Shadows Original Fan Club!

[Veleno]

I noticed recently that someone wondered if there was an original Fan Club for the Shadows in the early days?

YES there was. I joined it in 1962 and received the items pictured below from them.

Shads Fan Club.jpg

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It was based at Sutton Dwellings in Chelsea and run by Billie Harrington and Toni Francis. The letter is dated 22 April, 1962, although a typing error made it look like 1952!! It stated some of the gigs coming up at the time so some of you may remember going to them!!?!?! They also sent me the boys autographs which included Hank, Bruce, Jet and Brian. It must have been just on the cusp of Jet leaving to join Tony. Another little chink of Shads history!

I always keep ''bits'' from the past so I was happy that I found it again after so long. Has anyone else got a similar Fan Club letter?

John

[JimN]

Interesting item! Thanks for keeping it and showing it to us.

That letter is dated a week or two after I first saw The Shadows live - in Liverpool. Jet had left by then of course, so the fan club must have had a stockpile of Shads autographs ready to send out to new members...

JN

PS: I wasn't far out with my half-remembered "Peabody Buildings". Sutton Dwellings were in exactly the same line of business. Does anyone else remember the large artisan dwellings block on the east side of the lower half of Charing Cross Road?

PPS: I have an idea that the name of one of those young ladies - and the address from which the club operated - were both well-connected with two of The Shadows.

[Rich Cowling]

Great post John.....very interesting...many thanks

[Alan Prudhoe]

Looks quite posh (if this is the same place)

[Martin Page]

Just a brilliant piece of history. Thanks for posting.

Martin.