I used to live just around the corner from the Ricky Tick club opposite Clewer Curch. It was a very short walk and under the Windsor Relief Road to get there, probably 2-3 minutes. I only lived there for 3 years, from age 17-20 and can remember seeing Stevie Wonder, Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, Zoot Money and his Big Roll Band and Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band amongst others.
The club eventually fizzled out and was knocked down and they built Windsor Lido there. It was not knocked down for the motorway slip road as, the relief road that went to the M4 Slough Central roundabout, as it still does today, had already been built a year or so before we moved there.
I then frequented Pantiles in Bagshot a lot and saw many acts there, but mostly remember Graham Bond who turned up with just Diane Stewart on congas and no sign of the rest of the band. Graham lugged in his Hammond and Leslie cabinet etc., and played sax in one hand and played the Hammond with his other hand and the bass pedals with his feet of course.
My friends and I stood close to stage and shared spliffs with him Whilst he played and sang. At the interval the rest of the band arrived having had an accident. Of course he knew nothing about where they were until they showed up. To carry a gig with consulate ease and not make a fuss said a lot about his musicianship and professionalism.
Happy days
