|
Page Updated 9/06/08
|
Bonnie’s Laurie
Allen Tribute
|
|
Email from Brendan
Mitchell Must have been
early to mid 1960’s there was a little milk bar in I did meet Laurie
once again in Maccsville NSW, we were there for the
“Pub With No Beer Festival” up at Taylors Arm- where the “PUB “ was according to legend. Anyway I told that
story to Laurie and he said he remembered that milk bar but not the snotty
nosed little brat (me) of course . Thanks Brendan “House Of
The Rising Sun” I remember that like it was yesterday, that was the very
first time I saw Laurie, I remember saying to my folks…”he is the most
beautiful thing I had ever seen” much to my dads horror when he saw the
length of the hair, saying to me “you better not bring any boys home with
hair like that” I look back at the photos of that time…Long hair…..nah.
Little did I know just how important he would be in my life at that time, the
absolute highlight…. And I can just see Laurie
saying the bit about the snotty nosed little brat, I
just loved that special Laurie humour. Thanks again for sharing your story, I
appreciate it so much….Bonnie
Email from Pauline (Souto) Little … Hi. Tidying up the other day I came
across an autograph I obtained in my teens- I am now 57 years of age, I think
it was obtained in either Melbourne or Adelaide whilst I was on holiday from
Tasmania with my older brother, we just happened to walk into a record shop
to buy Bobby & Laurie’s Hitchhiker single when we realized that they were
both there. I asked for the autograph which is on a white paper bag. I looked
at your web site and was very interested to read all about their career.
Sorry I don’t have any dates or accurate information as I lived in Tasmania
and now New Zealand, I now have a son and grandchildren and family still
living in Tasmania and I still visit other parts of Australia from time to
time having spent a month in Melbourne in September/October 2004 driving from
Melbourne to Canberra and Sydney with my girlfriend which was fun. I shall be
interested to keep visiting the web site which is regularly updated which is
great… After I sent
the first email I hunted for the single record which has mysteriously
disappeared but I have singles of The Easybeats,
Jade Hurley, Billy Thorpe, Johnny Young, and of course The Beatles, Gerry and
The Pacemakers and many more singers of that time. Certainly brought back
memories, these I have to say are some of the best memories of my life which
has had it’s ups and downs, like most people I
guess. Will keep checking your web site.
Sincerely an old fan. Thank you Pauline, I often
wonder if these guys are aware what nice memories they have left people with..must be nice to know you
have made such an impact on some people.
Nice to hear from you and thanks again for taking the time to email
me…Bonnie.
Email from Lyn C …Adelaide SA…2007 I have been visiting
web pages on Laurie, I,as
a teenager in the 1960’s grew up with (Bobby) and Laurie, I always loved and
admired Laurie for his work he did in the music world and for the music he
wrote. I never knew Laurie personally but knew his
music well. A number of years ago I bought a record
called The Best Of Bobby & Laurie and the last few months have been
trying to get the same album on CD only to find that no albums have been cut
to CD so I will have to continue listening to the record.Laurie
was a wonderful musician and thank God I got to know him through his music..King regards LC Adelaidw
SA.
Email
from Lyn C …. Adelaide SA … 2007 emailed again with
a little story I think is so priceless. I
bought two Diosma plants and planted them both neat my back door. I have done
this in memory of Laurie, one plant was for his birth and life, the other for
our loss and have we lost such a wonderful man here. I will remember him with
so much love in my heart. I will never forget him, his music,
he will always be a part of my Life.
Email from. Lyn C ….. Adelaide SA…..2007 My Daughter called in yesterday after work,
she saw the two plants that I put near my back door in memory of Laurie, she
asked what they were called, I told her they were Laurieland
plants, not saying anything to me she went to the nursery to buy one and was
told bluntly there was no such plant, she said sure there is, my mother bought
two Laurielands from here yesterday. Thank you Lyn for your wonderful
emails, I
must say Laurie sure did have the nicest of fans and he deserved them ever so much, he would
have loved you Laurieland story…. Thanks again Lyn I have put you
into my Laurieland
contact book… Email
from Joan from I have been
listening to Laurie’s music and I find it very good! I especially like
the song about looking through a childs eyes and
First Star On The Right is beautiful. So Long Ago is a pretty song! I like
Laurie’s sound; it is very distinctly unusual, which is good. Wolfman was cute!
Truckers Lullaby is one of my favourites… Thank you.
Email from Kathy Elborne…December 2007 Hi
Bonnie I
was browsing through 'You Tube' and decided to search for Bobby & Laurie. Back in 1957 I attended Bradshaw's In my typing class I sat next to a boy called Laurence
Allen who, as I recall, thought he wanted to be a Reporter, hence the typing
course. We chatted, as much as was possible in a classroom
situation, and I always found him to be very friendly. I too was a member of the Victoria Banjo Club,
starting in 1953 learning the banjo mandolin (I noticed a photo of Laurie
with one!), then progressing in 1957 to guitar lessons. The only time I ever saw Laurie after that was at
the Annual Picnic which was held at Aspendale. In 1957 or '58 (not exactly sure) I jokingly
entered their Belle of the Beach contest and was No. 26 (shown in the
attached photo). My Father boasted later that the boy leaning on
the fence on the left of the photo had said to him (without knowing the
connection) that "Number 26 should have won!" I
looked to see who the boy was and said to my Dad "That's Laurence Allen
- I sat next to him in typing class!" Hence,
one of my few 'claims to fame' during my life has been my story about Laurie
Allen. I was very sad to read of his passing, but must
say your site keeps him alive for all those who knew him or knew of him. Kind regards Kathie Thank you Kathy,nice
memories you have there and thank you for sharing…
Email from
Sue Gamble…. December 2007 Bonnie, Just one more 'gem'...Can't, for the life of me,
think where we all went or who we saw but I
know it was taken at the Arts' Centre Melbourne. My mum thought Laurie
(and Bob) were just the BEST....We had a Milk Bar in Malvern (back in
the 60's and '70's) and Laurie walked in one day and my Mum nearly
passed out!!! From that day on, they were great mates and whenever
Laurie was down in
Thank you Sue, how cool was your mum….thank you…
Email from Doug Osborne of The Henchmen….December 2007 Hi Bonnie, I just found your great website,
and boy! Did it bring back many happy memories for me! I am an original member of
"The Henchmen" and we appeared on the "GO!! show, performing
our hit record back then "Rockin Robin". Horrie Dargie was present when
we did the recording, and Roger Savage was the Sound Engineer.
The reason I am contacting you, is that I have a few photos and some
memorabilia of "The Henchmen" I will attach to this email. (I am
the nerd with the glasses!) Although I don't look like that now! (I am 63 now)
and still doing gigs twice a week at a local Sports Club up here in Q'ld. Our lead singer back then (Rick Diamond) (second
from the right, standing) is currently doing "Roy Orbison
Tribute Shows" around Kind regards, DOUG OSBORNE Thank you Doug, I remember
the Henchmen, I am so glad my page brought back some nice memories for you,
you are one of the lucky ones that were actually part of it all, it must have
been so exciting, thank you for taking the time to email me… Bonnie
Email from Ray Wight of Wickedy
Wak… 1969-1970 I would love to catch up with past
friends and members… I am still playing piano/keyboards ( any offers) RAY WIGHT rwight@bigpond.net.au Thanks Ray I hope you hear from some old friends…. Bonnie |
|
Email fromRichard ( Ricky ) Martin. Hello Bonnie, you do not know me but I did have the priveledge of saying hello to Laurie some twenty-two
years ago…I cannot even remember the places name but it was in Sydney down
behind Suttos at the “Meccano” set, it was a place
where all the musos went in those days and also
truck drivers. I happened to be enjoying a drink with friends there and I
looked at Laurie and it did not strike me at the time who
he was but I thought he was familiar to me. I was passing his table and said hi! and
said I do know tour face but can’t put a place to it…he smiled and said “I
thought nobody would remember me any more, then it hit me..the “hitch hiker man”..Laurie
was a little taken aback when I said that I grew up with his and Bobby’s
music. We had a down to earth conversation for the next ten or so minutes and
enjoyed a beer together, me not knowing Laurie from a bar of soap..but knowing him closely from his music…we parted
company and never saw one another from that day to this..I
can say just from that very short encounter with Laurie that he was a good
man, and even back then it was good to say I have met a part of our once
great music scene and to hear Laurie say that it was good to see someone
actually remembered him, he must have so underestimated his real worth to our
arts and music industry then Bonnie, I just said to Laurie,you guys were just so good!! and
I still love to hear your songs, oh well so much for nostalgia…hope I am not
going on too much Bonnie but those musicians were good people. I cannot imagine arts today if it had not been for the great artists
of the sixties like Bobby and Laurie…its been nice to connect with you Bonnie
and I wish you nothing but the nicest for your future yours sincerely Richard
Martin, Croydon Victoria. Thank you Richard,
nice to hear from you, I can honesty say both Laurie was a good person for
sure as Bobby still is, and I think I can safely say Laurie would have loved
that chat with you, I just wish he could read your letter, I honestly think
Bobby and Laurie were very underestimated, they were the absolute best…thank
you again for sharing your brush with fame, very much appreciated… Bonnie. |