59 Club “Renewal” Day
With Special Guest Jess Conrad OBE
Sunday 23rd February
9am – 5pm
The 59 Club’s annual “Renewal” day at the Ace on Sunday 23rd February 2025, along with opportunity to renew your membership if it is due, join the Club and meet with the Clubs volunteer leaders who will be on hand throughout the day, this year includes from noon not only with live rock n’ roll courtesy of special guest five-piece band all the way from Germany, “The Dizzy Dudes”, but also with Jess Conrad OBE who, in addition to kindly attending the Grand Re-opening of the Ace in 2001, was at both St Pauls Cathedral in 2019 and Westminster Abbey in 2022 for the special 59 Club anniversary services.
On the evening of Saturday 14th January 1961 episode 16 of the weekly TV series “Dixon of Dock Green” titled “The Burn-Up”, based at the Ace with burn ups, speeding and jukebox record racing as the focus in scene 10 & 12 of the broadcast, Jess featured as the character Mike Jarrod, a ton up boy!
The episode opened with PC Dixon stating to camera:
“Evening all…Y’know, if I’ve got a bee in my bonnet about one particular thing, I suppose it’s road safety – and you find most coppers are the same. It’s not only the tragic side of the accident that gets you down: it’s the thoughtlessness, the selfishness, the sheer perishing lunacy – for sometimes it’s nothing more nor less, believe me…I was up at the coroners court at the town hall the other day. There’d been a nasty pile-up on the by-pass, and I had to go along with young Jamie, as a police witness…”
In a subsequent conversation with PC Dixon, the desk sergeant asks a CID officer named Andy “Coffee Bar Cowboys. These young ‘erbs who hang out at the caff with their flash bikes and their girls. What’s their local caff, Andy?” Dixon interjects and replies “The Ace, that’s the place. Might be an idea to pop up there sometime and see what goes on”.
The episode concludes with the message of the programme being delivered directly to camera by PC George Dixon:
“Y’know motorcycling’s a fine sport – one of the best – but, like every other vehicle, a motorbike can maim and kill unless it’s ridden with proper care. I know I beef about road safety, but …well, straight up, the roads these days are more like battlefields, sometimes. So whether it’s a car, motorbike, or whatever it is – take care always, won’t you. Your life – and other people’s – is in your hands: It’s as simple as that…Goodnight All…” Dixon then salutes to camera.
The script, by Ted Willis, was at a time of popular outcry and concern regarding the ton up boys and carnage on the roads.
Jess will be signing and selling copies of “From Blitz to Glitz” – his fascinating autobiography, from his childhood in London during the Blitz to his time as a Teddy Boy on the wrong side of the tracks, from being discovered by legendary music producer Jack Good to his work with peers such as Billy Fury and Cliff Richard, from starring in dozens of movies to wowing live theatre audiences all over the world… and so much more!
For info re Jess Conrad, see links:
http://www.jessconrad.com/2main.html
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blitz-Glitz-Autobiography-Jess-Conrad/dp/1837914567
https://auk.direct/product/signed-copy-of-from-blitz-to-glitz-the-autobiography-of-jess-conrad/
For info re the band, Michael Tucker (Drums), Jannik Regenberg (Vocals & Guitar), Fabian Kunter (Double Bass), Gregor Zimmermann (Keys), and Dimitri Thomas (Guitar) who, during their visit to London, are recording a new album at the famous Abbey Roads Studios, see links:
https://www.facebook.com/dizzydudes
For info re the 59 Club, see links:
https://www.facebook.com/the59clublondon
https://www.instagram.com/the59club_official/
Original post on modernclassicbikes.co.uk and published by Frank Duggan. Frank is the Founder and Editor of Modern Classic Motorcycle News, an independent motorcycle publication covering modern classic motorcycles, roadsters, scramblers, cruisers, electric motorcycles and the wider motorcycle industry.
