The Portsmouth Music Scene
Lee Tower Ballroom, at Lee on the Solent.

Lee Tower in the 1960's ? 25 July 1935 ----------- 23 December 1935 ---------------- 23 December 1935 21 February 1936 --------------- 8 October 1936 11 May 1938 ---------------- 8 June 1938 9 July 1938 3 February 1943 --------- 29 December 1949 28 August 1957 19 November 1957 17 December 1957 28 March 1958 18 February 1960 6 January 1961. 19 May 1961 21 November 1961 12 July 1961 9 November 1961 The Lee Tower Ballroom was part of the Lee Tower complex in Lee-on-the-Solent, Hampshire, which was demolished in 1971: Lee Tower Robert Marchant While it is easy to be wise after any event, and all of us possess 20/20 vision when armed with hindsight, trying to give any benefit of the doubt to the architects and planners who were designing and shaping our lives in the late 1960s and early 1970s is a real stretch indeed! The same people and philosophies that gave us the Tricorn with all of its many issues, and the MOD estate at Rowner, the erstwhile concrete jungle, were in turn responsible for the demolition of many buildings that probably could and should have been saved! Fashion really can be a fickle mistress! One such building is undoubtedly the Art Deco tower that once adorned the seafront at Lee-on-the-Solent, but which sadly succumbed to the bulldozers in 1971. Its thirty-six year lifespan being by coincidence almost exactly the same as that of the Tricorn. The Lee Tower complex was designed by the architects Yates, Cook & Derbyshire and was completed in 1935, just as the railway service to the seaside town was being withdrawn. There was also a pier which ran out from the railway station buildings, adjacent to the new tower complex. The Lee Tower complex housed a cinema, restaurant and grand ballroom in a u-shaped building, with the tower itself reaching 120 feet (37 metres) into the air and offering stunning views of the Solent from the viewing platform at the top. The tower was bedecked in camouflage colours in the Second World War, in an effort to make it harder for enemy pilots to use the tower as a useful navigation marker as they attacked Portsmouth or Southampton. After the war, the complex was a popular venue for a good night out, with the last bus back to Gosport often packed to the gunwales on a Friday or Saturday night. My own father recalled on more than one occasion the Sunday morning he woke up on the beach, close to the tower, after a particularly enjoyable evening out at the venue in the mid1950s! In the summer, the tower gave the seaside town a centrepiece, and, along with the swimming baths, a hundred yards or so to the west, people were attracted to the seafront in good numbers. Sadly, as viewing habits changed, the cinema struggled to attract an audience, and the complex struggled to keep its head above the water through the 1960s, before it closed and the demolition men were invited in by Gosport Borough Council. The landmark was lost forever! It is difficult to imagine the same decision being made today. It is not as if the land was desperately needed for another development or project that could not have been sited elsewhere. Today the site is a car park and war memorial, and you would be hard pressed to know the complex ever existed. ====================== In 1935 the Lee Tower complex was built on the seafront next to the old pier and railway station. It was designed by architects Yates, Cook & Derbyshire, and comprised a white V-shaped Art Deco building with a 120-foot (37 m) tower. The complex housed a cinema, ballroom and restaurant, as well as a viewing platform at the tower's peak. The complex was demolished in 1971 by Gosport Borough Council, with its land now used for the promenade, remembrance gardens and a car park. Davie Jones and the Manish Boys, Tower Ballroom, Lee-on-the-Solent 17 October 1964 Andy Crowe 60 years ago today David Bowie played one of two gigs at the Tower Ballroom, Lee-on-Solent, as Davie Jones and the Lower Third. It was one his first concerts outside of the Greater London area; the beginning of the worldwide impact he had during his life. Lee on Solent, who'd have thought? The ballroom is no longer there but the site deserves a blue plaque. In it's place today are 'Solent Gardens' and a car park. ====================== 27/1/1939 Billy Bennetts Brilliant band play at Lee Tower, Lee on the Solent. 1944 March 3rd Prisoner of war fund dance at the Lee Tower to the St Vincent Royal Marine Band. 1945 November 7th Erskine Motors have their Victory Carnival Ball at Lee Tower, with music from Bert Osborn's Full Broadcasting Band December 5th Bill Cole and his Clubmen playing for two nights at the Lee Tower. 1946 February 21st At Lee Tower Ballroom, Phil Tate and his 10 piece Broadcasting Orchestra play for the PO's Mess, HMS Daedalus. March 15th St Patrick's day dance at the Lee Tower with the Blue Eagles Band and Cabaret. October 25th At Lee Tower on Mondays Bert Ivell and his Band, on Wednesdays Phil Tate presents Alf Hallman and his Band, on Saturdays Billy Bennett and his Band. 1947 May 3rd Saturday, Lee Tower opens with Phil Tate and his Orchestra in Residence. October 17th The Peter Howard band play at Lee Tower. November 18th Billy Bennetts Band at Lee Tower plays for dancing and a 'crooning' competition. 1948 April 8th At Lee Tower, the Association of Ex-Civil Servants present Bob Kenny and his Dance Orchestra. 1949 October 11th Bert Osborne and his band play at the Lee Tower, Lee on Solent. 1950 March 23rd Leonard Leslie's Band play at Lee Tower Ballroom. October 6th The Music Makers play for dancing at Lee Tower Ballroom. November 2nd The Jimmy James Band play at Lee Tower Ballroom. November 4th The Music Makers play for dancing at the Lee Tower Ballroom. November 9th The Jimmy James Band play at Lee Tower Ballroom. November 28th Alf Hallman and his Band play at Lee Tower ballroom to over 400 people for the Mayor of Gosport's Charities Fund. 1951 January 20th Music for the Empire cancer Campaigns Dance at Lee Tower was provided by Billy Norman. May 10th The Jimmy James Band play at Lee Tower Ballroom, in aid of the HMS Affray fund. September 6th At Lee Tower, The Jimmy James Orchestra play for dancing. September 7th At Lee Tower Ballroom for Gosport's NALGO Charity Ball, The Stan Matthews Band provide the music. September 28tht Lee Tower Ballroom, dancing to Bert Sharpe and his Music. 1952 June 27th At Lee Tower Ballroom, the Johnny Mack Quintette play for dancing. December 11th The Broadway Orchestra play at Lee Tower. 1953 May 29th At the Lee Tower, dancing to Bert Sharpe and his Music on Monday, Friday and Saturday. 1953 August 3rd Bert Sharpe and his Band play for dancing at Lee Tower. 1953 September 30th The Broadway Orchestra play at Lee Tower 1953 October 2nd At Lee Tower, dancing to Bert Sharpe and his Music. 1953 October 21st Gosport Borough Council have approved the installation at Lee Tower Ballroom of a new oak wood block floor and new curtains, costing 617.10s.0d. The first function after this is the Mayor's Charity Ball on November 18th. 1953 October 30th Bert Sharpe and his Music play at Lee Tower. 1953 November 25th The Broadway Orchestra play at Lee Tower. 1953 December 13th The Broadway Orchestra play at Lee Tower. 1954 March 17th The Broadway Orchestra play at Lee Tower. April 23rd Billy Bennett and his Band play at Lee Tower. May 28th Bert Sharpe and his Music play at Lee Tower. June 16th The Broadway Orchestra play at Lee Tower. June 18th Bert Sharpe and his Music play at lee Tower Ballroom. September Bert Sharpe and his Music play at Lee Tower. November 24th The Broadway Orchestra play at Lee Tower. 1955 January 26th The Broadway Trio play at Lee Tower. 1954 March 17th The Broadway Orchestra play at Lee Tower. 1955 January 26th The Broadway Trio play at Lee Tower. February 23rd The Broadway Orchestra play at Lee Tower. March 17th Bert Sharpe and his Music play at Lee Tower September 28th The Broadway Trio play at Lee Tower. 1956 May 30 The Eric Bernard Orchestra play at lee Tower. June 20th The Broadway Orchestra play at Lee Tower. September 5th The Broadway Orchestra play at Lee Tower. October 124th The Eric Bernard Orchestra play at Lee Tower. November 29th At Lee Tower, music from the Jack Jones All Star Rock'n'roll Band. 1957 January 2nd Eric Bernard and his Orchestra play at Lee Tower. February 26th The Eric Bernard Orchestra play at Lee Tower. May 10th The Eric Bernard Orchestra play at Lee Tower. May 31st At Lee Tower, music from Art and the Wagoners with June Derick(Ceylon's calypso sensation) and a terrific new teenage drummer. July 26th The Eric Bernard Orchestra play at Lee Tower. August 30th At Lee Tower, London's Bandwagoners, and The Blue Diamond Skiffle Group play for dancing. September 20th The Bern Harris band play at Lee Tower. October 18th The Eric Bernard Ballroom Orchestra play at Lee Tower. 1958 February 14th The Bern Harris band play at Lee Tower. March 14th The Eric Bernard Orchestra play at Lee Tower. March 27th More than 300 attend a Jazz Band Ball in conjunction with the Downbeat Jazz Club, with Mike Treend's Jazzmen, Mike Treend, Denny Puttman, Sammy Seall bass, Doug Wheeler trombone, Brian Taylor alto/clarinet, Tony Hart drums and Ronnie Coe and the Coehorts, play at Lee Tower. March 27th More than 300 attend a Jazz Band Ball in conjunction with the Downbeat Jazz Club, with Mike Treend's Jazzmen, Mike Treend, Denny Puttman, Sammy Seall bass, Doug Wheeler trombone, Brian Taylor alto/clarinet, Tony Hart drums and Ronnie Coe and the Coehorts, play at Lee Tower. The Sunshine Inn, resident musicians now to be known as the Sunshine Jazzmen, personnel is Red Cresdee clarinet, Chiz Bishop piano and Mike Kay drums with Bill Burkett trumpet, Ray Lott bass and a trombonist standing in for Puttman, Seall and Wheeler who will be at Lee Tower. May 8th Arthur and the New Bandwagoners play at Lee Tower. June 6th The Eric Bernard Orchestra play at Lee Tower. June 27th Arthur and the Bandwaggoners play at Lee Tower. September 18th The Phil Douglas Orchestra play at Lee Tower. October 3rd The Peter Madsen nine piece Band play at Lee Tower. 1959 February 14th Bill Burkett and his Band play at Lee Tower. March 14th Saturday, Bill Burkett and his Band play at Lee Tower. 1960 Mr K Fleming is the Manager. 1961 4th August Arthur Forrest bandwagoners at Lee Tower 21st November Billy Duncan and Sakly Neale play at Lee Tower 30th Nvember The Renegades and Sally Neale play at Lee Tower 2nd December 1961 Lee Verrill and his music and Sally Neale at Lee Tower

The Sage That Ended In Disaster Perhaps Gosport Borough Council's biggest disaster was its excursion into the . entertainments business — a venture which cast the ratepayers almost £54,000. The cause of the loss was Lee Tower, we Lee-on-Solent landmark that dominated the coast- line. ll was demolished last year and is new being replaced by n cur pnrk, sunken garden and other ornamental features. In failing lo make die Tower a profit-creating concern the Council was not alone, Twice private enterprise ma to admit it could not run it as a commercial success. Built from plans which were Submitted by architects in a nationwide competition the Tower was constructed in 1935 as the imposing entrance to the pier. It contained a cinema. restaurant and dance hall. ll was encountering financial troubles when the Council decided lo buy the property in 1939 and promoted a Private Bill in Parliament in acquire it. Then came World War ll and Service occupation so that the Council was unable to effectively work its new business unyil 1945. But year after year there was a trading loss, and in I964 — when the loss had grown to £53,985 the Council decided to lease the Tower to private enterprise at the rate of £1,200 a year. Buccaneer Bowling, Lid. gave the Tower a £l00,000 face lift converting the cinema into a bowling alley, constructing new bars and sub-letting some of the premises. NO SUPPORT The public did not support the venture and by I968, Buccaneer Bowling had run out of money and all it’s efforts to dispose of the lease and the business business as a going concern failed. Nine alternatives for the future of the premises were considered bv the Council which decided to put an end to the dreary tale of Lee Tower by promoting a parliamentary bill for it’s demolition. The Bill cost £1,200 and was passed in May, 1970 but it was not until March last year that demolition started.

As it used to be

There is nothing after 1961 and demolished in 1971.

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