak, Sorrows, Reg and many others. We often rented a basement flat too, about 20 of us and sneaked it. Groovy Days. Pammie.

I remember Mrs. Smith well; she was always on the beach with her bread & chips. They opened up the arches for us to stay the night. We stayed on occasions underneath the miniature railway. The atmosphere was electric! I would not change anything, absolutely brilliant. Stayed some time on a boat in hove and ended up falling off the gangplank into the mud the boat was moored in. It was in the papers.

Sad to relate that Mrs Smith passed away in 2006, but she remembered everyone in her 'family' of beats and kept in contact with a few of us to the last. I remember Elaine, I think she had a sister, and I knew Hamish and girl Geordie very well, along with many others. Does anyone remember Shane who was always playing his guitar, sometimes practicing with a guy called Moose? I went busking round Europe with Shane a couple of times and we had a great time, but we always came back to Brighton beach, which was our base.

To Mrs Smith, she has gone but not forgotten. These letters sent in has brought happy memories to me. Well done.

I came to Brighton in the early Sixties from London and dossed down in the Mermaid Hotel on the seafront. There I met Jeff, Spike from Birmingham and Dave (Lucifer). When eleven o'clock came, the landlady used to knock on the door and utter those well dreaded words, "Guests please leave." We used to hide up in cupboards, under beds and behind doors. We used to frequent the seafront. There we met other hippies. There was Ann (I forget her second name), Fuzzy Bob, Mary and Twiggy (nickname). In the evening we used to go down and see Mrs Smith, famed for her chip buttys. There we used to while away the hours, talking. I also recall a chap called Leo. He used to open up the Archway for free coffees and a place to sit and talk. Does anyone recall Ghost, an Irish man with long ginger hair and a beard? Sometimes we use to pass the night away sleeping at a place called The Temple at Black Rock, or under boats. maurice-66@hotmail.com

The last email Adddress for Maurice Owen .mauriceto66@hotmail.com. has changed to maurice-66@mail.com

Yorkie, remember you well. Wasn't Maurice known as Lucifer or was that a different Maurice, lived on the house boat in Newhaven. My sister was Janet. Last time I saw you, you were visiting with cowboy's Jenny.

Sam "Moose" Mitchell died about 2006. If you google Sam Mitchell you will find a lot of information and a video of him playing in Denmark with a band called Sandrocks.

Hi I'm Elaine's sister, Janet, I remember Yorkie (mate of Dave Hale) and Maurice well. The former for his sheepskin waistcoat and boots, and Maurice for his evil grin! Also remember Lucifer, I gave him my rosary beads.

Sandmen was the band in Denmark that "Moose" was with, not Sandrocks.

Nice to remember Elaine and Janet, you brought sandwiches for Dave Hale and me one morning when we had dossed down in the field where you kept your pony, then you fed the horse. What became of Hamish? I remember visiting many years ago. Sad to learn of Sammy Mitchel passing away - I remember seeing him play his steel guitar on 'The Old Grey Whistle Test' one time and I know that he was playing with Long John Baldry's band for a while in the 70s. He was a nice guy and a talented musician. Maurice was the same one who lived on the houseboat at Newhaven, 'The Queen Leigh' and he had a friend called Lucifer. I am still in contact with Maurice. If anyone wants to get in touch with me, my e-mail address is : yorkiethelast@gmail.com.

Yorkie, I believe Hamish died. There is an obituary on the Blantyre ain website under his correct name. I haven't seen him since 1975. Also Monk died last year. I expect Janet told you that. Not many of us left now!

Janet, I did live on the houseboat in Newhaven. I do remember you. Sorry about the grin. I was just being friendly.I dont know what happened to Lucifer (Dave). I am still in contact with Yorkie. My email is maurice-66@mail.com

Has anybody else read V.T.Coughtrey Arch 167? Maurice you are in the "book". Google it.

Hi Elaine, Yorkie told me about Vic's masterpiece. I don't remember being like that. I never got involved with Dave's night time activities. I am embarrassed a bit by what he said. But that's life.

Just been reading Vic Stephen's (Coughtry) autobiography (Arch 167). Just to clarify, I am not the same 'Yorkie' that he mentions in one chapter (40 years old etc.) I was around 20 at that time, and I did know Vic, although not too well. There were several ex-Yorkshiremen like me unimanginatively known as 'Yorkie' in those days, before the advent of the chocolate bar!

I remember some of the events in the "book" but don't remember Vic being there! Nor on the boat!

Hi Elaine, Vic stayed with Dave and myself on the boat at Newhaven. He seemed at the time a down to earth person. I have been in contact with him he was upset about what he said about me. He never spoke of Mrs Smith do you remember her?, lovely lady.

I remember Melba Smith; you could set your clock by her. 6pm on the dot, bottom of West Street, immaculately dressed. I think a lot of the 'book' was from other people's experiences - written as his own.