Raves from the Grave's new premises

Frome's record shop has moved into new premises. Very good it looks too. Loads of space and an upstairs. Used to be Telefringe - a TV and Hi-fi retailer - my brother worked there in the 80s. 

The Blue House Frome

Built in 1726 at a cost of £1,401 8s 9d, it replaced a previous almshouse dating from 1461 (and rebuilt in 1621). The Blue House provided accommodation for 20 female widows, and schooling for 20 boys, and the front of the building is adorned by two statues, one of a man, colloquially known as "Billy Ball", and one a woman called "Nancy Guy", indicating the building's dual role. Its role as a school ceased in 1921, and it now provides studio and one bedroom flats for 17 elderly residents.[2]

See a sketch of it in the 18thc . 
Wikipedia

Two figures used to flank the front door now at the back

Happy St Patrick's Day

This I have been waiting to post since I saw this film about 4 weeks ago. Basically the kids run away from a wicked uncle to Ireland arriving on Patrick's day. Cue cliches

The Two Killings Of Sam Cooke (2019)

Watch ReMastered: The Two Killings Of Sam Cooke on Netflix:https://www.netflix.com/in/title/8019...

The Mountain by Ralph Mitchard aged 15

Had a request to post the short story I wrote so I scanned it from the school magazine. Pic of me at school at Sexey's

Timpo U.S. Cavalry

Anyone remember these? Not painted but assembled parts of different colours. 

Norton Hill Colliery 1908. Midsomer Norton - pit disaster

Continuing about my Grandfather

Following along after the Great War my Grandfather (mines rescue in the tunnels) went back underground but he remained on the reserve and during the 1921 miners strike got called up for the Royal Engineers. I have a pay slip from that time. They were sent to the Kent coalfield. But unrest was in the air and my Grandfather and his colleagues agreed that if they were called to shoot they would refuse the orders and shoot the officers. Of course it didn't come to that. But an interesting footnote to his army career.

https://www.tolpuddlemartyrs.org.uk/story/tuc-150/hard-times-and-unrest/somerset-and-bristol-miners

Expeditionary Force 60mm Hundred Years War

Some lovely plastic figures for the 100 YW - see them here

The Devil's Music BBC 1976

This book of a TV series by the BBC wasn't my first or the best blues book I had but it is significant to me as I won it in an essay writing competition at school. I was a really bad apple at school constantly being caned and getting into trouble so it was a major thing for me. Slightly embarrassing having my short story 'The Mountain' printed in the school magazine but a free book is a free book. I maybe one day will post the story - it's set in the Franco-Prussian war - well I was 16 OK

Below is a clip from the series

Oh Mr Porter (1937) full movie

Will Hay (1888-1949), one of the greatest British comedians ever, in what many consider to be his greatest comedy ever! 

Frome school c1775 unknown artist

This is the centre of town before shops were built in the bridge. We used to call it the Blue school. See what it looks like now
Has interesting figures of children set in recesses in the front. Building dates from 1736.

New mining blog

Thought I would put all the mining movies and stuff in the same place so started this blog https://coalminingmovies.blogspot.com/
Tell your friends

The 1976 BBC adaptation of "How Green Was My Valley" starring Stanley Baker and Siân Phillips .

Article on the author.
Watched the John Ford version today and thought had it ever been remade and it has with real Welsh locations and Welsh actors.
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6

Battle of George Square 1919 31 January

The "Battle of George Square" was a violent confrontation in Glasgow, Scotland between Glasgow City Police and striking Glasgow workers, centred around George Square. The 'battle', also known as "Bloody Friday" or "Black Friday", took place on Friday 31 January 1919^[1], 82 days after the end of the First World War. In its aftermath the leaders of the strike were arrested and British troops, supported by six tanks, were moved to key points in Glasgow and its surrounding areas^[2]. There were no fatalities.^[3]

50 years ago today - the Beatles rooftop concert

A year since Mark E Smith died

Glossy photo sent out by the fanclub in the 90s

First ever UK miners strike - Kingswood 1738

1738; Colliers strike against a cut in wages. A week of mayhem against Bristol. A regiment of foot march into Kingswood to break the strike. More here
and here

Dummy board of a redcoat in 1738

A Recruiting Party

A Recruiting Party (including infantry and light dragoons, drinking and smoking in a tavern)

Tyning colliery Radstock

When my brother was down he bought me some negatives from Dustland Antiques a veritable treasure trove in Midsomer Norton. He knew it was a pit but that was all - I recognised the pics as of Tyning colliery Radstock (see map from 1906) and its spoil heap 'the batch' that took waste from other collieries. I gave them to Joe's Image Works a Norton picture restorer/digitising service and the results can be seen here. 

Bo Diddley's 90th birthday

Bo Diddley would have been 90 today. Saw him in Bristol. My brother's first ever gig - he reminded me when he was last visiting. He came with us and was well underage. We went into a pub beforehand and I apparently said be discreet and he promptly knocks a pint over Sue's legs. Funnily enough that memory had been extinguished. Was supposed to be playing Frome but had a stroke. Sad

Gene Vincent Rock and Roll Singer 1969 UK Tour Documentary

Very engaging documentary about one of his last tours. An early fly on the wall it's quite tragic. 

Fighting Radstock

Moses Horler's recollections are an insight into early Radstock before the coming of the railways in the 1860s. Extracts are printed in the book Radstock reminisces available from the Museum.
'However, I am sorry to be obliged to tell you, that when I was quite a boy, there was a great deal of fighting amongst the colliers here at Radstock and neighbourhood, and remember it as quite a common thing for these fights to last nearly an hour, and sometimes if the battle was not finished on Saturday nights, it would actually begin again on Monday, and they would even lose a day's work to finish it, and some of the gentry would go and see those fights, and I am afraid they sometimes helped to keep the battle going, by backing up one side or the other.'

Rolling Stones Gather Moss (1964) | British Pathé

Fun short

Difazio's of Frome

Andy Westlake wrote the above article for MCN.

All Good For the High Street - the Terraplanes

This is our new CD. Buy here. It was recorded in Midsomer Norton High Street hence the title. Music Post-punk. 

Bands at Coleford British Legion

Back in the 60s the small mining village of Coleford Somerset hosted some pretty memorable gigs. Lulu & the Luvvers, Them and the Pretty things are some of the names from the 60s.

No Thankful Village Chris Howell

The Great War centennial was good and popular. Yesterday BBCTV screened Peter Jackson's documentary 'They Shall Not Grow Old'. This made me dig out this book on the impact of the Great War on Radstock and Norton and surrounding villages. It's a great read and still available from Radstock Museum.

Huge crowds for the Remembrance parade in MIdsomer Norton.

Peterloo movie

Saw this last night. Very impressive. Best historical piece I have seen for ages. The cinema wasn't packed which is a shame so go see this flick and support good filmmaking. Starts a bit poorly with a Waterloo sequence but don't let that put you off.

Little Johnny Guitar - the terraplanes (Animals & Men)

Song off our new album 'All Good for the High Street'. This song is dedicated to Johnny Thunders.
Band are Susan Wells Celia Mitchard vocals Ralph Mitchard guitar Dave Mackay bass and Andy Payne drums. Recorded by Minho Si at Sounds Involved Midsomer Norton, All rights reserved 2018.

Gene Vincent playing pinball

On the anniversary of his death

Eddie Cochran 80 th birthday

Last weekend enthusiasts marked this occasion by having his memorial in the A4 refurbished and improved.

RIP Otis Rush

One of the truly great blues guitarists has passed away.

Thunders Room 37 (2019)

A movie about Johnny Thunders' last days in New Orleans. The above video has scenes from it.

Mindsomer Norton High Street

Old days when it was a brewery.

Bob's Palais in Midsomer Norton. The Swinging Blue Jeans and Tornadoes played there. My Uncle Graham tells me the queue was for the cinema the Palladium. See below

Midsomer Norton Wetherspoons Palladium Electric

Today we visited the new Spoons in Norton. We had free meal and drinks vouchers it doesn't open til Tuesday. Was very good - it's in the old cinema which opened in 1913. It's about 2 doors from 

Celia 's new salon so we hope it brings in new footfall.

Pic by Shane

Celia's Place Midsomer Norton

Daughter is running her own salon.