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Vintage film of former Radio One DJ Pete Murray visiting Sheppey stirs online memories

Footage has appeared online of a top 1960s star’s visit to Sheppey.

Pete Murray, a feted radio and TV personality in his heyday, brought Sheerness High Street to a standstill when he arrived to open long-gone town centre boutique, Boa, in 1968.

The 8mm cine film belongs to Maureen Webb, former owner of the clothes store, a magnet for Island fashionistas of the era.

The recording shows Murray – among the DJ elite hired to launch Radio One in 1967 – being driven through the High Street in an open-top Rolls-Royce.

Pete Murray meets fans.
Pete Murray meets fans.

He arrives at the store, now home to Shapla Tandoori, where hordes of fans are waiting, spilling from the pavement into the road.

During the five-minute colour film, Murray, still going strong at 89, is seen signing autographs inside the shop while those outside are held back by a ring of police.

Maureen, 71, who lives off Lovell Road, Minster, gave permission for the footage to be posted online after she had it transferred to DVD.

The great-grandmother-of-three, who ran Boa with ex-husband John until its closure in the mid-1970s, said the images brought back happy memories.

She said: “It was lovely to look at again.

Pete Murray and Boa owner, Maureen Webb, set off in an open-top Rolls for the shop's opening.
Pete Murray and Boa owner, Maureen Webb, set off in an open-top Rolls for the shop's opening.

“Pete Murray was a big DJ at the time, so much so, we had to have police lined-up along the shopfront.

“On the day, he arrived with his driver at my in-laws’ house in Highfield Road, Halfway.

“He had a cup of tea and then we drove to the shop in the open-top Rolls-Royce we hired for the occasion.

“He brought a big bag of records with him which he signed and gave away to fans in-store.

“I think he stayed for a couple of hours.

Police hold back the crowds awaiting the DJ's arrival.
Police hold back the crowds awaiting the DJ's arrival.

“It was a real coup and Pete was massive at the time.”

Maureen, who also has two children and five grandchildren, said Boa was an attempt to emulate Biba, a global clothing brand synonymous with the flowery fashions of the 1960s.

Its success was instant, necessitating an expansion to the neighbouring building, now home to the Goat pub.

Maureen, who also ran an Island hairdressers, said: “People still say to me, ‘you made such a difference to the town’.

“I think it’s because ours was a shop for young people and it did very well.

“I’m not sure how easy it would be these days to persuade a famous DJ to come and open a shop on the Island.”

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