Memories
Received 18th September 2007
Mr Sealey of Wheelock writes:-
I met blaster and shot clay pigeon with him between 1967 and 1971 at Audley gun club. Myself and blaster had an ongoing competition (very friendly with a lot of leg pulling) at the club.
I was in my early twenties and he was one of the top club shots. Any way on one occasion I did manage to come first beating him by two shots wining a very small cheap silver type of cup engraved with Audley gun club worth nothing only a lot of memories. At this time I worked as a TV engineer and frequently traveled through Sandbach town center (I live in Wheelock just outside Sandbach) and sometimes Blaster would be the special on traffic duty.
On seeing my van would stop me and keep me waiting while waving other cars to pass me. It felt like hours I was kept waiting by him, all because of that one win.
My last meeting with him was at Ashfields diabetic clinic early in 2006 we looked at each other both thinking I know that face. We had a chat for about ten minutes and how the memories came flooding back.
Blaster on Weymouth beach from the Southwest film & TV archive. 31st March 1982
The place to share your memories of Blaster
Received 15th July 2007
Regarding The Ill fated greenhouse, Chris of Marbury-cum-Quoisley tells us:-
I spoke to Mr W, who was the owner of the two greenhouses demolished by Blaster while clearing silt from the stream flowing from Marbury Little Mere into Marbury Big Mere.
The agent of the Duchy of Lancaster, which owned the estate containing the meres, had come round the previous day to tell Mr. W what was going to occur. Mr W asked if his greenhouses would be repaired if damaged. He was told "Of course you will, but it is very unlikely".
A Mrs Clutton, who lived in the next cottage, was advised to go into The Swan to avoid any danger.
On the day of the blast a local man, Mr M, was employed to row Blaster round the mere while the charges were placed.
Mr W was working for a local farmer on the Tarporley Road, about 2 miles away, when he heard an enormous blast, and saw a pile of earth and debris going into the air, and said "Oh dear, there go my greenhouses." He was right, as when he got home every pane of glass was shattered. These were then replaced at the Duchy's expense.
Mrs Clutton, who was sheltering in the pub, was almost hit when two of it's windows were blown in, while her own cottage was undamaged.
Regarding The Ill fated greenhouse, Chris of Marbury-cum-Quoisley tells us:-
I spoke to Mr W, who was the owner of the two greenhouses demolished by Blaster while clearing silt from the stream flowing from Marbury Little Mere into Marbury Big Mere.
The agent of the Duchy of Lancaster, which owned the estate containing the meres, had come round the previous day to tell Mr. W what was going to occur. Mr W asked if his greenhouses would be repaired if damaged. He was told "Of course you will, but it is very unlikely".
A Mrs Clutton, who lived in the next cottage, was advised to go into The Swan to avoid any danger.
On the day of the blast a local man, Mr M, was employed to row Blaster round the mere while the charges were placed.
Mr W was working for a local farmer on the Tarporley Road, about 2 miles away, when he heard an enormous blast, and saw a pile of earth and debris going into the air, and said "Oh dear, there go my greenhouses." He was right, as when he got home every pane of glass was shattered. These were then replaced at the Duchy's expense.
Mrs Clutton, who was sheltering in the pub, was almost hit when two of it's windows were blown in, while her own cottage was undamaged.
Received 17th July 2007.
Mr Wilkinson of Duddon recounts:-
My wife and I lived in Elworth/Sandbach, Cheshire in the 1960's and knew Derek Bates when he lived in Deans' Lane, Elworth.
As a 16/17 year old I was at the Beeston Hill Climb when the incident of the rockets assisted motor bike occurred.
The competition had been going some time and the track up was well cut in the peat.
He started from the base of the very steep hill with a roar and clouds of smoke and after he passed our level of spectators reached the steepest part, when the bike reared over backwards and fell on him. "It's burnt me bloody leg!!" was amongst the comments I remember being made before he was carried off to hospital. It was quite a day!
My wife's cousin lived next door to Derek in 1960's and when his wife produced their third child, a boy, after two girls, Derek was seen at the garden gate - in one hand a cabbage and in the other a bunch of flowers. Asked how they all were he said he was so excited he wasn't sure whether to give his wife the cabbage and eat the flowers or what???
I'm Sure I speak for everyone when I say thank you so much to all who have taken the time to drop us a line.
Received 20th September 2007
Mr Clarke of Stoke-on-Trent recalls:-
My first recollection of "Blaster" was when my cousin played one of his recordings for me.
I first saw him live at Trentham Gardens in the mid 70's, appearing in the now defunct Roman Bar, this was a charity gig organised by my cousin and others to promote an amateur swimming club and water safety.
I remember my cousin saying that afterwards when "Batesey" found out it was for the benefit of young children and water safety he wavered his fee.
Over the following years I saw him in concert at several local venues around Stoke and North Staffordshire, the last time I saw him was at The Victoria Hall in Hanley, then quite an elderly gent but still keeping the audience entertained.
A small party of us went to the "gig", including my wife and myself and my mate Phil who took his mother (Ethel) along.
Phil's mother had, I think, previously savoured some classical "Bates" from when her husband was alive and he had played such "esoterica" on his music centre.
Now those of us who know Ethel know that she is of around the same age as B.B. but as she has got older her hearing has got worse and every time someone speaks or says something to her she say AAAY???? Wot's He Say????
She does not have the benefit of a hearing aid.
The P.A. system on that night was not too loud and we thought she might not hear or understand what our raconteur was on about.
Casting the occasional sideways glance at her during the "gig" she seemed to be laughing in all the right places and appeared to understand what was going on and to have hung on his every word!!!!!
I almost met him in person one day on Anglesey. A chap from Crewe called Jim Sparks used to stay on the same camping site as we did. Jim had a boat and did a bit of sea fishing from the boat, he also did a bit of shooting.
One day on the field, Jim was preparing his boat when a blue Volvo estate rolled up, who should get out but "Batesey" and Jim was taking him out for a day's fishing.
Never saw him after that.
Jim said afterwards that we should have spoke up and gone out with them in the boat, fishing was apparently mediocre but they never stopped laughing.
I used to work on earth moving and plant equipment and some of the stories from the "old lads" who had worked with him were many and legend, indeed it is a wonder that any work got done at all.
Fond memories of a truly great bloke and local legend.
Please note this site is subject to Copyright
Received 23rd October 2007
John remembers....
I have been listening to Blaster's exploits on record since I was about 12 years old as my Aunty had his records and I bought my own collection later on. I had the opportunity of seeing him live back in the 80's at the Beck theatre in Hayes, Middlesex and enjoyed his show.
I knew he was, like me, in the RAF, but I didn't know until recently that he had been a Halifax bomber pilot. Perhaps one day someone will write a really fitting tribute to him which will include his RAF exploits as well.
Just imagine the scene, a wartime briefing room full of aircrew and the Commanding Officer opens a curtain reveals a map and says "Well we've all heard about the shower of shit over Shropshire, well we're having one over Berlin tonight!"
Received 18th November 2007
On the 6th November 2007 The Rotary Club of Southend-on-Sea had a "Memories of Blaster" evening.
Visit the Rotary Club websites here & here to find out more about the great work they do.
Eric was kind enough to let us know:-
It arose simply as a result of one of Blaster's anecdotes being quoted in a conversation between myself and another of our members. Up until then I had no idea that anyone else in the Club knew of him. As it happened, we had a week coming up where no speaker had been fixed. It was partly my responsibility to fill the gap and, to be honest, we were not expecting a large turn out. In the event, more people knew of him and had heard him 'down south' than I could have imagined.
My own knowledge of Blaster Bates began in the late 60s early 70s when I lived and worked for a short spell in the Crewe/Nantwich area. Sadly I never met Derek Bates, but even then there was something legendary about him locally. I suspect that many stories were apocryphal, like many of the Freddy Trueman stories back in my home county,Yorkshire, but perhaps there was always a bit of truth there.
That probably was not the case in the tale of him getting into an argument with a local building society agent, when in exasperation he slammed down a brown, marzipan coloured tube on the table and said "well argue with that b**** then", nor perhaps in the tale of the snarl up he created with traffic while on duty as a 'Special' in Sandbach when, having created gridlock, he walked down the ranks of stationary cars offering toffees to the drivers.
The talk at my Club was, therefore, largely concerned with D'B'Bs life and times and largely culled from the many extensive obituaries on the web.
Later I played two or three of his stories to whet the appetites of those present and to try to encourage them to buy the CDs -- for me to borrow, my LPs having worn out. He was truly a larger than life character, with a wide and fascinating wealth of experiences and natural oratory skills to polish and retell them, skills that most other people have to struggle to acquire from books and coaches.
One story which I certainly believe to be true came from a professional friend at the time, an Insurance Company Inspector who had, he claimed, had to meet DB over a little matter of collateral damage caused to a large glasshouse insured by my friend's company. "All the time I was talking to him", he said later, "I could imagine a track appearing on Blaster's next LP opening with the line ... "then there was the time that this b**** insurance man came to see me..." I still don't know why he was worried - most of us would have paid to appear in a Blaster story!
Received 4th February 2008
Nick from Holmesfield, Derbyshire shares his fond memories.
I was introduced to Blaster's ranconteuring as a teenager in the early 80s by my best mate who found his dad's tapes of a few albums. As young teens we were naturally attracted to the adult humour!
Eventually we plugged the gaps by buying the missing ones from Hudson's famous record shop in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
We first saw Blaster at Sheffield City Hall c.1984 and another lad I know sat on the very front row. Now the seating was quite steep and this lad must have leaned back in his seat and watched Blaster perform at nearly 45°! After the gig, we met the lad in the foyer and whilst we were recounting some of the punchlines he chirped up that it was "better at the front". My mate soon cut him down by asking was it because he was telling different jokes!
Nick from Holmesfield, Derbyshire shares his fond memories.
I was introduced to Blaster's ranconteuring as a teenager in the early 80s by my best mate who found his dad's tapes of a few albums. As young teens we were naturally attracted to the adult humour!
Eventually we plugged the gaps by buying the missing ones from Hudson's famous record shop in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.
We first saw Blaster at Sheffield City Hall c.1984 and another lad I know sat on the very front row. Now the seating was quite steep and this lad must have leaned back in his seat and watched Blaster perform at nearly 45°! After the gig, we met the lad in the foyer and whilst we were recounting some of the punchlines he chirped up that it was "better at the front". My mate soon cut him down by asking was it because he was telling different jokes!
The last time we saw Blaster live was at Chesterfield's Winding Wheel and the beauty of it was that although it was a relatively large venue, the stars often just mingled afterwards. After a great night (we could of course recite all the sketches word for word by then but it was still great to see them performed live by the comedy genius), we all had our tickets autographed. Blaster looked a bit surprised that some 30 year old lads in a room full of coffin dodgers even had the temerity to want autographs but he happily signed them and his parting shot to us was to say "I bet you'll go home now and wipe your arse on them!"
We didn't and I still cherish mine to this day.
Thanks for the memories Blaster - what a legend!
We didn't and I still cherish mine to this day.
Thanks for the memories Blaster - what a legend!
Way back in 1977 I was a member of Round Table in Wiltshire when Trowbridge Round Table organised a Charity Dinner with Blaster Bates as the main speaker.
It was a black tie dinner but needless to say, Blaster turned up in an old sports coat with leather patches on the elbows!
All eyes were eagerly turned towards the stage as he was introduced. He put his ditty bag down on the trestle table and stood with his fists on the table surveying the assembled company from side to side of the room. "Well" he said eventually "we've got a right load of f***ers here tonight haven't we?!"
Needless to say, that brought the house down and set the tone for the rest of the evening. He was 'contracted' to speak for 20-25 minutes but an hour and a quarter later he was still going strong!
What a night that was!
It was a black tie dinner but needless to say, Blaster turned up in an old sports coat with leather patches on the elbows!
All eyes were eagerly turned towards the stage as he was introduced. He put his ditty bag down on the trestle table and stood with his fists on the table surveying the assembled company from side to side of the room. "Well" he said eventually "we've got a right load of f***ers here tonight haven't we?!"
Needless to say, that brought the house down and set the tone for the rest of the evening. He was 'contracted' to speak for 20-25 minutes but an hour and a quarter later he was still going strong!
What a night that was!
Received April 12th 2008
Woody from Gloucestershire attended the Trowbridge Round table Charity Dinner on the 24th May 1977. After a fine meal of Cabillaud Bretonnaise, Roast Sirloin,Yorkshire pud, tatties, Broccoli Spears, Carrots Vichy and Caprice de Banane they were treated to a triple helping of Batesy's delight....
Woody from Gloucestershire attended the Trowbridge Round table Charity Dinner on the 24th May 1977. After a fine meal of Cabillaud Bretonnaise, Roast Sirloin,Yorkshire pud, tatties, Broccoli Spears, Carrots Vichy and Caprice de Banane they were treated to a triple helping of Batesy's delight....
I was lucky enough too see Blaster Bates twice, both times at the Albert Halls Bolton.
The 1st time I saw Blaster, was when he walked on the stage with a walking stick, he said his wife put a hot water bottle in the bed, and he put his foot on it and got burned. He said this is the 1st time in his life he has ever been injured.
The 2nd time I saw Blaster, was as the ticket shows 5/4/2003. I was lucky enough to get a signed photograph as shown.
I have got 7 of the 8 cassettes of Blaster and listen to them, often crying with laughter.
I’m hoping to buy the cassettes again which are on CD, plus the video that I did not know about.
(The banana rampant over one ear comes to mind while I’m writing this).
The 1st time I saw Blaster, was when he walked on the stage with a walking stick, he said his wife put a hot water bottle in the bed, and he put his foot on it and got burned. He said this is the 1st time in his life he has ever been injured.
The 2nd time I saw Blaster, was as the ticket shows 5/4/2003. I was lucky enough to get a signed photograph as shown.
I have got 7 of the 8 cassettes of Blaster and listen to them, often crying with laughter.
I’m hoping to buy the cassettes again which are on CD, plus the video that I did not know about.
(The banana rampant over one ear comes to mind while I’m writing this).
Received April 16th 2008
Michael from Atherton has been kind enough to send us a couple of scans and some info about one of blasters more recent gigs.
Michael from Atherton has been kind enough to send us a couple of scans and some info about one of blasters more recent gigs.
Received 19th June 2008
Paul from Nottingham has come forward with an Interesting titbit we knew nothing about.
That's one heck of a commute... 71 miles from Sandbach to Arnold...
Paul from Nottingham has come forward with an Interesting titbit we knew nothing about.
That's one heck of a commute... 71 miles from Sandbach to Arnold...
I left school in 1978 and my first job was in Nottingham at Uwin Sportswear, part of the William Pickles & Co Ltd group of Companies, on the Byron Industrial estate, Arnold.
I remember 'Blaster' starting work there shortly after I. Though, at the time, I knew nothing of his fame! He was certainly a character and to a young lad just starting out he was often able to embarrass me with his colourful language. He would often join us for a ciggy in the mens loos and even when the boss ( Johnny Osborne ) came in to tell us to get back to work Blaster would carry on telling one story after another.
Uwin Sportswear was a yarn warehouse spinning thread to produce assorted sports items, mainly football and rugby tops. From what I recall Blaster operated one of the machines that produced the cloth.
His stories were always about the demolition work he had carried out and there were usually references to Fred Dibnah as well, though I can't remember whether he said he had worked with him or was just comparing their work.
As I said, at the time I wasn't aware of his 'celeb' status but later bought a record of his at a car boot and immediately recognized his face.
I left Uwin Sportswear in 1979 to join the RAF so don't know how long Blaster stayed with them...
I remember 'Blaster' starting work there shortly after I. Though, at the time, I knew nothing of his fame! He was certainly a character and to a young lad just starting out he was often able to embarrass me with his colourful language. He would often join us for a ciggy in the mens loos and even when the boss ( Johnny Osborne ) came in to tell us to get back to work Blaster would carry on telling one story after another.
Uwin Sportswear was a yarn warehouse spinning thread to produce assorted sports items, mainly football and rugby tops. From what I recall Blaster operated one of the machines that produced the cloth.
His stories were always about the demolition work he had carried out and there were usually references to Fred Dibnah as well, though I can't remember whether he said he had worked with him or was just comparing their work.
As I said, at the time I wasn't aware of his 'celeb' status but later bought a record of his at a car boot and immediately recognized his face.
I left Uwin Sportswear in 1979 to join the RAF so don't know how long Blaster stayed with them...