UK: High Curly Stompers

Subject: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: Nemesis
Date: 08 Jul 02 - 08:36 PM

I'm fulfilling a promise to the man behind the Fish n Chip shop counter: went in with a poster for our festival and apparently not being very musical (altho' very helpful :) he'd only ever been to one musical gig in his life (30 years ago?) - which he'd never forgotten (well, I suppose one wouldn't) which was the High Curly Stompers a band from 'Bagshot way' Anyone ever know what became of them?

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,wounded
Date: 08 Jul 10 - 05:57 AM

Hi

you can get some search results by spelling Curley with an "e". Peter Honri was the pianist with this band and Chas McDevitt played banjo in the early days and the bass player was an Aldershot photographer. I used to see them each Sunday at The Cambridge Hotel, Camberley in the 60's

John

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Nov 10 - 03:11 PM

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,JTE
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 12:00 PM

High Curley Stompers 1962 - 1966

Band Personel    Bass         Neil Manders   (Founder)
                Drums       Len ?    (Sorry Can't recall)
                Banjo       Alan Brown (Replaced Chas McDevitt)
                Piano       Alan Thomas (    "    Peter Honri )
                Clarinet    Brian White ( Later formed Brian Whites
                                                Magna Jazz Band)
                Trumpet      Dave Stradwick
                Trombone    Peter Sherman also lead vocals

This band played regularly in the early sixties both at the Frimly Green village Hall, and the Cambridge Hotel Camberley.I was lucky enough to be friends with Trombone player Pete Sherman who will be celibrating his 80th brithday in December.
The highlights were always New Years Eve when guests included George Melly,and The Alberts. Other notables to sit in with the band were people such as Godfrey Dubber who played in the early Humpf band.
If any any of the above line up are on the net, I would love to here from you.
[e-mail]

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,Hootenanny
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 12:26 PM

Surely that should be Brian White's Magnolia Jazz Band and Humphrey Lyttelton).
Sorry if I am being pedantic.

Hoot

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,JTE
Date: 16 Nov 10 - 06:13 PM

Sorry Hoot
Humph Yes ( I never could spell)
Brian White No ???? I am sure it was the Magna Jazz Band ???
JTE

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,karen grover
Date: 25 Feb 11 - 04:21 PM

The drummer from the High curly stompers was called Len Downs he was
my Dad. Sadly he died 11 years ogo,he carried on playing the drums
for many years afterwards.

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 11 - 07:55 AM

The original trumpet player was Alan Roe, still living in Alton. Various trombones, Shoebridge was one and Norman Bull another. Early drummers were Bill Tottle and Bill Woodall (aka Billy Wayne) later of The Bob Miller Big Band. Derek Mills on piano from the RAE suceeded Peter Honri and Trevor Swale played alto & clarinet. This was circa 1952/54. At first the band played at The Victoria Hotel in Camberley, then at The White Hart across the bridge in Blackwater,the The before taking up residency at The Cambridge Hotel in Camberley for quite a few years

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,Peter Hill in New Zealand
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 05:07 AM

It was Brian Whites Magnolia jazz band, they used to play at the Red Lion in Sutton High Street, Sutton Surrey in the 50's. I know because I lived in Sutton and was their No. 1 fan and used to travel around with them, and Brian's Wife taught me to jive, oh so many years ago now!!

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: Dead Horse
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 06:20 AM

The man in the fish shop was obviously very impressed, as he never went to another gig in 30 years!!!!

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,Jim Ward
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 11:15 AM

It was and still is Brian White's Magna Jazz Band. The Magnolia Jazz Band was fronted by Mick Mulligan with a young & slim George Melly as singer.

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,Ray Whalle.
Date: 24 Oct 13 - 06:56 AM

Bill Tottle was indeed a drummer. Bill died around 2009/2010. Bit of a chequered history I am lead to believe for reasons best forgotten. He spent his last years at Grange Estate in Church Crookham, Fleet.

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,New Forest Dweller
Date: 17 Jan 14 - 09:03 AM

They were a really good Trad Jazz band and always had a good following. I used to go there most Saturday evenings when they were at the Cambridge Hotel then after at Frimley Green Village Hall. That's where I met my wife to be in 1961.

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,GUEST.John Ives. Australia
Date: 27 Jul 14 - 09:40 AM

I followed the Stompers from when they played at the Frimley parish church St. Peters church hall before going to Frimley Green.

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Dec 14 - 12:31 AM

Rod Parkinson, Sydney Australia i used to go frimley church hall in the late 50"s great band, knew Len Downs at Southern Instruments he was a supervisor, i was an apprentice.

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 19 Jan 16 - 11:08 AM

Jon Faraday. Switzerland. I too was an apprentice with Solartron in the '60's. Len was a production line supervisor while I was there. Super guy.

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,Tom Nicolson Caxton Street jazz band Brisban
Date: 14 Apr 16 - 10:40 PM

Great memories of Len at Solartron where I served my apprenticeship
in the 60's.

Len was a supervisor in the wiring dept. Len dabbled on piano but only played in the key of C.. Great sense of humour and encouraged me to drag out my trombone from under the bed ..We set up the Vic Collins Jazzmen (electronic eng) John Smith (sheetmetalworker)banjo
Dave MacD played Bass (progress chaser) Bill Tuttle drums too.
I followed the HCS with Mike Robinson also Solartron Guitar.Great days.
73 now and still going strong with a great band.

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,Paul Loughlin
Date: 13 Sep 16 - 06:48 PM

The first jazz club I ever went to was in Frimley Green village hall The High Curly stompers really got me into jazz and I have been hooked ever since. I have so many jazz records I can`t move for them.
Used to go to Camberley too and then to the Thames hotel Hampton Court and of course Eel Pie Island and many other jazz clubs.

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,Paul Loughlin
Date: 16 Jan 17 - 04:01 PM

Might I add, plenty of the 21st century Curly Stompers living in Barnsley, Bradford and Birmingham found of Incapacity benefits and D.L.A.as opposed to employment.

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,Ron simpson
Date: 02 Mar 19 - 10:40 PM

Played banjo with the band at Frimley church hall 1956 to May 57.lots of fun,we used together a beer at the White Hart on the break Emigrated to Canada now living in New Orleans since 1971.

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,Henry Piper (of Ottery)
Date: 03 Mar 19 - 05:55 AM

Extra Information,.... Peter (son of Percy ) Honri was also a brilliant performer on The Duet Concertina.

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,Roger christmas 12 april 2019
Date: 12 Apr 19 - 06:06 PM

High Curley is an area of heath rough ground near Bagshot I used to go there to watch motorcycle scramble racing      BUT more importantly i used visit.the High Curley Stompers at the White Hart on the London road at Blackwater with about six pals.One had the use of the family butchers van which had to be scrubbed out before slipping in some Aldershot and Traction old bus seats and off we would go The sessions were hed in an upstairs room where we sat on hard old chairs. The music was just so new and different l was spellbond The only name i remember is Chas Macdiviitt. In the break there was a raffle thats how i got my first blues record. Happy days

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST,Karen Grover .
Date: 01 Mar 20 - 04:54 PM

I am Len Downs daughter and very proud to say that. It's so nice to read some of the above memories of a great man. He was a fantastic Dad and a fantastic drummer.

Subject: RE: UK: High Curly Stompers
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jun 20 - 08:27 PM