By Nina Page
TO the
adoring fans at the Rolling Stones recent Hyde Park performances the value of
getting Mick Jaggers autograph would be priceless.
But back in
1963 there was one man who wasn’t so enamoured of the boy from Dartford.
That man was
Jim Rider and he worked driving lorries for British Rail. After the war where
he served in the Royal Artillery he’d enjoyed working for Rochester station. His
big passion was for his beloved “steamies “ so when the electric diesel trains started to
take over he decided to make the move to the open road and joined the British Rail
delivery service.
Driving his
flat backed Bedford lorry all over Kent with his brother Steven and pals
including Ron Cross, delivering things that had been sent by train to their
final destinations he had a varied schedule everyday and saw many sights.
For that night,
1st November to be exact, the Rolling Stones having just started
getting records into the hit parade had been booked to play at the Odeon
theatre on Star Hill in Rochester. The lads had made their way to the venue and
were now awaiting their equipments arrival by train. It was down to Jim and his
mates when it arrived to make that delivery. Despite working for British rail
they weren’t too worried about being late, the theatre was literally a minutes’
drive away from the station.
With a lot
of man power the instruments and speakers were loaded onto the lorry and driven
the short way to the venue. Once there they were taken into the theatre to be
set up for that evening’s event .As the men were getting ready to leave a young
lad approached Jim and his workmates.
“I suppose
you’d like my autograph “he said. Jim ,
a fan of the Ink Spots and other vocal groups from the 40s and 50s , turned and
replied to the cocksure youth “ why
would I want that , I can’t stand your music “ and left the building.
It was only
later that he realised all Mick Jagger had meant to do was sign the delivery form.....
- A "historical" piece for my journalism course earlier this year
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