Richard Hough (PH 79-84), current Chairman of the OT Society, shares his Essential Playlist spanning songs that defined his time at Tonbridge, his student days at Durham and beyond.

1. Stiff Little Fingers - Tin Soldiers

I was at Tonbridge at the end of the punk era and SLF became a bit of a cult band for the 1979 intake. I have fond memories of a bunch of us seeing them at Barking Polytechnic on exeat in 1982. Going full circle, Johnnie Owen and I saw them in Bexhill last year - the band and audience hadn’t changed much, except for some new knees and hips. 

2. David Bowie - Heroes

My hero. Got a bit of stick from my PH crew for being a Bowie obsessive, but he has stood the test of time. This song stands out as I watched Bowie sing it on Live Aid in 1985 while sitting in a bar in Alice Springs with Noddy Marques and “Dobs” Woodcock during my gap year.

3. The Jam - That’s Entertainment

The Jam, The Clash, The Ramones and several other punk bands could be heard blaring out of the house “cubies” in the late 1970s, but The Jam were the pick of the bunch for me. Paul Weller’s songwriting, range and ability to re-invent himself (like Bowie) underlines his appeal to different generations. I could have picked any number of Jam or Style Council songs, but this one has a great melody and shines a light on 1980s working class life in London with typical Weller passion. He wrote it in 10 minutes.

4. U2 - New Year’s Day

I’m not a huge fan of stadium bands, but we got in with U2 at the entry level and I’ve listened to them ever since. My first concert was seeing U2 at the Hammersmith Palais in 1982. We had just got back from a school rugby tour in Paris. It was their first concert in London and they were being supported by Big Country (another Tonbridge favourite). Bono had hair down to his shoulders and none of the political swagger of more recent years. The tickets cost £5. Matt Hardcastle lost his but the bouncer let him in anyway.

5. The Smiths - This Charming Man

I went down the indie route at school, which also earned some ribbing from my peers. Morrissey was a character - all gangly and waving daffodils - and Johnny Marr is a genius on guitar. I tend to follow a tune more than the lyrics, but The Smiths did know how to pen a song. Why pamper life’s complexity when the leather runs smooth on the passenger seat?

6. The Housemartins - Build

This brings back memories of my time up in Durham. I went up for interview in 1985 and was confronted by miners rattling their “coal not dole” tins. It was a stark introduction to the North/South divide and I learnt a valuable lesson on how to behave in someone else’s back yard! The Housemartins wrote about economic displacement and produced great melodies, in particular this one. They were a talented bunch - Paul Heaton went on to form the Beautiful South and Fatboy Slim still DJs to huge audiences.

7. Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - Rattlesnakes

Another great singer/songwriter. The Commotions were also at their peak in the late 1980s, during my university days. The protest songs of the punk era had given way to something more mellow and, arguably, more tuneful! Like many on this list, Lloyd is still plying his trade. I last saw him play an acoustic set in Bury St Edmunds - a throwback in time and a great way to re-connect with friends of a similar vintage. Rattlesnakes just shades it for me; Forest Fire a close second.

8. Toots & the Maytals - Pressure Drop

Eight songs isn’t enough! Ska music was also popular during my Tonbridge days - The Specials, The Selecter and Bad Manners (of Buster Bloodvessel fame) were all part of the 2 Tone ska “revival” movement. The upbeat tempo, use of the horn section and socially conscious lyrics were distinctive and energising. But, for my choice of this genre, I’m going back to the original Jamaican reggae/ska movement of the 1960s. Pressure Drop is simple and uplifting. A classic to enjoy on a deserted beach. 

Luxury Item:

My luxury item would be a sand wedge. With all that time to myself, I might finally improve my bunker play - and not getting any stick for playing golf!

Book:

The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth. I’ve seen both film versions, but neither comes close to the quality of the book. It’s a real page-turner, written by an eminent OT. I am fortunate to have a signed first edition, courtesy of a Tonbridge Society auction a few years ago!