A slice of life in the 60s and 70s fill the pages of a book published by Ramsgate resident Graham Twyman.
The 73-year-old has published The Youth Club Years, telling the tale of being a youngster, then a youth leader and a DJ at St Luke’s, Concorde, a new club at Conyngham School and another in Broadstairs.
Graham, best known from Twyman and Holmes funeral directors and from his days DJ’ing as part of the Mick Tee Set, took around one year to get the story written – with help from a friend who typed up the words.
The former Hereson lad said: “They were some of the best years of my life and I didn’t want to lose those memories and those years I had in the youth service.
“I think it is exciting to read a book if you knew the clubs and know the person who has written it.”
The grandad of three and great grandad of three first got involved at St Luke’s youth club when he was 11.
He said: “I started there aged 11, just with school friends, and then became a junior and then senior voluntary worker.
“Later I went to college in Folkestone to train to become a youth worker and qualified when I was 21 in 1973.
“I had also watched the Concorde club (in St Lawrence) being built. I’d climbed the wall by the clinic and watched the bricks going on and then later the furniture going in and the decorating and when it opened I became the first part-time leader in charge.”
It was at St Luke’s that Graham got his first taste of DJ life, Aged just 11 he had one deck behind the canteen counter. He wasn’t even in the same room as the youngsters who were dancing!
He said: “But then on of the youth workers got me a double deck and I was able to go into the main hall.
“I became the St Luke’s DJ and did Concorde too and it was the youth club that led me to Dreamland and the Mick Tee set and from there to the Winter Gardens and Hades nightclub.”
Among the tales in the book is a frightening incident at the Concorde club.
Graham said: “Gladys Williams was a youth worker who was held up at gunpoint at the club. At first he had the kids under the gun but we talked him around and managed to take him away.
“He was caught shortly after but I don’t know what happened to him.
“During my time as a youth worker we opened up the first youth club at Conyngham School and then later another one in the junior school and we opened one in Broadstairs.”
After qualifying as a youth worker Graham got the job as leader at St Luke’s and says this is where his book closes.
From buying a first suit ‘on account’ to having to chat up a girl in front of a TV crew for a news item and organising events and discos – The Youth Club Years is a journey through social history with family life, school days, work and even a stint in the Army featured.
It is available to buy at Michael’s Bookshop in King Street, Ramsgate, or online https://www.michaelsbookshop.com/index.htm
Blast from the past for former Thanet DJ who started career behind a canteen counter
Such a shame that councils across the country wanted to close youth centres to save money.
Back in the 70’s there was 5 a side tournaments, weightlifting, baking, table tennis and lots lots more.
So important for all age groups to interact with each other.
It’s farcical these are closing, kids need these places as much as the general community.
Mr X – in those days mobile phones, computer games, internet etc did not exist and therefore these youth clubs, as I know, served a purpose. I cannot see today’s feral youth attending in large numbers a traditional youth club!
It would probably do ’em good if they did though!
Some great “ blasts from the lasts “ with the reference to Hades discoteque at The Lido ,Cliftonville , the vintage twin Dj turntables and the Ben Sherman circa 1974 large rounded collar shirts which you could buy from the then brilliant Ramsgate Market when it was based in the 1970’s at Dumpton Greyhound track now Ramsgate Garden Centre .and from where I built up my first record collection . Those really WERE the good old days !
Some people incl Checksfield as usual was sarcastic ( no surprises there then ) earlier this week about how The Pie Factory in Ramsgate got its name ,so I’m sure that someone like Graham could seriously answer that question .
Btw. There’s a building called Pie Factory in old town part of Margate and I understand it got its name due to the fact at. one time it was literally a Pie Factory !
It looks like Graham has lived a full life and I can imagine he’s got some tales to tell about working with Mick T at Dreamland and supporting various band nights down there when the glam rock acts played there in the 70’s so I wish him all the very best with this book which is a bit of local history
Yes, looks well worth getting (and I’m sure Graham hardly ever eats pies!).
The good old days . Myself and my brother lived in St lukes back then next to the blazing donkey and wow what a pub that was . We used to go to the youth club every night it was open .I remember getting boot skates for the roller disco .my biggest memory is me winning the pool competition aged about 9 beating the teenagers.after its closure we joined the St Lawrence club up to the age of about 15 .such great times . GRAHAM had grown up with my mum and her brothers and sisters up Gwyn Road .(Dolly + George Sellwoods residents) . Very fond memories and great days .well done Graham I’ll be purchasing the book .👏
Graham done so much for the youth in the 60’s,70’s.80’s.The man should be honoured for this and all his charity work, he has raised thousands of pounds.Well done Sir Graham.
Well done Graham you’ve done Thanet proud!!
Unfortunately he won’t be mentioned in the honours system.
Starmer is too busy getting knighthoods,damehoods, peerages for his cronies.