8 replies to this topic

[clocker baz]

In the early 60s me and my mates used to know a St Helens lad who was a bit older than us, hed be in his early 20s. The story was that he didnt have very long to live and everybody went out of their way to be nice to him.He seemed a pleasant chap he was short and thick set and had a speech impedement, not a stammer.

About 20 years later the same lad appeared in a TV drama and the name in the titles was Sam Shed. The play was about an elderly couple who had left their home and retired at the sea side. But the move turned out badly, and the moral was that its not always wise to leave your friends and family. Sam only had a few lines and I easily recognised him

I wandered if "Sam" if thats his real name had used his story about his illness to gain favour etc.

Does any body have any info

Edited by clocker baz, 23 December 2011 - 04:07 PM.

[Olliebeak]

Hi clocker

Doesn't ring any bells with me - so googled the name with St.Helens.

...... cue Cilla - surprise, suprise! It linked me to this. Wonder if it's the same lad - can you tell from the photo?

Edited by Olliebeak, 23 December 2011 - 04:15 PM.

[clocker baz]

Thats him Olly. Many thanks

[Handsome Johnny]

i remember sam he used to live in clinkham wood and was a very accomplished jazz musician, he would alway have a fancy flat cap on and smoking cheroots one after the other.

[Phyll]

Well done Ollie for finding that. I just Googled and it says his name is on this link, but I can't find it,
anyway, here's the link, as it has some great memories of Jazz North West from the 50s and 60s,
before The Beatles came along. I'm sure there are a few on here who remember those days.

http://www.btinterne...ld/reminisc.htm

Anyone know what the TV drama was?

Edited by Phyll, 24 December 2011 - 07:39 AM.

[Handsome Johnny]

sam was also a good friend of peter darwin who ran the music shop in town.

[clocker baz]

Thats right I saw him with Peter Darwin in Lliverpool and I knew Peter when he lived in Clock face.... dont know why but Ive always remembered them. I wonder how Sam got to be on TV? Its a pity we have no film of Sam he was an interesting character and a good Jazz singer I believe

Edited by clocker baz, 24 December 2011 - 02:58 PM.

[Lowe House Boy]

I used to watch Sam Shed at the Beer Keller in King St. Wigan in the early 70s. His band was called The Vintage Synchopaters. He would start the act with a Adolf Hitler impersonation,then the band would play beer drinking oompha music.
Whilst watching Parkinson interview George Melley in the late 70s I was astounded to hear Melley praising Sam Shed and saying what a wonderful character he was. He said that Sam could have been a big star. I think this was not long after Sam had passed away.
He did live in Clinkham Wood,possibly Windermere Avenue.

Edited by Lowe House Boy, 28 December 2011 - 07:02 PM.

[PRV]

Johnnie Davies AKA Sam Shed lived in the black cottages on Back Lane (That's Woodland Road now)
He went to Cowley School and was as educated as any other chap of that time. He was a very good bandsman and played in a number of combos. He moved to Windermere Ave with his mother around 1955-60.
He knew that he was not a well chap and he lived every day as if it was to be his last. I've forgotten his saying but it was on the lines of "If I wake up in the morning and I can see the sun, that's another day to enjoy" I shouldn't use "quotation marks" but it was something jolly like that.
Sam Shed was indeed a local character and there will be plenty that knew him more than I did. Cowley 1951-1957 at a guess.