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A Canned History
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TO PEA OR NOT TO PEA...
Back in 1969 four contemporary music loving employees of Thomas Robinsons, - Stuart Bell, Barry Hayward, Malcolm Russell and Mike Tasker, decided to launch their own 'club' simply to be able to hear the type of contemporary folk music that they liked! They approached Wm.Youngers Breweries and explained their plans, and were delighted to be told that the Brewery supported the venture and invited them to choose one of their pubs that would be suitable. Many venues were considered and the beer was well tested at each hostelry under inspection. Eventually, The Light Dragoon in Etton, was discovered, and everyone agreed it was ideal with it's low beamed ceilings and country feel. So, a venue had been found, but as yet a name for the club had not.
Why the name Processed Pea?
One of the questions Stuart Bell has been asked more than any other is 'Why is it called The Processed Pea?' - to which he often gives completely inaccurate and differing answers according to his mood at the time. Hence, not many people know the correct answer to the mystery. The truth however can now be revealed......
The four founders were still working for Robinsons during the day, and at this particular time were extremely busy 'selling out' some huge consignments of Foster Clark tinned peas, bought in at a ridiculously low price due to the factory's imminent closure. So the team found themselves snowed under for days on end moving massive quantities of peas to prospective buyers, - with little else on their minds. It was Stuart who suggested what for him was the obvious and logical name for the club they were forming - The Processed Pea!
The first meeting was held on Tuesday 2nd September 1969, and to celebrate, pie & peas (what else) were included in the admission price of 2/-. This sumptuous meal went down so well that the practise continued at each meeting for some time afterwards. It was decided to hold meetings on a Tuesday night - traditionally one of the quieter nights of the pub week
The managers of the pub at that time were Colin & Dawn Hill, but after six months Robin & Angela Hill (no relation to the previous managers) took over. Many recall the breweries clever way of amending the name above the door, - by converting a letter or two here and there - and hey presto- new managers without the need for a new plaque. Robin and Angela retired in 2008, and were amazingly supportive over the years.
So, the original committee set the ball rolling for a venture that was not really intended to last into the next millenium. In fact it was not really foreseen that it would be a success at all! There are no photographs of the first night. nor even a record of the main guest who was booked to appear! Things were very informal indeed for those first get-togethers..........
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