Port Elizabeth – 1977

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Itinerary

17-Jun-77 • Leave for PE

18-Jun-77 • St Georges Park

19-Jun-77 • Church Service

20-Jun-77 • Vital Link Coffee Bar (opposite City Hall) – With Cathy Agnew

21-Jun-77 • St Hughs, Newton Park

22-Jun-77 • Methodist Hall, Westering

23-Jun-77 • St George, Uitenhage

24-Jun-77 • St Johns Anglican, Walmer

25-Jun-77 • Feathermarket Hall – Music Festival with

June 1977: The PE Tour

The Tour to Port Elizabeth, was arranged by Brian Helsby, of PE YFC. Brian had seen us perform a number of times at the annual YouthWeek near Pretoria, and had invited us to be part Festival of Hope, a multi venue multi artist 8 day long event. It featured a number of artists including Gwen Murray (from USA), YFC Singers, Gethsemane, Renaissance, Malachai, Cathy Agnew & Friends, and us (New Life).

The PE tour was a lot of fun! It was new and fresh because we were now only guys performing, and the sound had started change. Joan & Penny still came along, as they were married to Les and Mac.  Again, Steve’s faithfull Combi was pressed into service. And once again Nevil Norden’s brown El Camino, was pressed into service, towing our Venter trailer. Johnny couldn’t go to do the sound, so Quinton Bees filled in.

Another interesting aspect of the tour was that the country was in the height of the petrol rationing, brought about by the 1977 global oil crises. No travel was allowed on the weekend, and all petrol stations were closed. We had to get special Government permission to travel.

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Memories:

Seph: Who can forget the Vital Link Coffee Bar, and the old lady (Now our age!) with the Wopper’s shoes. Or the time Steve had to run away from the kids, chasing after him for more of his burger, after thinking sharing some of his burger would make them go away! 

I remember going into the PE YFC office upstairs, meeting Brian’ Helsby’s 6 yr old son Richard, who would later come to the USA & stay with us & work with me! And then there was that great seemingly huge Feathermarket Hall.  Probably the largest we had played on up to that stage.