Grandson searches for London recordings of musician Dick Hammond who played accordion, piano, saxophone and organ at Holbeach St Matthew and performed in Spalding area with dance band Ace of Diamonds
The grandson of a popular post-war musician is putting out an appeal for help to find past recordings of his grandfather entertaining in the 1940s.
Rob Hammond, 38, has recently discovered a recording of his grandfather — the late Thomas William Richard Hammond, who was known as Dick — playing the accordion on YouTube and is appealing for help from the public to track down other performances.
Dick, who lived in Donington, was known for performing in South Holland but is believed to have taken part in two recordings in London in the 1940s - which his grandson would like to track down.
Rob said: “People from his generation probably know his name and that he was a musical man.
“I found the recording on YouTube and had a lot of nice responses.
“But not everyone is on social media so it would be good to hear from anyone who may remember his playing.
“The audio recording on YouTube is the only piece the family have at hand of Dick playing a tune on his organ. But it can still be served up as a memory for a generation that had some of the best entertainment almost right on their doorstep. Perhaps readers will be able to help with sharing other stories and photos of Dick or even be able to help with locating the 1946-1947 recordings.”
Dick was born in 1927 to parents Tom and Rose, who died at the age of 66 in 1994. He was raised at White House Farm.
He became a musician after a tragic childhood accident and was taught by music teacher called Eric Wiles, from Tydd.
Rob said: “When he was seven years old, he was involved in a cooking pot incident and was scolded quite badly to the side of his body.
“He was told he wouldn't be able to do any manual labour because of his skin grafts but would need to learn a trade.
“His father decided that he should learn the piano which he played regularly along with the accordion.”
Dick went onto play the organ, piano and saxophone — which he would play while with Long Sutton’s ‘local darts wizard’ George Caley entertained. They would go onto perform across the area including Gedney Drove End and Holbeach St Matthew.
It was during his time with George that Dick performed in London. He did two recordings in London one — on December 4, 1946 for an unknown record company and the second around June 20, 1947 with His Majesty’s Voice Gramophone Company.
According to a newspaper cutting from The Standard on December 7, 1946, a ‘medley of popular tunes on the piano’ was recorded - which his grandson is now hoping to track down.
Rob said: “He could have been professional and play in London jazz clubs but he was a family man and didn’t want to be away from them.”
The duo were mentioned in the Spalding Guardian on January 10, 1947, for putting a show in which George threw darts at willing volunteers with musical accompaniment provided by Dick.
He also played in a dance band called the Ace of Diamonds in the 1950s, which entertained dances including Spalding, Donington, Gedney, Fosdyke, the Saracen’s Head in Holbeach Bank, Quadring, Weston Hills, Moulton Seas End, Sutton Bridge, Swineshead and Bicker.
The band performed at the Tulip Dance in Gosberton where entrants for Miss Tulipland 1956 would be selected during the evening.
He also played with singers June Edwards and Alan Dickson and guitarist Rodger Wab and musicians Bernie Longford and Graham Walker.
In the late 60s the Dick Hammond Trio was formed with him on the organ, Lou Schmitt on the drums and Benny Copeland as the singer and compere.
They performed regularly at the Wagon Wheels bar within the White Lion, in Spalding for seven years.
At the age of 23 he ran a shop as a radio and musical dealer which opened circa 1947 in Long Sutton but in 1950 was reported to have gone into bankruptcy.
Dick was married twice, firstly to Rosemary Kent and to second wife Jenny Richardson.
They had five children, Janice, Richard, David, Chris and Katie and six grandchildren Andrea, Trevor, Robert, Jodie, Joel and Stephen.
Mr Hammond, who was young when his grandfather died, hopes there are more potential recordings to bring his voice back to life.
Contact Rob Hammond at trebor_is@hotmail.com or Katie Hammond at Katyhammond555@outlook.com
Do you have any memories of musician Dick Hammond you can share with the family? Post your comments below…