Published in Windlesora 35
© WLHG 2020
The influential Ricky-Tick Club began in 1962, in an upper room at the Star and Garter Hotel, 133 Peascod Street. Philip Hayward and John Mansfield, who had served in the army together in Germany, found themselves in Windsor looking for ways to earn money, and so they took on the running of the Jazz Club. The Star and Garter is no longer there, but it was the site where the Rolling Stones played as unknowns, and where the Ricky-Tick clubs burst on the music scene. They were part of the boom in Rhythm & Blues and of youth culture in the 1960s.
The publication of John Mansfield’s book As You Were: The True Adventures of the Ricky-Tick Club has renewed interest in the Ricky-Tick, and it tells not just of John Mansfield’s adventures, but of an important part of Windsor’s history. The fact that Stevie Wonder played at the Ricky-Tick as a teenager is amazing, but equally so is the host of other artists, including Eric Clapton, Elton John, The Who, and Georgie Fame, all of whom later became household names.
John Mansfield first visited the Windsor and Royal Borough Museum store about 10 years ago, looking for pictures for his book. His sense of humour was captivating, and he was bursting with passion to tell his story, to make sure that it was added to Windsor’s history. The tall, eccentric-looking man often seen about the town is now a legend, whom many thought would never finish the promised book. With the help of his brother Colin, however, the book was finished. It tells the adventures of John’s youth, his national service, and the Ricky-Tick story, which started in Windsor.
John was born in Slough, the eldest of four Mansfield brothers. He discovered music as a teenager and seized the opportunity to learn to play saxophone with the Slough Town Military Band. His yen for music led to a fascination with jazz, and bands such as the Woody Herman Orchestra and Earl Bostic. It was the time of teenage Teddy Boys and blue suede shoes, but just as others of his age, he was called up for National Service, serving with the 13th/18th Royal Hussars in Neumunster. On his return from time in Germany, he came to Windsor, teaming up with his ex-service pal, Philip Hayward. They were happy to take on the Jazz Club at the Star and Garter, and in the summer of 1962, they started calling it the Ricky-Tick Jazz Club.
John booked jazz bands such as Chris Barber and Ken Colyer, but it was when he went to hear Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated at the Ealing Club, that John decided that he must open an R&B club. He booked Alexis Korner for December 7th 1962, and the following week, December 14th 1962, The Rolling Stones. This was the Stones first gig outside of London, and they were mostly unknown. John paid them just shillings. It was a huge success and the start of the Ricky-Tick clubs, which spread across 27 towns in the south east, including Maidenhead, Slough, Reading, and Newbury. The crowds grew and John’s partnership with Philip Hayward provided countless teenagers with opportunities to see some amazing artists from the USA, including Bill Haley, a 13 year old Little Stevie Wonder, Tina Turner, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, and Sonny Boy Williamson. The American Folk and Blues Festival tours 1963 – 1966 brought these musicians to the UK, where the crowds appreciated them in a way that just didn’t happen in the USA.
The Ricky-Tick era also saw some of the greatest British bands in their emerging years. John’s book recounts some of the stories of knowing the Stones and others in their early days. Wild times with the boys, but the club nights were safe for youngsters as the Ricky- Tick clubs sold no alcohol. Eventually, it became too big for the Star and Garter Hotel. They moved to Clewer Mead, the Old Etonian club, a semi-derelict mansion with 58 rooms, which they rented from the council for the sum of £16 per week. The Windsor Leisure Centre now sits on the site. The walls were painted black, and the pair begged, borrowed, and scrounged for the club’s decor. There was a coffee lounge, a TV room, a games room, and a boutique, as well as space for bands to play. The huge wall art and the posters for Ricky-Tick events were designed by Hogsnort Rupert. Opening night was in April 1964, probably on 25th April when heavy rain was reported, and the band playing was Georgie Fame.
The club provided a great opportunity for post-war teenagers to hear Rhythm and Blues and soul in the mid-1960s. The emerging Mod culture loved it. Kids came from miles around by bus, train and scooter, often learning about the forthcoming bands through the posters and at other clubs such as the Crawdaddy in Richmond, and the Eel Pie in Twickenham. Sadly, the lease from the council came to an end, and the last session at Clewer featured Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames on 17th September 1966; even the BBC covered it. During those years, John was involved in the set-up for the National Jazz and Blues Festival at Windsor Racecourse on 29 – 31st July 1966, and the filming arranged for Blow-Up, which was eventually staged elsewhere, but recreated by Hogsnort Rupert with the Ricky-Tick look.
There was an unsuccessful attempt to move the club to the Windsor Laundry, however it carried on at the Thames Hotel and other venues for a time. The last Thames Hotel gig was on 1st July 1967. By then, times had changed and the bands needed more kit, crews had more complex lighting, their management demanded bigger venues and a bigger cut. John gave it all up as the money men took over, but he remained passionate and determined that the history of Slough and Windsor should include the story of the Ricky-Tick early days with artists such as The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and The Who. John was there at a time when it was all about the music and not about the money.
Some of the ‘firsts’ that the Ricky-Tick can claim are the first Rolling Stones gig outside of London, the first crowd surf, when Chrissie Shrimpton was pushed through the roof nets at the Star and Garter, and the first shooting of a ‘pop’ promo. This was in the spring of 1965, when Giorgio Gomelsky, fellow promoter of the Crawdaddy club in Richmond, filmed the Yardbirds, in the grounds of Clewer. He did this with Derek Vanlint who went on to be the cinematographer for Alien. On 31st July 1966, John booked Cream for their first gig at the National Jazz and Blues Festival in Windsor, and on 26th November 1966, Jimi Hendrix played his second gig in the UK at the Hounslow Ricky-Tick, after playing at the Bag O’Nails the night before. Other firsts probably include using silk- screen for printing gig posters and T-shirts for sale in UK, and the first club with an in-house boutique. One special night was recalled by one of the museum volunteers, Len Nash. He has recounted that he saw Muddy Waters at the Star and Garter one night when he arrived with Brian Jones and Mick Jagger after the Yardbirds had played. This may have been in November 1963. He gave a late-night impromptu set with a young Eric Clapton, aged about 18, watching at the side. Although this has not been verified, it is just the sort of inspirational session that the club fostered.
John bought a big second-hand shop in Windsor, having turned down Philip’s offer to help run a new club, Pantiles in Bagshot. He did not want to ruin a friendship by expanding their business partnership. Philip became rich and lived the good life, but he died in 1993. John did not make money but always cherished the memories of the club sessions. Many people did not believe that he would ever complete his book, but he was determined to do so, despite suffering a stroke.
The Windsor and Royal Borough Museum were fortunate to be awarded Lottery funding between 2012 and 2014, for the project ‘Beyond the Castle Walls’ which provided an opportunity to revisit earlier times in Windsor’s history. In September 2013, the project celebrated the 1960s with a Ricky-Tick Retrospective session at the library, and a Relive Ricky-Tick night with a covers band called the Zoots playing 60s music at the Guildhall. Both events were a tremendous success and provided a great opportunity to share memories. John Mansfield attended the session at the Library, where there was a 60s exhibition, 60s clothes, and a scooter from the local scooter club. Over 200 people turned up. Later, although not in the best of health, he kept in touch with the museum for help and support with his book. The museum has a recording of his memories at the Guildhall for the public to listen to.
The 7th July 2019 was a great occasion with the launch of the long-awaited book. The event was hosted by the Windsor and Eton Brewery, and over 350 people came along on a hot Sunday afternoon. John Mansfield and Colin Mansfield attended, as well as Bob McGrath, and Hogsnort Rupert, who designed the original posters and also the layout for the book. He had come from Canada, and others came from as far away as Hong Kong. Some bought books, others talked, reminisced, and listened to the music played by the Ricky-Tick DJ, Martin Fuggles, who still runs Ricky-Tick sessions and the Ricky-Tick website.
People have asked about the name? Wikipedia has some information:
Ricky-Tick was a term used about the music beat in swing and ragtime, and again in the 1950s. Definitions also say that it was used by US marines for doing something quickly, but it might also hark back to Rudyard Kipling’s 1894 poem and short story about a mongoose, Rikki- Tikki-Tavi.
Sadly, John Mansfield died in August 2019.
As You Were: the true adventures of the Ricky-Tick club by John Mansfield and Colin Mansfield. Launched on 7th July 2019, as a limited edition of 500 copies, the book is available via asyouwerebook@gmail.com.
Margaret Kirby
Sources
Mansfield, John, “As You Were: the true adventures of the Ricky-Tick Club“
Windsor and Royal Borough Museum
Royal Windsor Website [accessed 22 Dec 2025]
Windsor Library
Windsor and Eton Express 27 Nov 1964, 29 July 1966
Windsor Observer 13 Nov 1998, 7 Sept 2001