Mike Walker Wigan Casino Manager

[Staceys Dad]

have never heard a bad word said about mike walker from the casino, and when i was there as a spotty 17yr old in the 70s he would stop to say hi or if in a rush nod of the head ...one night some one was playing a lot of very new stuff which the punters took exception to by sitting on the dance floor and not many dancing, in marches mr. walker and gives the dj some lessons in french...and the next record ...the younghearts comes on to a bloody big cheer and full dance floor.....anybody got any more info on whats seems to have been all round nice guy.......

[Mrtag]

have never heard a bad word said about mike walker from the casino, and when i was there as a spotty 17yr old in the 70s he would stop to say hi or if in a rush nod of the head ...one night some one was playing a lot of very new stuff which the punters took exception to by sitting on the dance floor and not many dancing, in marches mr. walker and gives the dj some lessons in french...and the next record ...the younghearts comes on to a bloody big cheer and full dance floor.....anybody got any more info on whats seems to have been all round nice guy.......

Don't seem to hear anything these days but a quick call to radio Lancashire and no doubt a certain Mr Winstanley will be able to Help!!

[Rob Wigley]

remember the night at the Casino after Mike had died--a dark cloud in the pace very sad.

Rob

[Mrtag]

remember the night at the Casino after Mike had died--a dark cloud in the pace very sad.

Rob

Thats what you get with sarcasm I guess!! I thought it was suicide anyway?

[Guest topcatnumpty1]

Mike did indeed take his own life(had a lot of personal problems) i got to know him reasonably well(The ALL Nighter every week ,sometimes with 2,000 people ,brought a lot of pressure!!) a great guy ,always seemed to be running about--" I,ve just got to ---" was his catch-phrase.

R.I.P.

Mike

Tony

[Guest Nick Harrison]

remember the night at the Casino after Mike had died--a dark cloud in the place very sad.

Rob

And a 2 minutes silence observed by everyone in attendance that nite, followed by Linda Jones - "I Just Can't Live My life". .

Edited August 14, 2010 by Nick Harrison

[Paul R]

I used to talk to him quite often, but after I was busted with about 50 odd chalkies at a friday night early session, he personnally banned me for life as the squad were taking me way. He then went on stage and said I had been arrested with a haul of Two Tone Pinks. Street cred definatey went up that night, Sounded far better than chalkies.

Nice bloke though.

Paul

[manus]

Agree he always came across as very, nice genuine bloke. I remember on the occasions he would pick up the microphone when live bands were on or anniversaries he would talk really effusively about how much he loved the place and the punters - he would speak for a tad too long and the dancers would get a bit restless but I think his heart was in the right place. And it was very sad to hear how is life ended.

Cheers

Manus

[Staceys Dad]

Agree he always came across as very, nice genuine bloke. I remember on the occasions he would pick up the microphone when live bands were on or anniversaries he would talk really effusively about how much he loved the place and the punters - he would speak for a tad too long and the dancers would get a bit restless but I think his heart was in the right place. And it was very sad to hear how is life ended.

Cheers

Manus

another who left us early....even under real sad circumstances.....

[Guest dundeedavie]

I can't remember a lot about him , i lived next door to him in Skem when i was young ..... i'll ask my mum though

[Paul Shirley]

yeah i also think the same as most others .he was a real nice bloke and always had time for people . it was very sad to hear how he took his own life . i had well stoped going by then .

[Gigs]

My recollection of mike,was when he came on stage,and stopped the whole proceedings,and announced that there was two people going round impersonating squad,(by taking gear off people)the lights came on,and these two were spotted and thrown out.

Now I was half asleep at the time up on the top balconey catching a few zee's,so this is very sketchy in my head,it was only when I asked a girl what was happening,she told me this,so if anyone knows the whole story I would be very interested,but the point is Mike sorted all out with the minimum of fuss.or have I dreamt it

[Guest Nick Harrison]

there was two people going round impersonating squad,(by taking gear off people)

They must have been from Wolverhampton or even closer Blackburn .

[Guest topcatnumpty1]

My recollection of mike,was when he came on stage,and stopped the whole proceedings,and announced that there was two people going round impersonating squad,(by taking gear off people)the lights came on,and these two were spotted and thrown out.

Now I was half asleep at the time up on the top balconey catching a few zee's,so this is very sketchy in my head,it was only when I asked a girl what was happening,she told me this,so if anyone knows the whole story I would be very interested,but the point is Mike sorted all out with the minimum of fuss.or have I dreamt it

I would hardly say ,with the minimum of fuss,i was also on the balcony and when Mike announced about these guys(after lots of people had told him what was occurring) as you rightly state, the music was stopped,the lights were on ,and these 2 guys ran across the dancefloor but were stopped and pushed against the wall under the balcony---opposite side to Mr M,S , and about 30 very upset guys attacked them ,they got a very good kicking b4 Mike,Harry Joe etc could drag them out of the building---this was about 2 a,m and i would think about 1977--78

Tony

[Gigs]

Great info Tony,I new it was something like that,thanks for putting me straight.I could'nt tell what was going on(got there a bit pissed hence the kip)the girl I spoke to just said they've sorted it wasted a whole night really and more or less missed the fun.thanks again Gigs

[The Animal]

My recollection of mike,was when he came on stage,and stopped the whole proceedings,and announced that there was two people going round impersonating squad,(by taking gear off people)the lights came on,and these two were spotted and thrown out.

Now I was half asleep at the time up on the top balconey catching a few zee's,so this is very sketchy in my head,it was only when I asked a girl what was happening,she told me this,so if anyone knows the whole story I would be very interested,but the point is Mike sorted all out with the minimum of fuss.or have I dreamt it

If this is the same night I remember in '78 or '79, this is how I remember it:

The music went down, The lights went up,

The announcement went down, People stood up,

Two b*st*rds were taken down, Lots of cries went up,

Some people sat down, All were cheered up,

This all went down, Without hic-up.

The two tw*ts were then helped all the way down the stairs (not feet first) by some of the bigger boys who had come out to play that night.

They could have had muscles in their spit and farts by the look of them and I don't think the two con artists were seen again, Thank God.

[Guest Robbo]

I remember him dancing his socks off on stage whenever the acts were on he had such a big heart and so loved the music with a passion what a great guy and very sad I only had occasion to go see him in 'the office' once cos I lost my membership card, he wrote me another one with duplicate written on top...I still have it Sue

Edited September 16, 2010 by Robbo

[Guest jerrio]

Mike did indeed take his own life(had a lot of personal problems) i got to know him reasonably well(The ALL Nighter every week ,sometimes with 2,000 people ,brought a lot of pressure!!) a great guy ,always seemed to be running about--" I,ve just got to ---" was his catch-phrase.

R.I.P.

Mike

Tony

I REMEMBER WHEN EDWIN STARR WAS VERY LATE TURNING UP AND MR WALKER ANOUNCING OVER THE PA DONT WORRY BOYS AND GIRLS EDWIN IS ON HIS WAY................ THEN WELL BOYS AND GIRLS EDWIN WILL BE ON STAGE IN A FEW MINUTES AS HE HAS NOW ARRIVED. ROUND ABOUT 77 WOULD IT BE? I THINK THE TURNS USED TO BE ON AROUND3.30am AND QUITE A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD GATHER IN FRONT OF THE STAGE AS SOON AS THEY ARRIVED IN ORDER TO GET A GOOD VIEW. MIKE WALKER NICE BLOKE AND WELL RESPECTED.

WRIGHTY.

[Guest LDB]

I was there the dodgy squad night, I was in the record bar and was barged in to by this guy then that little busty blonde barmaid cleared the bar and just missed him, he then tried to escape out the other end by the main stairs. He did not make it, a few lads got him and the bouncers were trying to save him from our lot. I think the second one came down the stairs from the balcony, not sure how many stairs he touched tho

[Barry]

Was at Wigan the night they played Tobi Legend for Mike after his demise....a very odd and heart-warming moment in Wigan dancefloor history.

[Guest mooma]

If this is the same night I remember in '78 or '79, this is how I remember it:

The music went down, The lights went up,

The announcement went down, People stood up,

Two b*st*rds were taken down, Lots of cries went up,

Some people sat down, All were cheered up,

This all went down, Without hic-up.

The two tw*ts were then helped all the way down the stairs (not feet first) by some of the bigger boys who had come out to play that night.

They could have had muscles in their spit and farts by the look of them and I don't think the two con artists were seen again, Thank God.

good idea on how not to pay for their gear that night tho!!!

sue