Tristram Shandy – Notts Music Archive

Originally from Kent in the early seventies, Tristram Shandy released a couple of records in 73 & 74, played the UK and abroad, worked in nearby Leicester before settling in Nottingham in 1974, holding down a residency at the Palais in the mid seventies. They would go through line up changes but their classic early seventies line up consisted of Dave Bowley, Arthur Sparkes, Pete Sewell and Andy Kealey. The roots of Tristram Shandy include sixties groups from the Ashford, Kent area like State Organisation, The Couriers, Marshmallow Tree and Cleopatra’s Needle.

**Classic early seventies line up: L-R Arthur Sparkes, Andy Kealey, Pete Sewell, David Bowley**

**Late 70’s line up : L-R Andy Kealey, David Bowley, Boris Carlin, Leslie Sampson**

Classic Early 70’s Line up:
David Bowley (Guitar & Vocals)
Arthur Sparkes (Bass & Vocals)
Pete Sewell (Drums & Vocals)
Andy Kealey (Guitar & Vocals

Tristram Shandy – Mr. Blue – 1974

Tristram Shandy – Hunky Funky Woman – 1973

Early history: 1960s

Tristram Shandy were formed in Kent around 1970 as a trio with a line up of:

1970 1st Line up:
David Bowley (Guitar & Vocals)
Arthur Sparkes (Bass & Vocals)
Pete Sewell (Drums & Vocals)

The name was given to them by their road manager and lyricist, Michael Farris, after the book written by Lawrence Stern in the 1760’s. They played in their local Kent area and they became a four piece group when Andy Kealey joined in 1971. Arthur and David had both been in a group called State Organisation. Pete Sewell had been in a group called Marshmallow Tree. Andy had previously been with the mid sixties group The Couriers and in 1970/71 a group called Cleopatra’s Needle playing mostly covers but the odd original song. Andy would later join Noel Redding’s mid seventies group for a year appearing on the “Blowin” album before re-joining Tristram Shandy a year later. Dave Bowley was a song writer and in some respects might be seen as the groups leader.

1971 2nd Line up (Classic):
David Bowley (Guitar & Vocals)
Arthur Sparkes (Bass & Vocals)
Pete Sewell (Drums & Vocals)
Andy Kealey (Guitar & Vocals

We will look at the further career of Tristram Shandy later but for now let’s go back to the beginning.

EARLY HISTORY IN DEPTH

There are four main groups to follow in the roots of Tristram Shandy. I’m going to start with Arthur Sparkes and David Bowley who first met up in a group called State Organisation and Pete Sewell who joined them later to form the first incarnation of Tristram Shandy. I will then trace Andy Kealey’s journey until he joined them in 1971.

STATE ORGANISATION

Formed sometime in 1966 the original members were:

Line up#1 1967
Arthur Sparkes: Bass
Tony Gardener: Vocals
Tony Scott: Organ
Alan Cullen: Lead Guitar
John Wilkinson: Drums

In 1967 a wave of police raids took place throughout the country as a media driven paranoia about the new drug culture surrounding the youth of the day took hold. It was true to say that there was an increase in these new social habits but probably a little over hyped in the press. However, State Organisation were caught up in one of these raids at the Beehive Club in Canterbury but were not detained.

After advertising in October 1967, Alan Cullen and John Wilkinson were replaced by Dave Bowley on lead guitar and Bill Regan on drums.

Line up #2 67/69
Arthur Sparkes: Bass
Tony Gardener: Vocals
Tony Scott: Organ
David Bowley: Guitar, Vox
Bill Reagan: Drums

David Bowley

David Bowley had previously been in his first group called the “Dave Bowley Blues Band. He also may have been in a group called “The Saints” before or after “The Nomads“.

David Bowley “We won a “Beat Group” competition (The Nomads) at Cranbrook Town Hall”. “Mick Curties, Tim Homewood. Pete Claydon, Ralph ?….After this a group from Smarden “Form Five” asked me and Brian Dance to join them. Could that have been when they heard about you Mike Lester, Most local bands new each other and often “stole” musicians, as we did (later) with Andy Kealey for Tristram”.

Mike Lester remembered:
“Dave you may not remember this but once I was having a football kickaround at Appledore when I was bundled into white van and taken to Woodchurch to play Bass guitar at a rehearsal! The fact that I protested that I couldn’t play bass guitar didn’t seem to be important! Was the drummer called Tim (also the van driver?) anyway, you didn’t ask me back again”.

THE NOMADS

Mid sixties group from Woodchurch, Kent.

Line up:
David Bowley
Mick Curties
Tim Homewood
Pete Claydon
Ralph

Back to
STATE ORGANISATION

**State Organisation L-R Arthur Sparkes, Tony Scott, Tony Gardener, Bill Reagan, David Bowley**

**State Organisation L-R Tony Scott, Arthur Sparkes, Tony Gardener, Bill Reagan, David Bowley**

**State Organisation L-R Tony Gardener, Arthur Sparkes, Tony Scott, David Bowley, Bill Reagan**

**State Organisation 1969 L-R Top Arthur Sparkes, Tony Gardener Bottom Tony Scott, Bill Reagan, David Bowley**

**State Organisation. **Danny Kerwin (Fleetwood Mac) is there with us mid photo** Kent 1969. ….**

A few big name groups that State Organisation supported were:

18.02.67. Cream
08.09.67. Canned Heat
22.01.67. Spencer Davis Group
24.05.69. Fleetwood Mac

When the group came to an end David Bowley on lead guitar and Arthur Starkes on bass guitar decided to form a new band with drummer Pete Sewell who had spent the last year playing with Marshmallow Tree. This group would be Tristram Shandy.

RECORDINGS

I’m not sure if the following two recordings are by State Organisation. I found them on David Bowley’s SoundCloud page. He put them up under the generic “Tristram Shandy” title. They are among other recognisable Tristram Shandy recordings, some Radio Trent sessions, some live at the Palais in 1974 but these two songs feel much older and have a keyboard as part of the instruments so my guess (and it may be wrong) is that it might be State Organisation. The two songs were together on one file under the title of “The Creation” so I’ve split them and given the second one a separate temporary title “Heavens”.

State Organisation – The Creation – circa late 60’s

State Organisation – Heavens – circa late 60’s

More State Organisation newspaper cuttings at the bottom of the page.

MARSHMALLOW TREE

Blues, Soul and Rock group from Ashford Kent 1969.

Line up:
Bob Hodgeman
Cliff Homewood
Ted Maitland
Chris Ashman
Pete Sewell: Drums
Nick R Ashman

**Marshmallow Tree – L-R Bob Hodgeman, Cliff Homewood, Ted Maitland, Chris Ashman, Pete Sewell, Nick R Ashman**

Formed in 1968 they played on the local circuit. A few venues include Lenham Hall, Yalding Villaga Hall, the New Generation Club Victoria Hall Buckland Hill Maidstone playing alongside “Inner Circle”, Sellindge Village Hall and Woodchurch Village Hall.

In the group photo they have a few albums. One is The Doors – Waiting For The Sun. Another is Canned Heat – Boogie With Canned Heat.

They took part in a beat group contest in May 1969 and after local heats reaching the final at the Dreamland Ballroom, Margate. Organised by the Kent Youth Service, a crowd of over 1,000 was expected and each group had to perform two numbers, one being self written. The winning group were given a chance to record at Decca studios in London and be given a set of records (acetates no doubt) of their recordings.

Other groups in the final were:

The Phoenix (Maidstone)
The Way (Medway)
The Sovereign (West Kent)
Just Us (Gillingham)
The Senators (Sittingbourne & District)
The Earth Movement (Thanet)
The Inspiration (Gravesend & District)
Marmaduke Maize (Dover & Deal)

Drummer Pete Sewell would join Tristram Shandy in 1970.

More Marshmallow Tree newspaper cuttings at the bottom of the page.

THE COURIERS

This story starts in the early sixties with the friendship between the Swinard brothers and the Kealey brothers. In 1963 Gary Swinard formed his first group, The Young Ones, when he was 12, four Ashford lads who all lived in Musgrove. They would practice at the “Swann” in Little Chart. Line up:

The Young Ones: Line up:
Dave Trott
Paul Batt
Trevor Hills
Gary Swinard

**The Young Ones: L-R: Dave Trott, Paul Batt, Trevor Hills Gary Swinard**

THE COURIERS

In 1965, Gary, alongside his brother Phil, the Kealey brothers Andy and Pete and Tim Relf formed The Couriers. Formed July 24th 1965 (according to a newspaper article in 1966) The Couriers were an Ashford & Challock based group. They played Beat, Blues and Soul songs of the day, playing around Ashford and the wider Kent area. Ashford is fairly central to Kent with Folkestone and Dover below them on the coast, Maidstone and Canterbury above and the Northern coastal towns of Sittingbourne, Whitstable and Margate further above. The first line up was:

The Couriers: Line up #1
Gary Swinard: Guitar
Phil Swinard: Bass
Tim Relf: Drums
Andy Kealey: Lead Guitar
Pete Kealey: Organ

Manager, John Simmons took control of them in Feb 1966. He also managed State Organisation and The Section>

**The Couriers 1966. Metropolitan Police training Grosvenor Hall Kennington Ashford. L-R Pete Kealey, Gary and Phil Swinard, Tim Relf Andy Kealey**

**The Couriers – Gary Swinard on Guitar, Phil Swinard on Bass, Tim Relf on drums and Andy Kealey on Lead Guitar**

The group appeared in the local paper, the Kentish Express.

**Kentish Express – Friday 25 March 1966**

They rehearsed at Singleton Manor and some songs they covered were “In the Midnight Hour”, “Mr Pitiful” and Otis Redding songs like “My Girl”.

They played venues like Ashford Athletic Club, Beat House Ashford, Challock Memorial Hall, Youth Club Willesborough, St Hilary’s Hall Mangravet, Pluckley Village Hall, Smarden Schools, Brabourne & Smeeth Village Hall, Odeon Ballroom Ashford, Leas Cliff Hall Folkestone and St Simons Hall.

In May 1966 they signed a 15 week contract to play at the Beach Holiday Camp, Dymchurch, playing from June to September. During that time they were promised a recording contract by Michael Julian (who sometimes wrote songs for Cliff Richard).

They played the “2 B’s Club” in Ashford where groups like Dave Anthony’s Mood from Bournemouth and David Bowie and the Buz from London would appear.

Other groups on the local circuit with them in 1966 included The 4 Shades of Black, The Cygnets, The King Bees, Phase 5, Concords and some bigger names like Pinkerton’s Assorted Colours.

In August 1966 it was reported that Pete Kealey had decided to leave the group wanting to concentrate on his academic studies and the group broke up just so could reconvene with a new line up. It seems he didn’t leave afterall and Phil Swinard left with his brother Gary moving onto bass guitar.

In September 1966 lead guitarist Andy Kealey decides to sell one of his guitars.

1967

So, by 1967 the group had undergone line up changes with Les Sampson replacing Tim Relf on drums, and Phil Swinard leaving and Steve Marriot coming in to take the lead vocal spot. It must be understood this wasn’t the Steve Marriot of the Small Faces, they just shared the same name.

Line up #2
Steve Marriott: Vocals (not Small Faces)
Les Samson: Drums
Pete Kealey: Organ
Gary Swinard: Bass
Andy Kealey: Lead Guitar

**The Couriers 1967 – L-R Steve Marriott, Les Samson, Pete Kealey, Gary Swinard, Andy Kealey**

**Pete Kealey and Gary Swinard. 1968 orange 1500 E Thames Van**

In 1967 they were still playing the local circuit regularly but also picking up regular support slots to national groups. At the Leas Cliff Hall in Folkestone they supported The Move, The Swinging Blue Jeans, Wayne Fontana and the Opposition, Chicken Shack and Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick & Tich. At the Apex Club, Willesborough they supported Carl Douglas and the Big Stampede, The Tony Merrick Scene, The Original Dyaks, Heart & Soul and John L. Watson and the Web. At the Odeon Ballroom, Ashford there was a guest appearance of Casey Allen (Decca) with The Couriers. Local venues included Pluckley Village Hall, Charing Youth Centre, Bockhanger Farm, Egerton Youth Club, Kempton Manor Ballroom Hothfield, The Blue Room Ashford, Sellindge Village Hall and they played alongside local group The State Organisation that included future Tristram Shandy members Arthur Sparkes and David Bowley.

By 1968 The Couriers had a new manger R. Stepto. Local venues included Aurora Club Ashford, Hamstreet Youth Club, a Midsummers Night Dance at Sandyhurst Farm, Village Clubhouse Biddenden, Brookfield Hall, Woodchurch, Aldington Youth Club. They sometimes played alongside stable mates The Shades of Black and The Section. In 1969 the scene was changing and they were on the books of “Anvil Promotions” of Ashford who also looked after “Genesis Creation”, “Mother Earth”, “Untamed” and “Shades of Innocence”. The usual venues were still in demand and further gigs at The New Generation Club Maidstone, Lenham Village Hall, Stanhope Community Centre, Brookfield Hall alongside Genesis Creation, kept rolling in. An ad in April 1969 shows a guitar for sale “For Sale ex Couriers Beatle Bass good condition”. In 1970, playing the Spotlight Club Goudhurst, Biddenden, a Barbecue at Dobles Farm Wittersham, Brookfield Hall and the Iron Room Boughton Lees, the group decided on a name change and went with “Cleopatra’s needle in July 1970.

In July 1970 The Couriers changed their name to Cleopatra’s Needle.

More “Couriers” newspaper cuttings at the bottom of the page.

CLEOPATRA’S NEEDLE

1970-71.

Line up:
Gary Swinard
Andy Kealey
Steve Marriott (not the Small Faces man)
????????

**Cleopatras Needle 1971. L-R: Gary Swinard, Andy Keeley, Steve Marriott**

Formed in July 1970, Cleopatra’s Needle were in fact, formerly The Couriers who had been playing since 1965. Still playing a lot of the same venues they had with The Couriers like Brookfield Hall (described as Stars TV & Radio), Pluckley Village Hall, Hunton Village Hall, Centrepiece Youth Centre and the Iron Room Boughton Lees they took part in a “Big Top Beat Contest” at Ashford North Secondary School. Other groups on the bill were Fairy-Nuf, Merlin, Mood Reaction, Ox, Porcelain Frog, Proud and Witches Brew.

In 1971 they got a residency at the Highcliffe Bar, part of the “Queens Entertainment Centre” in Cliftonville Margate. The Hippocampo was also part of this centre and they played here too. Also holding a residency at the Highcliffe were Tristram Shandy with Arthur Sparkes, David Bowley (both previously of State Organisation) and drummer Pete Sewell.
At the end of 1971 Tristram Shandy poached Andy Kealey from Cleopatra’s Needle to make them a four piece. The rest of Cleopatra’s Needle, led by Gary Swinard formed themselves into a new group called “Oliver”.

OLIVER

**Gary says – I think we were playing in Colchester at the Army Base. Maybe Sergeants mess. We stayed the night in a Nissan Hut. We all look pretty spaced out. I’m guessing the year around 1971**.
**Trevor Coleman, Steve Marriott, Gary Swinard, the late ‘Wiggy’ Trott and Andy the roadie**

More Cleopatra’s Needle newspaper cuttings at the bottom of the page.

TRISTRAM SHANDY

Early history now complete, We can follow the journey of Tristram Shandy with a little recap. Formed in 1970 by Arthur Sparkes, David Bowley (both from State Organisation) and Pete Sewell (from Marshmallow Tree) they were originally a three piece.

MORE COMING LATER
MORE COMING LATER
MORE COMING LATER

1970