Hillingdon music map

Musical memories from local residents.

"There was once a record shop on Ruislip High Street called 'Trumps Records'. There were a lot of regular patrons, including local DJs, and it was quite the local hub."

"At Ruislip Manor Methodist Church, singing hymns is very much part of the Sunday service. Just before Christmas 2020, we started zooming services. At least we were able to sing hymns and Christmas carols from home."

"I remember the line going round the block when we sold out of Elton John's charity record Candle in the Wind, released after the death of Princess Diana."

"My mum grew up in Ruislip and remembers as a teen in the 60s listening to records in booths before buying them in a Ruislip Manor record shop."

"The Who played up on Uxbridge playing fields in the 60s."

"For me, it's got to be The Electric Fayre supporting Cinema at the Swan & Bottle canal bar in 1994."

"Used to go to the record shop in Vine Street in Uxbridge in the 1960s."

"The Hillingdon Borough Showground played host to the Uxbridge Blues & Folk Festival. The line up included Zoot Money, The Birds and the Ray Martin Group."

"In the 70s I, went every weekend to Brunel University to see a gig. I bumped into Elton John there when he came to watch his friend Kiki Dee perform."

"Meeting up with school friends to see Geno Washington at Burton's in Uxbridge."

"My sister worked at Uxbridge bar The Villa in the1990s. She painted psychedelic backdrops for rave nights at venues across London and including Hillingdon."

"Dawkes Music Shop over the road from RAF Uxbridge. The front part was lined with egg boxes, where Jack took clarinet lessons."

"Our Price and Woolworths in Uxbridge were the main places I'd buy CDs - I'd go between the two to compare prices."

"I'm a local musician and perform at Uxbridge Open Mic Night. I'm 55 & a mum & grandmother. As a teenager I was influenced by bands like Blondie, Queen & Culture Club."

"I saw many bands at Brunel, including Caravan, Arthur Brown, the Pogues, Boomtown Rats & Mari Wilson."

"We formed a band in 2001, us and one other guy, all playing guitars. We played live at a pub open mic night in Uxbridge and broke up shortly after."

"I remember as a kid how excited I was when I noticed 'Hayes, Middlesex' on the cover of my Sgt Pepper cassette."

"After the gig finished, I spotted Steve Marriott being guided to his car; Marriott spotted me in the van and shouted 'F___g great eh mate?'"

"The Lurkers came from my school, Vyners and the other music venue I went to on Sundays was Tithe Farm at Rayners Lane."

Page last updated: 26 Jul 2022