Beckenham Free Festival Forty Years Ago Today

It was ragged and naive, It was Heaven…

There can’t be many reading this that aren’t already well aware of the inspiration for David Bowie’s 1969 song Memory Of A Free Festival: the Beckenham Free Festival at Beckenham Recreation Ground, Croydon Road on August 16, 1969.

Local boy and photographer on the day, David Bebbington, was there to photograph the event at DB’s request and he has kindly given us permission to reproduce some of those shots here.

Mr Bebbington also recalled his memories of the event for the Beckenham History website, where you can find six fascinating pages on the subject…That’s if you didn’t already check them out last time I mentioned them. (10.17.2008 NEWS: PLAQUE FOR 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF BECKENHAM FREE FESTIVAL)

Don’t forget that David Bebbington has one of his excellent colour shots from a 1969 studio session with David Bowie at the upcoming Beatles to Bowie exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery. (06.25.2009 NEWS: RARE BOWIE SHOTS AT NPG BEATLES TO BOWIE EXHIBITION)