John Forster

Some memories of mine— before the brain gives out.

In 1962, whilst in 4T I bought a guitar from Pete Level for the princely sum of £16.

I left school the following year struggling with the hits of the day.

One day there was a knock at the door and there was Alec Errington who asked if I still played the guitar.

‘Yes,’ says I.  He said that his brother John had a group (they call it a band today for some strange reason) and he wanted another guitarist.

So I went across to their house (Trent Drive, Calf Close Est) and met his brother John.

John went to Jarrow Grammar School and was a year or so younger.

We got on well and a group was formed.  It was called ‘The New Atlanteans’ -we named it after the new double-decker buses, God knows why!

That group changed into ‘The Urge’ and Alec's brother turned into John Miles, superstar and man about town.

I subsequently changed from guitar to bass, joined a blues band called 'One More Mile', and went to Germany and oblivion.  John did rather better.

In 1971 I joined the Police - no, not the group, the ugly ones with the blue suits and pointy hats!

Whilst stationed as a Sgt. at Market Street Dennis Gilmore came onto the shift as a PC

He left a few years later I believe.

One night whilst diligently patrolling the tea spots of the city centre I hear a shout,

"’Ow Foss"!  Lo and behold, there was Les Wardle working in the Chronicle depot.   

I think I had a cuppa - just to be sociable - they call it community policing these days. 

After 30 years of underwhelming achievement ending up as an Inspector, I retired from the police and returned to the music game.

I joined a band (not called groups anymore) called ‘After Midnight’ and we tour the country as 'Classic Clapton'.  Its great fun and would you believe it we were playing at some farm type pub thing in deepest southern England when a bloke says, "Are you John Forster.”

Why?  I think.  He doesn't look like a taxman.  "Yes that's me.”

Thankfully, it's Alan Atkinson; still tall and lean as ever but now sporting a hairstyle similar to mine (none that is).

So be on your guard my precious you never know when an old school chum might sneak up on you!

John Forster.  March 2006

(Left 1963)

Photo details:

One is the original line up of the New Atlanteans which begat the Urge.

As well as John Miles and myself on guitars, there is Jim Stokoe (bass) and Dave Symonds (drums) both were from Hebburn.

The other is from a gig 'Classic Clapton' played in Estonia in 2004.