Wesley Entertainments
In February 1969, I started working with IN GRANDMAS ABSENCE. They were a six
piece group who was managed by Graham Hooker. He had managed the group from
its formation when it was known as EXP. After a few months Graham decided to give
up management and I was asked to take over.
In the spring of 1970; I met up with Mick Dillon. He had managed a six piece soul
band called INSPIRATION and then WANTED. After many meetings we decided we
would work together and form an Entertainment Agency. The agency needed to be
registered with Hampshire County Council at Winchester and finally we became
registered as Theatrical Employers on 5"‘ November 1970; as WESLEY
ENTERTAINMENTS.
ABSENCE left to right back Andy Mills drums, Nigel Mills bass, John Roberts guit, sitting Eddie Bance voc, Tony Horten guit/flute
I was still working with the now five piece group who had shortened their name to
ABSENCE. Mick teamed up with ex members of ROSEMARY, WHISKEY RIVER and
INSPIRATION to form GILBEY TWISS. I
ABSENCE was Eddie Bance -vocals. John Roberts — guitar. Tony Horton — guitar and
flute. Nigel Mills -bass guitar. Andy Mills — drums. Colin Wagg —— vocals had left the
group.
GILBEY T\NISS was Dave Allen — vocals. Denny Barnes -guitar. Mick Tuck - sax. Mick
Legg — bass guitar. Bernie Fox — drums.
As an agency we also worked with EDWARD BEAR, AUBREY SMALL, GOBLIN, AGNES
STRANGE, SULLIVAN, OLD NICK, CAMEL, STYLUS DISCO, KEYSOUNDS DISCO.
SPRINGHILL left to right;- Pete Bugg voc/guit/mandolin, Rick Buckingham bass, Dave Pittard drums, Steve Wilkins guitar
In the spring of 1971; we were invited to a rehearsal that was taking place at a farm at
Hipley. This was our first meeting with SPRINGHILL. The band we met that day was
short lived and we never got to work with them. We kept in contact and the band
reformed as a five piece later in the year. They did their first gig in December 1971
and performed regularly until May 1973. The line up changed during this period and
a third band performed as a four piece.
SPRINGHILL (1) Pete Bugg — vocaIs,guitar,mandoIin. Rick Buckingham - bass guitar.
Dave Pittard — drums. Steve Wilkins —- guitar.
SPRINGHILL (2) Pete, Rick, Dave, Brian Grice — keyboards. Steve Farrow - guitar.
SPRINGHILL (3) Pete, Rick, Dave, Steve Huckle -guitar.
March 1973 we booked singer/guitarist DAVE BARRATT to a folk evening at
Cumberland Tavern, Eastney. This was the first time I had met Dave, but Mick had
seen him perform on several occasions. He was a fantastic guitarist, played a Martin
guitar and had a huge repertoire of songs. We also worked with GRAND UNION,
PACIFIC, KEN DRACKET and Dave.
PACIFIC was a new band made up from the very successful AUBREY SMALL. Guitarist
ALAN CHRISTMAS is still very involved in the Portsmouth music scene.
February 1974 Mick decided to move on and I made the decision to get involved
with folk musicians only. I kept the name of Wesley Entertainments up until January
1975 when I changed it to ALAN ROBLIN MANAGEMENT.
There was a huge amount of work for folk and folk/comedy artistes.
I worked mainly with DAVE BARRATT, COLIN AND BRYAN PEARCE and singer/guitarist
from Brighton ALAN WHITE.
The Portsmouth area had a lot of very good reliable musicians and I was always
pleased to book FIDDLERS GREEN, SHEP WOOLLEY, STEVE MAY, MERLIN, JON
ISHERWOOD, PAT NELSON, CRAIG MORRIS AND JOE PARKER, TRICIA FENTON,
CLINKERS, SAILMAKERS, JON FITZGERALD.
Work continued until 1979; when I decided to stop. I still keep in contact with many
musicians. Attend many folk concerts and festivals.
My close friend DAVE BARRATT,
moved away from folk music but performed regularly up until his death in
September 2016.
Alan Roblin
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