Philippa
Fawcett College
This
small College of Education was technically part of London University.
It was in Leigham Court Road, London SW16. Near to Streatham High
Road on the A23. I attended it between 1968-1971. For such a small
college, it had a series of hard working Social Secretaries who
worked hard to bring some remarkable acts in for Rag Balls, Formal
Balls, Dances and Concerts. Sometimes we staged events in
conjunction with other colleges such as Marjohn's or Chesterton
Annexe. The Leigham Court Road building had a newly-designed “In
the Round” Main Hall, with a superbly equipped stage. A stage I
came to know well and work upon regularly over the three years I
attended,as I was studying Drama. The Main building is all still in
place though the college and Halls closed years ago.
College Bands
Although I missed a few S.U. Events,
amongst bands or artists appearing at Philippa's during that period
were: Perishers, Elmer Gantry's Velvet Opera, Raw Material, Atomic
Rooster, Episode Six,The Groundhogs, John Lee Hooker, Eclection,
Champion Jack Dupree, Jon Hiseman's Coliseum, Marmalade, Ginhouse, Christine
Perfect, Brian Augur and Status Quo. Gordon Giltrap, Stephan Grossman
and Andy Fernbach. We also had Cliff Richard there, but he had been
invited to address one of the Fringe Societies, and some of us
boycotted his appearance. I
College Bands
It
was a very musical college. Every student had to study music at some
level. Every student also had to learn how to build their own wooden
xylophone, the point of which still eludes me, forty-six years on.
There were two College Bands whilst I was there. One was originally
called Desolation of Smaug. This caused some concerns about
copyright, so they changed it to a simpler and less challenging,
“Desolation.” I used to have a brilliant poster featuring
them, with some original artwork on it. The other band was called
Milestones. Desolation featured Tony Jones (Drums), Fraser Britton
(guitars) John Oakshott (keyboards). Can't remember what they did
about bass. Ian Walker? There was also some kind of connection
between the College and “super group” Brinsley Schwartz. Mart
Belmont, who later became part of Graham Parker and The Rumour, (who
also had roots in the Schwartz), occasionally guested with
Desolation. Perhaps that was it?
“Milestones” evolved I believe,
from a third college band “Glorious Revolution.” Milestones
featured our own Black Parrot Seaside axeman Arnold Chave on lead
guitar, Brothers Nick and Dick Barrington-King on drums and bass
guitar respectively. Bob Maynard also played saxophone. All three
bands played at College Functions, but also at pubs clubs and social
functions elsewhere.
Further
Afield
My
favourite memory is seeing the magnificent Free at The Borough
Polytechnic. The band were at the height of their raw power then.
Paul Kossof was mesmeric that night: such a talent-he died so young.
I caught local boys The Edgar Broughton Band at Richmond,and also,
supporting Pink Floyd in Hyde Park. I used to go to see Jazz at The
Bulls Head in Barnes,where I saw Harold McNair. . And I once saw
Jo-An Kelly and Paul Simon doing floor spots at The Bridgehouse
somewhere near Kennington.
