Hello, has any one got any memories of the All Dayers at The Ritz in Manchester that they would care to share. I'm researching a book on Manchester clubbing from the later 70's to the mid 80's and would be grateful if anyone could provide any info on the DJ's, music styles, how often they took place and so on, or indeed any info on Rafters etc in the same time scale ?

Hello, has any one got any memories of the All Dayers at The Ritz in Manchester that they would care to share. I'm researching a book on Manchester clubbing from the later 70's to the mid 80's and would be grateful if anyone could provide any info on the DJ's, music styles, how often they took place and so on, or indeed any info on Rafters etc in the same time scale ?

Yes i remember the floor was sprung and you could feel it moving with the dancers, really strange expereince. I saw Tavares live and they made me laugh. 'Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel' was huge . They kept asking the crowd to join in but got confused between Manchester and Westchester in the USA. They kept shouting 'We Love You Westchester''

Ritz also played a role in the scene's shifting history it was a Mecca for what we now call Modern, Floaters, Rare uptempo disco etc.alongside classic northern. I loved it.

Edited August 14, 200619 yr by soulfulsaint

In circa 77/78, usually went there after Wigan Saturday all-niter for the sunday all-dayers, usually kicking off around 12 noon. The place was like a palace compared to the Casino, clean toilets, nice seating areas, balcony, decent bars etc. The dancefloor was sprung as soulfulsaint describes, raised up and with a rail around it, so you had to go up a few steps to get on it (nearly went down them coming out of a spin once!). The tables all had the little table lamps.

The dj box was to the left of the stage if I remember right, again up another set of steps set on the stage.

Music wise, it was a mix of 60's oldies/new 60's discoveries mixed with mecca stuff which a lot of were new releases at the time, e.g. Brainstorm, Tavares, Bo Kirland, etc. spun by Ian Levine and Colin Curtis from the Blackpool Mecca. Typical 60's dj's included Richard Searling, Dave Evison, Pat Brady, Neil Rushton, etc. Used to be something like an hour of so of 60's and then an hour of the funk stuff ( at the time but quite like a lot of it now!)

The place had a good atmosphere although there was banter between the Northern Soul boys and the funk boys in their straight-leg pegs and whistles!!

Also remember either Curtis or Levine spinning Donna Summer 'I Feel Love' 12" before it even got into the UK charts.

Last bus to Cheadle Hulme right outside the Ritz door at 11.00-ish.

Great place, good memories.

Grant

Yes i remember the floor was sprung and you could feel it moving with the dancers, really strange expereince. I saw Tavares live and they made me laugh. 'Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel' was huge . They kept asking the crowd to join in but got confused between Manchester and Westchester in the USA. They kept shouting 'We Love You Westchester''

i think it was a really heavy night at wigan the night before i was in the foyer when the tavares left,they actually ran out i think they expected to get mobbed by screaming fans, they didnt one of them looked back as he left the front door with a real puzzled look on his face whatappen

It was, in the early days run by Neil Rushton's Heart of England Soul Club. What was so cool was that it brought together, the distinct differences, of the Mecca and Wigan of that time, into one venue.

You would see the Peg wearing shufflers of the Mecca dancing side by side with the beer towel, Spencer baggies of Wigan. Classic leather shoes on one and plastic sandles on the other.

As for Rafters, this was in the main, the Jazz Funk evolution, of places like the Ritz in Manchester. DJ's Jonathon, Colin Curtis, Pete Haigh and others. Also it had a much more black audience. Where as northern soul had been mainly a white working class scene, jazz funk was more cosmopolitan.

Love The Tavares story

Can you tell me how often the All Dayers ran, were they weekly ?

From what i've read there seemed to be a difference of opinion on the Disco and Northern records being played. Was there really such an issue about it ?

How big a part did Disco play in the North West ? It seems to be left out of most of the stuff i've read on 70's Manchester. The impression given seems to be that Northern then Jazz/Funk were the main sounds of the era ?

Thanks again for all your help.

Love The Tavares story

Can you tell me how often the All Dayers ran, were they weekly ?

From what i've read there seemed to be a difference of opinion on the Disco and Northern records being played. Was there really such an issue about it ?

How big a part did Disco play in the North West ? It seems to be left out of most of the stuff i've read on 70's Manchester. The impression given seems to be that Northern then Jazz/Funk were the main sounds of the era ?

Thanks again for all your help.

think Ritz was monthly, certainly not weekly. Think Northern dominated Greg, and certainly Northern fans outnumbered the funk boys at the Ritz by a mile, we just learned to accept that this was a part of the scene and certainly the Ritz...we used to record the 60' s spots there but never did we onec record a funk spot at the time....funny, wish we had now though.

Love The Tavares story

Can you tell me how often the All Dayers ran, were they weekly ?

From what i've read there seemed to be a difference of opinion on the Disco and Northern records being played. Was there really such an issue about it ?

How big a part did Disco play in the North West ? It seems to be left out of most of the stuff i've read on 70's Manchester. The impression given seems to be that Northern then Jazz/Funk were the main sounds of the era ?

Thanks again for all your help.

That's mainly because, disco wasn't played. But Soul with a disco backing was, and as such fell under the banners of Northern soul or Jazz/Funk. But trust me this question could open up a whole can of worms that maybe you don't want. Because the term Northern Soul, and it's definition change with ever person you speak too.

think Ritz was monthly, certainly not weekly. Think Northern dominated Greg, and certainly Northern fans outnumbered the funk boys at the Ritz by a mile, we just learned to accept that this was a part of the scene and certainly the Ritz...we used to record the 60' s spots there but never did we onec record a funk spot at the time....funny, wish we had now though.

My sense was 70% classic northern and 30% new era sounds, which latterly became 'modern' As Dave says - two sub-cultures for the price of one. But still very much a 'north rules soul music' attitude, there was quite considerable resentment towards the southern based 'jazz-funk' scene which was in its infancy. Some of the records described as 'funk' - e.g. Bobby Franklin's The Ladies Choice' (Fee) 'Diane Jenkin's 'I Need You' (Creative Funk) and Oscar Perry's I Got What You Need (Peritone) were on small obscure indie labels, and so still perceived as rare soul. In contast, the southern clubs were laregly new release contemporary soul and jazz/funk at the time.

The internal rivalries on the dance floor of the Ritz are the origins of the current '60s versus modern disputes on the curent rare soul scene. It has an important place in shaping the subsequent history of the scene.

All this makes for fascinating reading...

Dave you're right about not wanting to open a can of worms, thanks for your insight

.

When I interviewed Colin Curtis he talked about the introduction of 'Jazz/ Funk' at Rafters, did anyone go ? Apart from the Ritz All Dayer's was Soul played at any other venues in the second half of the 70's ?

Also mentioned in most interviews was John Grant. Any thoughts on him ?

All this makes for fascinating reading...

Dave you're right about not wanting to open a can of worms, thanks for your insight

.

When I interviewed Colin Curtis he talked about the introduction of 'Jazz/ Funk' at Rafters, did anyone go ? Apart from the Ritz All Dayer's was Soul played at any other venues in the second half of the 70's ?

Also mentioned in most interviews was John Grant. Any thoughts on him ?

The other big venue's with a mixed play list and running as alldayers, Birmingham Powerhouse(also a Neil Rushton promotion), Notts Pallis, Cats Wiskers, Leeds. John Grant had all his real fame on the Jazz Funk scene, bought a bunch of his 12" when he gave up. Would go to any of the one's Colin was on at, the man was a god, to me anyway and a great friend. Infact on both counts still is, don't want to sound like he's dead

Edited August 14, 200619 yr by Dave Thorley

Hello, has any one got any memories of the All Dayers at The Ritz in Manchester that they would care to share. I'm researching a book on Manchester clubbing from the later 70's to the mid 80's and would be grateful if anyone could provide any info on the DJ's, music styles, how often they took place and so on, or indeed any info on Rafters etc in the same time scale ?

We used to fill a 50 seater coach easily from Blackpool , I was comfortable listening to 60s Wigan sounds alongside 70s new releases , and I'll admit to buying drainpipes from Oxfam and sandals from Tommy Balls

Steve McWilliams

Also mentioned in most interviews was John Grant. Any thoughts on him ?

where is john grant now i hear you all ask, i believe he went to cornwall and became a harbourmaster

We used to fill a 50 seater coach easily from Blackpool , I was comfortable listening to 60s Wigan sounds alongside 70s new releases , and I'll admit to buying drainpipes from Oxfam and sandals from Tommy Balls

Steve McWilliams

But have you still got them, found my plastic sandals the other day, gonna put them on ebay

I first went to the Ritz when I was 16- My girlfirend was called Beverly Griffiths from Walkden.

The dance floor was brilliant as you didnt have to move you just stood there while everyone else danced and you went up and down. The key records that really made this happen was- Danse ala Music- French Fries, Law of the land - Alfie Kahn and Summer in the parks- East coast connection which people had whistles they blew as they danced. Probably one of my favourite periods in the soul scene. The Levine must Go campaign was so funny with people wearing badges. It seems so ridiculous today. When I got out of the scene in Jan 80 I sold all my collection except 6 records of which one of them I bought at the Ritz on my first trip- Pete Warner- I just wanna spend my life with you on Polydor for 65p and I sold it to pete Smith in 2000 for £5. It was a demo and had needle burn on one side.

I remembr the Levine show with LJ Johnson Evelyn thomas etc and I think I rember Gloria jones there and Marc Bolan turning up . God its so long ago my memory is getting weak.

The Ritz was actually quite a nice place and I was dissapointed 4 years ago when I went to see the Originals and what a shitehole it was.

The spin off of the ritz in manchester were various other clubs like Carolines and Blue rooms in Sale- I used to love that place because we spent more time playing footballl in the car park Mr Searlings Tottenham versus Man city than dancing in the actual place.

The Music at the ritz was great because it really used the today term "Acrooss the board"

I used to go quite regularly to rafters,seem to remember them running friday and saturday every week! couldn't imagine that happening now,john grant was famous for the special effects at the blackpool mecca all dayers(smoke and mini explosions)think john was from rochdale area originally and worked for british rail,rufus was another jazz funk club around that time in manchester,colin curtis used to do the entire night on his own,berlin at the back of deansgate was another in the mid eighties,will add more,searching the mental flypaper for the info

Mick

where is john grant now i hear you all ask, i believe he went to cornwall and became a harbourmaster

we all used to go to the john bull in spring gardens (think thats what it was called) john used to dj there we had many a good night there with plenty of lock ins, the landlord barry was a great character, last orders was not a bell he used to shout " right we've had your fuc*+#g money now give us your fuc*+#g glasses"

john was a really nice bloke and a good dj.

mark

Edited August 15, 200619 yr by mark.b

Hello, has any one got any memories of the All Dayers at The Ritz in Manchester that they would care to share. I'm researching a book on Manchester clubbing from the later 70's to the mid 80's and would be grateful if anyone could provide any info on the DJ's, music styles, how often they took place and so on, or indeed any info on Rafters etc in the same time scale ?

Well, Like Mike ( Mr soul source) i was from North Wales and we used to all to go to the Ritz all Dayers after Wigan each month and sometimes if a bank holiday weekend; Bellevue on the Monday bank holiday.

It blew me away when i first arrived for the first time in the mid 70,s it was so posh ( at the time ) wall to wall carpets and a huge sprung dance floor in the middle ( with a fence type post around in places)

the record bar was at the left of the dancefloor and was different to wigan as the influx of 12,s had started.. 1st tune i heard was carwash.......... It seemed that the djs alternated with levine and curtis or Searling and sam and Pat Brady etc ....so it was all mixed up and you had to wait for Northern.sets whilst the strange people with jellybean plastic shoes and whistles danced to Dc Larue "cathedrals" and let,s all chant etc... on reflection the tunes were quite camp and i imagine very US disco.

I did like a few of the tunes and it was quite a wierd fusion of people..I remember at the change over that most Jazz funkers would leave the floor and the Northern soul people would fill the floor.There were a few dodgy people there as well

My mates wife had her handbag nicked at one Ritz all Dayer and i lost my coat and a few 45,s..another time.

I remember seeing Tavaras there straight after they were at Wigan.....Too F###ked to remember much though at the time....

What was the pub called round the corner ? pre drinks place ,was it the oxford?.

In all i have great memories about the venue until i revisited a few years ago from Aussie to see Eddie Holman and was devistated about the seedy state of the place..The downstairs toilet area was damp and flooded.but the music was great ( it was a revival night)The Ritz was truly a jewel in the crown at the time ...a pleasant chill out place after a seedy sweaty night at Wigan. Interesting new sounds which helped my tunnel vision at the time see more sides to our wonderful music heritage

Pete m

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QUOTE(mark.b @ Aug 15 2006, 01:07 PM) link

we all used to go to the john bull in spring gardens (think thats what it was called) john used to dj there we had many a good night there with plenty of lock ins, the landlord barry was a great character, last orders was not a bell he used to shout " right we've had your fuc*+#g money now give us your fuc*+#g glasses"

john was a really nice bloke and a good dj.used to run exit 21 soulclub in rochdale with col alderson

mark

Greg, I promoted The Ritz All-Dayers from 1975 to 1980. Jimmy Thomas did a PA at the first one, Ronnie Laws and full band were live on stage at the last all-dayer...which shows how things progressed..The original All-Dayers reflected the Northern scene at the time...traditional Northern plus lots of contemporary "New York diisco sounds".

A lot of people didn't like the mix - Soul Sam wrote a letter to Black Echoes calling for Colin Curtis and myself to be hung at one stage!!!! But a lot more did, we were getting up to 1800 at one stage.

Eventually we went from all-dayers combining the old and the new to 100% Jazz Funk All-Dayers (which boomed and led to our even bigger all-dayes at Blackpool Mecca) and a few 100% Northern Soul All-Dayers (which were OK but nothing but like the glory days).

I actually still think of the classic Ritz records as being Mel Britt, Herb Ward, Larry Clinton - ie proper Northern -just as much as the disco and jazz funk stuff people go on about. .

Live acts I promoted at The Ritz included Archie Bell & The Drells, The Moments, Edwin Starr, Crown Heights Affair, Hi-Tension, Kandidate, Gloria Jones (Marc Bolan cam along too), Tavares, Chicago Soul Review, Junior Walker (?),plus more I can't rememebr at the moment.

Greg if you want any more info you can e-mail me on:

neil@conceptmusic.com

rushtonneil@hotmail.com

Cheers,

Neil l

Always loved the ritz,didnt edwin starr perform there after doing wigan the nite before and do contact live for the first time,or is my memory a bit confused.There were a lot of good alldayers on in the manchester area in the late seventies bellvue,adree,merry go round the carousel did a few as well as the niters but the ritz was the king .

Greg, I promoted The Ritz All-Dayers from 1975 to 1980. Jimmy Thomas did a PA at the first one, Ronnie Laws and full band were live on stage at the last all-dayer...which shows how things progressed..The original All-Dayers reflected the Northern scene at the time...traditional Northern plus lots of contemporary "New York diisco sounds".

A lot of people didn't like the mix - Soul Sam wrote a letter to Black Echoes calling for Colin Curtis and myself to be hung at one stage!!!! But a lot more did, we were getting up to 1800 at one stage.

Eventually we went from all-dayers combining the old and the new to 100% Jazz Funk All-Dayers (which boomed and led to our even bigger all-dayes at Blackpool Mecca) and a few 100% Northern Soul All-Dayers (which were OK but nothing but like the glory days).

I actually still think of the classic Ritz records as being Mel Britt, Herb Ward, Larry Clinton - ie proper Northern -just as much as the disco and jazz funk stuff people go on about. .

Live acts I promoted at The Ritz included Archie Bell & The Drells, The Moments, Edwin Starr, Crown Heights Affair, Hi-Tension, Kandidate, Gloria Jones (Marc Bolan cam along too), Tavares, Chicago Soul Review, Junior Walker (?),plus more I can't rememebr at the moment.

Greg if you want any more info you can e-mail me on:

neil@conceptmusic.com

rushtonneil@hotmail.com

Cheers,

Neil l

Good days Neil

Re earlier posting I don't think Tavares played Wigan the night before they did the Ritz.....I remember the date we had them on as round about October 3 1976 and they pulled in our record attendance at the time of over 1700.

Am pretty sure Wigan could not book them?.

We did both have the Chicago Soul Review the same weekend -in February 1976 - and to our astonishment we pulled in more than Wigan!

The Tavares event, or the even better attended all-dayer 3 weeks later, was the one where about 60 pople had to go to hospital barbed up/down. We never had that problem before or after but at the time I thought we would lose the venue.

What do people remember as the biggest dancefloor fillers at The Ritz? I would say equal Ist were

It Looks Like Love - Goody Goody

You're Something Kinda Mellow -Johnny Williams.

This Will Be A Night To Remember - Eddie Holman

Re earlier posting I don't think Tavares played Wigan the night before they did the Ritz.....I remember the date we had them on as round about October 3 1976 and they pulled in our record attendance at the time of over 1700.

Am pretty sure Wigan could not book them?.

We did both have the Chicago Soul Review the same weekend -in February 1976 - and to our astonishment we pulled in more than Wigan!

The Tavares event, or the even better attended all-dayer 3 weeks later, was the one where about 60 pople had to go to hospital barbed up/down. We never had that problem before or after but at the time I thought we would lose the venue.

What do people remember as the biggest dancefloor fillers at The Ritz? I would say equal Ist were

It Looks Like Love - Goody Goody

You're Something Kinda Mellow -Johnny Williams.

This Will Be A Night To Remember - Eddie Holman

The trouble with the New York Disco stuff would be, that it changed ever time.

A couple of dance winners almost for the week they were played

The Flasher, Mistura Feat Lloyd Michaels

Law of The Land, Alfie Khan

Spring Rain, Silvetti

Funny thing is, they are all instrumentals. Bring back the instrumental 60's or 70's what happen to them

sandals from Tommy Balls

Steve McWilliams

Slightly off topic I know but he had two warehouse type places in Blackburn,probably still does (family run i think).Never bought owt from him,just remember his shoes had two holes in heel area where string was to hang them up on sales hangers.

We used to fill a 50 seater coach easily from Blackpool , I was comfortable listening to 60s Wigan sounds alongside 70s new releases , and I'll admit to buying drainpipes from Oxfam and sandals from Tommy Balls

Steve McWilliams

But you never danced to CA-THE-DRA-LS in them.

The trouble with the New York Disco stuff would be, that it changed ever time.

A couple of dance winners almost for the week they were played

The Flasher, Mistura Feat Lloyd Michaels

Law of The Land, Alfie Khan

Spring Rain, Silvetti

Funny thing is, they are all instrumentals. Bring back the instrumental 60's or 70's what happen to them

This was a great event no question. The Venue, the live acts, the numbers attending and the mix of music and people has never been bettered by anybody.

I had some great days at the Ritz along with hundreds of other people.

Could I ask you both if you have managed to keep any recordings, tapes ect, which could be put on the site for others to listen to.

Best regards Denis.

Great memories - Dancing to Ronnie Mcneir- Maurice Williams-Bobby Lester & then a New York shuffle to Miroslav Vituos-Aquarian Dream-Willie J & Co. MAGIC!!!!!

Perfect All Dayers IMHO never been bettered.

The trouble with the New York Disco stuff would be, that it changed ever time.

A couple of dance winners almost for the week they were played

The Flasher, Mistura Feat Lloyd Michaels

Law of The Land, Alfie Khan

Spring Rain, Silvetti

Funny thing is, they are all instrumentals. Bring back the instrumental 60's or 70's what happen to them

Spring Rain - that is one great record that I think epitomises the Ritz 'funky' stuff

Thanks for all you help on this...it seems the music and this time span was overlooked by the media in general what with the arrival of Punk etc...Lots of great memories to read all the same. Been reading through issues of 'New Manchester Review' and looked like there were some great concerts at The Palace Theatre in 1976: Donald Byrd, Chick Corea/ Stanley Clarke, AWB etc...

The trouble with the New York Disco stuff would be, that it changed ever time.

A couple of dance winners almost for the week they were played

The Flasher, Mistura Feat Lloyd Michaels

Law of The Land, Alfie Khan

Spring Rain, Silvetti

Funny thing is, they are all instrumentals. Bring back the instrumental 60's or 70's what happen to them

Hello Dave ,I played The Miracles " Overture "last night at our local Banbury do , sounded great again ..... Best ,Eddie

I remember we all used to meet up in Paddys Goose behind Chorlton Street bus station about noon, (some people to remember, Douglas, Wayne and Jackie, Willy hunt, Natty Neil, Hilary Mee, Sue, Al Jackson and many more) then wander down to the Ritz for 2 O'clock, then after a while a club called Smartys (down the steps next to Spinn Inn) opened on a Sunday night and we would go there for a few hours after the Ritz. At the height of the Alldayers I think they ran fortnightly.

I still have a metal badge saying "John Grant The God Of Funk" . He did live Rochdale way and remember him having a big birthday bash one summer in his garden.

Found them.....the Four Brothers badge has a mirror in the back.!!

Edited September 4, 200618 yr by Peter

I remember we all used to meet up in Paddys Goose behind Chorlton Street bus station about noon, (some people to remember, Douglas, Wayne and Jackie, Willy hunt, Natty Neil, Hilary Mee, Sue, Al Jackson and many more) then wander down to the Ritz for 2 O'clock, then after a while a club called Smartys (down the steps next to Spinn Inn) opened on a Sunday night and we would go there for a few hours after the Ritz. At the height of the Alldayers I think they ran fortnightly.

I still have a metal badge saying "John Grant The God Of Funk" . He did live Rochdale way and remember him having a big birthday bash one summer in his garden.

Found them.....the Four Brothers badge has a mirror in the back.!!

hi peter

do you not remember me Mark baildon, tony jackson, peter burgess (budgie) ,siz hutchie, steve cullen,john blackburn, hazel duncan, we were always there with hilary and wayne and the others. we all got to know each other at the blue rooms in sale.

douglas now lives in london and works in brighton, have seen him at cleethorpes last two years, he has just had his 50th birthday party think al jackson went.

remember the john grant badges, natty neil was mental ,

wayne and jackie are still married, saw sue several years ago she still lives bramhall way.

mark

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QUOTE(mark.b @ Sep 4 2006, 10:13 PM) link

hi peter

do you not remember me Mark baildon, tony jackson, peter burgess (budgie) ,siz hutchie, steve cullen,john blackburn, hazel duncan, we were always there with hilary and wayne and the others. we all got to know each other at the blue rooms in sale.

douglas now lives in london and works in brighton, have seen him at cleethorpes last two years, he has just had his 50th birthday party think al jackson went.

remember the john grant badges, natty neil was mental ,

wayne and jackie are still married, saw sue several years ago she still lives bramhall way.

mark

HI Mark, yes I do remember you, and Tony Jackson and the others (as well as the badges I still have a few copies of Siz's soultime fanzine), I was trying to think of other names whilst typing the message, I saw Wayne and Jackie at AL Jacksons 50th then at the Xmas Ritz Allnighter a few months later.

Peter

QUOTE(mark.b @ Sep 4 2006, 10:13 PM) link

hi peter

do you not remember me Mark baildon, tony jackson, peter burgess (budgie) ,siz hutchie, steve cullen,john blackburn, hazel duncan, we were always there with hilary and wayne and the others. we all got to know each other at the blue rooms in sale.

douglas now lives in london and works in brighton, have seen him at cleethorpes last two years, he has just had his 50th birthday party think al jackson went.

remember the john grant badges, natty neil was mental ,

wayne and jackie are still married, saw sue several years ago she still lives bramhall way.

mark

HI Mark, yes I do remember you, and Tony Jackson and the others (as well as the badges I still have a few copies of Siz's soultime fanzine), I was trying to think of other names whilst typing the message, I saw Wayne and Jackie at AL Jacksons 50th then at the Xmas Ritz Allnighter a few months later.

Peter

we were all at als 50th, tony and my self dj'd early doors. still in touch with hilary mee she lives up near durham she has 2 daughters, phone her every couple of months, have met her a few times at prestwich, she has not changed much she can still talk the hind leg of a donkey. do you remember annette from shawe in oldham. tony has got quite a few of the old soul times good reading were'nt they. mark dont know if you are aware that myself and tony run the greatstone soul club,

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QUOTE(mark.b @ Sep 4 2006, 10:41 PM) link

we were all at als 50th, tony and my self dj'd early doors. still in touch with hilary mee she lives up near durham she has 2 daughters, phone her every couple of months, have met her a few times at prestwich, she has not changed much she can still talk the hind leg of a donkey. do you remember annette from shawe in oldham. tony has got quite a few of the old soul times good reading were'nt they. mark dont know if you are aware that myself and tony run the greatstone soul club,

I' ve not seen Hilary for a couple of years, but I do remember Annette from Shaw also Pat and Phil (now divorced), Annette was friends with Pat.