Issue 9 . Winter 2000
Carry on Campus . The Important Thing is Love . The Bulging Archive . Tony Stuart, 1922-2000 . Bachelor Duke
Tony Stuart, 1922 - 2000
We were saddened to hear of the death of Tony Stuart who ran the world-famous Forty Two Club in Brighton for many years. Tony was born Harry Brigden in Burnley, Lancashire and enjoyed a career as an actor, dancer and choreographer. He moved to Brighton after the war.The Forty Two Club, a smallish drinking club above the Rock Shop on the seafront at 42 King's Road, began life as the Flying Services Club and was run in the Thirties by Sam Coster. It was subsequently bought by Mary Walpole, licensee of The Greyhound, and her husband Don who rechristened it and welcomed a gay clientele. Tony Stuart took it over in the Sixties and, a tall stately presence in the red plush room, instituted a reign of over twenty years. The door was finally closed on the flickery-bulbed chandelier and the extraordinary mural of semi-naked Greek warriors in 1989.
From 1967 a great feature of the Brighton Season was the yearly Forty Two Club charity revue which Tony organised. Brighton Gay, Brighton Gayer, Brighton Gayest (etcetera) were huge successes, showcasing gay humour to an audience of giggling queers and heterosexuals who had never seen its like before. The handsome posters and programmes for the show were designed by Tony's partner of 41 years, the artist Sydney Lewis, who survives him.
Back to top of page
Back to Ourstory home page