Hoodening 1965-1999

This page is full of images and may take a long time to finish loading; you may want to switch graphics off, reload the page and just view those photographs etc. in which you are particularly interested.

Hoodening History (ancient) . Hoodening History (1945-1964)

1965
St Nicholas Hooden Horse rediscovered at a fete of rural bygones, in the school.

1966
The Revival. First performance given outside Bolingbroke Farm (now Baxters) in Sarre. Accompanied by handbell ringers throughout. All the money collected (about £40) was donated to Oxfam. Walt Trice, one of the original Hoodeners, commented that "They're upper-class people, and inhibited"!

Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Waggoner: Joe), George Michelmore (Molly), Colin Bean (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: Baxters, Sun/Bell forecourt, Summer Road/Down Barton Road intersection, Alpha (Coles), Nether Hale (Smiths)

1967
Birchington protest that they got there first ...

Money collected for Oxfam

Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: Bell, Crown, Sun, Sarre Court; rest unknown??

1968
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown?? (except the Bell)

August 1969 (?)
Special performance at a ceilidh in Edenbridge Civic Centre (West Kent), together with various folk and Morris groups etc.
Members: (assumed) Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.

1969
Due to a last minute emergency, for the one and only time [until 1999; and ignoring the Birchington imposters!] a woman was permitted to take part ... but "Fred" was disguised so well that nobody knew.

Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt (Sam), Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones / Fred (Musicians). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown?? (except the Bell)

1970
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown??

1971
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown??

1972
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown?? (except Bell)

1973
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown??

1974
Hoath Hooden Horse rediscovered.
Members: Geoff West (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Keir Dutton (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown??

1975
Money collected for the church.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Keir Dutton (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown??

1976
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Keir Dutton (Coll), Martin Beale (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham.
Venues: unknown?? (except Bonds)

6 August 1977
Hoodeners make an appearance in the St Nicholas Carnival.
Members: Goronwy Jones (Dobbin), Ben Jones (Waggoner; age 11), David Gray (Molly)

1977
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Keir Dutton (Boy), Maurice Walsh (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham (basically re-used the 1969 script).
Venues: Wade House (Rodney Tapp), Bonds, Prouts (Marshside), Pocknalls, Wansum Court, Street Acre, Ambry Court (Dick Tapp), Bell, Treveils, Vicarage, Sarre??, Village Hall, Bell (again)

1978
Members: Chris Cole / Goronwy Jones (Dobbin), Brian Debenham (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Allan Garratt, Keir Dutton (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Brian Debenham (1973 script re-used).
Venues: Street Acre, Boyden Gate Inn (Marshside), Bonds (Sarre), Treveils (Sandalwood Drive), Bell, Plum Tree Cottage (Inghams), Shuart (Martin Tapp), Bell (again)

1979
Money collected for the church.
Members: Ross Bentley (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Joe), David Gray (Molly), Clive Bolton (Waggoner), Keir Dutton (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician & Second Waggoner). Script by Adam Jones.
Venues: Wansum Court, Solomons (Sandalwood Drive), White Stag, Gate, Bonds, King's Head, Pocknalls (Bedford Way), Street Acre, Treveils, Bell, Farriers Cottage (Nicholls), Ambry Court, Bell (again)

14 January 1980
Special performance at the County Hotel (Canterbury) for the annual dinner of the Hoodeners Antiques Market. Apparently not a success ...
Members: Simon Debenham (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Clive Bolton, Keir Dutton (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Adam Jones (same as three weeks before).

26 May 1980
Special performance at the St Nicholas Revels Restored, in aid of the church restoration fund.
Members: Ross Bentley (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Joe), David Gray (Molly), Simon Debenham (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician & Waggoner). Script by Adam Jones.

1980
£159.72 raised for a sports pavilion in St Nicholas.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Giles Debenham (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Martin Beale.
Venues: Coles (Monkton), White Stag, Wade House, Collins (Seaton/Ickham), Bell, Sarre House, Street Acre, Gate, Bonds, Treveils, Bell (again)
Whitstable Hoodeners start, inspired by Edward Coomber(?)'s previous revival.

31 May 1981
Special performance at Molly's wedding.
Members: Brian Marsh (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Waggoner: Joe), [Roy Fairbrass (Sam)], Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Adam Jones, Martin Beale and Roy Fairbrass.

1981
£237.85 raised for the Village Hall, and £22.80 for the Canterbury Urban Studies Centre.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Giles Debenham (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician & Black Beauty). Script by Adam Jones.
Venues: Shuart, Dominican Guest House (Canterbury), Bell, Street Acre, Solomons, Collins, Sun, Coles (Monkton), Bonds, Gate, Sarre House, Treveils, Village Hall, Bell (again)

1982
£254 and 71.5 pence (!) raised for handbells.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Giles Debenham (Boy), Adam / Ben Jones (Musician & Young Dobbin). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues: Street Acre, Coles (Monkton), Bell, Sarre House, Bonds, Collins, Sun, Wansum Court, Ambry Court, Village Hall, Gate, Anchorage (Coles: Ramsgate), Pocknalls, Bell (again)

1983
£238.77 raised for a children's slide for St Nicholas sports ground.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Giles Debenham (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Chris Cole.
Venues: Bell, King's Head, Bonds, Bell (again), Ambry Court, Village Hall, Coles (Monkton), Hopkins (Wideleas: Summer Road), Vicarage, Street Acre, Gate, Anchorage

1984
£333.26 raised for cassocks for the church, in memory of Brian Debenham.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Giles Debenham (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Martin Beale.
Venues: Coles (Monkton), Shuart, Bell, Anchorage, Street Acre, Village Hall, King's Head, Collins, Sarre House, Bonds, Gate, Manor End (Tylers), Vicarage, Bell (again)

1985
£625.03 raised for breast scanners at Margate & Canterbury hospitals.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Giles Debenham (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Giles Debenham.
Venues: Sun, Vicarage, Down Barton (Robertsons), Gate, Anchorage, Coles (Monkton), Ambry Court, Bell, Bonds, Treveils, Collins, Street Acre, Village Hall

1986
£656.82 raised for the Pilgrims Hospice.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Giles Debenham (Boy), Richard Hopkins (Musician & Young Dobbin). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues: Street Acre, Down Barton, Gate, Anchorage, Wade House, Coles (Monkton), Bell, Bonds, Village Hall, Collins, Diaconos (Nether Hale), Vicarage, Bell (again), Pocknalls (in January)

1987
£651.12 raised for Sarre Mill to cope with the aftermath of the hurricane.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Giles Debenham (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Chris Cole.
Venues: Village Hall, Bell, Anchorage, Street Acre, Shuart, Wantsum Sports Pavilion, Lambs (Minster), Bonds, Crown, Collins, Solomons, Vicarage, Down Barton, Gate, Coles (Monkton), Sun, Bell (again)

1988
£621.95 raised for a cancer laser for Margate Hospital.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray / Jamie May (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Matthew Williams (Boy), Adam Jones (Musician). Script by Martin Beale.
Venues: Vicarage, Bell, Gate, Collins, Lambs, Crown, Street Acre, Village Hall, Ambry Court, King's Head, Anchorage, Bonds, Bell (again)

1989
£603.02 raised for leukaemia, in memory of Graham Bond.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Matthew Williams (Boy), Adam Jones / Marcus Da Costa (Musician), Jamie May (Young Moll / Scarlet). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues: Village Hall, Wade House, Bell, Lambs, Gate, Collins, Down Barton, Vicarage, King's Head, Coles (Monkton), Bonds, Bell (again), Anchorage

1990
£515.41 raised for St Nicholas school picnic tables and playgroup tunnel, in memory of Tristan Jones.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Martin Beale (Waggoner: Joe), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Clive Bolton (Boy), Matthew Williams (Boss' Son), Adam / Ben Jones (Musician). Script by Chris Cole.
Venues: Vicarage, Crown, King's Head, Village Hall, Gate, Collins, Anchorage, Shuart, Sun, Coles (Monkton), Bonds, Bell

1991
£533.30 raised for Vision 2000, a centre for the blind in Maidstone.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Clive Bolton (Boy), Matthew Williams (Boss' Son & Daughter), Ben Jones (George & Musician & Satan). Script by Roy Fairbrass.

Venues: Village Hall, Six Bells, Gate, Vicarage, Crown, King's Head, Collins, Sun, Street Acre, Coles (Monkton), Bell

July 1992
Special performance at the St Nicholas Goose Fair.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Clive Bolton (Boy), Ben Jones (George & Musician). Script by Chris Cole.

1992
£364.93 raised for handbells.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin & Dobain), Clive Bolton (Waggoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Robert Dalgliesh (Boy), Adam / Ben Jones (George & Musician). Script by Ben Jones.
Venues: Six Bells, Sun, Sarre House, Crown, King's Head, Down Barton, Monkton (Coles), Gate, Street Acre, Village Hall, Bell

1993
£851.89 raised for the TEAR (Thanet Emergency Accident & Recovery centre) appeal.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Waggoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy), Adam / Ben Jones (George & Musician). Script by Chris Cole.
Venues: Ramsgate Hospital, Chequers Inn (Ash), Half Moon and Seven Stars (Preston), Bell, Vicarage, Crown, Gate, Street Acre, Village Hall, Ambry Court, Sun, Pepper Alley (Coles), Coles (Monkton), Bell (again)

1994
£522.12 raised for the TEAR Fund and various other charities.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Waggoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy & Third Horse), Ben Jones (George & Musician & Second Horse). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues: Street Acre, Savoy Hotel (Ramsgate), Crown, Half Moon and Seven Stars, Vicarage, Village Hall, Thatched Cottage (Da Costas), Gate, Sarre House, Monkton Sports Centre, Sun, Bell

April 1995
Special performance at Sam's wedding.
Members: Zoe Bolton (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Waggoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), [Roy Fairbrass (Sam)], Jamie May (Boy & Third Horse), Martin Beale (Joe). Script by Martin Beale.

1995
£473.65 raised for various charities.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Waggoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy), Ben Jones (George & Musician). Script a collective effort.
Venues: Margate Hospital ITU (to visit Chris Swift, suffering from Guillain-Barre Syndrome), Six Bells, Gate, Village Hall, Thatched Cottage, Unicorn (Bekesbourne), Sarre House, Crown, King's Head, Half Moon and Seven Stars, Street Acre, Vicarage, Bell, Sun

June 1996
Special performance at Victorian Garden Fete (Walmer Castle).
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Waggoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy). Script by Roy Fairbrass.

1996
£587.85 raised and shared between St Nicholas playgroup, St Nicholas School (for drums), Royal National Lifeboat Institute, People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, and the air ambulances. "Hoodeners' Hooch" IPA brewed (and consumed!) to commemorate 30th anniversary.
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Waggoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy), Ben Jones (George & Musician). Script a collective effort.
Venues: Six Bells, Unicorn, Half Moon and Seven Stars, Street Acre, Village Hall, Thatched Cottage, King's Head, Crown, Richardsons (Minster), Pepper Alley, Sun, Ambry Court, Gate, Bell

1997
£523.00 raised for an RSPCA animal sanctuary.

Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Waggoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy), Ben Jones (George & Musician). Script a collective effort.
Venues: Thatched Cottage, Crown, Boyden Gate, Street Acre, Unicorn, Sun, Wade House, Half Moon and Seven Stars, Village Hall, Pepper Alley, Bell

(Click for larger image) Star Inn in Broadstairs changes its name to "The Poor 'Ole Hooden Horse". (The "Hooden Horse" in Wickhambreaux no longer exists, but there are a chain of pubs with similar names around Ashford.)

1998
£662.28 raised for St Nicholas church and ChildLine, bringing the total raised since 1980 to over £8000. A note of thanks appears in the Parish Magazine.
[no pix yet]
Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Waggoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy), Matthew Williams (Boss' Daughter, a.k.a. Monika Lewinsky), Simon Gray (very young Dobbin), Ben Jones (George & Musician). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues: Walpole Hotel (Rotary Club), Village Hall (Ross Gray's 80th birthday), Lynn Fermour (teachers), Denise Cole (Monkton), Richardsons, King's Head [twice], Down Barton, Thatched Cottage, Boyden Gate, Crown, Half Moon and Seven Stars, Street Acre, Village Hall, Sun, NOT the Bell (first time!)

1999
"Hooden Horse" chain of pubs starts spreading nationwide (nothing to do with us, though). Here are photos of the signs for the Hooden in the Box in Hemel Hempstead, and Hooden on the Green in Mitcham. Apparently the Hooden Horse Group was bought out by Linton Inns, the Inn Business Group (who planned on at least 30 Hooden Horse inns), and finally Punch Taverns.
£485 raised for St Nicholas church.
A wench was officially allowed to take part for the first time (cf 1969).

Members: Chris Cole (Dobbin), Clive Bolton (Waggoner: 'arry), David Gray (Molly), Roy Fairbrass (Sam), Jamie May (Boy), Annette Beake / Matthew Williams (Clover), Ben Jones (George & Musician). Script by Roy Fairbrass.
Venues: Shuart, Pepper Alley, Crown, King's Head [twice], Boyden Gate, Village Hall, Denise Cole (Monkton), Half Moon and Seven Stars, Street Acre, Sun

Hoodening History (2000-)
This year's schedule of performances.