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THE EDDIE COCHRAN + KINGS OF ROCK'N'ROLL TRIBUTES SHOW
A NEW LOCATION FOR OUR WEEKENDER IN 2007
SAND BAY HOLIDAY VILLAGE
BEACH ROAD
KEWSTOKE
WESTON-SUPER-MARE
NORTH SOMERSET
BS22 9UR
From The Western Daily Press, September 18 2006:
It has been more than 46 years since the ivory-coloured Ford Consul, still sprinkled with confetti after being used at a wedding a few hours earlier, smashed into a lamp-post.
The crash on that fateful spring night in North Wiltshire in 1960 dramatically snuffed out the life of one of rock's most dynamic young performers, 21-year-old Eddie Cochran. But almost half a century later, a dedicated band of West Country fans of the now legendary American singer are refusing to let his memory fade away.
And yesterday their ongoing efforts to keep his name alive in the West saw a stunning 6ft high blck marble memorial Cochran unveiled.
New artistic technology was used to create an image of Cochran - best known for hits like C'mon Everybody, Summertime Blues, Something Else and Three Steps To Heaven - in a classic rock'n'roll pose.Fans will help them pay for it
Costing £7,000, its unveiling was the highlight of a three-day rock festival held in Cochran's memory every year at the Chippenham Olympiad, a short distance from Rowden Hill , where Cochran died.
Fittingly, it was unveiled by the late perfomer's old pal Charlie Gracie, who was two years Eddie's senior and remains one of the few surviving original Fifties rockers.
The stone was commissioned by festival organisers Gwen Hale and Ken Hersey of Bristol, who are hoping fans will help them pay for it.
The unveiling took place at the Olympiad, but the couple hope it will eventually grace Brisol's redeveloped Broadmead shopping centre, not far from the scene of Cochran's final gig at Bristol Hippodrome. A small memorial stone is already located at the scene of the crash, unveiled in 1998 by Cochran's girlfriend and crash survivor Sharon Sheeley, who has since died.
Rock'n'roll fans can often be seen pulling up to lay flowers at the shrine.
A Cochran Memorial Garden also exists at St Martin's Hospital in Bath, where the singer died a few hours afer the car crashed while taking him to Heathrow Airport from the Hippodrome.
However, West devotees felt there should be a more substantial memory to the man who could have gone on to dominate the rock scene for years to come had his life not ended so tragically.
Yesterday Mr Hersey, 60, who for the time being is keeping the plaque in a barn, said: "It's a fantastic piece. We thought a statue would be a bit old-fashioned, so we got this made instead."It was a great day. Getting Charlie here was teremendous. He and Eddie were very close friends."
Ms Hale said: "This isn't just any old stone, but a huge piece of black granite with Eddie's picure enhanced on it by way of new artistic technology."
She is calling on rock'n'roll clubs around the UK to hold "bucket nights" to collect cash to help pay for the memorial.
She added: "Ken and I took out a loan from the bank to pay for it and obviously, the more donations we get the better."
The reaction to the marble memorial from fans who flocked to Chippenham from all over the UK and farther afield was unanimous yesterday - "It's real good lookin' man, it's something else."Marble memorial is unveiled and 'it's just like Eddie'
National Eddie Cochran Bucket Day
Well, here we go, it's fund-raising time again!!! Only this time it's a chance to do something for us! No, not us but you the rock'n'roll fraternity of Great Britain. As we have published many times since Christmas Showtime Enterprises and the Eddie Cochran Connection and thousands of Cochran fans across the UK are trying to raise money for a fitting tribute to Eddie in the guise of a memorial stone, not just any old stone but a huge piece of Black Granite with Eddies picture enhanced on it by way of new artistic technology.
This piece was made in Italy and shipped to its resting place in Chippenham. It was unveiled on the 17th September 2006 by Charlie Gracie and John Leyton.
BUT the race is on to raise the rest of the money needed to pay for the stone. So this is where you come in. We are asking clubs all over the country to contribute to this memorial, and all it will take is:
A BUCKET AND YOUR CHANGE.
THERE IS NO SPECIFIC DAY BUT WHEN YOU HOLD YOUR NEXT EVENT:
Take a bucket, take a large photocopy of the picture and writing by it take a pot of glue, take the photocopy and the glue and stick the photocopy to the bucket. Then when all your Guys and Gals at your club night have had a fabulous time, make the last record an EDDIE COCHRAN track and collect change from very satisfied rock'n'rollers on their way out!!!!
Count the money and send it by cheque with the name of your club and a picture of the happy fundraisers to:
Showtime Enterprises
4 Thorneycroft Close
Lockleaze
BRISTOL
BS7 9YJ
England.All clubs that participate will be named and all photos sent will be published on this Website with everyone's permission of course.
The above plea written by Linette Mad Rat Mag.Ken and I took out a loan from the bank to pay for this plaque, so it was guaranteed for September. However it remains to be paid back, and the more donations we get the easier it will be. We are people of our word and we try to never let anyone down.
-- Gwen - Showtime Enterprises
Pictures from Bristol Hippodrome at the start of our Easter fund raising
taken by Bristol Evening Post photographer Jon Hurst.The cost of reproducing these photos are:
7x5" = £4.95 each
10x8" = £8.95 each
P&P = £0.95
If you would like to order any of these, you can contact their photosales department on 0117 934 3091 or 3262 with your credit/debit card details.
Alternatively you visit the reception of the Bristol Evening Post / Western Daily Press and pay with cash.CLICK HERE TO SEE REPORT IN BRISTOL EVENING POST
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