Hall (1986), a ‘Homerton Havoc’ (May 1987 – Homerton May Ball when we played to the supper queue), and probably the last of the 'Stairway to the Stars' parties in the Art Studio (June 1990). A search through the college archives by the ever resourceful David Bridges reveals at least one end of year event in the college bar of which we have documentary evidence, in the form of a review. This captures much of the raw energy of the band and the enthusiasm of the audience: ‘A suspended D-major 7th ripped apart with a screw driver. Yes, the Homerton Bar is a rockin to the sound of Dr Trouble and the Tutti Fruttis. This band is more than another pop sound – they are full of life. The band played to a full house, a hundred expectant faces filled the bar. Some stood some sat, some danced holes in their shoes… Others merely tapped their feet and drank their beer… Everyone had a common love – the Blues and Dr Trouble.’
Assorted band members: Philip Rundall, David Bridges (aka Dr. Trouble), Jane Edden, Rowan Robertson (a proper guitarist with a foot pedal!), and Richard Light
To his own only slight embarrassment and to everyone else’s amusement, Dr Trouble himself (by then Homerton Deputy Principal) was asked by the porters to cease playing at 10.30 following complaints by local residents about the loud music emanating from the bar.
The band finally folded in around 1990 or so, since when we have gone our separate (and sometimes musical) ways. Malcolm Pointon and Ivan Vaughan both sadly died, Malcolm after prolonged early onset Alzheimer’s and Ivan from Parkinsons. Interestingly both were the subjects of wonderful BBC television programmes chronicling their experience. ‘Ivan’ was made by Jonathan Miller and Malcolm (and Barbara’s) stories were told in the hugely influential film ‘A love story’. Rowan Robertson became a session musician in much demand, particularly in heavy metal bands in the US. Philip went on to form The Backyard Band (with Dave Doddington, Mike Bonnett and others) who performed in the college and elsewhere for a number of years. Jane Edden went on to further musical triumphs on the oboe, and also ran the Emeritus Choir for RSMs for several years. David Bridges and Philip Rundall were reunited in Philip’s recording studio last December to record a ‘Chrismus Blues’ that must surely make number one in the 2018 Christmas songs. David, in the meantime sings in the Cambridge Community Choir that meets in the Club Polonia in Chesterton. Members of the band have their own personal memories. Jane particularly remembers her exuberant performance on the tambourine in ‘Then He Kissed Me’. Philip recalls that he used a very fancy multiple pedal board with his guitar, which he wouldn’t be seen dead using now! My own personal memories of our joint contribution to this golden age of popular music are ones of many happy hours rehearsing in the large room on the ground floor of Trumpington House (now TH1), astonishment at the musical virtuosity of Rowan’s guitar playing (Hendrix, Clapton, Hank Marvin, you name it!), regrets that we never got to do anything by The Who – my style of drumming owed more to the chaos perfected by Keith Moon than the precision and intricacy of Buddy Rich -– and a rosy glow of nostalgia about a time when the academic life was conducted at a rather gentler pace. Happy Days! Perhaps we should do a last ever reunion World Tour? With many thanks to David Bridges, Philip Rundall, Jane Edden and Chris Doddington
The Beatles … & Ivan Vaughan Jill Waterhouse
L
ast weekend, at the Australian National University in Canberra, I was surprised to find a colourful fair spreading over a quadrangle customarily reserved for graduations. Browsing the second-hand bookstall, I was drawn to a tremendously heavy, oversize book, The Beatles: An Anthology, by the Beatles (Chronicle Books, San Francisco, 2000). I snapped it up as a bargain, but feared I’d regret lugging it around. Instead I’ve found it to be one of my best buys ever, not least because it rsma newsletter september 2018 page 16
mentions Ivan Vaughan who was a former lecturer in Education at Homerton and an influential friend of the Beatles. Many Retired Senior Members will remember tall, darkhaired Ivan. There he is, included in John Lennon’s memories on page 12, and several more times throughout the book. Ivan went to the same school at Paul McCartney who records, ‘I often pedalled around