Registered Charity No. 1070698

Last Updated 25/3/08

About our town Journal Items Researching the past Then and Now Test your knowledge ! AGM News Your Questions Gallery
	Personal Memories Here we record such personal memories and stories that relate to Sittingbourne and its villages. Do you have memories of life in Sittingbourne ? Your working life last century ? The war ? The town as it was ? Your childhood? Please share them with us by e-mailing or sending them to us so that we can display them either in the museum or on this web site. It doesn't have to be an essay of any length, just a few paragraphs will be interesting and perhaps a photograph ! Borden Grammar - John Butler 1942 - 1956 - Bob Eaton Tunstall pre-war - Hugh Farrington Tunstall in wartime - Richard Kite The Bull Hotel - Queenie Field (nee Allen) Childhood in Tunstall - Peggy Jackson Tunstall School - Margaret Lock Wartime Memories - June Morgan The Mill, 1940's - Geralld (Dixie) Dean	Jack (John) William Whitnell 1 Aug 1926 to 9 Dec 1993
	"When I was about 14 and had studied piano for two years under Miss Connie Spice, I knew that I would have to extend my musical interest." said Jack in 1976 "At the time I was drum crazy, almost hero worshipping the greats like Gene Krupa and Jack Parnell, and when I had a chance to play with a band called the "the Nightlights" led by Harry Foster, it was heaven." "Slinging a drum kit across my bike pannier-fashion, and pushing it for three miles didn't bother me at all. When we hit the 'big time', we travelled by taxi !" From about 1940 then, Jack took over from Edgar in the Nightlights Other members were Neville Ginn, Frank Beaney, Bert Wade, and Jack House. With "the Georgians", George Hall's band, Jack certainly would have played at the Wheatsheaf in Sheerness. After some time with "The Modernaires" and also with Ken Windmill's band, Jack formed his own band in 1953.	Jack (John) William Whitnell 1 Aug 1926 to 9 Dec 1993
	The Jack Whitnell Music
	The Jack Whitnell Quartette featured Jack on the drums, Sybil Davie on piano, Tubby Gilbert on bass, and Geoff Church on the clarinet and saxophone.



	This became a Quintet
		(left) The JW Quintet, where Jack took up the vibraphone, (which he bought from Eric Greengrass) and brought Daskar (Harold Green) in on the drums. Harry Back on saxophone, and Jim Scotsman on the bass.

	(above) Jack, Dasker and Harry (right) Jim Scotsman and Dasker at the Coniston
		(left) By 1966, Bob Gilbey had replaced Sybil on the piano
	(right and above) Jack and Bob at the Coniston Hotel

	(right and below) with the Alan Elsdon Band
		(left) Bob Gilbey

	(right) with Newsreader Richard Baker



	(right and below) The Jack Whitnell Music were forever dressing up - seen here as tramps on two separate occasions.

	(right) 1965
		(left) New Years Eve 1966 at Bowaters Club House "A change from the usual method of letting in the new year was tried at Bowaters dance in Sittingbourne Clubhouse. Certainly the new-look band seems to have gone down well."

		(left) Pilkingtons, Sept 22, 1972 "Band leader Jack gives lessons on the banjo at the Pilkington's dance held at the Wheatsheaf Hall" (above) in the early 1970s, Derek Hawkes replaced Daskar on the drums, and Wally Pullen replaced Jim's bass with his bass guitar. (Wally is not in this picture due to a broken arm)

	(right) New Years Eve, Beach Hotel, Isle of Sheppey, 1972	Left to right, Harry, Derek, Jack, Wally and Bob
	above: The Vicars and Vamps l to r, Jack, Derek, Wally, Harry and friend, and Bob.	(above) 1973 l to r Harry, Jack, Wally and Bob (Derek not seen)

		(left) l to r Wally, Derek, Jack, Bob and Harry
	(above) Jack in June 1976 and (right) featured in the EKG following the release of his album.
		(left) In 1976, Derek left to pursue other interests, and Brian joined on drums and vocals. l to r Brian, Jack, Harry, Wally and Bob (below) Jack and Harry as Laurel & Hardy
	(above) Fireman's dance in October 1976 "It was a full house at the Sittingbourne Town Hall on Saturday night when 300 people attended the Sittingbourne Fireman's Social Club dance, dancing to the music of Jack Whitnell."
		(left) with Freddy (parrot face) Davies in 1977
	(right) with Stan Stennett in 1978
		In fancy dress as Pirates with Andy Whitnell now on bass guitar from 1978

		1940s Dance in 1980


	(right, and above) 25years of dancing with the Jack Whitnell Music celebrated in 1982 at Bredgar. above are Harry and Brian
		The Brian Wales Big Band 1982 and 1983 featured Jack on drums, Andy on bass guitar and Bob on piano.
		(left) Bredgar Village Hall
	(right) Sittingbourne Twinning Dance (Ypres)
		(left) At Sheerness WMC in 1988 l to r Jack, Harry, Andy, Brian and Bob
		Derek Hawkes organised a benefit for Jack at the Sheerness East WMC.