Calls for The Jam memorabilia ahead of Brighton exhibition

Nicky Weller ran The Jam fan club as a teenager and was paid £5 a week to open fan mail.

This summer from July 29 to August 29, the siblings will be launching an exhibition in Valley Gardens, St Peter’s Place in Brighton.

It is called This is the Modern World – The Ultimate Exhibition of Memorabilia of The Jam and The Style Council.

The Jam's final gig at The Brighton Centre in December 1982

Nicky said it will be the biggest exhibition they have ever done ahead of the 40-year anniversary of The Jam disbanding in October 1982.

The 57-year-old said she would hand out clothing items to fans during The Jam’s 10-year period as a band between 1972 and 1982.

She told The Argus: “It would be really lovely to call out for fans all around the country that were either here or have something we wouldn’t have at the exhibition.

“When I ran The Jam fan club, I used to give out items of their clothing as competition prizes.

"I would send a pair of Paul’s shoes, Bruce Foxton’s trousers or a jacket from Rick Buckler.

"We want to get out there to the fans and ask ‘what have you got?’ and do they have anything in their loft that they have forgotten about?

Reading Top Rank, Reading UK 13 June 1977. Picture by Ian Dickson

“I really want to make this a fun experience, especially for the fans, to have their own little piece in the exhibition. I reckon there is tonnes of it."

The exhibition will provide a “journey” through the band’s albums and even has a mock tube station.

There will also be a showing of mod and rocker film Quadrophenia with talks and special guest appearances.

Nicky said that Phil Daniels, who stars in the show, has “lent his scooter” for the exhibition.

In terms of her favourite item at the exhibition so far, Nicky said Paul Weller’s old school books were the pick of the bunch.

They contained doodles which showed his early childhood dream of being in a band and even had album covers he thought of.

Mayor of Brighton Alan Robins and Nicky Weller spoke about their memories of The Jam. Picture by Dammo Photography

Nicky said: “Paul’s school books were my favourite items in the exhibition.

"When he was a kid, he thought he was one of the Beatles. His geography, maths and English books were full of doodles, poems and song lyrics.

“There would be a poem about bogeys or whatever it was. He was always drawing and writing lyrics. Those were my favourite items.”

Last week, Paul Weller played in front of a sold-out venue at The Brighton Centre.

The Modfather thanked his fans for “holding on to their tickets and waiting” after delays to some of his live shows due to the Covid pandemic.

Paul played a 30-song set in front of an adoring crowd at the venue after the release of his latest album An Orchestrated Songbook, which was his first release for his new label Polydor.

For more information on the exhibition, visit the website.