The Finest All Nighter Venue Ever

[Guest]

DOES ANYBODY OUT THERE REMEMBER THIS FANTASTIC COUNTRY CLUB. IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE A FEW MILES OUTSIDE OF DERBY.

THE BUS FROM DERBY WOULD DROP US ALL OFF AT A PLACE CALLED GYPSY LANE IN DRAYCOTT. WE HAD TO WALK IN TOTAL DARKNESS SEARCHING FOR THIS PLACE CALLED THE BLUE ORCHID CLUB , NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS NEW ALL NIGHTER. THERE IT WAS ALL LIT UP. A POSH LOOKING COUNTRY CLUB IN ACRES OF LAND.

WE PAID AT THE ENTRANCE AND WERE ALL GIVEN A VOUCHER EACH FOR FREE CHICKEN AND CHIPS THAT WOULD BE SERVED UPSTAIRS IN THE DINING AREA. I KID YOU NOT AND YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW HUNGRY WE ALL WERE IN OUR STATE.

THE DANCE FLOOR WAS OVER A SWIMMING POOL, THE MUSIC WAS FIRST CLASS

AND SO WAS THE WHOLE PLACE. REMEMBER WE WERE ALL USED TO THE GRIME AND

HEAT OF THE TWISTED WHEEL , THE CHAOS OF THE GOLDEN TORCH OR BEING CRUSHED INTO TIGHT SPACES LIKE THE METRO OR SAINTS AND SINNERS IN BIRMINGHAM.

THEY WERE THE BEST ALL NIGHTERS EVER . WERE YOU THERE THE NIGHT THAT I MADE A SLIGHT MISTAKE WITH MY MEDICATION, SPUN AROUND ON THE DANCE FLOOR ONCE AND COLLAPSED. MY MATES WERE KIND ENOUGH TO SAVE MY LIVE BY

TAKING ME,STILL DEAD TO THE WORLD TO DERBY ROYAL INFIRMARY, WHERE THEY

LEFT ME AT THE FRONT DOOR AND LEGGED IT, THANKS LADS.

THIS PLACE MADE US ALL FEEL LIKE A BETTER CLASS OF DRUGGED UP NORTHERN SOUL LOVING YOBO.

PRIGGY FROM SHEFFIELD, STILL ALIVE AND KICKING, WELL ALIVE ANYWAY.

[Dave Moore]

Did they all wear tight leather kex and hats with studs in? Droopy 'taches to boot? Or am I thinking of the wrong gaff?

Regards,

Dave

www.hitsvillesoulclub.com

[Mak]

I remember the Blue Orchid, I lost count of how many couples you would fall over strumping on the lane, good days though

[Mak]

Not sure about the niter bit though

[Guest roggert]

DOES ANYBODY OUT THERE REMEMBER THIS FANTASTIC COUNTRY CLUB. IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE A FEW MILES OUTSIDE OF DERBY.

THE BUS FROM DERBY WOULD DROP US ALL OFF AT A PLACE CALLED GYPSY LANE IN DRAYCOTT. WE HAD TO WALK IN TOTAL DARKNESS SEARCHING FOR THIS PLACE CALLED THE BLUE ORCHID CLUB , NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS NEW ALL NIGHTER. THERE IT WAS ALL LIT UP. A POSH LOOKING COUNTRY CLUB IN ACRES OF LAND.

WE PAID AT THE ENTRANCE AND WERE ALL GIVEN A VOUCHER EACH FOR FREE CHICKEN AND CHIPS THAT WOULD BE SERVED UPSTAIRS IN THE DINING AREA. I KID YOU NOT AND YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW HUNGRY WE ALL WERE IN OUR STATE.

THE DANCE FLOOR WAS OVER A SWIMMING POOL, THE MUSIC WAS FIRST CLASS

AND SO WAS THE WHOLE PLACE. REMEMBER WE WERE ALL USED TO THE GRIME AND

HEAT OF THE TWISTED WHEEL , THE CHAOS OF THE GOLDEN TORCH OR BEING CRUSHED INTO TIGHT SPACES LIKE THE METRO OR SAINTS AND SINNERS IN BIRMINGHAM.

THEY WERE THE BEST ALL NIGHTERS EVER . WERE YOU THERE THE NIGHT THAT I MADE A SLIGHT MISTAKE WITH MY MEDICATION, SPUN AROUND ON THE DANCE FLOOR ONCE AND COLLAPSED. MY MATES WERE KIND ENOUGH TO SAVE MY LIVE BY

TAKING ME,STILL DEAD TO THE WORLD TO DERBY ROYAL INFIRMARY, WHERE THEY

LEFT ME AT THE FRONT DOOR AND LEGGED IT, THANKS LADS.

THIS PLACE MADE US ALL FEEL LIKE A BETTER CLASS OF DRUGGED UP NORTHERN SOUL LOVING YOBO.

PRIGGY FROM SHEFFIELD, STILL ALIVE AND KICKING, WELL ALIVE ANYWAY.

hello mr prigmore not seen you for many years hows the arthritis?

all the best rogert

[Guest roggert]

hello mr prigmore not seen you for many years hows the arthritis?

all the best rogert

hello again just realised its 40 years since draycott and the chicken tickets - i never could face one after swallowing the red and greys!i do remember you being carted off that night. were you at the orchid when we were all arranging meeting at the cavendish rooms on bank street for the sunday afternoon and found out big chrisfrom derby and samantha and her sister were in a massive smash on the way back to sheffield? sam s sister and chris died. i met sam some years later she was at the casino and her namesake club-samanthas in sheffield but she had suffered very bad injuries yet still came back to the niters! she married terry bramley from mansfield and i ve not seen or heard of her since ,come to think of it not seen you since you got married to that lass from the tinned chicken club?

[KevH]

I remember the Blue Orchid, I lost count of how many couples you would fall over strumping on the lane, good days though

I remember this place.Was it still going about 76'.?Strumping?

Edited March 9, 2010 by KevH

[Guest]

DOES ANYBODY OUT THERE REMEMBER THIS FANTASTIC COUNTRY CLUB. IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE A FEW MILES OUTSIDE OF DERBY.

THE BUS FROM DERBY WOULD DROP US ALL OFF AT A PLACE CALLED GYPSY LANE IN DRAYCOTT. WE HAD TO WALK IN TOTAL DARKNESS SEARCHING FOR THIS PLACE CALLED THE BLUE ORCHID CLUB , NO IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS NEW ALL NIGHTER. THERE IT WAS ALL LIT UP. A POSH LOOKING COUNTRY CLUB IN ACRES OF LAND.

WE PAID AT THE ENTRANCE AND WERE ALL GIVEN A VOUCHER EACH FOR FREE CHICKEN AND CHIPS THAT WOULD BE SERVED UPSTAIRS IN THE DINING AREA. I KID YOU NOT AND YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW HUNGRY WE ALL WERE IN OUR STATE.

THE DANCE FLOOR WAS OVER A SWIMMING POOL, THE MUSIC WAS FIRST CLASS

AND SO WAS THE WHOLE PLACE. REMEMBER WE WERE ALL USED TO THE GRIME AND

HEAT OF THE TWISTED WHEEL , THE CHAOS OF THE GOLDEN TORCH OR BEING CRUSHED INTO TIGHT SPACES LIKE THE METRO OR SAINTS AND SINNERS IN BIRMINGHAM.

THEY WERE THE BEST ALL NIGHTERS EVER . WERE YOU THERE THE NIGHT THAT I MADE A SLIGHT MISTAKE WITH MY MEDICATION, SPUN AROUND ON THE DANCE FLOOR ONCE AND COLLAPSED. MY MATES WERE KIND ENOUGH TO SAVE MY LIVE BY

TAKING ME,STILL DEAD TO THE WORLD TO DERBY ROYAL INFIRMARY, WHERE THEY

LEFT ME AT THE FRONT DOOR AND LEGGED IT, THANKS LADS.

THIS PLACE MADE US ALL FEEL LIKE A BETTER CLASS OF DRUGGED UP NORTHERN SOUL LOVING YOBO.

PRIGGY FROM SHEFFIELD, STILL ALIVE AND KICKING, WELL ALIVE ANYWAY.

Jeff King used to turn up and sell his latest set of tunes from the boot of his car .

Malc Burton

[Gilly]

I remember Nobby and Rich Douglas used to tell me about the niters their,i don't think they lasted very long as a niter event.I'm sure people have said the local plod wern't very happy about the Yorkshire lads(bless em) forever trying to locate alt sources of food to the chicken in a basket. Gilly x Derby

[Julianb]

Pretty certain I've got an original ticket ( no 178 written on back with FRIDAY stamped on back) dated 27-11-70. Called the Double Decker Disco 'This ticket to be exchanged with waitress for the evening meal or to be deducted from the grill menu'

Price of Ticket £1

Went a few times ( usually with Les Cokell in his van) + other guys from Huddersfield, Skipton, Keighley etc.

Last time we went Les was getting a bit paranoid again and suggested we took our 'gear' before arriving - bloody place was closed when we got there!! Spent the night at a Service Station on the M1 getting funny looks from the 'old bill'.

Happy days, well perhaps not that particular evening!!!

Julian

[Guest roggert]

Pretty certain I've got an original ticket ( no 178 written on back with FRIDAY stamped on back) dated 27-11-70. Called the Double Decker Disco 'This ticket to be exchanged with waitress for the evening meal or to be deducted from the grill menu'

Price of Ticket £1

Went a few times ( usually with Les Cokell in his van) + other guys from Huddersfield, Skipton, Keighley etc.

Last time we went Les was getting a bit paranoid again and suggested we took our 'gear' before arriving - bloody place was closed when we got there!! Spent the night at a Service Station on the M1 getting funny looks from the 'old bill'.

Happy days, well perhaps not that particular evening!!!

Julian

hi still got some of those blue tickets with the flower on ,the place was brilliant but all the lights in the gardens when getting there were off putting as was the dance floor on the swim pool , and that dark lane down to it used to give me the horrors.plus it was a bastard to get to without a motor!

regards roggert

[Guest suehey]

we used to go on the bus and walk down the lane in the dark. I worked in an office at the time and one of the lads used to drink a bottle of benylin and dance on the desk on Friday afternoons!!

It's really spooky to see what happened to Sam and Jean written down Rob after all these years. I can still remember when we found out that they's had the crash...I'd love to see Sam again so if anyone knows her ..........Sam Hughs/ Bramley let me know

Sue

I still think the torch was the best allnighter

hi still got some of those blue tickets with the flower on ,the place was brilliant but all the lights in the gardens when getting there were off putting as was the dance floor on the swim pool , and that dark lane down to it used to give me the horrors.plus it was a bastard to get to without a motor!

regards roggert

[Guest roggert]

we used to go on the bus and walk down the lane in the dark. I worked in an office at the time and one of the lads used to drink a bottle of benylin and dance on the desk on Friday afternoons!!

It's really spooky to see what happened to Sam and Jean written down Rob after all these years. I can still remember when we found out that they's had the crash...I'd love to see Sam again so if anyone knows her ..........Sam Hughs/ Bramley let me know

Sue

I still think the torch was the best allnighter

hi might be able to get terry's adress as mate sees him sometime, just remembered that the orchid was the first place that played tams hey girl dont bother me - mate bob harris was driving us mad trying to sing it on train back to sheffield he was obsessive about collecting records spent many hours finding them. also first time that we heard tammi lynne gonna runaway from you. fyfe piper was another record like joe 90 years later at wigan it was a walt disney program background music!did you know doreen from stoke -a torch regular she was a lecturer at stoke polytechnic?

[Graym]

hi might be able to get terry's adress as mate sees him sometime, just remembered that the orchid was the first place that played tams hey girl dont bother me - mate bob harris was driving us mad trying to sing it on train back to sheffield he was obsessive about collecting records spent many hours finding them. also first time that we heard tammi lynne gonna runaway from you. fyfe piper was another record like joe 90 years later at wigan it was a walt disney program background music!did you know doreen from stoke -a torch regular she was a lecturer at stoke polytechnic?

First of many nighter experiences for me. Being a Derby lad it was nice and handy after Clouds.

Remember Jimmy Ruffin live, and the bouncers scraping some guys hands against the wall until they bled for allegedly dealing ! Rough justice or what ?

Spent most of the night talking to Leslie from Huddersfield (who I was re-introduced to at the Wheel last year) and got a lift back into Derby in the back of a mini-van driven I think by some guy called Alan (?).

As an introduction a real eye-opener, and a rite of passage from Youth Club to Soul club night to nighters. Still hooked 40 years on !

[Julianb]

First of many nighter experiences for me. Being a Derby lad it was nice and handy after Clouds.

Remember Jimmy Ruffin live, and the bouncers scraping some guys hands against the wall until they bled for allegedly dealing ! Rough justice or what ?

Spent most of the night talking to Leslie from Huddersfield (who I was re-introduced to at the Wheel last year) and got a lift back into Derby in the back of a mini-van driven I think by some guy called Alan (?).

As an introduction a real eye-opener, and a rite of passage from Youth Club to Soul club night to nighters. Still hooked 40 years on !

Would that be Leslie Brown? ( well, Brown was her name then) I heard only recently that she had been seen at the Wheel. A friend from the good old days.

Julian

[Guest Dave Atkinson]

Jeff King used to turn up and sell his latest set of tunes from the boot of his car .

Malc Burton

Remember it. I was the DJ there and ran it along with John Carlin. Jeff King did turn up with the records along with other things. It was a fun time but hard work.

[bri phill]

I'm pretty sure Dave Knight was the main DJ there he use to also DJ in Nottingham at The Beachcomber or The Brit rowing club club I think.

A lot of the lads use to come to The Wheel the next night.

I thought it closed in late 1970 and the allniters only run for about 6-8 months

Edited October 31, 2012 by bri. phill

[Guest]

Only went the once - got distracted going up THAT lane

Best nighter Wheel/Torch

Best venue that never did a nighter? Lyric, Dinnington