Music in Crawley
4 Nov 2020 - 29 May 2021Thursday, Friday, Saturday - 10.30 - 16.00
Admission free
Music has always been an important part of life in Crawley. In this exhibition we explore some of the music in Crawley that is within living memory.
This would not have been possible without the generosity of the people who have shared their memories and photographs and who have loaned us objects.
If you would like to share your memories of music in Crawley with us then please get in touch!
The exhibition is free but as an independent museum we’d really love it if you’re able to make a donation – thanks!
Gallery
Click images to enlarge
G.E.C Bakelite valve Radio, model number BC 5243. Made in 1950. In museum's education and handling collection.
Ferguson valve operated Radiogram. Model number 653RG. Made in 1960. Wooden case with sliding doors. In museum's education and handling collection.
Ferranti MBT1101 Wayfarer Transistor Radio. Probably made in 1964. In museum's education and handling collection.
Starlight Ballroom.
This was at 102 High Street, opposite the building that is now the museum. It was an important music venue in the 1960s and 1970s. A number of famous bands played there including The Animals (1965), The Who (1966). Pink Floyd (1967), Jimi Hendrix (1967), and Genesis (1971). The building was demolished in 2016. The photograph is part of the museum's collection.
This embroidered dress and shawl was donated to the museum by Nora Green, the leader of the Irish Dancing Club. She wore it for Irish Dancing shows.
Nora Green and members of the Irish Dancing Club at a local event. Year and location unknown. The photograph was donated to the museum by Nora Green.
'Seaside Shuffle' by Terry Dactyl and the Dinosaurs (aka Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts). Originally released in 1971. Re-released in 1972. On loan.
'If You Need Somebody Call on Me' by Brett Marvin and the Thunderbolts, 1975. On loan from Jeff Pitcher.
1976 Poster. The band Malice included Robert Smith, who went on to be in The Cure. This poster was donated to the museum by Martin Creasey, who played with Malice for this gig.
Crawley Chordsmen were the UK's first Barbershop Chorus, who started singing together in 1964. This record was released in 1977. Part of the museum collection.
The Magspies / Obtainers, the single was released in 1979, on Dance Fools Dance a small label started up by Robert Smith and Ric Gallup. Only pressed 100 copies of this record.
The Magspies is the shortened name from The Magazine Spies.
The Obtainers were 2 boys aged 10 and 11 (Nick Loot & Rob Banks) using Tupperware, pots and Pans as Instruments, John Peel Played this record quite a lot. On loan from Dave Carter.
Animation were a Crawley band who organised and played at quite a few gigs in Crawley Community Centres. In 1982 they made a 7" single. It was produced by Robert Smith on his Dance Fools Dance label. There were 500 copies which were left in the back of Smith’s car for a few sunny days so half of them were badly warped. On loan from Dave Carter.
Majorettes 1979. The photograph is part of the museum's collection.
Marching band in Queens Square, 1980. The photograph is part of the museum's collection.
The Jordanaires Dance Group, Queens Square, 1980. The photograph is part of the museum's collection.
Cassette from the Lockjaw session for Journalist Jive and A Doonga Doonga. Simon Gallup was a member of Lockjaw before joining the Cure. It is hand written from 1977 and in a case from the studio. On loan from Darren Guy.
Among others this 1979 single features Robert Smith of The Cure, Simon Gallup, Matthieu Hartley, Pearl Thompson and Horley Postman Frank Bell whose photo appears on the cover. On loan from Dave Carter.
BabyBoomers NewTownPopScenePunks. Oral History and photographs from the Crawley music scene 1981-91 with accompanying CD. On loan from Jeff Pitcher.
Maypole at Three Bridges Infant School.
This photograph was taken in May 1982 during a dance festival to mark 30 years of the Queen's accession. It was donated to the museum by the mother of one of the young boys in the photograph.
'Especially Yellow' Fanzine, issue number 4. On loan from Dave Carter.
Gloop - guide to the local Crawley music scene. Loaned to the museum by Dave Carter, who played in Severance of Trust, featured on the cover.
Friendly Fires record. Friendly Fires were a 1980s Indie band from Crawley. They ran their own record label - Deadbug. On loan from Dave Carter.
Picture disc of 'The Love Cats' by The Cure, released in 1983 on Fiction Records. On loan from Dave Carter.
Bobby Scarlet - Mosquito. Released 1986 on Deadbug Records. On loan from Dave Carter.
Henrys Head CD - Waiting For The Rain. Henry's Head featured the two men from the Obtainers. On loan from Dave Carter.
This jacket belongs to the Crawley Bobby Dazzlers, a local group of majorettes, and was loaned to the museum for the exhibition.
Spitfire Translucent EP. Released in 1991 on Eve Recordings. On loan from Jeff Pitcher.
Thomas Bennett Community College Steel Band. December 1997.
Left to right - Daniel Tidd, unknown boy, Nicola Crozier, unknown boy, Bernie Steponitis (Music Teacher), Lisa Sandiford, Sandra Hall, Janine ? and Kerr-Anne Higgins.
The band played at school concerts and several times on the Bandstand in Queen's Square.
Sanctify Gospel Singers are an adult acapella gospel choir from the Gatwick Seventh Day Adventist Church and were formed in August 2018. ‘Sanctify’ means “set apart or declare holy.” They launched at Bewbush Community Centre with our most popular hymn “There’s No One Like Jesus”, sung in 3 different languages (English, Swahili and Shona), and using musical instruments like drums, tambourines and shakers.
The Gatwick Highflyers Drummers are a musical marching unit formed of boys and girls aged 10 years and above from Gatwick Seventh Day Adventist church. It is part of the Gatwick Highflyers pathfinder club and is fun way for young people to express themselves through music and drums. The Gatwick Highflyer Drummers have supported various events in the Crawley community such as Remembrance Day services and Black history month events.
Related exhibition posts
Phoenix Choir 
Living next door to Robert Smith 
What Does Music Mean to You? 
Memories of The Cure 
Crawley Bobby Dazzlers 
1980s Music Memories 
DannyDangerously 
Crawley record shops 
Music Memories in Crawley 
Crawley tap and ballet class memories 
Spitfire 
David Bowie played at Crawley Boys Club! 
Brett Marvin and The Thunderbolts 
Music in Crawley in the 1960s 
Heather Eves - Cellist 
1960s' Sunday nights Jiving at LEONS Queens Square 
Song of the Merry Winemakers of Crawley
