A while ago, I was asked to put up a picture of the Queen Victoria pub in Herne Bay High Street. Having done so (it's in the Herne Bay Photos (4) page), thoughts came back to me about all the parties we had there, back in the 1979-1983 period. One party in particular stands out for me. My friend Graham and I had birthdays very close to each other, so we decided to co-host a fancy dress party to celebrate our 20th birthdays. I was never much of a socialite but I recall we all had a ball that night. The rules were strictly "No fancy dress, no entry" and pretty well everyone that came complied. Those that didn't had a quick drink and left just as quickly. |
Whilst I recall the party with fond memories, there are a few people shown in this page whose names have escaped me. Should you know who you are, do me a favour - |
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| Despite my miserable look, I was actually trying to look enigmatic. Something like that, anyway. It took days for all that dye to come out..... | This is Graham, your co-host for the evening. Graham is sporting one of four outfits he brought to the party and is escorting the delightful Sue here. |
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| This was Graham's second, or possibly third outfit. Always one to show off, although he got a run for his money that night. As for the guy in the bear costume, I can't for the life of me remember his name. |
If ever there was someone more willing to show off than Graham, it was Barry. In the past, he has dressed as a chunky punkie or as Adam Ant. This time, he gave us his version of Paul Stanley from Kiss. |
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| This is Graham's sister Gill. She's either had a really bad makeup day, or she's come as Steve Strange of Visage. Remember - 1982 was the height of the British New Romantic movement. | .....and this is my sister Ivy. My, but the local shops must have done a run on temporary hair dyes that weekend. Ivy was always one to colour her hair but this was over the top even for her back then. |
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| Would you want to meet this lot on a dark night? I thought not. From left to right, we have Jo, Mark, Ali, Paul & Kerry, with John bringing up the rear. | Phil and Jackie give us their best "We're not really drunk Romans" look. |
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Ian's Dracula is softened a little by Sharron's bunny girl look. |
Mark & John do an passable job of looking moronic as Sid Snot and Noddy respectively. |
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| Barry shows Sam how even Supergirl can be (temporarily) swept off her feet. Nice try, mate. | "Look; if you lift it's head off, it's not a parrot at all. As to who it is, I'm afraid old age has evidently caught up with me..... |
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| Martin tries to offend everyone with his outfit. John seems unfazed, although why he has a surgeon's glove over his pint is anyone's guess. | Angela & Paul discuss the merits of keeping their work clothes free of blood. Perhaps Paul had tried to get that glove back off John. |
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| The one thing that a fancy dress party is guaranteed to do is bring out all the closet transvestites. I can't remember this guy's name but I do still have the negatives. | Caz delights us with her bee outfit, although she lost the wings early in the evening. Nina's schoolgirl tries to muscle into the picture. |
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 Another name that escapes me but makes it in as the last photo in this Rogue's Gallery. |
| I'm not sure that there were pints and trainers in the Stone Age, Dave. Assuming you are a Stone Age man, not a football fan..... |
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