Mr Fred

Very sad News, Tony was a legend and truly inspirational. R.I.P. Fred Ward.

How about Makin' up Time, The Holidays or the Only way is up,Otis Clay. Regards Fred.

OMG Very sad to hear this news. Geno was a really good friend of my late brother Rob Ward R.I.P. and used to see him at the Cleethorpes pier/Winter gardens All nighters. I also new him,he was ever so polite and humble. Always was happy to be able to walk with us on the same side of the street. At the time was not allowed in South Africa. He used to tell us his Dad ran a Cane furniture busines called Mmanto Shikane and exported cane furniture all over the world.. Geno came over to the UK to have a good education. Loved Northern Soul and was a really good dancer as it was in his blood. R.I.P. Geno.

The four vandals:- The wrong Side of town was tailored by Ian Levine and yes it was controversial. Liked by some and not liked by others.Personally I think it's a good Soul Sound. If you think it is good, you need to listen to the record by The Four Vandals :- A big Strong Love in my heart this is a brilliant sound and by far better than the wrong side of town. Regards Fred.

I would have thought that a well seasoned "Soulie" would have various dance steps/styles to suit all types of Soul music be it slow-mid tempo or up tempo. There are however some Motown records that we always considered to be commercial music,like 3rd finger left hand by Martha & the Vandellas which we wouldn't dance to. On the flipside a Motown record again by Martha & the Vandellas record Heatwave we found it impossible to sit down to! Another example is needle in a haystack by the Velvelettes that we wouldn't dance too as we again found it too commercial, too mainstream andmaybe not underground soul.Yes there were Motown Sounds that appealed to mainstream audiences and ones that appealed to us "Soulies"yet still under the Motown label. Another Northern Soul record is Al Wilson's the Snake,recognised by the general listener as Every Northern "Soulies" dream record when in fact it was quite the opposite. Regards Fred.

Maybe its a case of don't double deck and when one dj has finished his/her spot lock the record box. Then the next dj unlocks their box and can't put 30 records by accident into their box. I dont understand how a dj would have space in their record box to fit 30 records i would have thought they would be quite full given that you dont want your records loose, flying about in transit. Using a small record box like they were back in the day is a big risk as its very easy to be picked up. You need an aluminium box that holds 200 to 300 thats quite heavy so difficult to carry off and if it happens hopefully wont get too far. Just keep an eye on your trolley as well! Regards Fred.

Just read this, really sad news. Tom a dear friend over the years on the scene and a character. Used to see Tom all over the scene and always had time to speak to you. R I P Tom. Jacque & Fred Ward.

Really sad to hear this news. Takes me back to the days of the Twisted Wheel Whitworth street Manchester, The Hifi ClubTrinity street in Huddersfield where my brother Rob(R.I.P.) and I used to walk up to the Hifi and there was this West Indian guy who lived just down the road used to have his upstairs window open and would be playing good soul sounds. The one that caught our attention was this record Barefootin'.His name was Seamore Burke who we got quite friendly with. A really nice guy and one day he said to me I want you to have this record which was Barefootin'/ let's go baby where the the action is. Wherever I Dj I always have this sound with me and play it regularly at the Central. A class soul sound. R.I.P. Robert.

Just read the news.One of my all time fav artists.Her music will always be with us. R.I.P. Lorraine. Fred Ward.

Hi Julian, yes we are well, and trust you and Carolyn are too. Good news that Johns still with us! Didn't he get the nickname "batman" as he used to wear a cape or just wear his raincoat like one with his top button fastened with his arms inside? .We can't make it to Barnoldswick as with now three grandchildren are doing a spot of babysitting. Hopefully we'll see you both in the coming year. All the best.

I also Remember John Bollen aka (Batman) from Lord Jims, he used to keep us entertained in the queue outside Lord Jims and wasn't he the John Bollen who was on Ian Levine's "The Strange World Of Northern Soul"?. Regards Fred.

On the other hand anyone from the scene that the dancers in the video are from to watch some of the top Northern Soul Dancers we have and had over the years would be absolutely amazed. Regards Fred.