We’re releasing this episode (our Season 1 finale) on a Sunday rather than the regular Tuesday, for a very good reason indeed: 1st December 2024 is the 57th anniversary of the amazing Jimi Hendrix performing in the Central Theatre, Chatham, another milestone in the long, rich history of Medway’s music scene.

The Hendrix Experience were headlining a package tour of seven bands - the kind of tour that was very popular in the US in the 1950s, but quite unusual in the UK by the late 60s. Second on the bill were Pink Floyd, who’d only just released their first album. So we went to talk to Nick Mason, the Floyd drummer, about his memories of being on the tour with Jimi. In his wry, understated way, he gives us a real insight to what it meant to him musically and personally.

We also talk to John Campbell, the lead guitarist and singer in Europe’s best Hendrix tribute band, Are You Experienced?, about channelling Hendrix for audiences in the 2020s. And illustrator and typographer Will Hill tells us about going - aged 12 - to his first-ever gig: Jimi Hendrix in Washington DC in August 1967, only a few months before he came to Chatham…

Finally, Phil chats to Rob about the times he got to play piano with both the then surviving members of the Hendrix Experience - bassist Noel Redding in County Cork, and drummer Mitch Mitchell in the Hard Rock Café on Piccadilly.

And we’ve added a Christmas bonus: a teaser for Series 2 with Lucinda Dickens Hawksley, the great-great-great-granddaughter of Charles Dickens.

Thanks for listening - and a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all!!

With thanks to John Campbell from Are You Experienced?

Instagram: @‌JimiJon4

Facebook: Are You Experienced?

To purchase a copy of Victorian Christmas by Lucinda Dickens Hawksley visit the Charles Dickens Museum shop or Store 104, Rochester

We Did It Medway is supported by the Medway Council Shared Prosperity Fund from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and The City of Rochester Society. Find out more about their work at city-of-rochester.org.uk

We Did it Medway is presented by Philip Dodd and Rob Flood. It is produced and edited by Suze Cooper at Big Tent Media, with assistance from Emily Crosby Media.

The We Did It Medway music is written and performed by Chris Weller (Staggered Ray), Rob Shepherd (Singing Loins) and Vicky Price (Ashen Keys) with lyrics by Philip Dodd. Additional sound design elements for this episode were sourced from Freesound.org: Sleigh bells courtesy of GowlerMusic and soundstack.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join us for a walk through Chatham Intra, as Rob reveals the rich history of the LGBTQIA+ community in Medway, and in particular the huge importance of The Ship Inn on the High Street in Intra, possibly the oldest gay pub in the country.

For decades The Ship has been at the heart of the gay scene in the area – during the dark days when homosexuality was still illegal and necessarily underground, till today when Medway Pride is a vibrant highlight of a Medway summer.

In the snug of the Ship itself, we meet Peter Moorcraft, a regular at the pub since 1966. Hilary Cooke, the Chair of Medway Pride, is a key equality champion. And we hear from the delightfully funny Derek Arrowsmith, a 90-year-old gay activist, interviewed by Rob as part of Medway Pride Fringe in August.

Intra Arts

Chatham Intra

The Story of Intra High Street in six places blog

Rob and Phil discuss Michi Masumi’s work on display at Intra at the time of recording. Visit Michi’s Instagram or website to find out more about Michi’s work.

During the Medway Pride section you hear the talents of Kent samba band Bloco Fogo, recorded live at Rochester Castle Gardens during the Pride 2024 event.

We Did It Medway is supported by the Medway Council Shared Prosperity Fund from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and The City of Rochester Society. Find out more about their work at city-of-rochester.org.uk

We Did it Medway is presented by Philip Dodd and Rob Flood. It is produced and edited by Big Tent Media, with assistance from Emily Crosby Media.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two locations for this episode: first we’re at the Watts Almshouses on Maidstone Road in Rochester, for a round table discussion about the heritage of charity in Medway.

We’re joined by Martin Sissons, CEO of the Watts Charity, which is nearly 450 years old and still as relevant and needed as ever. We’re also with Janet Fischer, Chief Executive of Live Music Now, which brings music to vulnerable communities, and John Portman, who is an award-winning organiser of many different activities designed to help those with dementia.

Then we head out on the streets with Neil and Tracy Charlick of the Gillingham Street Angels at their weekly community kitchen, on the ground on a very windy afternoon! It’s charity in the raw.

Richard Watts Charities Almshouses https://www.richardwatts.org.uk/

An open day is being held at Watts Almshouses on Saturday, September 14. Find more information here: https://www.richardwatts.org.uk/copy-of-july-2023

Live Music Now website https://www.livemusicnow.org.uk/

For more information about Rochester Dementia Cafe visit https://www.medway.gov.uk/directory_record/279279/rochester_dementia_memory_cafe

Gillingham Street Angels https://www.thestreet-angels.org/

If you would like to volunteer to support any of the charities you’ve heard about in this episode. Please click the relevant link and contact them. They are always looking for new people to join their teams.

With thanks to the City of Rochester Society for supporting this podcast. Find out more about their work at city-of-rochester.org.uk

We Did it Medway is presented by Rob Flood and Philip Dodd. It is produced and edited by Suze Cooper of Big Tent Media, with assistance from Emily Crosby Media.

The We Did It Medway music is written and performed by Chris Weller (Staggered Ray), Rob Shepherd (Singing Loins) and Vicky Price (Ashen Keys) with lyrics by Philip Dodd.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.