Peterobinson

This is Brighton - run up to the nose of the board - hang five, maybe ten.. usually I have Terry Callier singing in my head ("Look at me now.."). No drugs needed, just a wave and a board.

Relax - go with the flow. Brighton, winter 2006.

These days it's surfing that rules my life (but I play my soul music on the way to the beach). Dancing on water - you gotta love it.

My memory must be shot away from too much chemical abuse as a young boy - because I don't know where this photo was taken either. Definitely 1980s - shirt tucked in and all that! My earliest memories of Northern Soul were around 1972 or 3. First record I bought was the Soul Twins 'Quick Change Artist' on Karen from Soul Bowl in King's Lynn. All I had been exposed to was Northern being played at a couple of youth club discos in the Wisbech area. Then, I think around 74 or 75 I went to an East Anglian Soul Club event at the St Ivo recreation centre in St Ives. The Soul Twins was blasting out as I walked through the doors as a skinny teenager into a sweat-soaked hall full of soulies stomping, amazing floor work in the breaks - splits and spins - fucken blew me away and I was hooked for life. My school work went down hill after that.. but I remained very thin and very fit for some strange reason!

Pretty sure this was early 1980s - that's me standing giving Colin Roughley a slap on the head. Where's Colin now? He was from Chorley, Lancs - we had done the whole Wigan thing then met at some soul do at a pub in east London with Keb and from there we travelled all over England and Scotland to all-nighters. I was Colin's best man to his first wife.. like my first marriage it ended in tears. Haven't heard from Colin for years - I think he emigrated to Florida at one point. Great bloke and some reet gradely memories of our adventures as part of the crew of soulies who found each other in shitty London. Again - I can't remember the venue.

I can't remember where this was taken, but it was probably early 80s - that's me on the left with the bow tie (what was that all about!), next to Claire Bailey from Wisbech. I think that's one of my old soul bags (green canvas next to the stairs). I think the group behind were all from the Peterborough area, but I can't remember their names sadly. Thanks to Steve C for the photo