Well known local singist, banjoist, dulcimerist, spoonist, Hartley Morrisist and, with his wife Kaye, member of the duo Vulcans Hammer.
Phil is also famous for repairing the guttering at the back of Colin's house when the hurricane of '87 tore it down.

........ And here is Phil's wife Kaye.
No-one's quite sure what the lower microphone is meant to be picking up, but, knowing Kaye's talents, I'm sure it was rhythmic.

Another of The Brewery's top resident acts - Dave Bubb and Damien Aked.

Dave originally came along with Dave Morris as Dave and Dave, but when the call of sky-diving lured DM away, DB teamed up with DA (you can make your own jokes up there!!) to create one of the foremost comedy duos, not only locally, but on a national level as well.

Dave went on to tour-manage Richard Digance, bouncing ideas and virtually co-writing much of Richard's material along the way. By suggesting Colin's name to Richard, he was more than instrumental in getting Colin his job with Jim Davidson.

Sadly Dave died of lung cancer in January 2003, and words can't express how deeply he is missed. 

Damien is still writing but has now moved to a town near Grenada in Spain, where he lives happily in cave with his lovely wife Sue. (and we're not joking!!) 

Every week, just before the second appearance of the main guest, the 'parish notices' were read out. In other words, the audience were told what else was on of interest in the area during the following week. This duty usually fell to Colin's wife Linda and here we see her in all her glory with compare for the night the much missed Dave Bubb.
Colin always wondered what was going on just below camera shot.  Dave never admitted anything and Linda still isn't saying !!!

Music Hall duo Penny Gaff comprised of Paul Carr and Gill Hoare.
Paul was one of the founder members of The Wish It Was A Brewery Club. As a music hall act, singer, songwriter and busker his is a face long known to many around the Medway acoustic music scene. He is still active as a singer and songwriter.
Gill eventually left the Medway Towns to marry Martin Allcock of The Bully Wee Band and Fairport Convention.  She now fronts her own band Gill Allcock's Blue Coyotes, more details of which can be found by clicking here.

Two of the founder members of the Brewery Folk Club, Colin and Carey had been involved in the 60s & 70s folk scene since their days of singing together at The Fox in Islington, London.
Colin eventually moved to Leeds and Carey has sadly since passed away.

Skinners Rats are Pete 'Blossom' Currie on accordion and vocals and Barry Lang on fiddle and vocals. They were, for many years, residents at the magnificent Farningham Folk Club.
This pic was taken at The Brewery New Year's Eve party 1979-80. Hence Blossom's kilt. We've tried maximum zooming on the photo, and you can't see whether he's wearing anything underneath or not, so don't waste your time. Nice knees though Pete.

Bill & Jo Vincent

It has already been mentioned that the success of the club lay largely due to the adventurous guest booking policy of Bill Vincent. It has not however been mentioned that some of it's success was also largely due to the fact that we managed to stop him singing.
His then wife Jo had a magnificent voice and partnered Colin during the late 60s and early 70s around the London folk scene.  Bill would be the first to admit that he didn't share his wife's vocal talents.  However here is an early picture taken before we managed to persuade him to concentrate on entrepreneurism.  I think Jo's face says it all.

Ex-Bully Wee Band, Fairport Convention, Jethro Tull, WAZ and currently with Swarb's Lazarus.
For information on what Maartin is up to now, visit his website at www.maartinallcock.com

One of the club circuit's first 'supergroups'. The Arizonas had a repertoire which included everything from bluegrass to Beatles.
From the left Phil Beer (now Show Of Hands), Bill Zorn (now The Lime Liters), Paul Downes (now The Joyce Gang) and Pete Zorn (everywhere)

Ex-New Christie Minstrel and Kingston Trio, Arizonan Bill came to England around 1977. He had a hit record called 'Car 67' with his brother Pete and formed The Arizona Smoke Revue a couple of years later.
Bill is now back in the States with The Limeliters.

The projects Phil has been involved in over the years are far to numerous to list on this page so the best thing to do is go here to find out more.

Now with Show of Hands, Phil also tours once a year with Colin's Bully Wee Band buddy Ian Cutler in 'The Feast Of Fiddles'.

This was Colin's first appearance in front of his home crowd in his new role as vocal guitarist for the Bully Wee Band.
From the left are Ian Cutler, Jim Yardley, Colin and Fergus Feely

Leaping through history just slightly, this was The Bully Wee Band's last folk club appearance (for nearly 21 years). The band decided to call it a day when Ian chose to settle into the more domestic role of husband and father. Not wanting to go out with a whimper, they chose the Brewery for their final club appearance.
From left to right are Ian Cutler, Colin Reece, Fergus Feely and Maartin Allcock.

The big man from Barnsley. Smooth of voice and the same in manner.
Taking a look at the fingers on his left hand, lets hope he's given up smoking by now.

The grandfather of folk song. The influences this man has had on the British music scene are too many to mention. His mellow voice and particularly his guitar style have been emulated throughout the world for the last four decades.
Husband to Norma Waterson and father to Eliza Carthy, the tradition goes on.

Al and Dave Sealy. Simply the best in music hall.
Sadly Al (with arms raised) is no longer with us, but his time on this planet is justified if only for the nights he gave at The Brewery.

Founder and songwriter of The Strawbs, Dave visited the Brewery with his partner and fellow Strawb, Brian Willoughby on several occasions.
The glittering seventies saw Dave and The Strawbs find fame in the UK charts with 'Part Of The Union' and the fantastic 'Lay Down'.

One of the funniest men Newcastle ever produced.
For a while Mike moved to Rainham in Kent and at one time even served behind the bar at Bill Vincent's real ale bar in Rochester. He was infamous for doing his entire act from behind the bar. Unfortunately the customers were too busy laughing to drink their drinks, so Bill had to sack him.

A large lady with a large voice and personality to match. This can't be the first time Rosie has been described thus, and it surely won't be the last.
Rosie emailed us recently to say she's happy to be remembered so long after retirement and can be found here.

Ian A Anderson and Maggie Holland.
Ian now publishes fRoots magazine and Maggie has hopefully grown into her guitar.

What can you say about Dougie that hasn't been said by himself already?

Singer, songwriter, guitarist, journalist, world traveler, nude radio interviewer, clothed football commentator, and drinking partner of Colin's. Doug is one of those people that things happen to. Don't ever get on a plane with Dougie. It's likely to be hijacked!!
In the 70s and 80s with his then wife Sue he was one half of Tundra. Local to the Medway area, they were as popular nationally as they were at home.
They were founder members of the local Ceilidh band Jezreels and after Tundra split, Doug later formed The Hot Rats with Ian Cutler, Tony Rico, Tim Constable and Mike Peters. For more info on Doug and The Rats click here.

And here's the lovely Sue.
After the split of Tundra, Sue carried on for a while in The Jezreels Ceilidh Band, but later left to form a new band with a more country feel called Small Town Romance.
Her experience and knowledge of Kent, acquired during her Tundra years, later came in very useful when she landed a plum job with the Kentish Tourist Board. (Or is it the Tourist Board of Kent???)

Ian Cutler and his sister Valerie.
A rare appearance on the Brewery Folk Club stage by Valerie Cutler.
Being Colin's partner both with and after The Bully Wee Band, Ian would occasionally pay a visit to the club. Valerie's presence, however, was unfortunately more rare. 

The name 'Jezreels' apparently comes from one James Jersholm Jezreel who, being convinced that the world was coming to an end, attempted to build a tower to Heaven. Unfortunately he ran out of money and only got about four stories up before abandoning the idea.
The band has seen several members pass through (including from 1985 to 1990 a certain Colin Reece).
This must be one of the earliest though, and are, from left to right: Geoff Barnard; guitar and banjo, the late Alex Shaw; guitar and voice, Steve Moreham; fiddle and Tim Baker; accordion and trombone.
The latest line-up still includes Steve and is led by Doug Hudson. To get more news on the band click here.

As you can see Mechanical Horsetrough displayed the more serious face of folk music.
From Trowbridge in Wiltshire, Alan Briars on the left and Pee Wee Hunt on the right had an act that could only be described --- That's it. It could only be described.

From time to time Mechanical Horsetrough would team up with another comedy act Cocky as Mechanical Cockup.
This was an act that couldn't even be described.

One of the first entertainers Colin ever saw in a folk club. A man with a massive voice who's repertoire would include anything from Negro spiritual to Scots traditional.
Apparently Johnny now lives in Norway.

Doug and Sue Hudson. Most of what can be said about Doug and Sue has already been said under their individual captions.
This picture shows the more serious side to their act.

Three lovely, talented people.  From the left they are Martyn Oram, Gilly Darbey and Keith Donnelly.  In the main they sang  Keith's songs, but Martyn and Gilly are no mean songwriters themselves.
All three are still doing 'their thing'.
To find out more visit their websites.  Gilly at www.gillydarbey.co.uk, Martyn at www.martynoram.co.uk  and Keith at www.keithdonnelly.com.

'The Oldest Swinger In Town'. Fred may have been a one hit wonder as far as the charts were concerned, but that was never the case when it came to his visits to Rochester.
Sometime accompanied by guitarist supreme Chris Newman, Bristolian Fred was always popular.
Apparently he now makes a fair little living as an after dinner speaker.