tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post3293330836069600987..comments2018-12-28T13:05:12.512-08:00Comments on Chris's Blog: Chris's bloghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14045147885752706214noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-4981209255461636492018-12-28T13:05:12.512-08:002018-12-28T13:05:12.512-08:00Was with Chris the other day and I am sure he will...Was with Chris the other day and I am sure he will keep this page goingfreebird54https://www.blogger.com/profile/01921161347107205813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-23244528706883398412018-09-12T10:45:47.488-07:002018-09-12T10:45:47.488-07:00There is a lot on Facebook about Bez and I think a...There is a lot on Facebook about Bez and I think a Neil Watson annual memorial comp<br /><br />Check all the vintage surf FB sitesfreebird54https://www.blogger.com/profile/01921161347107205813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-43012772779972592822016-06-26T04:34:28.909-07:002016-06-26T04:34:28.909-07:00I have a pdf. of Neil Watson's Legacy story - ...I have a pdf. of Neil Watson's Legacy story - not able to upload herefreebird54https://www.blogger.com/profile/01921161347107205813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-15918548181771937162016-05-23T21:07:11.814-07:002016-05-23T21:07:11.814-07:00Tribute to Neil
http://www.surfnation.co.uk/2015/...Tribute to Neil <br />http://www.surfnation.co.uk/2015/01/neil-watson-rip.htmlfreebird54https://www.blogger.com/profile/01921161347107205813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-75274912752681976112016-05-23T18:44:51.056-07:002016-05-23T18:44:51.056-07:00Tribute to Neil
http://www.surfnation.co.uk/2015/...Tribute to Neil <br />http://www.surfnation.co.uk/2015/01/neil-watson-rip.htmlfreebird54https://www.blogger.com/profile/01921161347107205813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-55832726077564359952016-05-23T18:44:22.459-07:002016-05-23T18:44:22.459-07:00Tribute to Neil
http://www.surfnation.co.uk/2015/...Tribute to Neil <br />http://www.surfnation.co.uk/2015/01/neil-watson-rip.htmlfreebird54https://www.blogger.com/profile/01921161347107205813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-31134756477411544632016-05-21T14:14:54.544-07:002016-05-21T14:14:54.544-07:00Very sad to report that NEIL Watson mentioned abov...Very sad to report that NEIL Watson mentioned above has passed, Hope we an keep this blog going Chris Garret (I am still riding the board you made for billy james watsonfreebird54https://www.blogger.com/profile/01921161347107205813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-74545251109354295592014-12-30T14:20:18.263-08:002014-12-30T14:20:18.263-08:00Great memories of my first summer in Newquay and g...Great memories of my first summer in Newquay and going to watergate bay for surf lessons... Got to know Bez quite well during that hot summer of '76 .. Bez described the atmosphere at the top of the cliffs in the caravan soaking up what Bez called the "surfacious" atmosphere . We talked quite a bit about his writing .. Apologising that the editors made he put more sex and less surf at times in it. Many memories of the one special summer.....Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10160804896370366406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-15615343293240662712014-06-21T22:44:11.568-07:002014-06-21T22:44:11.568-07:00I did post on Pete's FB page but it seems to h...I did post on Pete's FB page but it seems to have gone now - I lived with him at Burleigh in 75 and also went to Morocco with him and Bezfreebird54https://www.blogger.com/profile/01921161347107205813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-25657225595797006362013-09-17T02:23:48.626-07:002013-09-17T02:23:48.626-07:00Hi Freebird
I'm Stuart Kraus, brother of Pete...Hi Freebird <br />I'm Stuart Kraus, brother of Pete Kraus (aka Krutch) who sadly passed away last week aged 57. Pete was a Rhyl High School protege of the great Bez Newton and they travelled to Australia together around the late 70s. Pete was a larger than life character himself who made many friends and I wondered whether any of you knew him. If so, his family would be really interested to hear any anecdotes or stories you may have of our big brother's surfing days, whose life was an adventure from start to finish.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10365019750471523945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-80191752659388074672013-09-17T02:14:16.784-07:002013-09-17T02:14:16.784-07:00Hi Chris and all contributors to this thread.
I...Hi Chris and all contributors to this thread.<br />I'm Stuart Kraus, brother of Pete Kraus (aka Krutch) who sadly passed away last week aged 57. Pete was a Rhyl High School protege of the great Bez Newton and they travelled to Australia together around the late 70s. Pete was a larger than life character himself who made many friends and I wondered whether any of you knew him. If so, his family would be really interested to hear any anecdotes or stories you may have of our big brother's surfing days, whose life was an adventure from start to finish.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10365019750471523945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-4952174220290369972013-05-25T02:29:23.066-07:002013-05-25T02:29:23.066-07:00Hi Freebird54. Would be great if you could send m...Hi Freebird54. Would be great if you could send me the pdf of Bez's letter. Matt@zumamedia.co.uk. MattAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07648549978005537994noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-90501593053607054972012-10-24T04:14:30.218-07:002012-10-24T04:14:30.218-07:00Norm Ryding just sent me one of Bez's many let...Norm Ryding just sent me one of Bez's many letters organising his trips - actually the one I went on with him to Morocco<br />It is pdf copy of a scan so I can only email it to peoplefreebird54https://www.blogger.com/profile/01921161347107205813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-668241542445329532012-09-05T01:04:58.092-07:002012-09-05T01:04:58.092-07:00Good to hear from you Matt - check facebook for th...Good to hear from you Matt - check facebook for the museum of british surfing<br />they feature Lord Ted Deerhurst who was a good friend of Bez<br /><br />If you know a school that would like to do a project Bez kept a diary of every day of his travelling life fully detailed and they are here on the Gold coast in the care of Chris Evans who used to run the annual Bez Newton memorial contestfreebird54https://www.blogger.com/profile/01921161347107205813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-60905732381450000412012-07-12T12:56:39.738-07:002012-07-12T12:56:39.738-07:00well, I'm a bit blown away.Bez was my godfathe...well, I'm a bit blown away.Bez was my godfather. I've not much time to write here but these comments have brought back so many memories. On a cold day many years ago my uncle (as we called him) Brian (Bez) took me out windsurfing. It was raining and the surf was not much and I had been put into a wet suit way to big for me. Uncle Brian had the patience of a saint. Yes I remember his glasses, so steamed up I was amazed he could see! I was probably about twelve at the time so it could have been about 1975. I still have a bug for the water, I'm off widsurfing in north Wales in a few weeks. Over the years we lost touch and finaly I read of his death some years ago. It warms my heart to read all these wonderful comments of my "uncle Brian. Matt Gartside EnglandAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04538883122686422803noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-32220166801432366232012-01-14T17:10:06.770-08:002012-01-14T17:10:06.770-08:00Well when we arrived to see Parko doing tow ins at...Well when we arrived to see Parko doing tow ins at a huge Cudgen reef we knew we had a venus problem. anyway sweepy waves at the causeway eventually ridden<br />Bummer about the surf, but a good laugh and nice to see the crew keep turning up.<br />Here is a list of our contenders:<br /> <br />Chris and Elodie<br />Tony and big bro Pete n' his Lady with kids Rasmus n' Jesper<br />Briggsy and Vera (our hosts for the Barbie)<br />Ron<br />Felix<br />Clive<br />Peter<br />Jamie<br />Geoff<br />Jimmy<br /><br /><br />and the results:<br />Winner - Briggsy<br />Best Tube Ride - Rasmus and Jesper<br />Best Wipeout - Tony<br />Biggest Poser - Chris [caught in the rip and due to the beach erosion could only walk back down the main street!freebird54https://www.blogger.com/profile/01921161347107205813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-63857696476479264602011-12-22T19:57:41.846-08:002011-12-22T19:57:41.846-08:00The annual Bez Memorial comp is on next week - 27/...The annual Bez Memorial comp is on next week - 27/12/11 usual spot BBQ area on the Cudgen track Breakfast at 7.30freebird54https://www.blogger.com/profile/01921161347107205813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-6198405410300806702011-09-25T01:31:42.373-07:002011-09-25T01:31:42.373-07:00Bez gets a mention P92 in the current surfers Path...Bez gets a mention P92 in the current surfers Pathfreebird54https://www.blogger.com/profile/01921161347107205813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-5841525780261050982011-05-25T06:15:43.894-07:002011-05-25T06:15:43.894-07:00Neil,
well there appears to be a common thread; J...Neil,<br /><br />well there appears to be a common thread; Joseph Conrad's " Heart Of Darkness" and Bez Newton! I admit that even though I had never made the link before, I can now see the connection between "Heart Of Darkness" and the "Final Reel", when you state it it is obvious! I have been to Congo, unfortunately I was working and only got to body surf, but I have travelled ( whilst being kidnapped in Nigeria) deep into the mangroves of the Niger Delta, in doing so crossing one of the worlds great hidden and almost certainly un-surfed, long right handers, even with an AK 47 jammed into the side of my head, I could see the perfection in it. Ironically one of the militants holding us hostage actually had a battered old copy of the Penguin edition of "Heart Of Darkness". Whist some of this might seem a million miles away from a battered caravan in the car park at Watergate Bay, it's in fact a continuation,a "Legacy" if you like. I think that is why I was so influenced by your stories in Atlantic Surfer, surfing is so much more than the mere act of riding waves, if it were we would be merely skateboarders on the ocean. <br /><br />Ever since I read " The Alchemist" I have seen Bez in the title role, I think he was that for many people. <br /><br />I do though truly believe that if it was not for Bez and those stories in A.S. my own life would have been very different. I never made it to Indo either but I have followed the old pilgrim road across Thailand and Laos to Cambodia, same temples same temptations. Unfortunately I got distracted before I made it to Indo.<br /><br />If you look at my site www.nickroddy.co.uk, biography section you will find the same reference to Conrad and in the penultimate paragraph .... well when I wrote it i was thinking of the closing paragraphs of "Legacy."..... which in a way I think proves you were right when you wrote it.<br /><br />Though I must admit I never imagined you would read it!<br /><br />It's a small world<br /><br />NickAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-455643635849296252011-05-25T03:33:32.266-07:002011-05-25T03:33:32.266-07:00Nick.
Thanks to a link sent to me by Ron Williams,...Nick.<br />Thanks to a link sent to me by Ron Williams, I was able to read your comments on this blog relating to Bez Newton, and to some stories I wrote back in the seventies.<br />It's great to think that Bez is remembered by surfers who were influenced by his life and work, just as I was.<br />It's also very gratifying to learn that someone remembers my stories.<br />I see from your own blog that you're a writer yourself, and I thought you might be interested in some background to those stories.<br />I was inspired to write "Legacy" by two things - Neil Young's enigmatic song "After The Goldrush", and my own obsession with surf mags. (Listen to Young's lyrics - "silver spaceships flying in a yellow haze of the sun ...flying mother nature's silver seed to a new home in the sun..")<br />Bez published "Legacy" in the Oct.'75 edition of his magazine "Surf", and it was republished by Atlantic Surfer in 1979 as part one of a trilogy.<br />The other story, "The Last Reel", also published by Atlantic Surfer in 1979, was again inspired by two things - Joseph Conrad's "Heart of Darkness", and old copies of Tracks magazine. I should add that setting it in Indo was a bit rich, as I live on England's North Sea coast, and have never been to Indo!<br />Many thanks for your comments, as you probably know, feedback from stories and articles is very rare - especially after more than 30 years! I can be reached at neilsurfeast@aol.comNeilsurfeasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11225110519299158954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-83703437252192470792011-05-24T02:08:20.177-07:002011-05-24T02:08:20.177-07:00Freebird
I am glad some one remembers those stori...Freebird<br /><br />I am glad some one remembers those stories! They definitely changed my childhood and the rest of my life, and though I only met him twice so did Bez Newton, as an 11 year old he was absolute hero, Neil's stories I read so often that I almost knew them word for word, the black, almost etched illustrations I can still see, the image of the hero sitting on that dart shaped board transparent board. I surf mostly in West Africa now and the vegetation really does grow right up to the beach, just like the the crops in the story, many times I have paddled out alone and remembered that image.<br /><br />I posted on my blog a while ago, something about the consequences of my meeting with Bez <br /><br />http://nickroddyauthor.blogspot.com/2011/03/soul-surfers-of-world.html<br /><br />Bez was proof that a prophet is never appreciated in his own land, but I know that personally I have had fantastic life, and the influence of meeting Bez Newton and Neil's short stories played a huge part in pushing me on that road. I will be eternally grateful to both of them.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-14990854833067596012011-05-23T03:29:29.003-07:002011-05-23T03:29:29.003-07:00Hi Nick
No I am not Neil – he is a friend
And ...Hi Nick<br /> <br />No I am not Neil – he is a friend<br /> <br />And yes I remember that story so well - the scene in the aeroplane when he opens the magazine especially<br /> <br />I will try to get his email for you.<br /><br />He wrote more books "the islander", "the patriach" and a couple more and was actually working on a spy novel and I gave him a PC - he returned it a week later!freebird54https://www.blogger.com/profile/01921161347107205813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-84799885125342309082011-05-23T02:26:28.527-07:002011-05-23T02:26:28.527-07:00FreeBird.... are you the Neil Watson that wrote &q...FreeBird.... are you the Neil Watson that wrote "Legacy, the prospect of Surf Time and Space" that appeared over two or three issues of Atlantic Surfer? If so thank you for something that has stayed with me since surf starved school days. It was reading those stories as a child that made me want to write, since then I have published and still surf, there was also a story about a surfer going AWOL in Bali and living in A Balinese temple and steeling food from the temple monkeys, it was that story that many years was with me when I trekked across South east Asia. <br /><br />The early days oF AS and Bez's Caravan on the top of Watergate bay were a special era and I am privileged to have lived through them. The world and Surfing have moved on, but those were truely special daysAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-792808404301418442011-05-19T17:49:52.310-07:002011-05-19T17:49:52.310-07:00Bez set up his typewriter and published from where...Bez set up his typewriter and published from wherever he found himself - a<br />caravan on Watergate Bay car park was one address, the back of a Hillman<br />Hunter behind a surf shop in Newquay was another. Somehow, Surf always came<br />out on time, thanks to Bez's tireless dedication. Thre were no major<br />advertisers in those days though, and when the mag went glossy in 1976,<br />desperate measures were needed to pay the printers.<br><br />Bez found a publisher for a novel, The Natural, about a Cornish surfer<br />making good, but when he'd spent the advance to prop up Surf, the publisher<br />demanded more sex in the book. The result wasn't good, and although a<br />sequel, The Islander, was published, Bez was stung by criticism in the<br />American and Australian surf press. After thirty years of selfless<br />endeavour to support and encourage British surfing, Bez was suddenly bad<br />news. Another disappointment came when, despite years of organising and<br />judging experience, he was excluded from the official enclosures of<br />newly-professional contests.<br><br />Cutting his losses, Bez passed Surf's subscribers and picture file over to<br />the next contender, Atlantic Surfer, in 1978, and four years later extended<br />his winter trips down under to permanent residence.<br><br />I know he kept writing, and did some work for a newspaper, but regretfully<br />we lost touch. I had just found an address for him, and sent my first<br />letter in twenty years, when Ron Williams, a former Welsh surfer also living<br />in Queensland, told me Bez had died in hospital in October. It seems only<br />one surf buddy from the old days visited him , and carried out his request<br />for cremation without fuss.<br><br />Typically, Bez dedicated The Natural to " all British surfers,whose sport is<br />too infrequently recognised, and whose lifestyle is too often misunderstood<br />by the general public, and who are the keenest, toughest, friendliest bunch<br />of guys in the world".<br><br />Bez was all of that, and more.<br><br />R.I.Pfreebird54https://www.blogger.com/profile/01921161347107205813noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2923527720591691537.post-66474549134902332502011-05-19T17:48:31.005-07:002011-05-19T17:48:31.005-07:001964 saw Bez back in Britain, teaching at Birmingh...1964 saw Bez back in Britain, teaching at Birmingham and surfing Wales and<br />Devon at weekends. He moved to North Wales a couple of years later, and<br />managed to get surfing onto the curriculum of Rhyl High School, enabling<br />the lads to scam trips down to Cornwall. Despite dropping out to head for<br />Morroco in 1969, Bez founded a new Sol Y Mar club based in north Wales,<br />which grew to be the biggest in the country, with a nation-wide<br />membership.<br><br />To this day I don't think I've seen a picture of Bez published, so knowing<br />him only through letters around that time hardly prepared me for meeting<br />him. He was nobody's surfing stereotype. Instead of the Nat Young-style<br />surf god I half expected, Bez turned out to be short, slightly built, burnt<br />to a crisp with brillo-pad hair and specs as thick as beer-mug bottoms. He<br />surfed with special goggles held in place by knicker elastic, and like most<br />of us, was stoked just to get outside in one piece and ride his share of<br />waves.<br><br />Whilst many of his surfing interests could have been profitable, Bez never<br />made any money from them. Most of his travels were done the hard way, in<br />clapped out vans, off the beaten track, living cheap.<br><br />Running the Sol Y Mar club's newsletter inspired Bez to pick up the tattered<br />flag of British surf mag publishing in 1974, after Surf Insight had gone<br />down on its fourth issue. Under the title Surf, (no connection with the<br />more recent mag), Bez's labour of love held the fort as our only national<br />publication for four years.<br><br />In content, if not appearance, Surf set incredibly high standards of local,<br />national and world coverage. Packed with essential information, Surf<br />somehow managed to interview world champions and Hawaiian legends alongside<br />every hot name on the growing European scene, all on a budget which was more<br />barefoot than shoestring.<br>freebird54https://www.blogger.com/profile/01921161347107205813noreply@blogger.com