DAVID ST JOHN - PHOTOGALLERY

Welcome to some memories in pictures and words. I have been lucky to have travelled to some amazing places as well as meeting many interesting people from all walks of life. These are just a few snippets and I hope to update this and other pages as and when time permits.

Just click on the images below and they will take you to whatever you want to take a look at. Please get in touch if anything is of interest to you and e-mail me as above.

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I was privileged to have been booked for the first ever reunion of former Royal Navy shipmates from HMS Intrepid which has recently been decommissioned and sadly scrapped. This beautiful assault ship was the last RN vessel to be built by the John Brown shipyard on Clydebank Glasgow in 1964 and entering active service from 1967 as an amphibious landing craft. She was undergoing an earlier decommissioning in 1982, just as the Falklands War was breaking out so immediately brought back into service along with her sister ship HMS Fearless and played a very important part in the major conflict.

There are many websites that tell the story of this magnificent ship and the amazing servicemen and women who took part in this battle to retain our sovereign territory and I recommend you make the effort. Intrepid was able to land Marines, Commandos and many more brave fighters under heavy enemy fire and suffering some loss of life - these 'absent friends' were remembered on this poignant evening as well as bringing many old pals together to reminisce about the time spent on this ship. This was the first of many annual reunions and keeping alive the memory of this special ship and all who sailed in her over four decades - the story of her scrapping has made quite an impact as the ship has mostly been recycled and I suggest you read all about it - quite a story

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'Debbie Harry' on my Harley! Are we really riding along Route 66? Blondie biker? Click on the image....

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How does David get away with confronting ex-Mafia hood Henry Hill? Read about this incredible guy who dared to 'squeal' on some of the nastiest members of La Cosa Nostra and lived to tell the tale!

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The Move backstage at Southampton Guildhall circa 1969. Guess who used to be a professional photographer? I also took some candid pictures, when appearing with a support band on the same bill as this terrific 60s group - Roy Wood even bought some copies from me! Click on the photo to find out more.

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Another photograph taken at Southampton Guildhall around 1970. It shows Ian Anderson in classic pose alongside lead guitarist Martin Barre and I was lucky enough to have pushed my way to the front of the stage to grab a few shots of this amazing group in action. This is the only picture I took that night as I smuggled a camera in and didn't want to risk being caught. I think I used an old Pentax S1A 35mm SLR camera with standard 50mm lens (in case anybody is interested)

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Back in 1967 I was lucky to have seen the legendary Jimi Hendrix at the same Guildhall but got frisked on the way in so camera was held back - dammit. I did manage to sneak backstage and actually saw him stroll out of the dressing room and onto the steps clutching the Stratocaster that would shortly be played like nothing on earth! I waved and gave him the thumbs up and he just smiled and winked to one of his biggest fans who quickly ran back into the auditorium and pushed his way to the front - just feet away from one of the most incredible performers I had ever seen.

In August 1970 I was lucky enough to have gone to the Isle of Wight Festival as my Hippy days were now fading away as we moved into the next decade. An amazing lineup that can be checked out on any number of websites and once again featuring Jimi Hendrix. A few weeks later and he was found dead in a London apartment.

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5th April 2006: Just heard the sad news that Gene Pitney has suddenly died whilst on a UK tour in a Cardiff hotel room.

I had the pleasure of appearing with him at Newmarket Cabaret Club back in the early 80s and he was one of the nicest people to have met. Probably the most famous Pop Star I have ever worked with and we had a nice chat backstage (cue for a song...) Very friendly, polite and a little shy - he signed one of my L.P.s that I had taken along and this is it below. He wrote "Nice to have worked with you!.......Gene Pitney" We talked about many things and he was quite impressed with my knowledge of his songwriting skills apart from his amazing voice and success over many years.

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Well - not quite........ If you are clued up, then you will know that the world famous Glastonbury Festival was not held in this year to allow the fields to recover from the massive influx of music lovers. I was booked to do a Sunday afternoon show which was a birthday party for a local businessman and family/friends in the beautiful Somerset village of Pilton.

One of the great things about showbusiness is the wide variety of different venues that we have to perform in and this was one of the most unusual - a restored 12th century tithe barn on the edge of Worthy Farm owned by Michael Eavis who has been responsible for staging this incredible festival for many years. Michael was a guest and it was a great privilege to meet the man himself and we had a good chat about many things plus a chance to grab a couple of photos. During my show I did ask him for a spot on the 2007 festival over the microphone as I sang a few songs and he laughingly agreed - this was captured on video and this serves as a legally binding contract! Here are a few photos and memories of this memorable day:

Click on this image above which will take you to an article about the restoration

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June 2007. As you know, I was weaned on 50s Rock and Roll and I often get booked to appear at various corporate functions with my comedy act or other offshoots as I cover a wide area of different styles and adapt to the occasion. I was contacted by one of my many agency contacts for a summer day's function at York in the grounds of a local historic house called Goddards, which previously belonged to a millionaire chocolate manufacturer! The event was for a large construction company who were treating their staff to the annual party and the theme was 'Back to the Fifties' so I was asked to host and M.C. the whole afternoon. The grounds were filled with a small fairground and various stalls on the 'Grease' theme and the main entertainment area was located in an adjacent area with a large marquee that contained a free (!) bar for the employees along with a barbecue knocking out the traditional hot dogs and burgers. They also had a sound company supplying the p.a. system with classic Fifties music playing throughout the afternoon and my duties were making various announcements but in character as if it was 1959! I dropped in various bits of topical 'news' of the era as well as having some fun when spotting people using some weird contraptions called 'mobile phones' but they were very small and no trailing wires to be seen! Some even believed me when I said that the DJ was playing 78s and some 45s too! I was dressed for the day in classic Teddy Boy drape coat and large shoes ('Brothel Creepers') but couldn't really smother my hair with Brylcreem or manage a D.A. style....... I also dropped in a vocal spot full of old R&R classics in between the day's events so it was quite an enjoyable day although a long one, plus the drive to York and back!

The only problem was down to the good old English summer weather and it rained on and off for most of the day but it didnt dampen the atmosphere too much. For me, the highlight of the day was introducing and enjoying one of the finest exponents of classic Rock n Roll music in the UK and I had heard of them before on the circuit. They play authentic music and featuring a great double bass player plus the meanest lead guitar player you could wish for and the sound is really authentic as they rock through some amazing songs that keep them in demand for music festivals all over the world! Known as:

The group is fronted by Mark Keeley, who also performs his own solo tribute act to Elvis Presley and Shaking Stevens along with Good Rockin' Tonight. Here are a few more photos I took, and I thoroughly recommend you go and enjoy them if you can as they are the definitive rock and roll band.

A month later, I went to watch Good Rockin' Tonight as they were appearing at a popular R&R venue full of an older generation of music fans from that era. The dancefloor was constantly full of jivers, many of them dressed in the original style and kept bopping away despite the advancing years! It was great to see the band again and I enjoyed a nostalgic trip back to the old 50s dancehalls where I first discovered this great music as it swept the country. Also great see some original Teddy Boys now well into their Sixties and reliving their golden years to some of the finest music you could wish for!

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I have been booked as the compere for the annual Lichfield Bower Carnival Queen selection since 2007 as part of this historical city's celebrations that go back to the Middle Ages -like some of my gags! The judges are mainly comprised of local dignitaries, business people and promoted by the Lichfield Mercury newspaper that covers the area and has been staged at the prestigious Apres Bar.

My task involves the interviews with each entrant as well as guiding them around the main area as the judges choose which young lady has the right attributes to win this title for the year ahead. Not a 'beauty' contest but the girls are all very attractive, intelligent and from a wide background such as students, businesses and other areas across the spectrum.

This photograph has been kindly sent from the Lichfield Mercury and I thank their superb photographer Alan Williams as well as Tim Hewitt the Mercury Editor who has always thanked me for my efforts. Here I am surrounded by the 2009 finalists who were whittled down from a large entry via the Mercury - I'm covered in lipstick and still trying to explain it back home..........

Thanks again for your professionalism and smooth running of the evening.

Regards,

Tim Hewitt

Editor

Lichfield Mercury Series

Central Independent News and Media, Ventura Park Road, Tamworth B78 3LZ

T: 01827 848481 F: 0845 600 8384.

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