Colin's Photos

 After being without my main computer for a few days I've been very limited with photos to use for the 'Old Stuff',  but now things are back to normal! I have a new PC and thankfully all your photos have been saved, so here's the first few...back to the 90s with Colins Cottage/Cabin. I have no info for these at all so please add what you can.

Discussion over a box of cling film??

Diane on the right front row.

Not a clue whats going on here !

Another 70s story from David!

Hi Jackie, well my last month’s short story prompted a few more Guardia related stories and very interesting they were too.
Having not been back to the Costa Brava for donkeys years I expect there have been massive changes but in the 70s the coast road from Lloret to Barcelona ran past the huge Knicker (Bragas) factory on the right hand side in Callela.
Well it was near the end of the season and I was returning from Barcelona, just after midnight on my own in my little Mini fast approaching the Knicker factory, over the slight brow in the road I went, when there standing in the middle of the road were 2 Guardia with machine guns on the waist pointing at me. I remember my heart pounding but not much else, the guns were pointed to the curb side indicating what I had to do, I parked and put the window down, a gun nozzle is pointed about 6inches from my nose with “Get out” “ hands on roof” you don’t make any funny remarks simply do as your told, my legs were kicked apart and I was frisked (nothing thank god) then they ask what was in the car (again nothing) when they saw a roll of posters in my back window shelf “What is that” thank god my Spanish was getting better, I had to explain they were tourist posters for the hotels with pictures of Lloret castle, the sea front etc. They took them out unrolled them all over the place then stopped some old boy who had come out his house to see what was going on, and asked him if the photos were of here? (Most Guardia were brought in from other parts of Spain and moved around so as they didn’t make friends and take bribes etc) or perhaps they were just being awkward anyhow the old chap said yes the photos were of Lloret and without so much as a good night the Guardia just Jerked the gun indicating scram. I did, checking that I hadn’t wet myself!
The outcome... Guardia didn’t normally carry machine guns unless there was an alert and it seems that day there had been some sort of ETA terrorist attack in the north and a single bloke on his own in a car was fair game, it was mid 70s and the other side of life the tourists were sheltered from, I remember calling in at the Moby for a quick one but don’t think I mentioned the incident to anyone (who would believe you!!)
Next time Bullfighting?

Photos fromDoug

l'd just like to apologise to everyone as my computer has recently packed up all together and I've not got access to all the photos for the old stuff which you have all sent in, but all is not lost l have the hard drive which contains all the photos etc, so it won't be long before things get back to normal...with a new PC!
Todays photos dating back to the mid 70s were sent in by Doug Tappin and were salvaged from my email inbox.

3 photos from Frank

Hope you have all put your clocks forward!

Today we have 3 more pictures from Frank, What about the 3rd one, where is that taken?

Nice outfit Andy!

Jimmys photos from the 70s

Thanks to Jimmy for sending his photos from 1974-75. In the first one taken at the Beachcomber in 74 are Jake, Alan and Jimmy. 2nd photo taken at the Moby Dick also 74 - Pat, Elaine, Jimmy, Joanie and Eddie who Jimmy says was a well known boxer. 3rd pic from the Highlander 75 - Jimmy, Ian, Mary, Ricky and Gary.

Frankie's Photos

Thanks to Linda for sending Frankie's photos through, too complicated for him to do it himself she said....What would you do without her Frank !

Frankie's keeping well out of the way in this photo!

At the bus station.

Paddy's bar

A Story from Glendon

The stories which people are sending in seem to be very popular judging by the comments which are been left, here we have another story today from Glendon and again it involves a gun!

I worked in Lloret 1972/3, Las Cuevas/Western Saloon/La Cala/Londoner/ Also DJ Garbi Park Disco around April 72. End of the season 72 October I was working the top Bar at the Londoner, around 9pm a big Spanish guy started ordering brandy (103 Black if I remember correctly), as the night came to a close around 2am, I gave him his bar bill..,he pushed it back to me, I started to cash up the till, he asked me to give him the takings for the evening, I said no thinking he was a little drunk and tried to have a joke with him, he then pulled a pistol from his belt and threatened to shoot, not at me, but anybody who was ready to confront him (I dived on the Floor under the bar), within a few minutes a large black Limo pulled up outside the bar where Edgar Bach then one of the owners was whisked away, the Guardia then turned up and escorted the gunmen out of the bar, the staff had a nightcap in silence trying to make light of the incident. The next day I was walking to work and I saw two Guardia parading up the main drag, I recognized one of them was the gunman from the evening before, he looked at me nodded his head, with a certain smirk on his face, of course this was in the reign of Franco, when I understand that no Guardia could do no wrong, I wonder if Alan (A.A. Excursions) remembers the incident.
Has anyone heard from the tall  Guy Louis from Liverpool,he was somewhat older than us at the time,but as mad as they come,or even Chris who managed many of the bars/Clubs for Edgar/Geoff. Fond memories  of my time in Lloret.

Photos from Doug Tappin

 

I have another new batch of photos this time from Doug Tappin who is now living in Nerja and was working in Lloret during the 70s at PPs disco.... I'm told by Lee who sent in the photos on behalf of Doug that he never shuts up about it!

We have another regular reader of the blog who worked in Lloret (in the 80s) Brian who is now living and running his own bar in Nerja these days maybe you 2 should meet up and you can both have a good chat about your days in Lloret!

(The photos have somehow come through in reverse so apologies for that)

Sue Vale's pics

 

Back to 1971 with Sue's pics today which feature the Western Saloon

Ricky's Bar Closes

Ricky in Blanes has taken the sad step and decided to close his bar in Blanes....Heres a personal message from Ricky which he recently placed on his website-

AS OF EASTER THIS YEAR ,RICKY´S WILL BE CLOSING IT´S DOORS  AS I AM LEAVING THE BAR AFTER 25 YEARS.

THIS IS A PERSONAL DECISION AND I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK EVERYBODY FOR THE SUPPORT AND FABULOUS  TIMES I HAVE HAD IN THE BAR DURING THIS TIME.

I  WILL BE STAYING IN BLANES BUT AFTER WORKING NEARLY EVERY NIGHT FOR ALL THOSE  YEARS , I DON´T WANT TO LEAVE THE BAR IN A COFFIN AS I AM SURE MOST OF YOU WILL APPRECIATE.

LIFE GOES ON AND LASTLY A BIG THANK YOU TO MARGARET FOR PUTTING UP WITH ME....

ONCE AGAIN THANK YOU .....

Rickys latest photo from the bar taken yesterday with Andy and Billy.

I'm sure we all wish Ricky all the best and good luck in what ever he decides to do after he closes.

A photo from Suzie in Texas!

Suzie has recently sent in this photo of her boyfriend which was taken outside Texas in August 1979, I dont think any of our readers will remember Steve pictured here as he only spent 1 night in Lloret but the story the photo is amazing!
Suzie is now living in Texas...(USA not the bar!)
(Thanks for sharing this with us Suzie!)

There is a little story behind the picture as wrote by Suzie...

As I mentioned, Steve (the guy in the picture) was backpacking across Europe
in August 1979 with one of his friends and spent a day and a night in Lloret
de Mar.  They partied at the Texas Saloon that night and since he was from
Texas everyone at the Saloon was talking to him and buying him tequila
Shots :-) (that's one part of the story)

Part 2.
I was traveling in Europe in July 1979 and spent my 19th birthday in Lloret
de Mar, among other pubs and bars, I also ended up at the Texas Saloon.

Part 3
Steve and I have been together for 5 years now and we were looking through
some of his old pictures and found the one I sent you... that's when we
figured out that we were there only a week apart - me in July and he was
there in August 79.  Too funny - our paths almost crossed 30 some years ago,
before we knew each other - at the Texas Saloon in Lloret de Mar :-)
Happy Springtime to all the Lloret de Mar folks :-)

Another story from David

Thanks again to David the ex Thomson rep, our resident story teller!

 It’s the Thomson man again.
This month’s story!!! WHO SHOT THE DRIVER?
Being a rep was fun but there were drawbacks and one of them was having to take a coach nearly every week to the BBQ.
The first 10 weeks were ok but the fun wears off watching people be sick and you having to remain in some decent state having to hunt down the “Out for the count” no shows on the coach at the end of the evening.
Well this week was the same as any other, the BBQ was over and hundreds of people were searching for their particular numbered coach from the 17 parked together.
The drivers always stood by the doors to give out plastic bags to those who for sure weren’t going to make it back to Lloret without being sick and try to ensure the right hotels got on the right coaches while the reps rounded up the bodies in corners!!
This night one of the drivers knew the man accompanying this rather drunk young lady was Spanish and had not come on the coach. As the coach was completely full he told the young Spanish guy he couldn’t get on, after a short confrontation the Spanish guy said he was Guardia Civil and flashed his badge, the driver said it didn’t matter the coach was full and he couldn’t get on. The Guardia was obviously on a promise and he really kicked off, the driver ended up physically ejecting him from the coach when the Guardia produced a pistol and shot the driver.
Well you’ve heard the expression “Stuff hitting the fan” that was nothing to what then ensued, the Spanish guy ran off, the other drivers dropped everything trying to help their colleague and some hunting for the Spanish Guardia, singing on the buses had stopped dead and eventually 17 rather quiet coaches went back to their resorts many to Lloret.
THE OUTCOME.... The Guardia disappeared as he was instantly transferred down south, so they said, the driver spent some time in hospital but was able to return to work a long time later, most driver from Pujol coach company drove around with the Guardia photo on their dashboard threating all sorts. I did bump into, several years later one of the drivers in Malaga and asked about the incident and he said they never did find the Guardia, the driver was ok still able to work albeit reduced distances. This of course was in the mid 70s when Franco was in power and the Guardia were all powerful.
More later if you liked it?
Regards David

A few more from Maureen

Its a long time since I published any photos from Maureen, so here we have a few taken when she was taking photos herself at the barbeque.

 Photo above - Maureen with Louie &Jimmy(1976)...getting a lift to the BBQ?

Maureen and Sue...run out of film? :-)

Photos from Jean

Back to the late 50s with a few pics from Aunty Jean....Jean's late husband Les was one of the nicest men you could wish to meet, there he is in the 2nd photo pictured with a waitress from the hotel. In the next photo are Jean and Les on the right.
In the last photo Jean is having a go at mincing tomato's in the kitchen of the hotel!

 

Mariano's Propaganda!

Thanks to Mariano for putting together this collection of photos and propaganda from Llorets bars and disco's of the 70s. What a shame we wont be seeing these keepsakes given out on the streets anymore..... did you know as from this year its against the law for bar owners to promote their business in this way! What stupid law will they come up with next?
I can remember we often went home from holiday with a few 'souvenirs' of the propaganda cards and flyers which we still have today!

 

 

 

More from Spock!

I dont usually publish photos from the same people for 2 days running but as there was a bit of talk about Vere in yesterdays photos, I have more photos sent in by Spock of Vere . So maybe Shuggie could also pass these on and hopefully Vere's brother will get to see them....

Janice, Vere, Julie and Colin

Comments

After a bit more messing about with the settings on the blog today I think I've managed to get the right time on any comments that are now added, the only thing is that to add a comment it opens up a small box in which you write your comments...slightly different but hopefully its now ok.

Shorny's photos

Frank is looking in a bit of a mess here but its only water damage!

Todays pics come from Shorny aka 'Spock'  The bottom 3 are all from Gerrys Bar but what about the first one?

Gerry's bar crew - Donny, Paul, Gerry, Paco and Spock

Gerry

A photo from Joe

Thanks to Joe for this photo taken during the Rubgy world cup taken outside Buzzbys. In the photo at the back L-R is Joe, Alan, Rish & Sax. Front L-R Kevin, Tony and Victor. Sadly in such a short time we have lost three people from this photo.

Kevin's Pictures

Here we have a few pics from Kevin today, Kevin worked in Mobys and the Pink Panther during the 1974-76 seasons.

Moby's - Flowerpower wallpaper!

More of that wallpaper!

Moby's

Colins Photos

Photos from ColinsCottage or Cabin today can any one say which bar it is?

I think we can just see half of Peters face in the background and Gunn (spelling??) his wife in the white jumper.

Roger 2nd from the Left