OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
Date: 26th November 2001
From: Cliff Watkins (CCARA)

CELEBRATING DAVID BOWIE AND THE BECKENHAM ARTS LAB

The south London suburb of Beckenham may not conjure up visions of youthful exuberance and rock music - but on Thursday, 6 December, hundreds of people will make a nostalgic pilgrimage to The Three Tuns pub (now The Rat and Parrot) in the High St. to celebrate David Bowie - Beckenham's most famous former resident - and the legacy of the Arts Laboratory he co-founded at the pub.

At the start of 1969 David was at a low point in his career. Through his friends Christina Ostrom and Barry Jackson, he met Mary Finnigan and moved into her flat as a lodger. Friendship flourished and the four of them decided to organise a Folk Club at the Three Tuns. It was an immediate success and soon developed into an Arts Laboratory - attracting talent from all over London and the south east. Musicians who played at the Arts Lab included Peter Frampton, Steve Harley, Dave Cousins and the Strawbs, Rick Wakeman, Tony Visconti and Mick Ronson. Lionel Bart gave a dazzling performance. There was a lot more than music at the Beckenham Arts Lab. Visual artists created original works, poets gave readings, there were light shows, street theatre, dance - and Brian Moore's unforgettable puppets. Between 1969 and 1973 The Beckenham Arts Lab was a crucible for artistic talent and the launch pad for David Bowie's rise to stardom. His anthem to the 1960's 'Space Oddity' became a hit in the autumn of 1969. Many other Arts Lab enthusiasts became established artists - including George Underwood and Christina Ostrom.

On 6 December: Mary Finnigan and Christina Ostrom will unveil a plaque at the Rat & Parrot at 12 noon. Steve Harley will give a live performance after the plaque ceremony. From 7pm there will be a live tribute concert performed by musicians including Little Wonder, Rob Storm and Paul Henderson. A set of previously unseen photographs donated by Stephen Roberts and other memorabilia will be on sale to raise money for the Chernobyl Children Life Line charity.

The event is organised by Cliff Watkins from the local resident's association. He discovered David Bowie's Beckenham connection while researching a photographic CD of the area and its history. "Liverpool has The Beatles and Beckenham has David Bowie", he says, "so it's about time more people knew about this."

And David's personal message for 6 December? "I send warm greetings for a wonderful evening from our home in New York."

(Thanks toBowiewonderworld)