Harrythedog

Sad news regarding the sudden passing of Mark Ellis from Rotherham. Knew Mark for over 40 years from Samanthas and then introduced to him properly at the Windmill on a sunday night. From then on we went everywhere together- the casino, following the Wednesday home and away and holidays. He was my best man and we always kept in touch. Later on I used to see him at the 100 club , the Wilton and Lifeline. He had a photographic memory regards labels and artists and corrected me on many occasion. He was also well travelled going to parts of the world which were really unknown for vacations back in the day. He really was a gentle soul and I will miss him greatly. The last 5 years had not been a good time for Mark, and finally I hope he can find the peace he deserved. Sleep well mate

Does nobody have the benefit of doubt anymore. Hes apologised what more do you want the bloke to do.

Butch. Still head and shoulders above the rest. I went to Thorne last Saturday and he did 2 spots totalling two and a half hours of pure class. Nobody has come close to him over the last 20 years.

Absolutely loved this place. Reaffirmed my love affair with rare soul. It had everything, a dingy intimate venue, like minded punters, the cream of DJs and underplayed 60s soul. Perfect perfect perfect. Sadly missed

Kenny Spence, so underrated and one of my favourite M,s DJ

Fantastic nights with like minded people, who had been on the journey over the years and were always looking to hear something new. This was something we all thought would keep going and never did we imagine it would descend into the fancy dress pantomime we have today.

You only have to look at the photo section on this site. Most of the photos explain the term div far better than I could here.

Absolutely gutted. From the early days at the Carlton club, Wilton All nighters and then The soulful sessions, these nights have been a big part of my life. Always supported by similar minded people who are fed up with the same old same old. The Wilton will always hold happy memories for me. They should have been fighting at the door to get in for Richard Caiton, the problem is that 95% of todays so called soul fans don't even know who he is. If Boxy had announced that Jackie Wilson was on they would have been cueing around the block, they are that clueless. Lets hope that we can have an annual reunion at the Wilton. So to all of you who have put in all the hard work to make these nights happen, a big thank you from us all.

I got a few records from the auction list, and if my memory serves me right it was his dad I dealt with regards the sale of the records.

Brilliant. Thanks Tim. Made my night

Its all over, its all over, its all over now.

That's it iam out.

Tickets Booked, cant wait. These nights at the Wilton are so special and should not be missed. One of the rare times in the year when everybody makes the effort. Bring it on

Said goodbye to my old mate in Spain last Thursday. Around a hundred made the trip, with many more unable to make it at short notice. There is going to be a memorial service in the Uk for those who could not make the journey. What this lad packed into 53 years, most of us will never achieve in a lifetime. Started at Jenkins Rotherham as a plater Welder and on his incredible journey he started 2 companies from scratch, THINC Group and WHAT insure, and was a top player in the City of London. He never forgot his roots and the longer he spent down South the more Northern he became. A true one off who will never be forgot.

Gregg passed away peacefully in Spain yesterday. He was only 53, and it seems like only yesterday that I was buying records off him at The Windmill, Rotherham on a Sunday night in 1979. Great nights at the Casino & Cleethorpes. From that day on we have been the best of mates always meeting at either Sheffield Wednesday games or soul nights or just socially. He came over from Spain for the Clifton Hall reunion earlier this year, and met a lot of his old mates. Loved him to bits and will miss him so much. My deepest sympathy to Lea, Jodie , Taylor and other loved ones. See you later son.

Great nights up there. Used to travel from Doncaster with John Phillips & Neil Toplis. Great atmosphere and great records played. We was desperate to hear something new and this place didnt let us down. We were like youngsters again, asking what the record was, who it was by, what label it was on, trying to look at it on the turntable - brilliant nights. Now what have we got, except for one or two venues - Boring Boring Boring.

One big F#####G yawn.

Why does anyone get ready and go out to listen to records they used to listen to 30-40 years ago. About the only place i will make an effort to is Empty Bottles at Leeds. Uptempo 60,s which have been bypassed over the years. This is how it should be, fresh exciting and new again. Pat Brady did a spot last year and just didnt understand the place, he played the usual big ticket records and we were bored to tears. This place has ripped up the rule book, it doesnt need big name djs, it doesnt need big ticket records , its just a sweaty shit hole-like it used to be when we first started. Fresh and exciting again.

Loni Jones

I used to have this, and got it off Shifty for £750.00, and it really is a hard record to find. Personally i loved it, basic production and a raw gritty sound, I know iam in a minority here, as the Pinchers used to love telling me, but its one of my all time favourites and it was a sad day when it was sold.

Picked this up from Andy Dyson some years ago for £250.00. He found it at his mums with a pile more records hed forgot about. Sold it a few years ago for £300.00 and i thought id done really well. Oh well

Hey son, you took me and Mr Phillips to the cleaners.

I don,t how true this story is, but i was told this by Rob Thomas (that,s not a good start). Apparently he met up with Sam Williams and was talking about the record when Sam explained the story behind it. When Sam was in Vietnam he received a letter from his girlfriend saying that she had found somebody else and no longer loved him, and that was when the letter slipped through his fingers. As i say do not know how true that is-but what a story.