SLADE PARENTS
I was very fortunate to get to meet some of the band's parents.
They were working class people from the Black Country - proud of what their offspring had achieved...
They were working class people from the Black Country - proud of what their offspring had achieved...
Walter and Dora Powell
Me and Don's mum Dora - 1978
I came to know Don's Mum and Dad after his near fatal car crash in 1973.
Don had met his then girlfriend, Angela Morris, through Dave Hill's sister Carol. Angela was one of Carol's friends.
Don and Angela had been driving home, in his white Bentley, from the Lafayette nightclub in Wolverhampton in the early hours of Wednesday 4th July 1973. Somehow there was an accident and the car flew through a hedge and crashed into a tree and wall. Both Don and Angela were thrown from the vehicle. From their positioning of their bodies it could not be ascertained who was driving and who was the passenger.
Two off duty nurses witnessed the accident and were first to the scene. It was the actions of these nurses that kept Don alive until the paramedics arrived. Angela unfortunately died. Don had two broken ankles, five broken ribs, numerous teeth broken and had to have a hole drilled into his brain to relieve pressure. Don was in a coma for six days.
(FYI Angela can be seen on the widely used TOTP 2 video of Slade performing "Mama Weer All Crazee Now". She's dancing behind the band with Dave Hill's sister Carol in the white cat suit, and you can see the Slade roadie JJ - Johnny Jones - in the clips).
Don had met his then girlfriend, Angela Morris, through Dave Hill's sister Carol. Angela was one of Carol's friends.
Don and Angela had been driving home, in his white Bentley, from the Lafayette nightclub in Wolverhampton in the early hours of Wednesday 4th July 1973. Somehow there was an accident and the car flew through a hedge and crashed into a tree and wall. Both Don and Angela were thrown from the vehicle. From their positioning of their bodies it could not be ascertained who was driving and who was the passenger.
Two off duty nurses witnessed the accident and were first to the scene. It was the actions of these nurses that kept Don alive until the paramedics arrived. Angela unfortunately died. Don had two broken ankles, five broken ribs, numerous teeth broken and had to have a hole drilled into his brain to relieve pressure. Don was in a coma for six days.
(FYI Angela can be seen on the widely used TOTP 2 video of Slade performing "Mama Weer All Crazee Now". She's dancing behind the band with Dave Hill's sister Carol in the white cat suit, and you can see the Slade roadie JJ - Johnny Jones - in the clips).
I got to know Don's parents at this time. News of the accident was published in the London Evening Standard newspaper. Inadvertently they published, Don's parents address in Green Park Drive, Stowlawn, Bilston.
Wanting to know news of how Don was doing, I picked up the phone to Directory Enquiries and was given the phone number. Don's parents hadn't gone ex-directory.
Wanting to know news of how Don was doing, I picked up the phone to Directory Enquiries and was given the phone number. Don's parents hadn't gone ex-directory.
Don's Dad Wally, nephew Michael and me - 1978
Don's sister Carol answered my call - and provided me with an update. They must have received loads of calls - but they answered all with dignity. Most kids just wanted to know how Don was doing. However, it was a few years later when Don's mum told me that they did receive a spoof call from someone pretending to be a Doctor announcing that Don had died. The caller was very believable and for a few minutes they were fooled and most upset. How cruel can some people be?
In the years that followed I kept in touch with Wally and Dora. I dropped them numerous letters and Dora would respond to them all - letting me know what Don was up to. As soon as I was 16 I started travelling to Bilston to visit. They were always most accommodating. They would get Don's brother and Sisters (Derek, Marilyn or Carol) to come round too - and Dora would always make me lunch.....great big "doorsteps" as Don used to call them. I have numerous photos taken of me with Don's "Slade Alive" Gold Disc (from Australia) that he had given them. When Slade played the Wolverhampton Fiesta concert, at Monmore Green, in 1981, I stayed at their house with Don's girlfriend Carol. Don's brother Derek drove us to the gig. Wally and Dora were proud parents and had time for me, and all the local kids who used to knock on their door for autographs.
In the years that followed I kept in touch with Wally and Dora. I dropped them numerous letters and Dora would respond to them all - letting me know what Don was up to. As soon as I was 16 I started travelling to Bilston to visit. They were always most accommodating. They would get Don's brother and Sisters (Derek, Marilyn or Carol) to come round too - and Dora would always make me lunch.....great big "doorsteps" as Don used to call them. I have numerous photos taken of me with Don's "Slade Alive" Gold Disc (from Australia) that he had given them. When Slade played the Wolverhampton Fiesta concert, at Monmore Green, in 1981, I stayed at their house with Don's girlfriend Carol. Don's brother Derek drove us to the gig. Wally and Dora were proud parents and had time for me, and all the local kids who used to knock on their door for autographs.
It was years later that I came to meet Fran Tucker - a die-hard fan who was also big pals with Wally and Dora. We both used to visit them all the time - but our paths never crossed in Bilston.
Sadly, Wally passed away in 1994 and Dora passed in 1999.
Sadly, Wally passed away in 1994 and Dora passed in 1999.
Xmas card from the Powells
Early Slade photos given to me by Don's Mum
Don's Mum, Dora, kindly lent me these early Slade photos (below) to use in my Fan Club magazine. They have subsequently been copied countless times on the internet...
Nod getting his jamas on - in the Torquay caravan
|
Early Slade
|
Jack Hill
Dave in his dungarees in NY City - 1975
I got introduced to Dave's Dad, Jack Hill, via fan Kevin Massey from East Ham in 1978.
Jack was a widower as his wife Dorothy had died a few years earlier. (Jack recounted how she hadn't felt well and retired to bed. By the time Jack went up to bed she had died in her sleep. He didn't realise and slept with her all night). He was very personable, and enjoyed company - in fact anyone's company as long as he could tell his stories. Kevin said that Jack was agreeable to us staying with him from time to time - and eventually we used to travel up about one weekend a month to spend time with him and get away from the chaos of London.
We loved staying with Jack - the "Godfather of Slade" with all his stories. And Jack loved the company of young people. We would agree a time that we would plan to arrive - and we daren't be late ...... as he would wait expectantly for us and sulk if we were not on time! When in Jack's company you would forget how old he was - he was charming, fun and had a devilish sense of humour.
Jack was a widower as his wife Dorothy had died a few years earlier. (Jack recounted how she hadn't felt well and retired to bed. By the time Jack went up to bed she had died in her sleep. He didn't realise and slept with her all night). He was very personable, and enjoyed company - in fact anyone's company as long as he could tell his stories. Kevin said that Jack was agreeable to us staying with him from time to time - and eventually we used to travel up about one weekend a month to spend time with him and get away from the chaos of London.
We loved staying with Jack - the "Godfather of Slade" with all his stories. And Jack loved the company of young people. We would agree a time that we would plan to arrive - and we daren't be late ...... as he would wait expectantly for us and sulk if we were not on time! When in Jack's company you would forget how old he was - he was charming, fun and had a devilish sense of humour.
Dave's old bedroom with his dungarees - 1979
Jack lived in a small 3 bed terraced council house in Rindleford Avenue, Penn. I took great delight in sleeping in Dave's old bedroom (this was the house that Dave had been brought up in since being a kid). Dave had various items of Slade clothing left in his wardrobe:- His red $ signed platform boots from '74, the cropped sleeve leather jacket painted with a picture of a dreamy lady that he wore for "How Does It Feel" promotion, the Red-Indian outfit he wore to promote "Gypsy Roadhog", the studded denim dungarees used with "In For A Penny" and the denim studded coat he made himself for "Let's Call It Quits". And yes - we used to have fun and games getting into Dave's old stage-gear, although most of it wouldn't fit as Dave is so small!
Kevin and me used to pay Dave's Dad "housekeeping" as he used to cook meals for us. However, half of it used to get eaten by the dogs - as they wouldn't leave you alone when a meal was on the table.
Jack looked after Dave's two dogs; Sabre - a golden Collie which the family had owned from about 1971 and Windsor ("Winny") an enormous Great Dane that Dave had bought in 1974 when he lived in Solihull. Winny had been too clumsy to live in Dave's house - so Jack looked after him. Jack loved these dogs and treated them like humans. He would even leave the radio on for them when to the shops.
Kevin and me used to pay Dave's Dad "housekeeping" as he used to cook meals for us. However, half of it used to get eaten by the dogs - as they wouldn't leave you alone when a meal was on the table.
Jack looked after Dave's two dogs; Sabre - a golden Collie which the family had owned from about 1971 and Windsor ("Winny") an enormous Great Dane that Dave had bought in 1974 when he lived in Solihull. Winny had been too clumsy to live in Dave's house - so Jack looked after him. Jack loved these dogs and treated them like humans. He would even leave the radio on for them when to the shops.
Jack walking Winny - along with my mate Kevin - 1980
Winny was a lovely dog but he would slobber all the time - having a great big trail of spit hanging from his mouth. The dog would shake his head and you'd get covered. That's why whenever you visited Jack's house it made sense to never wear good clothes!
The dogs were well known to the neighbours. Jack had a Mini Estate car and when he took the dogs to the local park he would pile them into the small car and drive with the windows open so they could breathe. The dogs who hang their heads out and howl, loudly. Also, Jack would have his 8 track in the car playing, even more loudly, as he was quite deaf. It was quite a sight!
The dogs were well known to the neighbours. Jack had a Mini Estate car and when he took the dogs to the local park he would pile them into the small car and drive with the windows open so they could breathe. The dogs who hang their heads out and howl, loudly. Also, Jack would have his 8 track in the car playing, even more loudly, as he was quite deaf. It was quite a sight!
Jack at the Wolves Civic - 1973
Jack was a very open person and despite his ageing years was progressive with his thoughts. We had quite open discussions about relationships. He hinted that he himself couldn't see the point of marriage and suggested that he and the wife had never actually married - but said they did because of the flack the kids would get. That was food for thought.
Jack was also open to trying new things. To get away from his cooking, Kevin and I once suggested treating him to a night out and going into Wolverhampton town centre for a meal. We ended up enjoying the delights of Pizzaland in the Wulfrun Centre. Jack had never tasted any form of Italian food before and loved it.
We would chat long in to the night about how in the 1960's Dave wanted to make it in the music business. Jack said that, although money was always tight, he would strive to buy Dave the guitars and amps that he required. Also, it was obvious that Dave got his love of cars from his Dad. Jack used to be a car mechanic and in the early days would advise Dave what cars to buy. When Dave had made his choice Jack would go and check the cars out. I distinctly remember Jack telling me how very impressed he had been with the Silver Jensen Dave bought in 1973 - together with the YOB 1 number-plate.
The down-side of staying at Jack's was that he was a morning person. He would be up with the larks - and ready to take on the day really early. I have memories of Sunday mornings. At home I would typically always have a lie-in. However, when at Jack's, once he considered it time for everyone to get up he would blast out classical music from the stereo. I recall reading an interview with Dave Hill from years ago. He mentioned that he loves waking on a Sunday to classical music. I know why. It was ingrained into his system at a young age by his Dad.
Jack was also open to trying new things. To get away from his cooking, Kevin and I once suggested treating him to a night out and going into Wolverhampton town centre for a meal. We ended up enjoying the delights of Pizzaland in the Wulfrun Centre. Jack had never tasted any form of Italian food before and loved it.
We would chat long in to the night about how in the 1960's Dave wanted to make it in the music business. Jack said that, although money was always tight, he would strive to buy Dave the guitars and amps that he required. Also, it was obvious that Dave got his love of cars from his Dad. Jack used to be a car mechanic and in the early days would advise Dave what cars to buy. When Dave had made his choice Jack would go and check the cars out. I distinctly remember Jack telling me how very impressed he had been with the Silver Jensen Dave bought in 1973 - together with the YOB 1 number-plate.
The down-side of staying at Jack's was that he was a morning person. He would be up with the larks - and ready to take on the day really early. I have memories of Sunday mornings. At home I would typically always have a lie-in. However, when at Jack's, once he considered it time for everyone to get up he would blast out classical music from the stereo. I recall reading an interview with Dave Hill from years ago. He mentioned that he loves waking on a Sunday to classical music. I know why. It was ingrained into his system at a young age by his Dad.
Me and Dave's old guitars - at Jack's house - 1979
A big memory of staying with Jack weas that he owned the first video recorder I had ever seen. Apparently, Dave was given one of the first Phillips N1500 video recorders when he toured Japan with Slade in 1973. The VCR was of a format prior to VHS. The tapes were bulky in size but only lasted for half an hour. Dave had no use for the machine that was outdated by 1978 - so he passed it on to his Dad. Along with it he passed over copies of "Slade In Flame" (on a series of 4 tapes), The Earls Court concert (on 3 tapes), Slade on Tiswas from 1976, and, of all the films, "The Sound of Music" (on 4 tapes). We would watch them over and over again!
Also, Jack loved the TV series "Roald Dahl's Tales of The Unexpected". He always taped episodes for me and Kevin to watch when we visited. His favourite was "The Hitch-Hiker" episode - which had a classic twist in the tale. We knew this episode word by word.
I used to make it an annual event to stay with Jack whenever Slade played the Wolverhampton Civic in the 70's or 80's. Jack would always get us tickets for the gig. We would go to the Green Room when the show had finished and then on to the Trumpet pub in Bilston for drinks after. We would get cabs to and from the gigs because once Jack got absolutely plastered on Vodka and Tonic and wouldn't come out of the Gents toilets!
Jack loved the Blondie single "Sunday Girl". I gave him my copy of the album Parallel Lines and he pinned it to his front-room wall (alongside all the pics of his son and Slade). However, when he actually saw what Debbie Harry looked like on TV (in the video to a follow up single called "Dreaming") he was shocked. I remember him muttering comments that she looked liked she needed a "good wash". (I think that my album cover was then taken down from the wall....).
Dave used his Dad's home address as his own personal mailing address. He would call round once a week to collect items of post. I didn't realise how much Dave was into religion until I saw the post that arrived for him. Dave would sign up to all sorts of religious groups:- Muslim, Hindu, Jehovah's Witness. And post from all these religious sects would arrive.
Also, Jack loved the TV series "Roald Dahl's Tales of The Unexpected". He always taped episodes for me and Kevin to watch when we visited. His favourite was "The Hitch-Hiker" episode - which had a classic twist in the tale. We knew this episode word by word.
I used to make it an annual event to stay with Jack whenever Slade played the Wolverhampton Civic in the 70's or 80's. Jack would always get us tickets for the gig. We would go to the Green Room when the show had finished and then on to the Trumpet pub in Bilston for drinks after. We would get cabs to and from the gigs because once Jack got absolutely plastered on Vodka and Tonic and wouldn't come out of the Gents toilets!
Jack loved the Blondie single "Sunday Girl". I gave him my copy of the album Parallel Lines and he pinned it to his front-room wall (alongside all the pics of his son and Slade). However, when he actually saw what Debbie Harry looked like on TV (in the video to a follow up single called "Dreaming") he was shocked. I remember him muttering comments that she looked liked she needed a "good wash". (I think that my album cover was then taken down from the wall....).
Dave used his Dad's home address as his own personal mailing address. He would call round once a week to collect items of post. I didn't realise how much Dave was into religion until I saw the post that arrived for him. Dave would sign up to all sorts of religious groups:- Muslim, Hindu, Jehovah's Witness. And post from all these religious sects would arrive.
Dave's boot - 1976
For those of you who didn't know, Jack had a glass eye. Before retiring to bed he would take it out, clean it and keep it in a box. He used to tease me asking if I wanted to have a look and hold it - and would trust the box at me. He knew I was quite squeamish - and I would beg him to take it away.
Me with Dave's boot - with the spur missing - 1979
One of the funniest things I ever experienced was when me and Kevin stayed at Jack's with fellow Slade fan, Sue O'Leary (from Oxford), in 1980. We sat up late night drinking - until Me, Kevin and Sue eventually decided it was time for bed. Jack tidied up downstairs. Me and Kevin were sleeping in Dave's old room. Sue asked where she should sleep. Instead of telling her that she was in the box room at the front of the house, we directed her to Jack's bedroom. She soon stripped off and got into bed. Me and Kevin were howling with laughter as we could hear Jack slowly coming upstairs and eventually entering his bedroom. He found Sue waiting for him. He asked what she was doing there? He even said that she could stay there if she wished!
Jack Hill used to have this pic on his front room wall
Photos of Dave Hill's iconic Super Yob suits from 1973
More photos at Jack Hill's house
Esther & Nancy
Nancy and Esther (mother and daughter) were local friends of Dave Hill and his Dad. They lived in Kinlet Close, Castlecroft.
I met them on numerous occasions. Despite having a withered hand, Nancy would do a bit of housekeeping for Dave's Dad, whilst Esther would be Dave's regular babysitter for when Dave and Jan wanted a night out. Dave would always give Esther free tickets for the Slade gigs at the Civic or Birmingham Odeon.
It was Esther who actually advised me in 1979 that Dave had sold his Solihull house - and downsized to a property in Albrighton on the outskirts of Wolverhampton.
When me and Kevin would be visiting Jack we often would go out for a meal and drinks with Nancy and Esther at the Spring Hill pub in Penn (opposite Jim's old house). Jack would always be at the bar charming the barmaids (like father, like son!).
I met them on numerous occasions. Despite having a withered hand, Nancy would do a bit of housekeeping for Dave's Dad, whilst Esther would be Dave's regular babysitter for when Dave and Jan wanted a night out. Dave would always give Esther free tickets for the Slade gigs at the Civic or Birmingham Odeon.
It was Esther who actually advised me in 1979 that Dave had sold his Solihull house - and downsized to a property in Albrighton on the outskirts of Wolverhampton.
When me and Kevin would be visiting Jack we often would go out for a meal and drinks with Nancy and Esther at the Spring Hill pub in Penn (opposite Jim's old house). Jack would always be at the bar charming the barmaids (like father, like son!).
Leah Holder
Leah Holder
I never met Noddy's mum Leah.
I recall seeing her at one of the Wolverhampton Civic gigs but was never formally introduced. Don's mum, Dora, used to talk highly of her as being a sweet lady who kept in touch by sending the Powells Christmas cards every year.
She had a reputation of being good to the kids who called at her house in Gurney Road, Walsall.
She would take autograph books from them and save them until Nod next visited and get them signed for all the kids.
Noddy has said in his interviews that there were two defining moments whereby his Mum became so proud of him - and recognised he was a pop star. These moments were when he appeared on the tv show This Is Your Life (1996) and when he received his MBE at Buckingham Palace (2000).
Leah unfortunately passed away at Christmas 2002. Noddy's Dad, Jack, had previously died in 1998 - after several years of illness.
I recall seeing her at one of the Wolverhampton Civic gigs but was never formally introduced. Don's mum, Dora, used to talk highly of her as being a sweet lady who kept in touch by sending the Powells Christmas cards every year.
She had a reputation of being good to the kids who called at her house in Gurney Road, Walsall.
She would take autograph books from them and save them until Nod next visited and get them signed for all the kids.
Noddy has said in his interviews that there were two defining moments whereby his Mum became so proud of him - and recognised he was a pop star. These moments were when he appeared on the tv show This Is Your Life (1996) and when he received his MBE at Buckingham Palace (2000).
Leah unfortunately passed away at Christmas 2002. Noddy's Dad, Jack, had previously died in 1998 - after several years of illness.
Frank and Edna Lea
I never met Jim's parents either. They went to the Wolverhampton gigs - but I never was made aware of them being there. I used to speak to them when Frank lived at home with them in Reeves Gardens, Codsall. At one time I was selling, through the fan club, copies of "When The Lights Are Out" (that Frank issued on his Cheapskate label) by Jim's band The Dummies. At this time,I used to speak to Frank often (to extra extra stacks of the single). As the time was pre-mobile phones - I used to call him at home. His Mum and Dad would always take messages and be chatty. They seemed like nice people.
Slade Family Albums
