Gay Kerr

Post date: 01-Jun-2020 17:01:01

Those were the days my friend!

Gay Kerr. Also known as Gay Meakin or Schofield

Pat and Gay at 16 years of age in 1963

Two Haverstock girls who knew there was something out there just right for them. That was Pat & I circa 1962/3. We landed at The Witches somehow, maybe via The Loft, another coffee bar, with dripping candles in wine bottles. We knew we were on the right track. When we first entered the Witches we knew no one. We sat together trying to look interesting. Some how, probably just by our constant presence, we were accepted. One of our first encounters was with Frank. We’d walked from school up Adelaide Road, stopping at a bus stop half way, to wait for the bus. Over the road we saw a guy who looked like one of the Beatles. To our delight he spoke to us. "Hello girls", then he continued "Got half a crown?". It was such a Frank thing to ask, as we learnt. That voice was to be part of our lives for over 50 years.

One of my favourite times were Sunday afternoons. What seemed like an army of us would meet at the Witches and tramp to South End Green to The Playhouse. We occupied the front row, smoking and chatting our way through whatever film was showing. It didn’t matter what the film was, it was the joy of being together. I remember whoever had money paid for those who didn’t. It was like that.

The parties were endless, but not always successful. Pat and I used to tell our parents we were staying at each other’s houses, if we heard of an 'all nighter'. This backfired on us a few times, when the party fell through. One night this happened, and Annette said. "It’s ok, I’ll sneak you into my bedroom". Unfortunately the door to the flat got locked, so we spent the night in the little entrance hall! It didn’t put us off, and we slept in a few odd places thereafter! One place I actually stayed the night was Ali’s house. She had older brothers who played folk music and I thought ‘what a wonderful way to live.’ It was Hampstead proper!

Gay Kerr

We went to clubs and parties most weekends and a fantastic sound track accompanied us where ‘ere we went. Singing songs as we walked from place to place looking for action. Zero One had a great Jukebox as did The Witches. Even Gilbert’s turned up a tune or two! What I loved best was being part of such a lovely big group of people. New people would turn up and become part of the group too. Pat & I called them ‘pop ups’. Dubs was one, who I married and had two sons with. Bin was another who Pat married and had two sons with. Pat & Bin are still married, and Dubs and I are still friends, but no longer married. Mike Thompson took the photos at Dubs and my wedding at Hampstead Town Hall. Little did I know I’d end up living with him for 13 years and having our daughter. But that’s another chapter!

Gay & Dubs, in the mid 60’s

Gay the reluctant bridesmaid at her sister Jills wedding 1964.

Going to the chapel and we’re gonna get married! Or in our case Hampstead Town Hall!

From the many people I met at the Witches, a smaller group of closer friends formed. Our Witches days were pretty much over. We went to peoples rooms, smoked dope and listened to music. We’d all paired up by then, and it wasn’t long before the weddings came. Dubs and I in December 1966. I made my dress myself, out of purple needle cord and wore a purple feather boa from Biba. Black patent bar shoes from Frederick Freed completed the look! Our first home was a couple of rooms in a house in Stamford Hill. We hung out a lot at ‘the press’ in Hampstead Rd. This was David Osler & Frank. We also did a fair bit of drinking at the nearby pub. As Mike also had his photographic studio, Studex around the corner, it was quite a scene. After a while Dubs & Graham used Mikes back room to screen print posters. Late sessions often ended with a curry in Hampstead. Anpus treat!

Gay enjoying herself at her wedding to Dubs - in her purple needle cord dress with a purple feather boa from Biba, 1966

Gay at Jane and Tim Shearer's wedding

Then the babies started appearing. Rupert was born in 1968. Life changed of course, but not completely. We still went to concerts and ‘had fun’! I used to see Janie most weeks, we tortured ourselves doing the Royal Canadian Airforce exercises, to make sure our Levi’s still fitted. Tim & Dubs worked and we looked after the babies. To get some extra money Janie got us the job of making some big curtains for Jimmy East’s flat in Queens Mansions. We even lined them. I think we did a good job! Another money saving effort was to do our weekly wash, at home, by hand. We didn’t have washing machines, so the launderette was a weekly task. Our aim was to go to the The Electric Garden in Covent Garden. It was great, I remember Arthur Brown leaping about with his head on fire! We went to several concerts and even the odd all nighter, when babysitters and a little chemical assistance were available.

Gay Meakin or Schofield with with Rupert, and with Jane & Tim Shearer & Timmy, Hampstead Heath 1968

Dubs and Rupert on Hampstead Heath 1968

Baby Rupe with Dubs and his Nan, Marjorie Alice Hope Sanderson nee Newman.

When Rupert was 10 months we moved to Southampton. Dubs had got a job at Winchester Art School. As technical assistant I think, not very well paid, so So’ton was the nearest place we could afford to live. We had an old voltswagon (Volkswagen) Beetle, for him to chug backwards and forwards in. Being in the vicinity we decided to go to The Isle of Wight Festival. Graham and a girlfriend came too. Bob Dylan was the main attraction. He arrived in a helicopter all dressed in white, wonderful. We also made frequent trips to London, mostly staying with Pat and Bin in Brecknock Rd. Dubs had various money making ventures. One was selling Christmas trees. He bought them down there and transported them to London. I don’t know why we didn’t make our fortunes, Dubs certainly came up with some ideas! We moved back to London when I was pregnant with Daniel, and rented some rooms near Stoke Newington, my visits to Janie resumed. Dubs had stalls at Camden Passage and Portobello. I often got good buys at jumble sales which quickly got put on the stall. We also went to Club Row and bought stuff. It was often after a night out. Traipsing round the stalls in the previous nights finery! The next good plan was to open a junk shop. This was a fair walk from where we lived. Dubs did house clearances while I sat in the shop, willing people to come in, so I could buy food for dinner. Rupert played happily with a gang of little Asian children outside the shop. I’d see him on the hip of one little girl or another, it seemed fine at the time! I managed to carry on for a bit after Daniel was born, but it was too much. In fact living in upstairs rooms, with a toddler and baby wasn’t ideal. So the next plan formed. We’d move to the country.....

Gay Meakin or Schofield with Daniel, our younger son. Taken in 1971 at Park Cottage in Suffolk.

Gay Meakin or Schofield at son Rupert’s wedding in 1988.

Gay Meakin Or Schofield

Gay Meakin or Schofield and partner 2014

GAY'S MEMORIES

Before R & B. It may seem strange to post this, but it was a real cross over tune for me. My friend and I would pre arrange to meet at Finchley Rd tube, to venture up to The Witches, our favourite coffee bar. The appointed time 7.30. So I’d be sitting ready to go. When this tune came on, I’d jump up and run the 3 mins to the station, and off we’d go! So rather like the Ready Steady Go theme tune signalled the start of the weekend, this one signalled the start of week night outing.

Paul Ernest to

10:41 AM Yesterday

Gaye Meakin Or Schofield

It really was the starter's gun for you - ready, steady, go for fun and frolics of the weekend - only later the rover's return!

EMAILS WITH GAY

From: Gay Kerr Sent: 15 March 2020 17:00

To: Paul Ernest

Subject: Old pics!

On 15 Mar 2020, at 19:32, Paul Ernest wrote:

Thanks so much!

The ones I remember best are Jeff Price and Jane Whitman. God she was beautiful. She lost a front tooth later and never replaced it - and didn't as good. Had lots of kids. Lived in Shetland or something?

Paul

xx

😊

From: Gay Kerr

Sent: 15 March 2020 19:43

To: Paul Ernest

Subject: Re: Old pics!

She was beautiful. Yes she did have about 10 kids I think! I think she moved to America. It was Sue who moved to Orkney. She married Dubs’ brother Slim. But they divorced and she eventually moved to France (another one!) and lives in a Buddhist ‘centre’. I don’t know what it’s really called. Do you remember Franks place in the basement in Adelaide Road? I remember you being there. Pat & I went to Haverstock, down the road. We used to buy day old buns from the bakery and bring them to Frank and co at lunch time. It must have been semi derelict, I recall brushing the brick dust off my uniform on the odd days we actually made it back to school! Fond memories.

G xxx