Hi I would just like to know about you soullies out there, in the days of not very much money times. Is there any stories of how you got to them, did your scooter break down, or train take you to the wrong place. Our story was in the days of Stafford. Me and my mate walked from macclesfield to Stafford got there in the early hours for the last hour, who would do anything like that now just to go too a club, what's your story 

From my start in '81 'til '88 when I got a motor I hitched everywhere from here in Suffolk ... Leicester , Peterborough , Stafford , London , Manchester ... 

Would the youth do that hitching today, I think not 

First time me and my brother went to Wigan. 1978, i was 17 and my brother rob was 15. My Mom and Dad agreed to let us go after months of arguing , anyhow, we got the train from Wolverhampton to change at Warrington or Crewe ? can't remember . We followed a few of the big kids at the station with soul patches on their bags, got on a train to Wigan..  it was the wrong train ! think we ended up in Bolton after midnight , then the people we were following disappeared  !  We got a late night bus then a taxi.. Sharing the taxi to Wigan were two kids going to the casino who were off their faces, they were eating matches as well. me and Rob sat there dumbstruck  wondering what was happening.. Pelsall youth club to this .. Anyway, we got to the Casino  and i just remember the heat and the other worldliness of walking in there,  like I was in a dream or something , but nothing in my life before had ever felt so intense or so real.. . 

 We went a few weeks after, got on a coach at Junction 10 Walsall , dont know where it came from , just heard about it . Sat down, all big kids on there, cassette players going, then they were passing syringes round , and me and Rob was leaning over the top of the chairs watching them inject , dumbstruck again. ! Sure my Mom wouldnt have let us out if she knew !

49 minutes ago, Stephen Houghton said:

Hi I would just like to know about you soullies out there, in the days of not very much money times. Is there any stories of how you got to them, did your scooter break down, or train take you to the wrong place. Our story was in the days of Stafford. Me and my mate walked from macclesfield to Stafford got there in the early hours for the last hour, who would do anything like that now just to go too a club, what's your story 

Once walked back from Stafford to Nottingham with 4 others after our lift decided to go home at 3am. Worst thing was I had my dj box with me as I was running the Notts palias soul nites. We did that then went to Stafford. Got back home around 5.30pm and was out again to dj at the polish club Notts on the Sunday night. Those where the days 

4 minutes ago, Stephen Houghton said:

Would the youth do that hitching today, I think not 

Seems they all get cars as seventeenth birthday presents these days or crazy 'never-never' deals that they'll take half a lifetime to pay off  , nothing like that for me  ...  "If you want it but can't afford it you go without until you can afford it" was how I was brought up , still live the same way all these years later , still haven't a pot to piss in but what little I do have is all mine and paid for ... 

Everyway possible, driven, got lifts with others, coach, hitch and trains in the late 70's, early 80's with the famous 2 for 1 train tickets for free (no receipt needed) that used to be attached to the outside of Persil boxes etc. (see photo).

You were supposed to purchase the product but I believe many people took advantage of this being on the outside of the packaging. Shortly after this these were put inside. 

In the early days 75 to 79 jumped trains to Wigan from Euston by hiding between the seat backs usually end up covered in dust / dirt seemed fun going coming back an effing nightmare - if you got caught always give another persons name / usually a mate 🤣😂

Hitched it / stole cars / jumped taxis / borrowed you’re mates mums car / didn’t care as long as you got there - win win 👍🏻
 

only got caught once driving a mk 1 Cortina after Loughborough town hall all nighter on the M1 not my car no licence no insurance - gave them a false name then had to hand myself in 👍🏻 

Edited May 8, 20205 yr by Zoomsoulblue

Various rubbish cars, one where the footwell used to fill up with water when it rained, drove home from Bradford and was under about two inches of water by  the time we got home and a Volkswagen Beetle where you had to put your hand through the glove compartment to work the wipers now that was cold. 

4of us went to the scrapyard paid a tenner for a hillman minx, no licence or tax or ins. One of my mates had a full leg cast on as he'd broke his leg, off to Wigan we went. Parked up in the morning the only car left on carpark was ours. When we got all of us in aswell as webby with his plaster cast on we hid our gear down the inside of his leg. Good job as the ds pounced stripsearched us but not webby. They never asked about the car 🚙, priceless memories. 

Just a quick side story it’s 1976/77 got the Wigan Friday oldies coach from Aldershot - so we’re travelling back Saturday morning M6 or M1 back south - we stop off at a service station - we’re all coming down / still chewing / staring - all of a sudden about 15 blokes appear from the entrance which was via the over head bridge - There Newcastle going somewhere and they saw our coach and thought we were another football firm going to another game - all a bit tense until someone goes in a Gordie accent “ there ok there soulies” 🤣😂🤣 happy times 

 

Edited May 8, 20205 yr by Zoomsoulblue

That's Brill, the youth of today wouldn't even go to the next town if daddy won't take then and pick them up 😂 

Just now, Stephen Houghton said:

That's Brill, the youth of today wouldn't even go to the next town if daddy won't take then and pick them up 😂 

Just read this thread....40 + miles walk for a nighter...that is a great little story - Respect!  

Some of you know this story - It's a bit of an 'opposite' as it was an expencive way to get to a nighter.  It was only a few years back.  It was an Easter Bank Holiday, and I had decided not to go to 'The Burnley All-nighter', choosing instead to spend the Bank Hol with the family (Priorities an' all that) 

Anyway, I'd been playing records Sat eve, and Nina (the wife) said....."Why don't you just go to Burnley Len? You're like a 'Bear in a cage'!"........"OK"......(I didn't need much persuading) 

I quickly rang John Mclure, who used to kindly give me a lift to Burnley, but they were already half way there....."Not a problem John, I'll catch a taxi"........

200 'of the deepest conversation with the taxi driver' miles later, we arrived at Burnley. In fact the taxi driver and I got on so well (Can't think why) he nearly attended the All-nighter with me! 

We pulled up outside, I jumped out......"Jeeze Len, you did catch a Taxi!"........"I fancied a pint"....... 

That particular night was one of the best All-nighters I had been to - I suppose the adventure of getting there puts you in a funny old mood.

Later on I was talking to someone outside, when I kinda sensed a group of people were staring at me....."Mmm, am I being paranoid?"....I thought to myself.  It got to the point where it was..."No! They are definatelly staring at me, and muttering. Here goes nothing"......."Excuse me, call me paranoid, but are you talking about me?".....

(A strong Northern accent came straight back at me)......."Mate, did you catch a taxi 200 miles to get here?!".......(I returned in my poshest Southern accent)......."Yes I did my good man"........"F****ckin' h*ll! How much did that cost?!"........"£160.00"......."F****ckin h*ll!".......(Posh southern accent again)......."Oh it's not a problem I'm from the south".......We all then had a really good laugh 

I don't know what it it is about taxi's and me - But years ago the trains had been cancelled, so I caught a taxi to 'The 100 Club'.  My mate Clive could not bring himself to be part of spending £50.00 'just' to get to an All-nighter (even though I said I'd pay) So he went home (I remember him shaking his head as he walked away)

Us lot simply have to get there! 

N.B - At Burnley, Karl Heard immediately went and gave me my entrance money back / Ady Croasdell let me in for free at 'The 100 Club' - Both kind acts adding to the 'magic' of two wonderfully adventurous nights...

Len 

 

Priceless

1966 & only JUST turned 15 when I started going to the Twisted Wheel. I normally caught  the X12 bus from Bradford - cost 5/- & took 1hr 45 mins to go over the Pennines to Manchester. If I was skint - a not uncommon occurrence back then as I was living in a bedsit by the time I turned 16 - I used to hitch it there & back along with a mate. Wouldn't feel safe for 2 teenage girls to do that nowadays, but when you're 16 you don't see the dangers in life do you? Other clubs I went to were The Plebs (Halifax) Birdtrap (near Burnley) Golden Disc ( Keighley) Lord Jim's (Huddersfield) Blue Note & Top 20 (both in Manchester) & String o'Beads (Bradford) There might have been others, but these are the ones I remember - the Wheel was always my favourite & I was there most weekends.

It was just the BEST time to be a teenager I had some fab times - saw some of the best bands - I'd do it all again in a heartbeat!😍😍

PS - just reminiscing - I vaguely remember going to Halifax - squashed god knows how many of us into a battered old Ford Anglia - when the exhaust dropped of halfway there - oops! It had no door handles inside - just bits of string to pull to close the doors - & the wipers didn't work either......Happy days.....

Edited May 8, 20205 yr by Kathryn Magson

Hiya, like most people, cars, vans, coach, thumb etc but one of the most knackering was on the back of my mates trial bike to Wigan's 5th anniversary, took a while to make it on the dancefloor, cheers

Got a funny story. My dad told me, he said he once hitched to Nottingham Palais all dayer he thinks it was from Huntingdon cambs around 77/78 and a dodgy guy picked him up and took him to the wrong place so he did a runner and then got picked up by a crane and took him all the way to the venue, everyone loved it of course! 😂

He also said he hitched all the way to Wigan from Huntingdon a few times. 

 

Another funny one,  he said he also hitched to an all nighter once and he met a guy who just come out of prison, he got talking to him and he came to the nighter with him! Coalville Leicester, he thinks it was

 

Anyway I thought ild share them with you as I found them funny.. 

Edited May 8, 20205 yr by Thfcliam

Funny at the time story - Friday Oldies night coach from Aldershot went to Newbury bus station probably to pick gear up on the way and a few people - on gets a few soulies and a tramp, he’s worse for wear ok and merry and thinks we’re going somewhere he wants to go - some hours later we stopped off at Birmingham Hilton M6 - where he got off and we left him there -👏🏻👏🏻🤣😂 well it was funny at the time 

He's probably still there 😂 

I’ve thought of another one……

I used to regularly attend Mick Lyon’s and Andy McCabe’s Stateside All-nighter at The Stubshaw Cross Labour Club, Wigan, which was one heck of a drive for me - Especially as I used to take the ‘non motorway’ route from Wellingborough.

One such trip took even longer than normal though - I was about half way there, and as I was pulling away from a round-a-bout, a load of smoke bellowed out of my car engine to the point that I couldn’t see a thing.  I stopped the car and took the keys out, but the engine just carried on with the revs getting higher and higher, the smoke completely blocking any view all around. 

The scary bit, was when I went to get out of the car on to the duel carriageway a lorry zoomed by (I could have been a gonna) So I quickly got out of the passenger side and stood on the grass verge, not only waiting and hoping that the bl*ody engine would stop revving! But also bracing myself for a lorry to drive straight in to my car.

The engine finally stopped / the smoke cleared / and Green Flag Breakdown Service came to the rescue (The Turbo was kn*ckered) Remember I’m only just half way there at this point, and in my mind I had very nearly been killed so I was a tad shaken up….”So do you want to go back home?”…….”Um no, I want to go to the All-nighter”

So Green Flag drove me up to Stoke where I got a courtesy car, and off I went on my merry way to Wigan blocking out any thoughts on what to do about my car - It took me eleven hours to get to the All-nighter.

Again - Us lot simply have to get there! 

Len 

P.s - I should hopefully get to 'The Bury Virtual All-nighter' tonight with no trouble at all......but you never know 

 

Had a very similar thing on the way to Hyde one night. ( the night Barbara Acklin was on live )

The master cylinder on the Hilux had been dripping one drop of clutch fluid into the footwell every week for ages , I had a new one waiting in the glovebox but had not got round to changing it.

I was going cross country for a change , A1 , Newark , Mansfield etc , just got to the outskirts of Chesterfield when the pedal shot straight to the floor ..... Bugger ... guess I'll have to do that cylinder swap now ... easy enough task on the Hi-lux ... 

Wasn't the master cylinder that gave out but the slave on the side of the gearbox .... !

So in the pitch black and pouring rain I just pressed on , the truck was very forgiving gearchange wise and I just got the timing right with no problems ( despite the fact that I was unknowingly trekking right through the Peak District ... had some wonderful views on the way back ) right up to the point when I had to stop at a long line of traffic at roadworks in New Mills , one thing she wouldn't do was go from a standing start with no clutch.

So I parked up in front of a line of cottages , knocked on the nearest door to let them know the story , told them I'd be back to collect it tomorrow and stuck my thumb out ... 

Got to the nighter about an hour later , got sorted and off I went as usual , thankfully a very kind chap from Stockport ( Trev Dean ) gave me a lift to the Stockport Toyota dealership in the morning , they were open for some reason and after a lot of begging they went and collected the truck , towed it back to the workshop , fitted a repair kit for the slave , seals etc and sent me on my way. ( Told me the seal kit was a temporary fix but I ran another 90,000 miles on it )

As has said previously , sometimes common sense was left behind in the pursuit of a night out.

Thankfully a tad more sensible these days , but only a tad ... 

Edited May 9, 20205 yr by Woodbutcher

Wouldn't it be good to put a book together with the exploits of us soullies, it would be souled out 😂 

Another time, 3of us went to I think Oldham in the late 90s, we picked up a Ford capri from the scrap yard for a tenner as we did on regular occasions. Off we went found the place and it resembled crossroads motel off the telly. Parked up, no licence or tax or ins. The car park had cctv all over so I thought the car would be OK, the night was awful bad tunes bad everything. Came out about 3am and the car was gone, nobody saw anything even the cctv operator. Got a taxi home. About a month later the police called to tell me my car was on a industrial site could you go and collect it. When we got there the inside was stripped bar but they had left my northern soul cds, I think they must have been rockers 😂 

Loughborough allnighter in the morning came out and the throttle cable is broke - however it would reach the temp slide in the dash - yep that will work - Classsic 🤣😂🤣

Trust me you can’t make this stuff up 

And another…..

Nina and I were driving back from ‘The 100 Club’ in a car that I had borrowed from a work colleague.  We were stuck in traffic around the North Circular when the temperature gauge started to show hot!

So I turned up a road, parked up, we verballed, then for no apparent reason we both got out and went for a walk intensely discussing the car situation for about two hours....

We then got back in the car, the thinking being that the car may have healed up - No such luck, the temperature started to rise again. So I pulled in to a petrol station.  I then got out, ‘popped the hood’ and wiggled wires and pipes about, then proceeded to lie on the ground and crawled underneath the car to find out what the problem was.  This was all a bit pointless because I know nothing about cars 

In the mean-time, Nina went to ask a Taxi driver about it - That thinking being that Taxi drivers should know about cars because they drive them.  This thinking actually worked! It turned out that the fan belt had snapped.

We got it sorted, but when we drove off every time I turned on the indicator the car alarm started to sound! (I kid ye not)

Monday morning I gave my work colleague the keys back……”By the way, I fixed your car alarm”……”What car alarm?”……. 

The above is an example of why I don’t share my stories with normal people - They simply wouldn’t believe them!

Len 

 

I beleive ya len, oh yeh

Of course back in those days there was no sat nav and stuff.

Shortly after the Torch all-nighters started we set off from Liverpool, 7 of us crammed into my Dads Hillman Husky with the seats folded flat so we could all lie down. Get on the M6 to the classic conversation of "I thought you new where it was"? No "I thought you did" Several hours later we get there and had a classic night. Coming back was a bit scary as I was driving and kept falling asleep. Only to be kept awake by my mates singing hey hey brother Times a Wasting at the top of their voices. Happy days.

Dave Banks

I drove from Chatham to Fleetwood (283 miles) for my first full weekender in 2001 which I was dead excited about. Before I left, I checked the oil and water levels on my car and thought I was fit to go. As I got to the M1, the temperature started to rise until it got undrivable so I pulled up at Newport Pagnell services. Opened up the bonnet and there was oil everywhere. I didn't screw the lid back on properly.

A recovery truck took me to a garage who had to clean the engine and replace the oil. They were already busy so it took bloody ages. I was getting so agitated. I had planned to get to Fleetwood about 5 but didn't arrive until 10. 

I was told that the bar shut at midnight, so the first pint went down in one and the others went down quickly after. It wasn't until about 1am, I realised they were still serving and I was well pissed by then. The bar stayed open until 3 or 4am. 

It all worked out well in the end 😀

 

Edited May 12, 20205 yr by Daved

A stupid 15 year old.. decides he's gonna thumb it to Cleethorpes for a Pier 'niter.. heard a tenth-hand rumour about a coach that leaves from a pub in Nottingham, after a Soul Night.. Off I plod, walkman in hand, and about a tenner in me pocket.. Thumb out on the A1 and get a lift as far as Grantham.. all good so far.. Not long before another lift took me to the A52 just outside Nottingham and by this time it's beginning to get dark.. I then commenced to walk to every pub I could find - fully expecting to very quickly find the one with the aforementioned coach.. About a hour later, and it suddenly dawned on me that Nottingham is actually quite a large place, and the chances of finding the right pub was an impossible task - especially as I didn't know either it's name OR which part of Nottingham !! Eventually made my way to the train station and, after checking how far east I could afford to travel while keeping enough for entry at the other end, hopped on a train that took me to somewhere in the general direction - haven't a clue where it was !! Back on the road again, hoping I'm going the right way.. It's silly o'clock in the morning and, after treading country roads for what seemed like an eternity, and with very little traffic on the roads, I decided that the next car that comes along I will wave my arms and flag them down.. Which was successful, as an old Morris transit stopped, with just the driver and one passenger.. after explaining my dilemma I was invited aboard and told they would get me within around 15 miles of Cleggy.. and did I smoke ?? Being a smoker but unable to afford to buy my own I quickly replied in the affirmative in the hope I would be offered a very welcome ciggy.. Not quite.. Instead the driver lit a single fag.. had a few drags then passed it to his passenger, who did the exact same thing before passing it to me.. At that age you're not averse to lugging on a fag that had already been passed around, although i did think they were being tight with the cigs as it was a roll up - and thought they could have rolled one just for me, but puffed eagerly away on it anyway... The remainder of the journey seemed to pass quickly and was full of mirth and laughter - it was like we had known each other for ever !! Turns out that was my first encounter of cannabis lol.. I ended up happily walking the remaining 15 miles to Cleggy - dawn fast breaking, in time to get there for the last hour !! At least Kev Draper was able to organise a lift back for me !!

Edited May 12, 20205 yr by Ficklefingers
wrong direction !!

On 07/05/2020 at 20:38, Stephen Houghton said:

Hi I would just like to know about you soullies out there, in the days of not very much money times. Is there any stories of how you got to them, did your scooter break down, or train take you to the wrong place. Our story was in the days of Stafford. Me and my mate walked from macclesfield to Stafford got there in the early hours for the last hour, who would do anything like that now just to go too a club, what's your story 

43 miles on foot? 🤔

One nightmare journey to the Casino involved trapped in a car with Craig Dethick and Alan Flysher. If you knew them you will know what I meen.

Loughborough all nighter around 88. Arrived easily enough from London  on the train, where I was studying, never been to the town before but easily found the venue, town hall, if I remember correctly, nighter bag in hand I was told by the bouncer  'allnighter, that was last night pal!'

Back to the station, last train to London

 had gone, first at 7 in the morning, cold nights sleep under the bench on the platform. Shrugged it off and was back at an nighter the following week.

Early 80's.. decide I wanna buy a few new records so begin my drive to Wigan.. Somewhere along the way I picked up two lads (non-soulies).. With the illegal substance I took earlier having kicked in I was non-stop verballing for each & every mile of tarmac we traversed.. Stopped at Corley Services near Coventry to refuel - to be informed by my passengers 'thanks for the lift mate, but we'e gonna hang around here for a while before continuing' !?!  They obviously didn't like the topics of discussion.. or maybe it was the fact they couldn't get a word in and both had headaches !! lol (Len.. does that bring back memories of the one and only time Sue and I gave you a lift.. to Leeds ?? lol). No problem, I thought, and continued on  my merry way as a sole traveller again.. As I neared Keele services I get red lights appear on the dash, and smoke begins to pour from the bonnet.. It was quite late at this stage but I managed to make it to the services and sought the assistance of site based mechanics - only to be told that the head gasket had blown, oil all over the place, and I wouldn't be driving it anywhere soon !! They kindly arranged for a dealer in Hanley to collect the car the next day for repair.. Ah well, all in a day's work, I thought (the gear was good..) What next ?? Ah.. I know.. 'Taxi..' all the way to Wigan, and at a cost of £25 !! Hah, I thought.. It's only money !! Anyway.. gets to the Casino early hours only to find IT AIN'T ON !! Ah well.. all in a day's work, I thought yet again.. Now what !?! A quick stroll to the train station.. next train back home, and would see the end to a complete waste of a night.. Err.. No.. No trains until around 7am !! Bearing in mind the purpose of the trip in the first place was to buy records, I had quite a lot of cash on me,so didn't fancy hanging around and the prospect of being relieved of my possessions before the first train.. 'Taxi.. !!' All the way back to Huntingdon, and ANOTHER £50 !! That wasn't the end of it though.. The car.. new engine.. piston through the head.. over £600 !! I think wages were around £30-£40 a week at the time.. A VERY expensive outing.. and NOT ONE 45 !!

Edited May 12, 20205 yr by Ficklefingers

On 12/05/2020 at 16:08, Ficklefingers said:

 (Len.. does that bring back memories of the one and only time Sue and I gave you a  lift.. to Leeds ?? lol).

Indeed it does Johnny.  That trip to Leeds was one of many fond memories that this scene provides us with.

Btw, there was nothing sinister ref not having a lift off you ever again - The company was fine and dandy ('Like minds') 

Len 

 

I've felt really bad ever since, Len !! lol.. My head was POUNDING by the time we got there, so god knows how I made you feel.. It's one of them stories we quite often remind ourselves of, and relate to others as a warning never to get a lift with me !! lol

You can 'rest easy' Johnny - It was a pleasure.  All these years later a wrong (in your head) has been put right 

Len 

 

Thing is though, Len.. I can't remember giving you a lift back home !! Come to think of it, I don't even remember how I got home lol

Oh.. such Happy Days !!

Nor can I Johhny 

Yes, a very happy time.

Len 

 

Reminds me of a night at Blackpool Mecca, me and my mate, about fifteen/sixteen. Missed our coach so hitched back to Rochdale. Second lift dropped us in Moss Side at about 4:00 am. We were approached by a gang of about six brothers. "United or City?" was the question we had to answer for safe passage. Scary night!

On 08/05/2020 at 20:19, Kathryn Magson said:

1966 & only JUST turned 15 when I started going to the Twisted Wheel. I normally caught  the X12 bus from Bradford - cost 5/- & took 1hr 45 mins to go over the Pennines to Manchester. If I was skint - a not uncommon occurrence back then as I was living in a bedsit by the time I turned 16 - I used to hitch it there & back along with a mate. Wouldn't feel safe for 2 teenage girls to do that nowadays, but when you're 16 you don't see the dangers in life do you? Other clubs I went to were The Plebs (Halifax) Birdtrap (near Burnley) Golden Disc ( Keighley) Lord Jim's (Huddersfield) Blue Note & Top 20 (both in Manchester) & String o'Beads (Bradford) There might have been others, but these are the ones I remember - the Wheel was always my favourite & I was there most weekends.

It was just the BEST time to be a teenager I had some fab times - saw some of the best bands - I'd do it all again in a heartbeat!😍😍

PS - just reminiscing - I vaguely remember going to Halifax - squashed god knows how many of us into a battered old Ford Anglia - when the exhaust dropped of halfway there - oops! It had no door handles inside - just bits of string to pull to close the doors - & the wipers didn't work either......Happy days.....

My sisters used to go to the Top 20. Don't hear it mentioned much.

5 hours ago, Drewtg said:

My sisters used to go to the Top 20. Don't hear it mentioned much.

The Top 20 was quite a small club Drew - think it probably only held about 100 or so at the most - it had a small dance floor & a tiny coffee bar upstairs. The nighters  weren't normally very busy - most of us went there on Sunday mornings after a night at the Wheel.

At least the Top 20 dance floor was wooden - unlike the Wheel where the floor in the DJ room was flagstones  & in the main room I think it was bitumen! No wonder we all have bad backs & knackered knees!

I remember reading a couple of years ago that Clarence (Jamaican guy who used to DJ at the Top 20) is still DJing, but can't remember where - somewhere in Mancs I think.

Back in the day me and about 4others went to the carousel at Plymouth Grove Manchester, it was a good night, good tunes etc etc. We come out in the morning and it was snowing one of our party had taken his tunes to sell. We went to the main road to catch the bus back to macclesfield bus arrived and we got back OK, it was freezing in the bus. Arrived in macc and realised that macca had put his records on the wall near the bus stop and had left them there doh, they were all demos and pricey, PRICELESS 

Heart breaking Stephen!

I knew someone who put his records on top of a car, drove off, and only realized when he got home - Back they drove......very slowly 

Maybe 'see' you at 'The Bury Virtual All-nighter tonight' - I'll buy you a Virtual pint 

Len 

 

Cheers len, nibbles too I hope 😂 

This has been a good post, and what sticks out is the hard times we endured getting to the venues for the people and the music. Don't think the youth would do it hitch hike, train, bus etc etc etc, they just wouldn't bother. But what a scene to be in luv it 

I remember many times hitch-hiking up the M6 on a Saturday night to the casino when I was 16 - 17 and being picked up by a wide range of people from a man in a rolls royce to a priest. I'm sure as well it confused them when they got off at the first Wigan junction as I think there was no way back on except to go through Wigan it'self, I always pleaded ignorance. When I could afford the train many times instead of getting off at Stafford I would end up at Rugby, being straight meant sleeping on the way home.

Thanks for that Geoff, I remember when the police were turning back vehicles from the Wigan junction back to where they had come from, because the casino was getting too popular, we just went another way in the minibus, priceless