LATEST UPDATES ON WHAT'S PLANNED AT THE RAT & PARROT ON 6th DECEMBER 2001...

LIVE PERFORMERS, DJ AND COMPERES

Live acoustic performance from the legendary Steve Harley (Cockney Rebel) with his regular guitarist, Robbie Gladwell...

Possible question and answer session with Steve Harley...

Live set from Little Wonder tribute band. They are a seven piece David Bowie tribute band, based in the south east of England. There's no spiky wigs or lycra cat suits in their performance - these boys are musicians and they put on a show doing what musicians do best - they rock!

Little Wonder are: Dave Allen (drums), Michael Cain (saxophone), Jim Harris (rhythm guitar), Craig Hudson (keyboards and Chapman Stick), Simon Kinsler (guitars), Tony Perry (vocals) and Nigel Turner (bass guitar). Tony Perry, was recently seen on TV performing in the Grand Final of ITV's 'Stars In Their Eyes' with his tribute to David Bowie performing 'Ashes To Ashes'...

Live set from Rob Storm, who has appeared as David Bowie singing 'China Girl' on 'Stars In Their Eyes' TV show...

Live set from Paul Henderson, who performed as David Bowie singing 'Space Oddity' on 'Stars In Their Eyes' TV show...

An acoustic set from Ken 'Wild Man' Simmons and Stephen Roberts, who performed with David Bowie several times during the late 60s and early 70s at various gigs...

Ken Simmons ran his own Arts Lab at the Downham Folk Club known as the 'Bal Tabarin, where David played on 1st October 1969. Around the same time, when David was away performing at other gigs, Ken took over the compering at The Three Tuns. In February 1970 Ken opened a mid-week folk club at the Three Tuns with a friend called Ian Shaw. They persuaded David to do a spot on 19th March 1970 which was apparently David's last ever performance there.

The Arts Lab ceased in 1970, so Ken and Ian Shaw took over the Sunday spot for their folk club. One highlight was the first ever gig of Steve Harley and his band Cockney Rebel, who Ken had met when he was still called Steve Nice...

Stephen Roberts, regularly attended performances at The Three Tuns, as well as jamming with David Bowie several times at Haddon Hall. Can you believe they once recorded a reggae version of 'The Chattanooga Choo Choo' with Ken playing and David on backing vocals?

Feel free to approach Stephen and Ken for a chat and ask them whatever questions you wish. They told me to say that.

Stephen has kindly donated several exclusive and previously unseen colour photographs to the pub to display on the walls, which feature David Bowie and Tony Visconti performing at the Three Tuns.

A special limited edition 'Three Tuns' photo pack along with written contributions from people who were directly involved in the Arts Lab, will be available to order. Proceeds from the 'packs' are to help raise money for the Chernobyl Children Life Line Charity of which Stephen is heavily involved with.

An acoustic set from Mark Carr Pritchard (real name Mark Carr Pritchett) - let's hope Mark brings along a certain Hagstrom 12-string that David played throughout this period (the 'Free Festival' 12- string) which David he gave Mark after The 1980 Floor Show...

The DJ for the event is Craig Hamlin (aka Tony Day)...

AUCTION AND RAFFLE - with ALL proceeds going to the childrens charity.

David Bowie and Tony Visconti have generously offered to sign several enlargements of the newly discovered photographs from The Three Tuns. These are to auctioned at the event and on the internet, with all proceeds raised going directly to the childrens charity...

BowieNet have kindly offered to donate several items...

Artist Christina Ostrom has kindly donated one of her painted signed horses...

Stephen Roberts has kindly offered to donate several of the 'Three Tuns' photo packs...

The Rat & Parrot have kindly donated several items...

The Beckenham Photographic Society have donated several 'Beckenham In Colour' CD-Rom's....

BowieWonderworld (that's me) will donate a 'special box' of various David Bowie memorabilia and a copy of Iman's latest book 'I Am Iman'...

Lots more items to list - watch this space...

HAPPENINGS & SPECIAL OFFERS

If anyone is stuck for a place to stay over whilst you're in Beckenham - Mrs. Smith (wife of Ken Simmons) takes in occasional students or Bed and Breakfast. They have a large room with 3ft bunk beds and a single bed. Charge is £15 per person for bed and continental breakfast. The room can be occupied by 1, 2 or 3 persons who are together. Please ring callsign number 020-8695 9932 if you need a place to stay.

The 'exclusive limited edition 1969 Arts Lab Photo Presentation Pack' (jesus what a mouthful!) is now nearly completed. There will be flyers distributed around the pub for people to check out, including a tear off slip for you to fill in if you're interested in purchasing this piece of historical memorabilia.

The "photo pack" will contain ten exclusive and newly discovered never before seen 1969 photographs taken inside The Arts Lab. Featuring David Bowie, Tony Visconti, Chas Lippeatt, Noel Brown and an unknown band.

Also containing exclusively written essay contributions from: David Bowie, Mary Finnigan, Stephen Roberts, Ken 'Wild Man' Simmons, and other regular visitors to the Arts Lab at the time. Also background history, which includes extracts, articles and information published over the years from various sources.

Each pack is available at a ridiculous price of only £48 each, which includes a substantial donation to the Chernobyl Childrens Life Line Charity.

There will be a sneak preview of the exclusive photographs tomorrow at the event. Stephen Roberts (the photographer and copyright holder) has kindly donated 2 sets contained in a photo album to the auction/raffle. With all proceeds going to the charity...

Brett Allen is to produce a professional record of the daytime events on Thursday. Brett is keen to capture people recalling their own memories of the Arts Lab days. So if he sticks a video camera in your face - be nice and helpful. Tip: Smile a lot ;)...

Beckenham Library are to have a small David Bowie exhibition planned for next week, although sadly the library is closed on Thursdays. Their roving local studies librarian Monica Richardson is aware of the big event on December 6th, so she and one other staff are hoping to get a small exhibition up and running by this coming weekend.

The Beckenham Photographic Society have kindly made a generous offer if you would like a complementary souvenir of their visit to Beckenham.

For a mere £5, you can take home a copy of 'Beckenham In Colour' - a CD Rom of 800 colour photos taken during 1999 and 2000.

For every CD sold, the BPS will donate £2 to the Chernobyl Children Life Line charity.

Using the CD, you will be able to wander through Croydon Road Recreation Ground (where the Free Festival took place in the summer of 1969), walk to the top of Southend Road and see the boring looking flats that replaced David's beautiful home Haddon Hall, turn into Beckenham Place Park, enjoy the views across 120 acres of golf course and ancient woodlands and then go back 30 years and imagine you are an all or nothing fan who used that route to climb into Haddon Hall via the back entrance.

Leaving Beckenham Place Park, there are pictures of Foxgrove Road and then you can stroll along the High Street heading for the Three Tuns along the same route followed by David. The CD includes several shots of the pub, plus an interior of the bar where you meet Tammy ahead of seeing her for real on December 6th.

Cliff kindly sent me one of the CD-Roms just the other day - I spent a lovely 2 hours sat in front of my 'puter gently wandering through Beckenham and viewing the sights. Great photos :)

During the afternoon, some fans may find it useful to visit Beckenham's specialist music shop at 64 Beckenham Road which is run by Adriaan Neervoort - a few weeks back he had some mint condition looking old recordings, both LPs and a few CDs of DB music (and a few Steve Harley). Feel free to email Adriaan for a stock list you can order from and collect on December 6th....

And the plaque on the wall? For those who asked - The Beckenham Bowie plaque is red and gold. Red to reflect Ziggy Stardust's cockade hairstyle and metallic gold to glitter because he's a shining star. I was lucky enought to see the plaque the other day - the CCRA have done David proud - it is spectacular and a very fitting tribute...

LATEST GUESTS

Mark Carr-Pritchard (real name Mark Pritchett) is another special VIP guest who will be attending the Beckenham Plaque and Party. I've managed to twist his arm to play a few numbers. Mark has even agreed to bring along his 'Space Oddity' acoustic guitar that was used on the actual recording. David kindly gave him the 12 string after the 1980 Floor Show performance back in October 1973 at the Marquee in London.

For those who don't know, Mark was originally a member of Dulwich College student band Runk, who were enlisted to be the Arnold Corns backing band. Mark on guitar, bassist Polak de Somogyl and drummer Ralph St Laurent Broadbent. He performed with David on the John Peel BBC Show 'David Bowie and Friends' in 1971, he was guitarist in the Spiders backing band for The 1980 Floor Show, and has performed with David many times over the years including performances at The Three Tuns.

For those who don't know, Mark was originally a member of Dulwich College band Runk, who went on to be part of the Arnold Corns band. He performed with David on the John Peel BBC Show 'David Bowie and Friends' in 1971, he was guitarist in the Spiders backing band for The 1980 Floor Show, and has performed with David many times over the years including performances at The Three Tuns...

Lots of people asked if John 'Hutch' Hutchinson will be attending... after a bit of the old Sherlock detective work, I eventually managed to speak with Hutch on the telephone the other day and gave him an official invitation to attend. He didn't know about the event, and after a few minutes of the Kinder charm he was all up for performing, along with his musician daughter. He said he would get back in touch the following day. John did indeed ring back the following day and had to sadly decline because of his residential commitments at The Punch Bowl pub in York, where he plays every Thursday evening. Hutch sends everyone his best wishes and hopes you all have a wonderful time...

David Bebbington - musician and photographer, who played The Three Tuns and shot that famous photograph of David performing at the Growth Arts Festival in the bandstand at Croydon Recreational Ground is also attending. "Don't ask me to perform!"...

EVENING TICKET INFORMATION

If you have applied for EVENING tickets and still haven't sent off your payment to The Rat & Parrot - PLEASE BE QUICK. Time is running out and so are the tickets. A daytime ticket DOES NOT guarantee your admission into the evening event.

You can also collect and purchase your tickets over the bar (ask for Beth) if you live nearby or fancy an evening out there before the event.

Please send cheque for £7.50 (per ticket) made payable to: ALAN HUGHES and post to: 'Bowie Plaque and Party', The Rat & Parrot, 157 High Street, Beckenham, Kent BR3 1AE.

IMPORTANT: Please include your full name, address and telephone number, so that Alan or Tammy can ring you and confirm your place once she has received your payment.

The Rat & Parrot, 157 High Street, Beckenham, Kent BR3 1AE. Telephone: (020) 8658 9618.

Landlord: Alan Hughes. Evening Tickets: Beth.

There are still a few tickets left for the evening party. I had a "special reserve" allocation of 20 evening tickets for people who couldn't get payment in on time. If you want to take the opportunity of having one of these tickets - telephone Alan (landlord) on (020) 8658 9618.

DAYTIME TICKET INFORMATION

If you are already on the list for the DAYTIME PARTY you should have received your ticket via your email box. Please print off the number of tickets you originally requested and bring along with you on the day.

IMPORTANT: PLEASE BRING PROOF OF ID WITH YOU.

Your name will then be crossed off the list before gaining entry to the Rat & Parrot after the unveiling of the David Bowie plaque.

The unveiling of the plaque by Mary Finnigan and Christina Ostrom takes place at 12 noon, but you are asked to arrive by 11.45 am. There is very limited parking behind the Rat & Parrot but there are three public car parks within 100 yards of the pub.

Inside the pub at approximately 12.30, Steve Harley will perform for about half an hour to an hour.

Afterwards VIP's with large RED tickets will be provided with light refreshments.

For the rest of us, the bar will be open and there will be quite a lot to see in the way of previously unseen photos of David playing at the Arts Lab together with lots of interesting items donated to the pub and / or for the raffle and auction.

The pub is licensed for 300. Just in case we are overwhelmed by unexpected numbers, we would like to ensure that you can enter the pub at lunchtime. To this end, please print off the email sent to you and show the ticket.