Steve Marriott

[DougT]

Somewhat surprised that Steve Marriott of Small Faces fame does not seem to be mentioned. Steve lived a few doors away from me at 308 Strone Road and attended Monega School before moving on to Sandringham. Steve was not the most attentive of youngsters and invariably incurred the wrath of teachers. Steve would often bring his guitar to Primary School and lead an impromptu sing song in the playground. He was also spotted on occasions travelling back to school after lunch perched on the rear axle of a United Dairies horse drawn milk float. It is reported elsewhere that Steve attempted to set fire to sandringham School was a pupil there.

Whilst at primary school Steve would always refer to Little Ilford Park as "Itchycoo Park" and was often seen loitering outside the home of Rene Tungate in Strone Road. Both "Itchycoo Park" and "Rene The Dockers Delight" were featured in songs released by The Small Faces.

Doug T

[ALANF]

Doug

That was a very interesting post about Steve. He has been mentioned on this site before, and the mystery of Itchycoo Park has been discussed before, but I don't think with any finality. You say that the man himself called Little Ilford Park by that name. Do you know why? Was  it a local slang name?

Alan

[DougT]

Hi Alan

In response to your posting, In some circles there was always a doubt as to whether "Itchycoo Park" was the nickname for Little Ilford Park or Wanstead Flats. Many of the youngsters who attended Monega Road School always referred to Little Ilford Park as "Itchycoo Park" whilst Wanstead Flats was simply known as "The Flats" or occasionally "The Sandhills". I recall that in the 1950s Little Ilford Park appeared to be cared for a lot less than Central Park or Plashet Park. Certainly the team of "Parkies" based at Plashet Park were forever telling us that we could not play football or cricket in certain areas as it was too close to the flower beds. In Little Ilford Park nettles seemed to grow in abundance much to the discomfort of boys who used to have to wear short trousers until they were at least 10 years of age.

DougT

[ALANF]

There is an explanation in todays Daily Mail about itchtcoo park. Little Ilford Park was known locally as 'Itchy Park'. The reason for this was the small round clusters which dropped from its numerous London Plane trees. When crushed, they were used by the children as itching powder. Nettles were not involved and it is still producing 'itchy powder'.
Alan

[DougT]

Alan

Many thanks for your posting and further information regarding "Itchycoo Park". Despite my previous posting regarding the abundance of nettles in Little Ilford Park I now feel that the explanation given by the Daily Mail as per your posting is probably far more accurate.
I can remember the clusters that fell from the trees and when crushed produced a form of itching powder. I do not know if the trees were only in Little Ilford Park but I suspect they may have been common in other ares and parks in the borough.

I know that very often the powder was often poured down the back of an unsuspecting girl in our class where we would delight in watching their discomfort when the powder took effect.

DougT

[jplant1]

Local botanist Paul Ferris gives a list of species in Little Ilford Park and the adjoining Webster's Land "aka "The Whippets") at
http://www.wansteadwildlife.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=276&Itemid=433

which confirms a good number of London Planes available for itching powder.

At St Edwards Primary we used to call those big round clusters of Plane seeds "itchy balls", but the teachers wanted to make us say "itchy backs".

[lewisjoiner]

Hi All, I was a big Marriott fan, I saw him with the Small Faces, Humble Pie, Packet of Three, the last time I saw him was about three months before his death at The Esplanade at Southend, still as good as ever. Thank goodness his music lives on. "Rock On".
On the subject of "itchy balls" I attended Ravenscroft School in Plaistow, we had four trees in the playground producing them, the idea was to grind them up and put them down the back of the shirt without being noticed, we took great delight in watching the victim writhing around in class, which then wound the teacher up something wrotten! Lewis

[ALANF]

I have just found on u tube the video's of all Stevies hits. It took me right back to my younger days. They can be found on the following;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJzcF0v1eOE&feature=related
Alan

[ALANF]

Reference the utube video's, they are accompanied by numerous emails all in praise of Steve. One guy mentioned that he had been practicing his guitar with the nephew of Steve. Does anyone know if his nephew is still in the local area, and is he in a group? And speaking of locality, were the other members of the 'Small Faces' local boys?
Alan

[jplant1]

Ronnie Lane from Forest Gate
Jimmie Winston, Stratford
Ian McLagan, Hounslow
Kenney Jones but mentions Stepney in an early interview

[Eddie]

Little ilford park was known as Itchykoo park long before Steve or the song made it famous. I can remember elders calling it that when i was a kid in the 50s.

[Byard]

Ronnie Lane from Forest Gate
Jimmie Winston, Stratford
Ian McLagan, Hounslow
Kenney Jones but mentions Stepney in an early interview

Kenny Jones was from Cable St, Stepney. His dad was a truck driver in the docks.

I was the Small Faces roadie back in 1965, when the organist was a tall guy 'name ?' he was the Blind Beggars landlords son. I got on best with Kenny and Ian as they were more level headed. Stuck it for a year then enough was enough. Byard

[ALANF]

Byard

The keyboard player was Ian McLagan. It's a concidence that you mention that Ian and Kenny were the two most level headed, because there was the repeat of an old documentary about the 'Small Faces', and Kenny and Ian were inputting remarks throughout the film. This was on the Sky Arts channel 2 days ago. It was very interesting hearing about how their hit records were written and then recorded. Watching them perform all the old hits was quite a treat.

Sadly, it was obvious from the word go, that they each had a self destruct button. The reason that was given for them not touring the USA, was that their manager at the time (of dubious character) didn't want them to go. But it seems 2 of then had drug convictions, and the Yanks would not let them in.

Ian and Kenny stated that their best record was 'Tin Soldier', of which I am in full agreement.

Alan

[Byard]

Alan,

I was talking about the key board player before Ian Maclagan, he was a tall guy and he and his father tried a scam after the SF gig van broke down and needed an engine. My first job with them was to collect the banger and exchange it for a brand new Commer van, swap the gear over and high tail it up to Brum for that nights gig.
Later on I had the pleasure of going out to Hounslow and picking up Ian and boy did I Have trouble getting his Hammond and Leslie spinner speaker on board.
Their manager at the time was Don Arden, their booking agent was Ron King both shared on office on Canaby St. Everyone in the music ind seamd shady in those days. One of the reasons I got out, it was great fun on the road, bloody hard work but great fun.
Byard

[Bill Sharpe]

I believe that Don Arden is the father of Sharon Osborne - anyone confirm?