53 Club

Wee Mac · 53 Club

Has anyone got any dits about the 53 Club.

How much money, did Deal key cutters make from this little enterprise ?

Nick B

Still got my key Mac! I think the last time I was in there someone had left a deposit in a Jenny Wrens handbag!!

Anyone? Hmmmmmmmmm

riknoc310

I Bet Olive could fill a few pages up.

2nd Clarinet

I wonder how much money was spent in there over the years?

sticky blue

The down fall of many a young Bandy/Bugler -

admin

I know the guy in the 'WREN's Handbag incident'.
He did the deed, I can't quite remember why he did it though. I met up with him only a couple of years back and he is now a lorry driver but just as fit as he was way back.
I remember the story about Olive's dog, an elastic band and a lack of testicles on the aforementioned canine within a few weeks... Olive was not happy at all. I don't know if anyone ever confessed to Olive, if they had, she'd have killed them!

MrJpig

2nd Clarinet

I remember being 'dragged' there for the first time by Roger Whitehouse, Chick Murray and other un-named Staff Band drinkers.
It became a usual waterhole to visit along with the RMA on subsequent visits to Deal for those times of Massed Bands, IS Courses etc, etc.

RAB

.53 Club was the very place we discovered a peak cap CAN'T hold 3 pints...

... When the owner of the cap discovered we'd used it to settle the argument, he decided to 'share' the contents amongst us...

.. Ooooooooooooooh what a beer throwing event followed that one....

Something tells me you were there DAN..???

Hornblower

I can always remember going in, but that's about it I'm afraid.

We used to have 'clothing runs' to Deal from Chatham and got the clothing business over very quickly - then straight to the 53.

I then remember one of our number vomiting out the back of the car on the way back.

Wish I could remember the name of the bulger driving (no longer with us I'm afraid) I know we were in a Ford Corsair - anyone know who I'm trying to remember?

2nd Clarinet

Stu
Re Burgal with a Corsair Car.

Can't remember the vehicle so unable to help there, but......

These are the names of the 'Thin Red Line' from Chatham that I can remember. (Sorry to anyone I have missed out)

Robbie Appleby
Malc Belcher
Chris Brookbank
Al Brooking
Bob Brooks
Andy Croft
Dave Dawson
‘Albert’ Hall
Addy Harper
Bob Patching
Mac McGill
Philpot
Alan Piner
Gary Powell
Mick Saywell
Paddy Weeks
Bernie Winters

Does it help?

admin

To add to the above:
Mick Stone
Jesse James
Greg Barrat
Marc Peers
Paul LeClaire
Spud Baker
Me!
Andy Travis
Arthur 'Acid' Webb

Hornblower

2nd Clarinet

Don't leave me in suspense...........

Who was it?

Hornblower

The clue is in the thread Bob - he's sadly no longer with us

Work it out.

btw, 'Albert' Hall was never called that, he was always Henry.

Mr Bass Trombone

Please do not forget Buralars ,
John Adamson and Dougie Drysdale.

2nd Clarinet

Hornblower

Nor me neither too.

Actually, I am supposed to salute JA as he's an Inspector in my venerable Force. Don't see him very often nowadays though.

(Never did salute him either - he'd have bitten me head off if I'd done that...)

Mr Bass Trombone

THe 53 Club Ah yes I remember it well, as I recall it first opened its doors in 1960 or 61, the first owners were the same two people that had that other well known establishment in Deal the Strand Cafe, a pair of scoundrels by the names of Wally and Ezzard, at that time it was the only club of that kind in Deal, in later years another one opened its doors along the sea front the other side of the Royal Hotel, was never as popular with us locals though to far to travel. In those early day's it was a different lay out, as you got to the top of the stairs and entered in the bar was dirrectly on your left. I cannot recall if it was Geoff(spanner) Winter or Stanley Bugles who used eye up some poor unsuspecting stranger buy a bottle of light ale consume half retop the bottle with P$"^ and introduce himself having bought this person a drink, did buy him a real drink after everyone had a laugh at the poor lads expense. Happy day's long gone never to return but the memory linger's on.

Nick B

Does anyone remember the 'Opposition' at the other end of Deal in the form of the 'Pink Shell & North Beach Club'?

Mr Bass Trombone

Yep I do, I did mention the opposition in my post but I could not recall the name but I now remember, thank you.

Wee Mac

jackbarker

I was in the 53 one night/early morning when the late Charles Autrey of carry on film fame came up the stairs. He was dressed in a denim suit with denim cap and matching hand bag. He was camper than a row of pink tents but he was buying the wets and we were having a good laugh,until, he pinched a GD Marines ar$e. The bloke took great exception to this and launched said person from top to bottom of the stairs. Rousing cheers from all.
The 53 club also had one of the oldest jukeboxes on record. If I remember correctly it had the theme from 633 squadron on it and many a golden oldie.
There was a cafe underneath Sids if I have it right. Us Buglers used to go for brekkie until we moved practice rooms (card schools) from east to north barracks.

bootybandy

One of the Cafes close to the 53 was Pegasus'. Every Sunday morning the likes of Townsergeant, Taff Higgins, Goldie, Butch Rutter, Clive Alison and Moi would order a Beans on Toast and a pot of Tea. Luverly.....

Wee Mac

I thought the Pegasus was situated further in town, by the round about on the sea front. When I was in training, the M Wing Drum Major was Joe Davies and his wife worked there. Maybe the cafe you refer to was St Christopers ?

Didn't Clive Alison become a Booty Officer?

2nd Clarinet

Pegasus Cafe and the St Christopher's Cafe.....

Location wise, even I can't remember which was which.

All I do know is that, bloody good scran was served in both.......(plus one had a lovely young girl (daughter of owner?) serving in one of them, and that also helped the digestion (very astute marketing ploy).

bootybandy

Oohh well done Bob, It was St Christophers..... Memory shot to bits with too many beans !!

The girls at St Christophers, that was the reason why we went there....

Clive Alison did change over to be a Booty, but he became a Drill Instructor, and was tragically killed in Plymouth, Stonehouse after an altercation. I think in the late 70's early 80's. Townsergeant will know.

Hornblower

2nd Clarinet

joe90

Pegasus is now Dunkerley's, another fine restaurant. Had my leaving do with SO(M)s dept in there.

Mr Bass Trombone

The Cafe below the 53 club was the Strand cafe. Pegasus has been located, but can any of you remember Lings in the narrow strip of road by the Royal Hotel?????? Old man Ling assisted by his wife used to B&B at a very good rate as well.

Wee Mac

joe90

bootybandy

Nick B

Bomber

I thought the cafe under the 53 was Alfs Cafe or was that the name of the guy that run it. He left there and went across the road to the toilets after and made that a cafe we called it Alf's Crapper.
The afore mentioned wren got her handbag crapped in because she had just bought it and was bragging that no one would be able to do it. We kept her talking while royal whisked it away and done the biz in it. Laugh.

townsergeant

eastney hooker

The Strand Cafe. A tremendous Sunday breakfast seved with chips. Mmmmmmmmm yummy. Fond memories.

jackbarker

Nice one Bomber, Alfs it was.
Called the Strand but known to one and all as Alfs
Fish finger sarnies with vinegar what was I thinking of!!

Wee Mac

Can we have more dits about the 53 please, which was the intended Topic theme !

townsergeant

MrJpig

Nick B

Wee Mac

Wee Mac

Did anyone go to that club upstairs, It was called ?

2nd Clarinet

The Churchill Club??????

Mr Bass Trombone

Spin some then Wee Mac you seem to be well informed. Mmmmmmm

Wee Mac

RAB

2nd Clarinet

What happened in the club, stays in the club.........

joe90

Mr Bass Trombone

I agree Rab one usually was in two and eight on leaving

the said establishment, did pull a bird or two at sometime up there, well it may have been a Grannie

, when one is a ickle Mozart and lissed, it is only when you wake up you think who the F£$% are you

, and did I really

???????

dustydrums · busted

10th July 1985. popped up for a drink to celebrate the birth of my daughter, and happened to be the only Royal there that night, lots of civvies, and got caught in the police raid. Eventually got fined £60.

Ginge Deary

What a den of iniquity the '53' Club was. That was why I would only visit it frequently and under protest!

The only person I knew to be thrown out of it by the management was Charles Hawtrey, the Carry On actor. What a pain in the rear he was. (I only know this from what friends have told me - not by personal experience!)

geushky

I have a number of vague recollections from the 53. One particular occasion was after a Training Company 'cultural day' (in the early 80's) to somewhere in Belgium where we had gone on the instruction of the CSM (Mick Jones) to top up on hard core porn and have a few beers. Back in the UK after a long day on the pi$$ and despite OC’s Parade early the following morning some of us decided to carry on the shenanigans at the 53. I was apparently last seen with by boot in his CSM’s chest pulling on his tie.

Whilst on Parade the following morning, with the majority of Try Coy feeling the worst for wear, the CSM marched out of his office (in the same clothes as the previous day) halted in front of me, pointed to the boot print clearly displayed on his shirt and said “STAINES, I believe THIS belongs to YOU!”.

A pretty disappointing day out as I’d left my porn on the bus...

Jim R mason · 53 Cub

Not strictly a "Dit" about the 53 Club (of which I have my own memories!) but relevant to a recent entry on the forum.

When resident at Zeebrugge House we were returning home at about 1.00 a.m. after an evening out, to find the aforementioned Charles Hawtrey - very drunk and past caring- tied to the front gate!!
We took him in and dosed him with black coffee until he rejoined the world and I sent him home in a taxi.

He was very vague about the circumstances that led to him being in this situation - but now I have a pretty good idea!!

Wee Mac

Brilliaint !!

That certainly qualifies, as a 53 club dit !

Malc Belsher

Anyone remember the two GD's coming into the 53 one with a lead and the other on all fours with a dog collar round his neck, one on the floor had 'DOG' written on his back. He was given an ashtray of slops to drink........all was fine till a jenny wren tripped over him and then kicked him. Guy holding the lead said 'Don't kick my f'/.,.ing dog and decked the Wren. (Al Blackshaw was there i think).

admin

I recently met the guy who took a dump in the WREN's handbag in the 53 club many moons ago. He did get a swift draft and it seems she followed him... needless to say, he was moved on once again as soon as draft figured out the faux pas

Wee Mac

He got a Pier Head dump jump then !

Len

FOSNI band ysed to have "clothing" runs from Arbroath to Deal.. some were genuine trips for new tunic/trousers etc. but most of us ran into stores, bought a pair of socks then up to the 53 for the duration. Can't remember getting back to Aberbrothock.

Wee Mac

A bloody long way, to go for a pint !

Mr Bass Trombone

Can't remember getting back to Aberbrothock??? can you remember buying a Pairofsocks?????

Len

I couldn't even remember getting to Deal... overnight train from Edinburgh, getting to the hallowed town for brekkers, no socks and then a forgettable trip back, £50 lighter. and a bolloking from her to boot.

53 Club

busted

53 Cub