The
Original Kent Surfers
The 1968 East Kent Surf Club
Front Row: Tim, Paul, Ian, Andy, Pete
Back Row: Stephen (Sam) Griggs, Paul Blacker (Now BlackerSurfboards)
Ian Stevenson (New Zealand) Memories of those early days surfing in Kent.
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My shock of seeing Tony Ward learning to master his longboard at Kingsgate Bay. (I thought I was the only surfer!) |
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The startled look on Bruce Clements face at Broadstairs beach when a group of us paddled out. (he thought he was the only surfer!) |
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Phil Smith surfing right up the lifeboat ramp at Margate Pier during what must have been the best ever surf on the East Coast. |
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Talking to the attendant at the Joss Bay car park who said "You can't surf here, there's no surf!" as we watched Tony cross from right to left on a green wall. |
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The Saturday night when Paul burnt his old board on the beach at a party and did a surf dance, 12 hours later we had BIG SUNDAY. |
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Those crazy evenings at the Ship Inn with D.J Tony Brown. |
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Standing at the same bar in our wetsuits after surfing under the pier. |
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Sitting out the back at Guincho in Portugal as some were attending to Mother Natures needs giant walls approached. Hearing Paul shout Suck em up! as he caught the first giant and turned very pale. |
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Being amazed at how Tim Keenan could keep his glasses on in the surf. |
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The language of the fishermen on Broadstairs pier as Bruce went through their lines! |
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The changes when the London surfers arrived, do you remember Desi, Bugsy, Finn and Stuart Puddifoot. (Who I might add dyed Andys hair Blonde!) |
It was era that shaped our future almost without exception, we were all involved with Surfing and that common interest coupled with the cold inhospitable waves of Joss Bay brought us together around 35 years ago. The memories roll back, because Joss was a stepping stone, many kept surfing and moved West to North Devon. From there, all around the world.
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Paul Knowles continues his personal look
back in the series "How I got into Surfing" with the trail blazing years
of the late 60s and early 70s.(
As the local surfers became more mobile trips were being made to Cornwall and North Devon contacts were made and news soon spread that it was possible to surf in Kent. Many surfers started arriving in Thanet particularly from the London area. The London surfers had a great impact on the local scene, they had money, new cars, attractive girlfriends and were experimenting with soft drugs (well at least some things haven’t changed). Hostility from Thanet towards surfers soon became a problem after a few minor incidents with bathers. An organised group was needed following rumors that bye laws were to be introduced banning surfing at Joss and Viking bay. At this time surfing was seen as just another teenage fad attracting riotous parties, sex drugs, loud music and fast cars, this was thanks in part to the surf music scene, some how the Thanet surfers missed out on this because the scene was very much a clean cut style, especially when compared to today’s board sports. It always seems like there is someone around trying to spoil other peoples enjoyment, a bit like how skateboarders get treated. As a result of this the East Kent Surf Club was formed in 1968 with full affiliation to the BSA. Following a couple of rescues made by surfers at Joss Bay, where swimmers had been caught in the strong rips over the reefs and the ensuing much local publicity, surfers soon gained popularity with the local authorities and dedicated surfing and bathing areas were set up.
It's funny how certain events stick out in your mind all those years ago. Big Sunday at Joss bay: following a beach party at Palm Bay, when my old home-made wooden boards was burnt amidst much hooting and yelling and cries to the "Duke" for monster surf. It really happened, a massive storm in the North Sea brought 6 ft. surf into Joss Bay all day the following Sunday. The gathering of surfers, hot rodders and bikers for a classic California style weekend at Greatstone with more parties and barbecues on the beach. Perhaps the most outstanding and far reaching event that changed our whole outlook was the trips to North Spain and Portugal.
Take
a look at the photo archive of the
original kent surfers.
R.I.P Nick George
Nick George was one of the original Kent surfers from the 1960's, sadly last tuesday the 15th November 2005 he passed away at his home in Western Australia after a long fight with cancer.
If you saw the recent BBC feature on surfing in Kent, Nick was the guy leaning out of the window of the Ford Anglia van in the old film footage shot by Grisbee. Our thoughts are with his family in Australia and to his brother Pete in California from the surfers of Kent.