SLADE HOMES AND FAMILY
Jim Lea's home - Redroofs, Warstones Road, Penn, Wolverhampton
"Redroofs" in Penn - 1978
I found Jim Lea's home in Penn by chance. he had bought the property once he had gotten married to Louise Ganner in 1973.
As a fan, in 1978, I was travelling to Wolverhampton at least once a month to try to catch up with the band and their families. In George Tremlett's 1975 Slade biography "The Slade Story" he mentioned that Jim and his wife Louise lived in a mock Tudor, five bed-roomed, house on the outskirts of Wolverhampton called "Redroofs".
Well, I knew that Jim lived in a affluent district called Penn, so I took a bus there to have a look round. I found an imposing big house with a red roof. Could this be the place?
As a fan, in 1978, I was travelling to Wolverhampton at least once a month to try to catch up with the band and their families. In George Tremlett's 1975 Slade biography "The Slade Story" he mentioned that Jim and his wife Louise lived in a mock Tudor, five bed-roomed, house on the outskirts of Wolverhampton called "Redroofs".
Well, I knew that Jim lived in a affluent district called Penn, so I took a bus there to have a look round. I found an imposing big house with a red roof. Could this be the place?
Jim's Drawing Room - 1974
In trepidation, I knocked at the door. "Does Jim Lea live here?" I asked the old man who answered. He advised that he didn't - but let me know where he did live - just a few hundred yards away!
Jim's house did have a red roof. It had a high hedge and with a gate built in. It was in Warstones Road. I think the house was public knowledge. It was on a main road - so Jim wasn't exactly hidden from public view. Lots of fans locally knew where it was. Louise once told me that in 1973 it got so bad that when they heard the front door bell ring that they would hide behind the furniture in the front room (as they had no net curtains) and make out they weren't at home.
Jim once told me that he was irate with German magazine Bravo. Jim like to keep his private life private - and was not keen to have Louise or his home used in magazines.
Jim's house did have a red roof. It had a high hedge and with a gate built in. It was in Warstones Road. I think the house was public knowledge. It was on a main road - so Jim wasn't exactly hidden from public view. Lots of fans locally knew where it was. Louise once told me that in 1973 it got so bad that when they heard the front door bell ring that they would hide behind the furniture in the front room (as they had no net curtains) and make out they weren't at home.
Jim once told me that he was irate with German magazine Bravo. Jim like to keep his private life private - and was not keen to have Louise or his home used in magazines.
The Otto Award
In 1973 a German photographer arranged a meeting with Slade at Jim's house to present them that year's Bravo Magazine Bronze Otto Award (for being the Third Best Band of the year - behind The Sweet and The Osmonds).
After taking a photo of the award presentation he asked if he could take some photos of Jim and Lou at home. He agreed that these would remain private - and copies just given to Jim and Lou. But surprise, surprise - they were published in Bravo. Some of the photos were also sold to Music Star magazine in the UK. They ran a feature on Jim called "Home Sweet Home".
After taking a photo of the award presentation he asked if he could take some photos of Jim and Lou at home. He agreed that these would remain private - and copies just given to Jim and Lou. But surprise, surprise - they were published in Bravo. Some of the photos were also sold to Music Star magazine in the UK. They ran a feature on Jim called "Home Sweet Home".
Louise Lea in "Redroofs"
Louise was most upset when their house was burgled in 1978. She had left a small window open and popped out to the local corner shop to buy some milk. In the half an hour she was gone the house was ransacked.
Jim and Lou now live in Brewood, Staffs.
Jim and Lou now live in Brewood, Staffs.
More photos of "Redroofs"
Dave Hill's home - Brueton Avenue, Solihull
Dave's Roller - outside Brueton Avenue home - 1975
I had found out Dave Hill's Solihull address from a pen-pal of mine. I had an advert printed in the Slade Fan Club newsletter in February 1974 - asking for a female pen-pal aged 13/14. I received loads of response. But when Andrea Smith from Solihull wrote to me - and advised that she went to the girl's school next to where Dave Hill lived, I had to respond to her.
Dave's garden - 1975
Andrea wrote weekly giving me updates as to what Dave was up to.
The house was at the end of Brueton Avenue - next to the school gates. It was a posh place - Solihull was a very rich area.
Dave did not keep his address secret. Many of you might have seen the footage from ATV Tonight - of when Dave moved in to the property. He drove in as all the school girl's were waiting in his YOB 1 number-plated Silver Jensen. He himself had his silver leather outfit on with his face and hair covered in silver glitter. He was hardly inconspicuous!
The house was at the end of Brueton Avenue - next to the school gates. It was a posh place - Solihull was a very rich area.
Dave did not keep his address secret. Many of you might have seen the footage from ATV Tonight - of when Dave moved in to the property. He drove in as all the school girl's were waiting in his YOB 1 number-plated Silver Jensen. He himself had his silver leather outfit on with his face and hair covered in silver glitter. He was hardly inconspicuous!
Gill at Dave's front door - 1977
I think that Dave regretted making his home become such a publicly known address. Fans would hound him all the time. I know that his wife Jan eventually became very agitated with the whole situation - especially when Dave was on tour most of the time.
Customised gates! 1975
I know a funny story about the Solihull property. About 15 years ago that a bunch of Slade fans hired a coach to travel around the West Midlands visiting famous Slade sites. They visited The Trumpet in Bilston, Pouk Hill and several other places. One place they thought they were visiting was Dave Hill's Solihull house. One guy was so excited at seeing the property that he got off the coach, and ran across the road without looking. He was knocked down by a car......He later found out that the fans had driven to the wrong property. It was not where Dave Hill used to live! Anyway, luckily the fan wasn't badly hurt.
Dave ploughed a lot of money into the Solihull property. When Slade suffered a decline in the late 70's and the tax man sent Dave a big bill - he sold the house. He initially moved to a small farm in Albrighton. I never visited the property - but Dave's Dad Jack told me about it.
Dave ploughed a lot of money into the Solihull property. When Slade suffered a decline in the late 70's and the tax man sent Dave a big bill - he sold the house. He initially moved to a small farm in Albrighton. I never visited the property - but Dave's Dad Jack told me about it.
More photos of Dave at Brueton Avenue
Dave and his YOB 1 number plate
Dave Hill loved his cars. I think this originated from his Dad having worked as a car mechanic - and there were always cars in Dave's life.
In 1967 he bought a Sunbeam Alpine - that had the number plate YOB 1 attached.
In 1972, when the Slade royalties starting trickling through, Dave went out and bought the sporty car of his dreams - a Silver Jensen. He transferred the plate to the new car.
The plate was switched again in 1974 when Dave traded the Jensen for a 1962 Radford convertible Rolls Royce Silver Cloud MK3.
Dave kept the Rolls for many years and when times were hard, in the early 1980's, Dave used to hire the Roller out for wedding functions. He actually acted as chauffeur himself at the wedding of Slade fan Alun Taylor in October 1984...
However, Dave eventually sold the Rolls Royce, with number plate YOB 1, at auction at Sotherbys in June 1988. Dave eventually conceded that the plate caused too much fuss wherever he went. Also Dave didn't like the fact that the term "Yob" was now becoming associated with football violence - rather than the fun meaning it had with Slade in the early 1970's. By 1988 the Roller was costing a lot to maintain - and the car had just been sitting for months on end in Dave's garage - he now used a Daimler for everyday driving.
The auction at Sotherbys made the national press. Many fans such including Fran Tucker, Jenny Gamble, Trev West and Martin Brooks turned up to see the hammer slam down. Dave said that he felt sad for the fans - with him parting with the number plate. "YOB 1" had become part of Slade folk law.
The vehicle and plate were sold to a firm called Jensen Paints for £29,000.
In 1967 he bought a Sunbeam Alpine - that had the number plate YOB 1 attached.
In 1972, when the Slade royalties starting trickling through, Dave went out and bought the sporty car of his dreams - a Silver Jensen. He transferred the plate to the new car.
The plate was switched again in 1974 when Dave traded the Jensen for a 1962 Radford convertible Rolls Royce Silver Cloud MK3.
Dave kept the Rolls for many years and when times were hard, in the early 1980's, Dave used to hire the Roller out for wedding functions. He actually acted as chauffeur himself at the wedding of Slade fan Alun Taylor in October 1984...
However, Dave eventually sold the Rolls Royce, with number plate YOB 1, at auction at Sotherbys in June 1988. Dave eventually conceded that the plate caused too much fuss wherever he went. Also Dave didn't like the fact that the term "Yob" was now becoming associated with football violence - rather than the fun meaning it had with Slade in the early 1970's. By 1988 the Roller was costing a lot to maintain - and the car had just been sitting for months on end in Dave's garage - he now used a Daimler for everyday driving.
The auction at Sotherbys made the national press. Many fans such including Fran Tucker, Jenny Gamble, Trev West and Martin Brooks turned up to see the hammer slam down. Dave said that he felt sad for the fans - with him parting with the number plate. "YOB 1" had become part of Slade folk law.
The vehicle and plate were sold to a firm called Jensen Paints for £29,000.
Photos of YOB 1
Don's girlfriend Marie and his flat in Lime Tree Avenue, Tettenhall
Don and Marie 1974
Whilst touring Japan in 1974 Don found a Japanese girlfriend. Marie. She soon relocated to the UK to live with him. All was going well until he returned some months later from touring. He overheard Queen's roadies bragging that Marie had been unfaithful when he was away.
Marie was quickly shown the door - never to be seen again. There are very few photos of Marie - but I have a picture, that was published in a The Slade Story - German biography book in 1975.
Marie was quickly shown the door - never to be seen again. There are very few photos of Marie - but I have a picture, that was published in a The Slade Story - German biography book in 1975.
Don outside the Tettenhall flat - 1972
At this time Don lived in the top flat that he purchased after leaving home - in Lime Tree Avenue, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, WV6.
I never went there - but Don's parents talked about it. It soon became known to Wolverhampton fans, who rung his intercom day and night. It seemed that Don was rarely there, due to touring commitments. However, the inhabitant who used to get disrupted by the intercom was Frank Lea. He often used to stay in the flat when Don was away.
Don purchased the flat in 1973.
I never went there - but Don's parents talked about it. It soon became known to Wolverhampton fans, who rung his intercom day and night. It seemed that Don was rarely there, due to touring commitments. However, the inhabitant who used to get disrupted by the intercom was Frank Lea. He often used to stay in the flat when Don was away.
Don purchased the flat in 1973.
Don's Marylebone flat - Harley House, Marylebone, London
Harley House, Marylebone
After leaving West Hampstead, Don moved into a basement flat in the famous Harley House in Marylebone Road - the same road as where I had previously gone to Marylebone School.
Harley House is an imposing block of flats - famous for where Joan and Jackie Collins lived as kids. The flat was opposite Harley Street (hence the name) and close to Madame
Tussaud's Wax Museum and Regent's Park.
Don had married music journalist Joan Komlosy in November 1985. Joan had famously reviewed Slade in concert at the Marquee on 23 June 1980 and to a certain extent slagged them off! (I seem to remember a music paper letter from a Slade fan, upset with the review, calling her an interesting name that rhymed with her surname).
I only met Joan once - when I visited Don one time at the flat in Harley House. She was a bit frosty - and I didn't get to know her at all.
Harley House is an imposing block of flats - famous for where Joan and Jackie Collins lived as kids. The flat was opposite Harley Street (hence the name) and close to Madame
Tussaud's Wax Museum and Regent's Park.
Don had married music journalist Joan Komlosy in November 1985. Joan had famously reviewed Slade in concert at the Marquee on 23 June 1980 and to a certain extent slagged them off! (I seem to remember a music paper letter from a Slade fan, upset with the review, calling her an interesting name that rhymed with her surname).
I only met Joan once - when I visited Don one time at the flat in Harley House. She was a bit frosty - and I didn't get to know her at all.
Joan's review of Slade - 1980
Don and Joan's wedding - Marylebone Registry Office - Nov 1985
Don's cottage - Bexhill-on-Sea
Later in the 1980's Don got together with a lady called Diane. They lived in a cottage in Ninfield Road, Bexhill-On-Sea, Sussex.
I never met Diane, but understand that she was the landlady at the White Horse Pub. When Don lived with her, and he wasn't touring with Slade 2, he ran an antique business locally.
I never met Diane, but understand that she was the landlady at the White Horse Pub. When Don lived with her, and he wasn't touring with Slade 2, he ran an antique business locally.
Don in Silkeborg, Denmark
In 2004 Don relocated to Silkeborg in Denmark to live with girlfriend Hanne Lumdy.
Hanna had been a Slade fan in the 1970's. She saw the band in November 1973 in Denmark. Don gave her one of his drumsticks. Hanna saw Slade again in the 2000, and managed to meet Don once more. She showed Don the drumstick she had kept and said "I have been waiting all these years to meet you again..."
Don and Hanna got together - and finally married in 2011. Don has three step-children (Anne Kirstine 25, Emilie 23 and Andreas 19 - as at December 2012).
Hanna had been a Slade fan in the 1970's. She saw the band in November 1973 in Denmark. Don gave her one of his drumsticks. Hanna saw Slade again in the 2000, and managed to meet Don once more. She showed Don the drumstick she had kept and said "I have been waiting all these years to meet you again..."
Don and Hanna got together - and finally married in 2011. Don has three step-children (Anne Kirstine 25, Emilie 23 and Andreas 19 - as at December 2012).
Dave's home - Osborne Road, Penn
Dave's Osborne Road, Penn, property
Dave eventually moved to a more modest house in the 1980's.
He had sold the grand place in Solihull, moved to Albrighton, now he moved close to his Dad in Penn. (Just round the corner to Jim - who lived at Redroofs).
I interviewed him on his doorstep once for the Fan Club - but he would invariably meet me at his Dad's for interviews. It was uncanny - but at this time I would bump into Dave at the strangest of places when I visited Wolverhampton - like the local Petrol Station and the Chip Shop!
He had sold the grand place in Solihull, moved to Albrighton, now he moved close to his Dad in Penn. (Just round the corner to Jim - who lived at Redroofs).
I interviewed him on his doorstep once for the Fan Club - but he would invariably meet me at his Dad's for interviews. It was uncanny - but at this time I would bump into Dave at the strangest of places when I visited Wolverhampton - like the local Petrol Station and the Chip Shop!
Jan Hill and Carol Harvey
Dave and Jan - in the bath at Solihull home - 1973
I didn't see much of Dave's wife, Jan Hill. She never used to travel with Dave to London and I never saw her at any of the London gigs. I have seen at the Wolverhampton Civic but she was always quite low-key, and you were never really aware of her in the Green Room.
Carol Harvey is Dave's bubbly sister. She was a good friend of Angela Morris and introduced her to Don. (Angela later died in that fateful crash in 1973).
Carol got married in late 1973 and moved to Hull. When I used to stay with Jack - Carol would be constantly on the phone checking how her Dad was. She seemed so proud of her brother and would attend all the Midlands gigs with her husband - David. In the early 70's though Carol would travel to London with her Dad and go to the London gigs.
Carol Harvey is Dave's bubbly sister. She was a good friend of Angela Morris and introduced her to Don. (Angela later died in that fateful crash in 1973).
Carol got married in late 1973 and moved to Hull. When I used to stay with Jack - Carol would be constantly on the phone checking how her Dad was. She seemed so proud of her brother and would attend all the Midlands gigs with her husband - David. In the early 70's though Carol would travel to London with her Dad and go to the London gigs.
David and Carol Hill (Harvey), with Dave - 1973
I remember Jack telling me how he and Carol went to the London Palladium gig in January 1973. Both of them were backstage but when the show started they wanted to watch from the stalls. They took their backstage passes and went outside - and asked to be let in downstairs.
The bouncers refused them entry. Not because they doubted who they were - but for their safety! They said that the kids were going mad inside the venue - and they (well Jack really) would get "killed". (This was the gigs where hundreds of seats were trashed and the balcony cracked with the weight of fans stomping and jumping up and down. The Palladium banned all future rock concerts!).
The bouncers refused them entry. Not because they doubted who they were - but for their safety! They said that the kids were going mad inside the venue - and they (well Jack really) would get "killed". (This was the gigs where hundreds of seats were trashed and the balcony cracked with the weight of fans stomping and jumping up and down. The Palladium banned all future rock concerts!).
Carol Hill and Jan Parton (later to become Dave's wife) with H and his broken ankle - 1972. (Thanks Gary Jordan for providing pic).
1973 - Carol's wedding
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1975 - Carol in Dave's outfit
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Leandra Holder
Leandra and Nod present Charisse - 1976
Nod's ex-wife Leandra is lovely. I met her on several ocassions, mainly at the London gigs. She is charming and funny. I am still in touch now as she runs her own online jewellery firm.
Nod lived with Leandra in Sutton Coldfield before buying a place in London in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea. The only fan I knew that called at Nod and Leandra's house was Kevin Massey in 1978. Leandra answered the door and they were in the middle of a dinner party. Kevin wasn't well received!
I know that Nod blamed the pressures of touring on splitting him and Leandra. And this is the main reason why he was so adverse to touring with Slade after 1983.
Nod and Leandra had two children together, Charisse and Jess. (Charisse is pictured above - born on 27 December 1976).
Nod later had a further child, a boy called Django (born 1994), by his partner Suzan. The couple married in secret in the early 2000's and live in Prestbury, Cheshire.
Nod lived with Leandra in Sutton Coldfield before buying a place in London in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea. The only fan I knew that called at Nod and Leandra's house was Kevin Massey in 1978. Leandra answered the door and they were in the middle of a dinner party. Kevin wasn't well received!
I know that Nod blamed the pressures of touring on splitting him and Leandra. And this is the main reason why he was so adverse to touring with Slade after 1983.
Nod and Leandra had two children together, Charisse and Jess. (Charisse is pictured above - born on 27 December 1976).
Nod later had a further child, a boy called Django (born 1994), by his partner Suzan. The couple married in secret in the early 2000's and live in Prestbury, Cheshire.
Articles about Noddy and Leandra
