The phrase Northern Soul was coined by Margret Thatcher at a dance at the Girls High School in 1960 whens she was getting down to the latest releases from the USA and whilst looking through her collection of Vinyl said to her Girl Friends, " this music is so soulfull and all the way up here in the Midlands, we should call it Midlands Soul " but changed her mind to Northern Soul when she was informed in Geography that the Midlands didnt exist, as anything north of the Watford Gap Service Station was North.

Fact

Pretty sure Frank Wokko didn't get to the Torch, may be wrong but its a new one on me if he did. I remember the old Torch goers and Wokko wasn't in their set.

Dave

I rememeber vividly Frank sitting on the nottm palais steps one sunday (around 79) talking to me about the Torch. I didnt doubt him because he was quite a bit older than me.

anyway, if i get back in time from the BBC building in lincoln next friday, i'll call in to Kontak and say hello

I rememeber vividly Frank sitting on the nottm palais steps one sunday (around 79) talking to me about the Torch. I didnt doubt him because he was quite a bit older than me.

anyway, if i get back in time from the BBC building in lincoln next friday, i'll call in to Kontak and say hello

Yeah, hope ya make it back in time. Just whisper in my ear "hey up, ya fat little fcuker" then I'll know its you

Had a good freind from linc way Aidie Fothergill he sadly no longer with us either, he was a great lad me him at leeds allnighter about 19 yrs ago god bless him

Tont Clayton lived at the old framland rectory in Harston after he moved from the Rectory at Eaton (last i heard was he lived in the lace market, nottm).

Biz is still around , hes a good mate of mine, Webby lives in Coffs harbour (Oz) and eats sleeps breathes Northern soul. Neil olive will be back, i'll wager that. Wokko (Frank/Steve) is 465 yrs old but he's been there and done that (Torch, Casino, cleethorpes etc etc)

Ian Smart is long since gone, i know his younger Brother Mark well, we went to school together , he still does the Nationals in Aus im reliably informed by Webby!

there are lots of faces still doing a bit, myself included. in fact , if i get home in time i'll be down to Kontaks's next friday .

IAN p.s. TMG, is that you Ian

p.p.s , heres a rare photo, Soul Sam Dancing (with boogie looking on)

yes it,s me , that pic is Roy dancing with Sam , his hands give it all away

Don't think wocco went to the Torch, he did go to Wigan but not very often, we talked about this a while ago and he never mentioned the Torch in the long list of venues he's been to.

Ian.

just looked at Dawns pics of the phoenix all-dayer,,......... me thinks i spot wokko hiding . (behind the girl in foreground) looks like him when he had hair

edit : the slim lass with blonde hair looks very much like Jacquie Brown

Edited November 23, 200816 yr by IanP

just looked at Dawns pics of the phoenix all-dayer,,......... me thinks i spot wokko hiding . (behind the girl in foreground) looks like him when he had hair

edit : the slim lass with blonde hair looks very much like Jacquie Brown

Ian, the third piccy of Dawns. Purple trews/white belt. Looks like Karen Megget (not sure spelling). Remember her? Works on the tills in Asda now I think.

yes thats her ! blimey

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 19TH 2008 - OUT ON THE FLOOR AGAIN GRANTHAM

KONTAK CLUB - GRANTHAM

STILL KEEPING ON KEEPING ON

What about lester from grantham ,not seen him since the 70s ,certain bloke on here got me into substances toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

What about lester from grantham ,not seen him since the 70s ,certain bloke on here got me into substances toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

not seen him for years

What about lester from grantham ,not seen him since the 70s ,certain bloke on here got me into substances toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

lol right way now

lol right way now

lol

What about lester from grantham ,not seen him since the 70s ,certain bloke on here got me into substances toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Don't know what happened to Lester (Mick Collins). I'll have to ask around and find out whats what.

I remember back around 1971 story was Lester got caught in a mate's bedroom. Mates missus between the sheets and Lester hiding behind the bedroom door starkers with his hands covering his goolies. Mate gives Lester a well deserved smack. A few weeks later mate says reason he gave him a smack wasn't because he was tapping his missus but because Lester had his slippers on which was takin' the piss.

Edited November 25, 200816 yr by Dave Turner

Paul

Wasn't Paul Sadot from Grantham?

I don't know if he DJayed.

Stu

Indeed I am and I did.

Grantham Football Club on sundays after Wigan, Cleethorpes etc. Sort of chill out sessions!ha!

Don't know what happened to Lester (Mick Collins). I'll have to ask around and find out whats what.

I remember lester! Others from my time and who used to take 'Harry's' bus (transit van) to Wigan, St ives etc.

Paul Johnson (Johnny)

Steven Bonshor (bonny?)

Sam & Jam Rice

Coco (mot very pc name now!)

Virginia Gabrial

Jackie Degnam

Julie Sterry

Martin Chapman

Jean

Liz

Frank

Pete Brown (for a bit)

Dave Brown (for a bit)

Sheldon (dead now)

Mick

there were more, but ive forgotten!

Edited November 25, 200816 yr by paul-s

My cousin 'Ratty' used to go to the Torch...Anthony Wright.

Of course he was!!! forgot about Paul, bought some records off him recently and when i paid i told him i was from Grantham and didn't get a reply think he wants to move on heard some stories ages ago of his younger life coff coff

No, its a good history! I stopped going first time round when I ended up in Grantham Hospital, for some reason 78sh ......left Grantham and started back in 81.......I had a great time travelling with the Grantham 'very motley' crew from 76 to 78/9! Top times

Don't know what happened to Lester (Mick Collins). I'll have to ask around and find out whats what.

I remember lester! Others from my time and who used to take 'Harry's' bus (transit van) to Wigan, St ives etc.

Paul Johnson (Johnny)

Steven Bonshor (bonny?)

Sam & Jam Rice

Coco (mot very pc name now!)

Virginia Gabrial

Jackie Degnam

Julie Sterry

Martin Chapman

Jean

Liz

Frank

Pete Brown (for a bit)

Dave Brown (for a bit)

Sheldon (dead now)

Mick

there were more, but ive forgotten!

Remember Coco (John Lynch) well, used to work with him for quite a few years up can factory, Springfield Rd. Good ole boy was Coco. Yeah remember Ratty Wright as well.

Edited November 25, 200816 yr by Dave Turner

those early days for me were fab! Harry's mini bus , blimey . not seen Martin Chapman for over 25 yrs, he was one of the original mod revivalists around early 79 (along with jock). what about Neil Parker? he was a young soulie during those early days too.... he actually is still a mate who is still around town.

shame about sam and 'Jim' , they were kind of peers of ours when we first kicked off. (dont mention the fight at St Ives ). eye opening days/nights indeed

Been wracking me noggin thinking about who was going to the Torch when in '71 as a young sprog of 15 I got into NS. These were all older lads than me and I knew some better than others but here goes from what I can remember

Dave Owen (still on the scene)

Rick Clarke (in Canada I think)

Mick Stevens (dead)

John Adams (dead)

Big Gez

Little Gez

Martin Angeloni

Tommy Moore

Dodger

Brian Mitchell

Willy Lawrence

Brian Coleman

Most stopped going after the Torch closed although Mick Stevens continued going as I remember being at the Rochford/Phoenix/After8 when Russ (Notts) and Mick wanted a bump start with the motor. "We're off to VaVas, jump in". That was the night before Mick died in a smash up after dropping us back off in town. Tommy Moore went up to Wigan a few times and so did Brian Coleman.

Sounds like grantham truely was the epicentre, all that i remember is that during the 80's it was a bit berift of northern adventures and most souling was to be had in nottingham and leicester with hinkley thrown in for luck. The pheonix was a night club owned by the infamous grantham ganster with granthams number one DJ spinning the finest michael jackson and the infamous Len Boone .....what a hero, i believe he has started spinning again.

motley lot we were !

look at a 'young' Tony Clayton in photo (with Neil O stood next to Edwin Starr) top left

top Right - Al Kent in full swing at Ric Tic revue

bottom left - Myself, paul atherton (sargeant at local nick), singin along on stage

bottom right - a mighty photo, Al Kent, Pat Lewis, JJ Barnes chilling out

What about lester from grantham ,not seen him since the 70s ,certain bloke on here got me into substances toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Yes its me he,s refering to and no i didnt i never touched those horrible drugs i,ve been reading this thread with some

amusement age is definatly clouding some peoples memory

Steve

those early days for me were fab! Harry's mini bus , blimey . not seen Martin Chapman for over 25 yrs, he was one of the original mod revivalists around early 79 (along with jock). what about Neil Parker? he was a young soulie during those early days too.... he actually is still a mate who is still around town.

shame about sam and 'Jim' , they were kind of peers of ours when we first kicked off. (dont mention the fight at St Ives ). eye opening days/nights indeed

Saw Johnny in Oz last year...hes the one who got me into it! ha! Neils still around, saw him last year. Martin went to America in the 80s and still lives there I think!

Grantham...it was bad enough before Thatcher fucked ALL the engineering firms (i was apprentice at MARCO's). Now....well.... im never going back.ha!

anyone from grantham interested in a lift to Skeggy this weekend (thats Sat 15th Aug 09) give me a shout and you can have a grantham reunion

So what's been happening lately ...........