Country Music at
The Rock Gardens Pavilion and at Hilsea Lido Blue Lagoon
Portsmouth has never been a hot bed for country music but even today there are still local venues where country music can be heard.
Fred and Nora Smith started running country music nights at the Rock Garden Pavilion in 1976 and Cliff Basson, Paddy Keoghan, Fred Smith and Roy Radford were also involved, but soon Derek Harper took on the organising of these nights. This lasted until 1987 and the Pavilion was demolished and the Pyramids built in it's place. So Derek moved to the Hilsea Lido Blue Lagoon. This ran until 1997. Derek was ably assisted at times by Robin West who was host to a country music two hour programme on the late lamented Radio Victory. Derek also helped out there when Robin was away.
Derek also played guitar and sang in one group called Harper's Ferry, and another called Midnight Rodeo.
Boxcar Willie, Gene Watson, Red Stovine, Billy Walker, Marvin Rainwater, Judy Rose, Jimmy Lawton, Dick Damron, J R Williams,
George Moody, Tony Austin, Tony Galigo, Trampus, Les Mitchell, Patsy Frost, Poacher, Norman Mourant, Linda Venus and Pete Henry, Ellie Scott, Pete Palmer, Dodie Carson, Young Country, Gary Blackmoor, Bandit, Hank Dalton.
Listed above are some of the names that have appeared over the years.
If you have any further information, memories or even photographs or news cuttings,
I'd be pleased to hear from you.
The traditional homes of country music in Portsmouth, The Rock Gardens Pavillion and the Blue Lagoon at Hilsea Lido.
The missing venues are the Pondarosa at Boar Hunt run by Tom Butler, landlord of the Boars Head,
and the Coral Reef Bar on South Parade Pier.
L to R Roy Radford, George Brown, Don Williams, Robin West
L to R Derek Harper, Fernand Morrillas, Sylvie Ann Hughes, Danny Hughes, Tony Payton
Derek on stage with Robin at the Rock Gardens
Derek at Radio Victory
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