Wellingborough 10th Anniversary soul night

Well here we are coming up to the 10^th Anniversary soul night at The Embankment, Wellingborough on Friday 16^th April, 8.00 - 1.00. Yes even I'm getting slightly older!!!

A bit of History.

         I started promoting back in 1985 with a fortnightly Soul / Mod night called 'The Wollaston Rhythm and Soul Club'. Which ran for about 4 years. Then in 1992 together with Rob Glover started the soul nights at The Embankment Club under the banner 'Soul Time Promotions' which ran for about 2 years. Rob went on to run a club called 'The Buzz' which was to play other music such as deep funk etc. So in 1994 still at The Embankment Club I started 'The Wellingborough Soul Club'.

       My initial reason for starting the club was because at that time other soul nights only catered for the masses but there was a niche in the market for the records I wanted to play and to get dj spots at other venues was impossible especially for someone so young. (" No I haven't been to Wigan, yes I apologise!")

      The music policy has always been 'Must be Soulful' and over the years I have gradually been able to encourage dj's to experiment more and more, admittedly we have lost some of the oldies fans because of this but new people have replaced them keeping the attendance the same (150 - 200)

    Attendance in the early days was around 100 but in 1996 I decided to get Soul Sam to dj. At this time none of the 'Big name' dj's had been to the area for at least 20 years so that was a buzz in its self. Well I was chuffed as that night the attendance rocketed to 180 and has stayed the same since, always using well-known dj's as well as  local dj's.

    I'd like to thank everyone who has helped keep the club going - Giving out flyers, 'positive' word of mouth... now there's a thought ... 'Why are people who don't agree with your music policy so vocal about it?'

      Anyway as I was saying, thanks also goes to everyone who has dj'd at the club including - Dave Vanner, Ciro (Also for your decks in the 1^st few years), Tony Parker, Cliff Steel, Carl Fortnum, Gary Spencer, Hammy, Shaun Chapman, Sid, Rupert, Dave Fleming, John Weston, Derek Alan, Chris Anderton, Sooty! Kev Draper, Tony Warrot, The 4 Old Gits, Steve and a very young Lee Jeffries, Keith Woon, Irish Greg, Brian Goucher, Carl Boddington, Keith Jones, Glen Bellamy, Rob Holmes, Teff, Johnny Timlin, Saus, Gavin Page, Ion, Ady Croasdell, Adam, Shifty, Butch, Soul Sam, Roger Banks, Bob Hinsley 'n' Robbo (Never forget those nights) Mick Smith (Especially for not telling anybody about my mum 15 years ago ringing up for a record by 'The Cods' - She meant 'The C.O.D's!!! Mind you wasn't as embarrassing as when she said to Soul Sam "You must be Sammy Soul" - Mum!!! Thanks to Nicola for helping behind the bar the night we had over 200 in.  Also to the person who sent me £50.00 back in the early days to help me with the cost of running it (I've never forgot that act of kindness) Above all every one who has attended.

        Many people have asked why I don't put the Soul nights on more often - Reason being that nowadays there is simply not enough room in the 'Northern Soul Calendar' - Not sure if that's healthy or not but I can't risk clashing with loads of other events so I prefer to put on fewer nights with higher numbers.

   Well see you on 16^th April,

       All the best, 

                           Len Dopson.    

                                              Dates for 2004 - Fri April 16^th, Fri Sep 24^th, Fri Dec 3^rd .