Spalding is making plans to mark the 60th anniversary of Barbecue’67 – one of the first ever rock festivals in the World that took place on 29 May 1967.
It was a day when thousands of teenagers descended on Spalding to see the likes of Geno Washington, Cream, and the up and coming Jimi Hendrix. All for a £1.
They came from near and far. Coaches from Boston, Bourne, Melton Mowbray, Newark, Oakham, Sleaford and Stamford. Others by whatever means they could. It was described as the best thing to happen in Spalding for years. Today, those teenagers are now pensioners.
Spalding did not really celebrate the 50th anniversary despite efforts to encourage something by the unveiling of our blue plaque to Jimi Hendrix in 2015 which can be found on the Red Lion Hotel in Market Place where he stayed, but there are plans being put together to mark the 60th anniversary next year in a big way.
We are supporting the efforts of Past Present Possible CIC to bring all generations together to collect stories, share memories and explore the role that music has played in Spalding’s cultural life.
This work is underway and will culminate in a week long festival in May next year. Follow the link below to find out more.
Of course unless you were there, you won’t necessarily know how big an event this was for the town, and how much of a culture shock it was for older residents in the town. Some of whom were born in Victorian times. The local newspaper reports of the day provides a flavour of what took place and we have added our transcriptions of these in our “What the Papers Said” section on our website.
We hope that they will spark memories amonst those who were there, and encourage stories to be shared.
Did you come to Spalding by coach? Is the girl from Coventry who squeeled in the ear of Spalding Guardian reporter Sheila Robson to “Put down that Geno’s the greatest” still around?
The team at Past Present Possible would love to hear from you.
