Dancing the Night Away in Bexley

Dancing to live music was a popular way to spend the evening in the 1950s and 60s.

Welling’s Embassy Rooms held Old Times Dances on Mondays with more modern Rock ‘n’ Roll dancing on other days of the week.

‘Teen Beat’ was on Saturday afternoons, according to adverts in local newspapers. Dancing at Crayford Town Hall on Fridays was accompanied by Allan Billington and his Grosvenor Music band, while Rock ‘n’ Twist nights were accompanied by bands like The Kenny Franks Orchestra, Jason Black & The Avengers, and Nero & the Gladiators.

The Black Prince in Bexley held Jazz Night on Mondays with entertainment including Acker Bilk, Eric Silk and Alex Welsh. Sunday was rhythm and blues night, and in 1967 the audience welcomed Ben E. King who was considered one of the world’s greatest singers at the time.

Entertaining the crowds during 1968 were Joe Cocker, the Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart, and Derek and the Dominos featuring Eric Clapton. Rod Stewart returned with The Faces in 1970. Jazz bands also performed on Mondays at the Station Hotel in Sidcup (the site now occupied by the Iron Horse) and on Thursdays at The Woodman in Blackfen.

Where did you go to hear music in the past? What bands did you see? And what music venues do you go to now? Which musicians will we be reminiscing about in 30 years’ time?

The American War of Independence: 250 years

This year will mark the 250th anniversary of the American Declaration of Independence made by the Continental Congress in Philadelphia. Bexley people were involved in the struggle, either directly or indirectly.

Lt Col Adam Williamson, whose father-in-law was Thomas Jones of East Wickham, had led the Royal Irish Regiment to victory at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. John Boyd of Danson House suffered massive losses when the French captured St Kitts, destroying much of his sugar plantations there. John Johnstone, who would buy Danson House from Boyd’s son in 1807, was a Captain in the 62nd Foot Regiment and was taken captive at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777.

Lord Le Despencer, the owner of Hall Place, was a friend of Benjamin Franklin and an advocate for compromise with the rebels. By contrast George Calvert, son of his lordship’s tenant Richard, was an officer in the Coldstream Guards stationed in North America and may have fought at the Seige of Yorktown in 1781.

The Black Prince, Bexley, 1950 and The Embassy Rooms, Welling, 1951

Crayford Town Hall, 1960s and The Woodman, Blackfen, 1962

Advert, Bexleyheath Observer 1962