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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 09:36 17 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Forty One
To conclude this extended sub thread.
I looked at some YouTube footage of Nigel Benn fights last night.
Tony Tucker was by Benn's side on the ring walks in his position as security / minder.
Carlton Leach too.
The footage reminded me what a great fighter Nigel Benn was.
As for Karen, it could well be her in one of the clips.
As for her being followed by the BMW that l too encountered on several occasions - I think this may have been the police who conducted 'Operation Century' as a surveillance method in the early months of their investigation.
They most likely checked me out from my number plate in '96.
I should imagine the black BMW's may also have followed Bernard O'Mahoney around.
If my memory serves me right Bernard was actually in the Rettendon area at the time of the shooting.
It was an amazing case and those that were killed were loved by people around them.
Karen included. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 21:47 16 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Forty One, continued
Fast forward to one hour ago.
This sub thread covers thoughts as well as memories.
Michael Steele is now 81 years old.
He may finally be released from prison in the coming days and weeks.
While going through the witness statements on The Rettendon Murders there was one particular aspect that to this day l find difficult to comprehend.
It relates to the phone call that Pat Tate took from his girlfriend Sarah Saunders. This occured just minutes before he was shot.
There are supposedly four people in the Range Rover heading down the track leading to a field.
Rolfe driving. Tucker, front passenger seat.
Pat Tate and Michael Steele in the back.
So when Pat Tate answers his phone he tells Saunders he is with some people.
From memory that was recorded in the statement of Saunders.
Saunders and Michael Steele were known to one another.
Maybe it was common practice for Tucker, Tate and Rolfe to be discreet while viewing a field where a drug drop was supposed to have being planned.
To be continued as l am multi tasking [Post edited 16 Nov 21:50]
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 20:54 16 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Forty One, continued
I phone Bernard O'Mahoney on his mobile.
It is actually Patrick O'Mahoney but he adjusted his name.
He is driving to Leeds.
He sounds quite displeased that l have called.
Bernard had written a couple of big selling titles.
The first was about Ecstasy dealing in the Basildon area.
The second was about the Essex Boys Murder.
He was quite dismissive about Tony Tucker threatening anyone with a gun.
My impression, rightly or wrongly was that this was something he hadn't known about and Bernard liked to know everything about the Basildon scene that led to the murders.
He was also dismissive of the guitar playing individual who had done a few stints in Chelmsford and Norwich prisons.for dealing E's.
This conversation was taking place in 2013 and l had spent the previous two and a half years researching crime at the request of third parties..
This necessitated going into prisons within a hundred mile radius of Colchester to interview inmates.
Bernard would not have been aware that l had viewed over 900 police statements relating to The Rettendon Murders.
He may not have realised that Colchester is a relatively short distance from the former home of one of the individuals serving a life term for the murder of Tucker, Tate and Rolfe.
He would not have been aware that l knew someone who had lived in very close proximity to that individual.
Having said all that, fair play to Bernard to making the change from the security sector and writing about his life experiences which are quite something.
To be continued. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 17:59 16 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories.
Part Forty One, continued
Fast forward to 2013.
Dog walk in allotments behind East Bay.
Get talking to fellow dog walker.
My instinct tells me he has had some kind of a life.
We get talking.
Chelmsford prison is mentioned.
Basildon.
He was an associate of Tony Tucker.
He was dealing ecstasy. Has got previous .
My mind flashed to Karen telling me about a man she met with a guitar under a tree in Hylands Park.
I already know it is him before l run it past him.
I mention Karen. I mention the tree. The guitar.
And yeah, this is he.
We shake hands.
I tell him about 1996. I mention being followed by the black BMW.
He told me Tucker pulled a gun on him in Basildon in early '95.
By 2013 l had researched the Rettendon Murders and had been in touch with an individual by the name of Bernard O'Mahoney.
To be continued as visitor arriving. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 15:44 16 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Forty One, continued
It's Friday evening, around 8pm. Karen phones. She says "Can you come and get me?' 'Can l stay over for a few days?' Can l bring the dog?'. I say yeah to all three.
After about 40 minutes l get to her house. She is on the doorstep waiting. She has quite a few bags and the one year old female German Shepherd is in an excitable state.
I put the bags in the back of the car.
Karen seems very agitated, we set off and she asks if we are being followed but l am unable to ascertain as we pick up the A12.
I check the rear view and l tell her that all looks clear behind and she seems relieved.
We reach my place and unload the car. We have some tea and l prepare some food.
Karen says she forgot the dog food so we are off to Tesco at Highwoods and they have a decent range.
Throughout all of these little activities Karen is talking about the guys who have been watching her home and even following her to the local shop.
To be continued. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 07:20 16 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Forty One - continued.
I meet up with Karen ( not her real name ) a few days later.
We go to a coffee shop which is part of a leisure centre complex in Chelmsford.
She asks me if l realise we had been followed by a black BMW with tinted windows.
We can see it parked up across the car park opposite.
She explains how she is in contact with an individual who has recently been released from Chelmsford prison.
He is a relatively low level drugs supplier linked to Tony Tucker.
We speak for an hour or so and l drop her back home and we are followed by the BMW. It doesn't follow me to Colchester.
To be continued. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 20:32 15 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Forty One
Subject - Rettendon Essex Boy's Triple Murder, December, 1995
The clock has moved forward to my birthday on March 12, 1996. A mutual friend has organised the treat of a Birthday Blind Date type thing. She told me in advance l would not be disappointed.
We go out for a meal at a restaurant in Chelmsford which has a clock going backwards on the sign outside. The young lady l am in the company of is certainly not disappointing in any way and at one time she is dancing on the table.
We go back to her place a few miles out of Chelmsford.
I am in her living room. She is making coffee in the kitchen.
There are pictures around of boxing matches featuring Nigel Benn.
The young lady is featured in most of them.
So is Tony Tucker who was one of the three victims in the slaughter at Rettendon.
She brings the coffee into the room and we sit across a table and l have to ask her about the images on the wall.
We talk to around 4.30am and l have to get back to Colchester. She asks me to phone her the following evening.
To be continued. |
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Reply | M&T makeover
at 16:42 15 Nov 2024
So Maldon and Tiptree had virtually a new squad at the beginning of the season and here we are, half way through November and there will be quite a few changes over the next couple of weeks.
At some cost it would seem.
My question being .....who the xxxx pays for this?
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 15:58 15 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Forty
I recalled this in the past half hour on a dog walk.
One of my friends once asked me how Graphic Warehouse just seemed to spring out of nowhere overnight and how did it happen?
During 1986 l was working freelance, teaching Graphics at Suffolk College in Rope Walk over in Ipswich and had a two day per week retainer with an agency in London.
Some of the work could be produced at home and l used local studios and typesetters.
The first part of the idea was to buy premises. I viewed two commercial buildings in Colchester, one in the Hythe and the other was a former Markhams building in Manor Road behind Crouch Street.
I purchased the Manor Road building by way of a remortgage on our home and a bank loan. The building had to be completely refurbished. We cut new windows into the eastern elevation, gutted the interior, new electrics, heating and within 16 weeks it was ready.
Now the bit that l just remembered a short while ago.
The builder l used for the refurb was Norman Christie and he had done some work in The Colchester Chamber of Commerce office on the corner of Head Street and the High Street.
I had been visiting a friend there. Saw the work. Liked it and basically ripped off the glass and partition interiors. Oh, and everything would also be a bright white finish. Norman Christie did a first class job!
This was how l designed the initial mail shot we put out. I had access to files that had listings of all members of The Chamber of Commerce in Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk and Cambridgeshire.
I scanned every address and made a listing of 2,000 companies to mail out to. Designed the brochure. Produced 2,000 labels, stuck them on the envelopes and posted them off - staggered first class over a working week.
There was no way of knowing what kind of response there would be. Just struck lucky! |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 14:22 15 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Thirty Nine
Graphic Warehouse, Manor Road, Colchester 1988
I am in the kitchen area on the first floor.
One of my colleagues says there is a goth woman walking around who says she is going kill herself.
We look across to a landing area and sure enough she is standing at the top of the stairs.
I started to move towards her. She screamed. Threw herself down the stairs. She rolled out across the reception floor groaning.
We rush down. The receptionist joins us. We had clients in from Norwich.
She is screaming and shouting but somehow gets back on her feet. She manages to get to a sofa by the large rubber plant but somehow pulls it on herself.
We get her some water. Patch her up a bit.
After a few minutes she stands up, clears herself of any debris from the plant pot, straightens her hair and leaves by the front door.
We never saw her again.
There used to be a man about 45 and over six feet tall who had a habit of spinning on the pavement at great speed opposite our building.
It sounded as though he was reciting information he had gathered about the formation of the Roman empire.
He never came in the building.
One of the production meetings we had lasted an entire weekend. We were putting together a 300 page catalogue.
Colchester United were playing away to Sheffield United on the Saturday afternoon in the F.A. Cup and l asked our Norfolk guests if they minded the radio commentary being on while we waded through piles of page proofs.
They were fine with that.
It was a 3 - 3 draw at Bramhall Lane.
We treated our guest with a selection of foods from Guntons in Crouch Street. They were very appreciative. Fab clients.
It was soon our turn to travel to Norwich for following meetings.
As you enter Norwich there is a sign that says - Norwich - A fine city. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 11:42 15 Nov 2024
A little more about Alan Pike.
He was also our form teacher at North County Primary School and he left his post there at the same time that we were moving on to 'Big School'.
I remember him telling the class that he would be joining many of us at St Helena.
We were very pleased to hear that.
He had a black dog called Rex who used to chase it's tale and l think he resided in Brightlingsea at the time.
He used to put England international football match commentary on the classroom radio when matches were played at Wembley.
These matches were played on a Wednesday or Thursday afternoon with a 3pm kick off. This must have been around 1963.
We would have heard the first half at school and l would have to run home to listen to the second half.
Alan Pike was also a local cricketer and played against St Helena School for the Teachers and Parents in 1967.
I remember facing his left arm spin bowling and pushing singles while my batting partner at the other end scored the lions share in a stand of over 200.
His name was Roger Hammond and he was by far the best footballer l ever saw during my time at school.
We all thought he would play professionally but it didn't turn out that way.
Living on Riverside Estate l often see the St. Helena badge on jackets of the kids around here and occasionally mention to them that l once attended that school and enjoyed my time there. [Post edited 15 Nov 11:45]
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 00:20 15 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Thirty Eight
Severalls Mental Hospital, Colchester 1970
I am not there as a patient. I get holiday work throughout the summer as a Porter.
They give me a mop and l have the task of washing down floors in Chestnut Villa.
I also perform other tasks that include washing up.
There are quite a few students working at Severalls over the summer.
One of my friends Bill Emerich is on a secured ward that had padded walls and the patients are wearing clothing that restricts their movements.
I go and see him in there one day. I think it was called Graham Ward.
The patients scared me. One did so by just running up to me and blowing into my face. He laughed.
I should have kept a written journal of what l saw in that hospital.
Chestnut Villa was mixed and some of the younger women patients didn't look like they should have been there.
Then l heard what some of them had done. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 23:51 14 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Thirty Seven
St. Helena School, Sheepen Road, Colchester, 1967
I am in the classroom.
We are having a geography lesson that is being given by Mr Alan Pike.
He draws an outline map of England and Wales on the blackboard. Puts in the main rivers. The major cities. The hills. The little islands.
I learned them all.
He was a great teacher.
So too Roy Cross, our art teacher and Mr Munson who was a mathematics teacher and taught an entire class of 14 year olds how to play chess.
Each of these people influenced my life in different ways and l still remember them.
After leaving school l attended advanced mathematics at Essex University with Mr Taylor and life drawing classes under the tutorship of renowned artist Henry Collins.
Then l went to art school.
It was Henry Collins who changed my entire course of life and advised me to pursue a career in art and design.
I wasn't particularly good at English and that is still pretty much the case but l learned today that one of my books is part of course work in a creative writing module in Dayton, Ohio in the U.S.A. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 20:30 14 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Thirty Six
February, 1969, Ipswich
I am on the 5.15pm. train to London, Liverpool Street that will be stopping at Colchester.
I have just watched Ipswich Town beat Manchester United by 1 goal to Nil. The train is packed with fans and the Manchester United team and management are on the train with us.
In 1969 there only used to be a ten minute break for half time and limited amounts of stoppage time, if any.
Somehow the players have had a dip in the bath as l don't think they had showers back then and are squeezed in the carriage trying to find their First Class reserved accomodation.
They had come to the station in a fleet of taxis from Portman Road.
Every one of them walks past and George Best is polite enough to say Excuse Me. Sir Matt Busby. Denis Law. Bobby Charlton. Dave Sadler. Willie Morgan. Pat Crerand.
Great names.
I recall the same thing happening that season on a train with Manchester City and Mike Summerbee spent quite a while speaking to a few of us.
I never felt the least bit of animosity towards Ipswich Town. Was just glad of the opportunity to see First Division football that was just a 20 odd minute train journey away.
I also recall a derby against Norwich City that was several seasons earlier. My dad used to take me to matches until l was about thirteen then some of us kids from North Station area would make our own way there.
The Norwich match was played with a massive bank of snow surrounding the pitch and one of the refreshments trolley operatives managed to pull the thing on top of himself in front of a packed Churchmans end.
He must had got scolded by the boiling water and the laughter soon became muted when St Johns Ambulance went to his attention. [Post edited 14 Nov 20:52]
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 18:31 14 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Thirty Five
Nineteen Sixty nine must have been the year of parties but not many last for three days and nights.
One of our group of friends from the basement coffee bar in Colchester High Street had told us about a house party in Lexden.
As l recall there were two sisters living at the house who attended Colchester Girls High School and their parents were away for a week or so.
They had put the word out in several schools in the area that they were having what was known at the time as a bottle party. It was the summer holidays.
A few of us attended for several hours on the second night as l recall. It was a sight to behold. There were people everywhere. In the under stairs cupboard. In garden sheds.
Every room and staircase. Landings.
There were people in the bathroom and they didn't move when it was being used either.
Some of them had been there at least twenty four hours by the look of things and appeared to be asleep.
There was some great music. Captain Beefheart. Zappa. Beatles. Blind Faith. Dylan. It was a quite a scene and l always wondered if there was any cine footage taken because it would have found quite an audience on YouTube. [Post edited 14 Nov 23:58]
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 18:10 14 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Thirty Four
Summer of Sixty Nine....four of us go for a spin in a green Mini Cooper and end up at Butlins Holiday Camp in Clacton.
There used to be a line of flag poles outside the main building there and our driver climbs to the top of one of these and manages to remove the Union Jack and it falls to the ground.
We somehow tie it to the roof of the car and return to Colchester with it fluttering in the wind.
That night we attend a house party in Prettygate in what l recall was virtually an unfurnished property. We use the Union Jack as a floor covering in the front room of the nineteen thirties built semi.
There are about thirty of us in the front room and as the evening progresses the flag is used as something of an oversheet as clothes are removed and the party gets into full swing. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 22:16 13 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Thirty Three
Meeting at Saatchi and Saatchi, London, 1990
My receptionist puts through a call from a leading advertising agency in London.
I get invited to London to discuss an advertising campaign for a Japanese car manufacturer.
The meeting takes place in a large office and there are about twelve of us around the table.
There are bottles of Perrier water and sandwiches and the account directors appear to be going around in circles and using all the latest jargon like plugging in and touching base.
I don't say anything for twenty minutes then l think xxxx it. Here goes. I stand up. Walk round to the white board and take a black and red marker and within two minutes l had drawn the entire production plan in front of their very eyes.
They looked at the board, looked at one another and l thought, well, l have xxxx all to lose here.
One of the guys came over to me. Shook hands and said the project was mine to take back to Manor Road in Colchester.
We put over 200 full page car dealership ads together that covered the entire UK in regional press in 48 hours.
It's 34 years later and to think all this happened before UK Holidays in the Sun project was even thought of, and the creator of that is no longer with us is quite something to contemplate. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 21:47 13 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Thirty Two
November, 1990, Layer Road, Colchester United v Reading, F.A. Cup First Round.
I think this was featured on Match of the Day because we get quite a few calls at Graphic Warehouse on the Monday following the match.
I think the Graphic Warehouse signage on the Barside may have been the most extensive branding on a football ground in 1990.
The next season several other major brands and products were visible at football grounds.
I was never sure if what we did at Layer Road had a bearing on this but l did pick up several new clients around that time.
One in Saudi Arabia.
This meant taking on a freelance translator who could speak and typeset in Arabic.
We had done a major project in Chinese and that also required translators.
Thinking back now, we were doing things in Colchester that l had never seen taken on in London.
We were sending artwork from Heathrow to China and Hong Kong and that was unheard of at the time.
As a result of this we got work for BT that l had printed in China at half the cost we were paying in the UK.
Some of the money that l put into the club went towards the signing of Steve McGavin and that was value for money. |
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 21:17 13 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Thirty One
December 26, 1989, Roots Hall, Southend.
I get driven down to Roots Hall at great speed and meet up with Steve Foley who was caretaker Manager.
I am in the dug out and should have been at least yellow carded as l run out twice onto the pitch as we win two nil.
A few days later we have a home match at Layer Road and beat Hartlepool United by three goals to two.
I am back in the dug out but only run onto the pitch once but it is captured on television and shown on the news.
In the days leading up to this the Colchester United owner Johnathan Crisp grants me three wishes for Christmas after a successful business venture l complete with his girlfriend. He had put on a Christmas lunch at his home in Great Horkesley and was very appreciative of a project we had completed in London.
My three wishes were -
1.To take over production of the Colchester United programme.
2. To get the team to play in blue and white stripes again.
3. To have The Post Horn Gallop played when the team came onto the pitch at Layer Road.
All three wishes were granted and my involvement with the club became more expansive. [Post edited 13 Nov 21:21]
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Reply | Tigers at Layer Road
at 20:46 13 Nov 2024
Random thoughts and memories
Part Thirty
July 16th, 1980, Toronto, Canada.
After a bit of a fall out at home we head in different directions to reassess things. She goes to Wivenhoe and l catch a flight to Toronto.
After 48 hours in Toronto l feel quite in tune with this great city. I'm in a coffee shop down town and see a poster for The Who, Heart and The J Geils Band which is happening that night at the baseball stadium.
I can't recall how l got a ticket as it was a 70,000 sell out but l made it through.
I have a feeling it was the biggest Canadian audience for a rock concert back then.
Heart were a Canadian band and l knew their stuff. Crazy on You was quite some song and the Wilson sisters were sensational.
The Who did a great set.
The next day l went to an art shop and bought some pencils and a cartridge pad and did some drawings of cafes and street scenes. After about a week in Toronto it occured to me that l might even move there.
Toronto University was a great place to hang out and l ended up playing a few football matches for them, although l think they referred to it as soccer.
There was also an opportunity to play chess in some of the coffee houses. One of the waitresses came over and said if l could wait another hour until her shift finished she would challenge me to a game.
About an hour later she came over. I expected her to sit down and start a game but she said that she hadn't said what kind of game she would challenge me to.
She didn't play chess by the sound of things but she knew some moves that were new on me. |
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