Paddington Pandemonic Express

Subject: RE: Paddington Pandemonic Express
From: Tony Rees
Date: 06 Apr 24 - 02:40 AM

I found a photo from my archive that never got printed, so thought it might be of interest to share now! It is of the Pads at the Chestnuts Folk Day, Walthamstow, 1985, together with the accompanying band "Left Luggage". Enjoy!

Paddington's Pandemonic Express (dancers), Chestnuts Folk Day 1985

A companion shot showing the band only was posted earlier (2018), it is here:
Left Luggage, band for the dance team "Paddington's Pandemonic Express", at the 1985 Chestnuts Folk Day

Regards - Tony

Subject: RE: Paddington Pandemonic Express
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 06 Dec 18 - 06:58 PM

The first time I saw the Pads was when they danced out with Herga at a Bruce's pub in the 1970s, so I guess that would have been the Fettler and Firkin....

Kitty

Subject: RE: Paddington Pandemonic Express
From: banjoman
Date: 06 Dec 18 - 05:34 AM

They did come to the now defunct Whitchurch Festival in Hampshire in the late 1980's. They seemed to name all their dances after London Stations. Never seen anything like it, or so good, since

Subject: RE: Paddington Pandemonic Express
From: Tony Rees
Date: 05 Dec 18 - 03:53 PM

Above I wrote:

> I went to a Paddingtons gig on one occasion only - Porchester Hall, London in 1985

I subsequently discovered this is incorrect, I have some photos of the Pads from Chestnuts Folk Day 1985; the band is here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Tony_1212#/media/File:Chestnuts_Folk_Day_1985-1.jpg

For other pics you can PM me or send me an email at tonyrees49 (at) gmail.com.

Cheers - Tony

Subject: RE: Paddington Pandemonic Express
From: Tony Rees
Date: 03 Dec 18 - 12:49 PM

So we nearly met again along the way - only one or two degrees of separation (for others' benefit, we were at school together in Coventry, have not met up in 45 years plus!) - although have more recently corresponded in virtual space!

Subject: RE: Paddington Pandemonic Express
From: GUEST,nickp etc
Date: 03 Dec 18 - 09:31 AM

Indeed, Tony!

Subject: RE: Paddington Pandemonic Express
From: Tony Rees
Date: 03 Dec 18 - 05:39 AM

nickp, are you Nick Pilley perchance? Or other...

Subject: RE: Paddington Pandemonic Express
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 03 Dec 18 - 04:15 AM

Sam Stephens.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Paddington Pandemonic Express
From: GUEST,nickp (cookiless)
Date: 03 Dec 18 - 04:06 AM

The frontal band photo... from left... is that Trevor Bennett, Nigel Carter, possibly Dan Quinn, Sam (surname escapes me) at back and Ralphie? Corrections on a postcard please!

Nick

Subject: RE: Paddington Pandemonic Express
From: Tony Rees
Date: 02 Dec 18 - 01:58 PM

Hi George and others,

I went to a Paddingtons gig on one occasion only - Porchester Hall, London in 1985 - and have posted some photos (not great quality but historic interest) at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Tony_1212#/media/File:Paddingtons_Pandemonic_Expess,_London_1985-1.jpg onwards.

You might also check my other thread at A repository for your music pictures... for some more discussion.

Regards - Tony

Subject: RE: Paddington Pandemonic Express
From: nickp
Date: 21 Aug 12 - 04:06 AM

Having extracted the tape to disc, these are live recordings made (I guess) for dance practices without band or to teach potential musicians. Squeeze boxes, brass, drums. Each track has an ensemble announcement of the title.

However, Will's Way and the start of Fairlop have been over-recorded by what appears to be the band working on a couple of tunes at a practice (people talking and a dog barking in an echo-ey hall). I can't recognise either of the two in the tune book - but then my sight reading is almost nil. Let's see, that's a black note and it goes up a bit then there's one that goes down etc etc....

Subject: RE: Paddington Pandemonic Express
From: nickp
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 04:26 PM

George, I also have a casette of the tunes (Kerry's Thirst, Piccadilly Circus, Off The Rails, Turnham Green, Northfields, Upminster, Euston Square, Notting Hill Gate, Paddington Special, London Links, Will's Way, Fairlop). I have no idea of the quality (or if it has calling over) and it'll take a lot of technical jiggery pokery to get it digitised but I can do that if required. I can get it to Towersey to pass on at the Sunday teatime formal event(!).

Ps yes same 'book'.

Subject: RE: Paddington Pandemonic Express
From: GUEST,George Frampton
Date: 17 Aug 12 - 03:38 AM

My mistake: 4 pages with a cover dated October 1988. Must be the same. There was one tune/dance I couldn't identify: a polka with an octave drop (twice) in the first bar of the B music which was not in Nigel's MS.

I'm sure I took loads of photos, but I've only retained two for my own archive, taken in Felixstowe in 1984 (before they 'blued' up! The remainder must in the 7Champs scrapbooks which I had until 1993.

Subject: RE: Paddington Pandemonic Express
From: nickp
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 04:22 PM

Found it - 4 pages of tunes so I guess it might be the same. Let me know if not.

Nick

Subject: RE: Paddington Pandemonic Express
From: nickp
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 08:55 AM

Nige Carter gave me a photocopy of the tunes many years ago. More than 3 pages I think. I may see him at Towersey (I will see Kerry) and will try and find a complete set.

Subject: Paddington Pandemonic Express
From: GUEST,George Frampton
Date: 16 Aug 12 - 08:28 AM

Reminiscence Time!

I've been going through my photo and tape archive trying to piece together the 'Pads', who were around in the 19080s. Most of what I recall comes from my time in the 7Champions, although my recordings also come from stands they did at Towersey. Pads morphed into a team called 'Black and Blue' before folding.

To those that never saw or heard them, their dance repertoire was inspired by the 7Champs' treatment of the Cambridge feast dances which was then transmuted to barn dance figures by Pads. The team self-styled themselves as 'Urban Molly' - an all female team wearing soft felt hats, collarless blue shirts, dark trousers, and monkey boots. More memorable too was their band: Dan Quinn and Trevor Bennett from Flowers & Frolics, Ralph Jordan, Sam Stephens & Anne Lennox-Martin, a trumpeter (whose name I can't recall), and Nigel Carter, using mainly self-composed polkas and marches.

Most of the dances were composed by Kerry Fletcher, but I recall few of its other members (Sue 'E-T', Mary Fox?)

I've been in touch with both Kerry, Nigel and Dan. Kerry's notes are with the Morris Federation, as is three pages of some of their tunes. Most of my recordings have me talking over the music to give a rough notation so are largely an aide memoire.

I'd be interested to hear from ex-members, esp anyone else who might have recorded the band, who also went under the name 'Left Luggage' as the sound they made was utterly splendid!