Buddy was a BBC educational drama, developed to get children reading, shown in both a daytime and evening slot and made by the producer of the coming out drama Two of Us, Roger Tonge.
Cavendish School in Eastbourne was used as the school attended by the title character, played by Wayne Goddard. Various locations were used in Hastings and St Leonards.
Roger Daltry played Buddy’s father and various Rock and Roll numbers were featured and formed the episode titles. Daltry would reprise the roll for a film remake, starring The One and Only Chesney Hawkes.
Hastings locations included:
Cambridge Road Post Office
The Clarence public house
The Town Hall
The former cricket ground
Woolworths (closed)
St Leonards locations included:
The Victoria Hotel
Silchester Road
Tower Road
Warrior Square station
Others:
The Birling Gap Hotel for the pinball scene
The road between Birling Gap and Beachy Head
The motor cycle shop, Pevensey