Sound bites from the Umbrella programmes 60's and 70's

These are just some random entries in various Umbrella programmes or news sheets joted down the other week while visiting Coventry History centre and looking their Umbrella archives.

Programme from 1950's.

Jazz, music, bridge, art and craft, drama.

Programme 1966

Folksinging - A group of folksingers led by Barry Skinner performing in the club on Monday evenings from January to July 1966.

Programme 1967

Jazz bands.

January 1967 - Folk Tuesday 26th January 8.30.At last live folk music in the club. Now's your chance to hear again those wonderful old songs you learnt on your Granny's knee - Arranged by Roy Mitchell.

Programme 1968

June 18th 1967 - Folk. Roy Mitchell Group.

Martin Nobel Group - Jazz

Exhibitions,Social - party, films, lectures, poetry readings, Arts Council tour, One act play, recital - 

The Voice of Pop - Terry Watson - explores the links between classical and popular music.

Programme 1970

Cliff Cowling Friday night music nights (jazz mainly) taken over by Al Docker, assisted by Trev Teasdel on the door. Cliff Cowling said he could not organise the Friday night band sessions anymore.

Bands - White Heat, Joy Hyman, Modern Jazz Symbols, Whistler, Rod Felton, Cliff Cowling, Children, Crystal Ship, Mick Green Blues Band, Nack ed en, Cat's Grave (Neol Davies band) and Mead - also Neol Davies band, Chris Jones Aggression.

April - Whistler - band practices.

May 1970 - Friday band night - Postcard.

June 1970 - Folk Club - Brian Rogers? and John Lave? Saturday nights. People from all over the Midlands come.

Friday July 1970 - Trad B Jefferson and April  and next session in July - Asgard played.

August 1970 - Steve Tayton and his Jazz quartet.

Fri August 14th Vic's Heavy Rock Jam Session. Organised by Al Docker and led by Neol Davies (later of Selecter). With many local musicians associated with the Umbrella.

Friday August 21st - April (a Contemporary folk outfit led by Ron Lawrence) and Tea and Symphony (Birmingham progressive band).

Bands wishing to play at the Umbrella should contact Al Docker.

New members included Tes Walker, Mick Cuttifoot, Lance Goodey, Sally Birch,Jenny Bowden, Doug Deakin, Pete Webb, Malvin Preece, John Scott, Jim Porter.  (Some of these were in the Umbrella before this time.Either renewed membership or formally joined - some of course were new)

September 1970 - Friday 18th - band night Ghost - (A Birmingham band) and Asgard.

Contemporary style.

Programme 1971

Heron played 19th October. London based group.

New Members 1971 included - Janice Coombs, Janice Gage, Rosemary Jones, Charles Bullen, Andrew Court, Nick Day. (Some had been to the Umbrella before formally joining.)

Secretary of the Programme committee - Lindy Watson -members of the committee - Esther Breakwell, Jim Ashwell, Maggie Heath, John Pinder, Gaynor Penton. Terry Watson treasurer. Barry Bowerman excutive committee.

Live music May 1971 - Tsar - Al Docker's band with Atom Disco - Al and Steve Varney. "A freaky night for anyone who wants to listen to some good sounds!"

Poetry and Folk April 1971 - Toadstool - John Brown acoustic band.

Don't Pick a Flower - John Leopold acoustic band. Poetry and folk, contemporary and own songs. May 1971.

18th May Roger Williamson - Poetry and Folk.

Programme 1972

Lanchester Polytech Arts Fest - Jan / Feb - Umbrella Poets 28th Jan / 4th Feb at the Colin Campbell

Liz Lovatt Poetry and Folk nights Sat 1st April 1972.


.................................................................
August / September 1973 - meeting at Tudor House. Hobo - Coventry Music and Arts Magazine co founded by Trev Teasdel and John Bo Bargent request use of the Umbrella's duplicator to produce an issue of Hobo magazine. (Bottom of this sheet.)

June 1972 - top item below - Humpoesic Happening convened by Trev Teasdel, experimental folk and poetry session.

Umbrella Poets at the Lanchester Arts Festival - Colin Campbell 1972

August programme 1971 - Vic's Heavy Rock Jam Session.

Programme sheet 1966

Photos from the Umbrella Club Archives

Called into the History Centre in Coventry recently while down in Coventry and these photos are posted with kind permission of the History Centre. Mostly from the late 50's or early 60's. If anyone can throw any light on these early photos, please comment.

Ron Morris Pottery 1960

Have received an email from Megan Walden (Roberts) regarding the above photo and the one below - 
 "The lady in the red dress who was a friend of mine at the time. Name, Valerie Jones, art teacher, talented artist and fabric designer. Would love to know where she is these days. Loved my days doing all sorts on the committee."

I think this is leading light Terry Watson - no idea who the lady is.

This is Jean Gough with Mr and Mrs Sutherland. It looks like Little Park street premises.

The Umbrella Club at Little Park Street 1950's-

Enroute to the Police Station.

In the 60's,the Umbrella apparently help Miss Umbrella heats - this is just one of the photos held in the Umbrella archives in the Coventry History Centre.

A young looking Terence Watson

In this photo - Geoffrey Sutherland,Arthur King, Norman Reader and poet John Hewitt.

Occasion of the Julian Orchestra at Little Park Street.

Harry Secombe at the opening of the Umbrella 1955

"Long Live the Umbrella"

A H Marshall - early President of the Umbrella 1957

Josie Heath - Club Member

Don Lindon - one of those instrumental in creating the Umbrella Club in 1955 and Chairman of Jazz.

Coventry Film Production Unit 1960- Three Films.

On a recent visit back to Coventry I squeezed in a bit of time to visit the Coventry History centre with a view to look at their archives for the Coventry Arts Umbrella Club. Almost immediately I met Alan Von Wijgerden, a Coventry photographer and film maker.

Alan kindly referred me to three videos on his youtube. The films were made in 1960 by Coventry Film Production Unit which I understand were based at the Umbrella. If anyone can provide further information on these films or the production company, please get in contact or leave a comment.

The first film is called - A Visit to the Dentist

Alan says - ' A film made by Coventry Film Production Unit. black and white, circa 1960 and silent. The films were bought in Coventry Market as part of a box of old films. John Allibone seems to be one of the key players. If anyone has any information about him or the unit I'll be very interested.'

All's Fair in Love and War - 1960

Featuring - Zena Brandwick, Patricia Dalton, Peter Martin, with Eric Smith, June Sheffield, Martin Lovell. Photographed by John Archer Hall, assistant cameraman Martin Lovell, story and production Ken Pearson. Directed by John Allibone.

Alan says - "Another film from Coventry Film Production Unit. Circa 1960. Black and white and silent. If you have any info about the group I'd be very interested. It's a little melodrama about being careless with your loved one, something of an object lesson."

Symon Enry comments on the youtube page -
"F.Y.I At around 7.25 you see the couple walking down Daventry Road away from the Parade and they have a snog on the corner of Carthusian Road. Just thought I'd mention that to nobody that will ever read this or care."

Fighting Fit

"A comedy from Coventry Film Production Unit circa 1960 and black and white silent. Seems to feature some footage of Highfield Rd on match day. If anyone knows anything about the group I would be interested to hear."

The Founders of the Umbrella

Bill Berrett has identified that -

"The real movers in early Umbrella Club were Terry Watson, Neil Stair (an English teacher who did the White Devil by Webster) Geoffrey Saunders (I can't recall what his work was, but he made a great contribution to the early building decor), Rex Chell and Stanley Sellers, Architects from the City Department. All these did most of the work and negotiation."

I don't have a lot of information about them but I do know, is here. I have already created a post about Terrence Watson (Chair and Vice chair and editor of Umbrella Magazine) and a page for his new poetry book.

NEIL STAIR
Neil was an English teacher who did the White Devil - a play by Webster at St. Mary's Hall, Coventry, for Umbrella Club in the 50's. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_White_Devil

White Devil on Youtube.

GEOFF SAUNDERS

Geoff Sauders was a founding member of the Umbrella Club, a writer, artist and who wrote for the Umbrella magazine as Geoffrey Demdike.  He was also a founding member of the magaine and wrote an article called Smedley's Hydro, Smedley's Hydropathic Instituition in Matlock, in the magazine here page 17 of the pdf of Umbrella Vol1 1958. http://coventryartsumbrella.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/umbrella-magazine-volume-1-no1-october.html

Geoff also designed the cover of this issue of Umbrella - here - 

Geoff Saunders is mentioned here http://acetrust.org/ecclesiart/artists/peter-ball
Peter Eugene Ball  is a prolific British sculptor, whose work can be found in over 60 churches. Born in 1943, Ball attended Coventry school of Art where he met Geoffrey Saunders, an art history tutor, with whom he made a photographic survey of Romanesque carvings and prehistoric monuments throughout the United Kingdom.

REX CHELL

Rex was still a Coventry Archtect in the 1970's and designed the link between the new and old Council house in Coventry, along with other projects.

STANLEY SELLERS

A Coventry Architect and founding member of the Coventry Arts Umbrella Club.

An obituary http://www.20thcenturyforum.com/t13062-stanley-sellers31 December 1933 — 5 April 2013 Honorary Vice-President (2008); Friends of Birmingham Museums &Art Gallery

Stanley was born in Bordesley Green and educated in Birmingham. At 17, he enrolled in the Birmingham School of Architecture, after graduating in 1955, he joined Coventry City Council, moving 4 years

later to join James A Roberts Associates; who were the designers of the Rotunda and had their offices

on the top floor. He stayed with them for 21 years subsequently moving to the ISH Partnership for a further 11 years up to his retirement. Stanley’s list of major architectural projects is large and varied; and includes Mander Centre in Wolverhampton with, at the time, a controversial Barbara Hepworth bronze which won a Civic Trust Award; the Solihull Library and Arts Centre which won a Civic Trust Commendation; The Loft Theatre in Leamington Spa; Wrexham Library and Arts Centre, as well as a whole range of buildings in Solihull and Birmingham City Centre.

He was also a talented and respected potter in his own right, a passionate connoisseur, collector of the visual and applied arts, and an incredibly well informed music lover. In his 20s Stanley was a frequent visitor to St Ives and was a close friend of Barbara Hepworth, as well as socialising with Bernard Leach and many others from within the St Ives ‘School’. He was a member of  the Friends for many years, later serving as Treasurer; he was created Honorary Vice-President in 2008. Stanley continued to support and advised on the Friends events and activities until earlier this year. He was a passionate supporter of the Museum and its work.

Stanley had a supportive 44 year partnership with Richard Butt, a respected Radio3 Producer and long

term Conductor of the Birmingham Bach Choir. Their home in Solihull was a happy and welcoming environment to their many and varied friendships. They were great supporters of CBSO and Birmingham Royal Ballet and Sir Peter and Lady Knight were friends as were Benjamin Britten, Peter Pears and Imogen Holst. He was extraordinarily knowledgeable and interesting to talk to on a host of subjects, never losing his enthusiasm and interest in the world about him, he will be sadly missed by many. A week before he died he told one of his cousin’s he had had a wonderful life, had met many great, good and famous people and that, ’that’s not bad for a boy from the back streets of Birmingham’.

Stanley has made a very generous and significant bequest to Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery that is both a testament to his commitment to the Museum and also to his extraordinary life, his excellent ‘eye’, his intelligence and incredible knowledge. It is hoped that next year there will be an exhibition based on his bequest. At Stanley’s request his family sold his pottery collection and the proceeds from this sale were split between Solihull Association for the Blind and the Friends of Birmingham Museums. He also included the Friends as one of only two beneficiaries of donations in his memory.

Graham Allen, A Friend as well as a Trustee of Birmingham Museums Trust

SUMMER 2013 ARTEFACTS 13 From http://www.20thcenturyforum.com/t13062-stanley-sellers

TERRY WATSON - SELECTED POEMS AND WEBSITE

The Coventry Arts Umbrella Club has published a selection of  Terrence Watson's poems under the editorial direction of Bob Wright and this book is now available at all major booksellers (including Amazon). The publisher is Earlsdon-based Takahe Publishing Ltd. Terry was a leading light in the Coventry Umbrella Club that was formally established in 1955 and continues to this day.

You can find out more about Terry and a link to his new book of poetry here http://www.terencewatson.uk/

Terry Watson was born Terence Charles Watson in 1920. He was educated at the Stationers' Company School in London studied at Magdalen College Oxford under the tutorial guidance of C S Lewis. His studies were interrupted by service in the RAF in the Second World War and he finally graduated in 1947. He taught for five years at Cottesmore School and came to Coventry in 1955 to take up a post teaching English and Art at King Henry VIII School in Coventry. He became a leading light in the Coventry Umbrella Club that was formally established in 1955 and continues to this day. One of Terry's earliest role at the Umbrella was as editor of the club's well respected literary magazine Umbrella, which boasted work by likes of Philip Larkin and E.M. Forster. Terry shared his wide ranging skills with the Umbrella,as literary editor, poet, theatre director, painter and exhibition curator and promoter as well as heading up the Umbrella Club organisation.  Above all he was passionate about encouraging artistic creativity in others,especially those who seemed to lack confidence in their own potential. In later years he taught Creative Writing at Tile Hill College and in his 70's became interested in yoga and practised to the degree that he qualified as a teacher of Yoga (Sironami Tejas) in Florida USA.He was proud to be made Freeman of the City of London and a member of the Worshipful Company of Stationers and newspaper Makers.Terry passed away in 2009 at the age of 89. This volume was edited by Bob Wright and includes a range of Terry's poetical works including of his war poems written in active service.

Sample poems -

HOW HER HAIR FALLS

Waves

of the sea

fell sheer

So her hair

glittering shines and falls

Waves of her hair

shimmer and fall

away and fall

fall swaying

glitter

fall

and shine

Shimmer

Sway

and fall

Waves

of the sea

fall sheer

So her hair

glittering shines

and falls

Terence Watson 1968
.............

Terry Watson's War Poems are brave, heartfelt and observant and some are included in this anthology - here's an example.

Infantryman (1939 - 1945)

Now the time has come for the heavy artillery

Loud-voiced, and to swing high over my head,

Fierce herald of the attack, ribbing the sky.

The planes above are creeping over the earth's ceiling.

Light feels towards the grey, unknown antagonist.

Now the mountainous iron tanks, inhuman, unfeeling

Throb with the surge of their powerful, harsh-tongued engines.

Grind forward,splintering stones with steel feet.

Now is the time to slide back the silver bolt

And press the austere round up the rifle's spout,

To run a sensitive finger along the cool bayonet,

To ease the web straps straining the shoulder blades,

To crush the last cigarette under the boot heel.

For we are near the end of our journey

And the setting down of burdens.

Like children from school we shall burst

Into this playground, and the choice

Of two freedoms shall be decided for us.

Citizen Advice Bureau and The Umbrella Club at 97, Little Park Street.

Coventry Citizens Advice Bureau shared the 97, Little Park Street, premises between 1955 and 1957 according to Mark Cook, who is working on a research project telling the story of 75 years of the Citizens Advice Bureau in Coventry. If you have any information or memories of the CAB and especially if you remember them at 97, Little Park Street, Coventry 1955 - 7, you can contact mark Cook at email history@coventrycab.org.uk or via their Facebook page -

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Coventry-CAB-History/820305284670953?sk=timeline

Mark Cook wrote us thus -

"Hi

I've just been reading your website about the Umbrella Club, fascinating stuff!
I’m running a history project for Coventry Citizens Advice Bureau, we’re celebrating 75 years of the bureau in 2015, and we occupied 97 Little Park Street from 1955-57, obviously at the same time as the Umbrella Club. I’ve tracked down Richard Sadler to talk to him and talk about his photos of the opening, but I’m also intrigued by the following comment taken from the website:

Recent Comment
This received from Jean Jennings (neé Gough) April 13, 2013 at 7:13 AM

"Thank you for bringing back some wonderful memories of the Umbrella Club. I was a very keen member in the 50's, assisting Terry Watson with the secretarial jobs and publicity. I remember him bringing to the club the first electric typewriter - a scary monster. He was truly an inspired person and brought such enthusiasm to the club.

One problem that I have is with the given date of the inception of the club. I distinctly remember going there in 1953 - and it had been active a while before then. Can anybody confirm this?" Jean Jennings (neé Gough)

Mark Cook wrote -
"We have some dates and references to when we occupied the building, so happy to share these. I’m wondering if Jean has any memories of us sharing the building? Could you ask her if I can contact her?"

...................

I don't have a direct cont for Jean but if Jean see this or if anyone can throw any light on an earlier occupation of 97, Little Park Street than the official opening of 1955, then please get in contact.

Meanwhile Mark Cook posted these two photos on their Facebook page. The latter is already on this site but i hadn't seen the photo with the Citizens Advice header on before - 

The Lord Mayor's car, a Humber Super Snipe MkIII, outside the CAB offices for the opening
of  The Umbrella Club.

The Goons opening the Umbrella Club 1955

Mark Cook on the BBC Coventry - Bob Brolly show talking about the CAB Project.

Umbrella Club Planning Permissions

This pdf file was downloaded from the Coventry Planning Department's site. I tried to link to it but somehow there was an error message, so have uploaded it here to the Umbrella Club site. It forms a interesting paper trail of planning permissions and renewals of the Queen Victoria Road premises from the early to mid 1960's and hopefully will facilitate anyone researching the arts in Coventry or the Umbrella Club itself.

To enlarge, click Pop out - top right

Examples