The Fleet

[Guest STANGROUND SOUL]

THIS SATURDAY 21st NOV ITS THE 31st ANNIVERSARY OF NORTHERN SOUL AT THE FLEET IN PETERBOROUGH

IN 1978 KEN COX OF EAST ANGLIA SOUL CLUB GOT THE BALL ROLLING WITH THE ALLNITERS

OVER THE YEARS THE FLEET LIKE MANY OTHER PLACES HAS HAD THE GOOD WITH THE BAD

THANKFULY ITS DOING VERY WELL THANKS TO THE PETERBOROUGH SOUL CLUB

WHAT ARE YOUR MEMORY OF THE VENUE AND WHO WAS YOUR NUMBER 1 DJ OVER THE YEARS

[Simsy]

Loved the Fleet and Danny Everard & Dave Evison.

Edited November 20, 2009 by Simsy

[Guest Lobster Madras]

Loved the Fleet and Danny Everard & Dave Evison.

Shouldn't this be in Events or Yesterdays?

Loved it , loved it !

John Vincent, Sam and Ginger .. Arthur Fenn and Nev Wherry...

It's been done before but such great memories of this nighter ..

[Rob Wigley]

Great venue Great times as a punter in the mid 70s and then later as a DJ under Jon Buck & Danny Everades rule back end of the 80s.

A true all-nighter venue

Rob

[Guest STANGROUND SOUL]

SORRY IF THIS IS IN THE WRONG BIT OR IT BEEN DONE BEFORE

[Davenpete]

Fond, fond, fond memories of this place - where I started my regular nighter going, the little room used to be great when it was totally pitch dark.

Dave

[The Tempest]

I was at the 10th Anniversary , I think it was 88' , working in London at the time , absolutely brilliant allnighter , here's to the next 31 !!!

Edited November 20, 2009 by 123-motown

[Guest rod]

Keith Wilcox & Marco. Soulie. Badger. Clifton Findley. Steevey Partrige. Good ol' boys Back In The Day (BITD). Why Did Wozza come second in the dance comp 2 the promoters Mrs ? & another question 2... whilst all the "important people" were "chatting" at Stafford (burn baby burn 60s newies inferno) the "East Of England Soul Boys" were having it right off to some "Right old shite" like "The Night", "I'm coming high" & "10 miles high".WHY. Poor us.

So... Who's spinning this w'end then ?

Oh Yeah ... & BIG love 2 Steff & Bob & (of course) not forgetting Davey Ried XXX. & Simon Schitso, &..........especially the GORGEOUS Katey. XXX

[corby john]

Remember the All-Nighters very well, used to travel over from Corby with Roy Dandy, Tony Blackwood, Paul Bromley, Francis Mulrainey & the bloke off the Telly Dave Coyle ( Telly name is Brendan Coyle & he is in "Lark rise to Candleford" among many other shows)

Some of the lads are still out & about on the scene today. Remember bringing a Bus Load over on either Boxing day or New Years day to an all-dayer one year only for the do to be called off as it had snowed quite heavily?? ( can't recall the year though, possibly 79'? )

Was never too fussed as to who the Dj's were as it was the sounds that mattered the most back then.

Remember getting in via the window of the Ladies toilets a few times when local boy " Shaft " let us in. His real name was Alan....................something & i believe that he went on to become either a British or World Champion Line Dancer!!!! Paul Bromley will remember Alan's surname, so i'll ask him when i see him next.

Lots of fond memories from the Fleet of bygone day's of Youth etc & strange that a lot of us were there at the time & still attend now & never even new of each other.

cheers,

John Mc.

[Guest rod]

Yeah, remember Keith & crew ended up in court as (touch) line dancers at the Milwall !!! or so the story goes... RIP Rob Keeney. Been needing to say that 4 ages, one of the important people I got back on here 2C again. Pickle too. Propper ones. KTF. This W'end gonna B good then ?

[charley1]

The Fleet was my first nighter in 1978, have some very happy memories of the Fleet nighters, if I remember it didn't start until either 00:30 or 1:00am. Always used to enjoy Brian Rae's spot

[Guest WPaulVanDyk]

Webby are you getting the name of Keith's wife wrong or was he with someone else cause i only know Keith Wilcox and Christine and they are lovely people to meet today.

[Guest STANGROUND SOUL]

HEY REALY NICE REPLYS THANK YOU ALL ,AT THE END OF THE DAY WE ARE ALL STILL LOVING THE MUSIC,I DO THINK THE LATE 70s EARLY 80s THE FLEET AND ST IVES WERE THE PLACES IN THIS AREA 2 BE ,MID 80s TO LATE 80s NORTHERN SOUL WAS ON ITS KNEES ( WELL IN PETERBOROUGH ) IS IT WAS UP 2 THE DJs 2 PUT THESE NITE ON ,2 BE TRUE IT WAS DOG EAT DOG ,THANK GOD THE GOOD DAYS ARE BACK WHILE WE ARE ALL STILL HERE ,HAPPY 31s NORTHERN SOUL @ THE FLEET BIRTHDAY, MAY THE LEGENDARY FLEET LIVE ME OUT KTF

[Guest STANGROUND SOUL]

Yeah, remember Keith & crew ended up in court as (touch) line dancers at the Milwall !!! or so the story goes... RIP Rob Keeney. Been needing to say that 4 ages, one of the important people I got back on here 2C again. Pickle too. Propper ones. KTF. This W'end gonna B good then ?

ITS GONNA BE THE 1 2 BE AT AND ITS NOT 4 ANYONE ( KEN COXS STARTED THE ALLNITERS AND MANY OTHER + THE 1000S OF SOUL FAN OVER THE YEARS ) IT 4 THE FLEET YES THE LEGENDARY FLEET KTF

[Guest]

No actually it was GILL Wilcox.....DEFINETELY! 1980ish...and certainly had a son called Dean..

Yep you are right mate and she is still knocking around on the scene, see her regularly out & about

[Paul-s]

Great venue, used to go regular in 70's.

Nev was top bloke...

[Russoul1]

remember getting chased over the bridge by some punks! happy days at the fleet

russ

[Guest SteveC]

My favourite venue of all time. Home boy. Great tunes. The perfect place to begin my niter experiences. Have never experienced the emotional feelings I had for the music in that venue since!!!

[Davenpete]

the miles i rode on my scoots to attend the fleet was amazing,even broke my leg & still rode up from essex on my p2,danced 6hrs on crutches,got that bad i even ended up moving to p/boro

my best dj had to be the one and only 'Soulie' he was such an inspiration to me in my record collecting & god could he dance

i tried for years to dance as smooth as him but to no evail & hats off to him as he always gave me the time to show me what he played as he done his sets & always made us 'scooterists' feel part of the fleet atmosphere

'Soulie' if ya reading mate,im still riding & still dancing & now & then playing some sets & its thanks to you & them nights @ the Fleet

and thanks for always playing 'Tina Harvey' Nowhere to run' for me

I used to ride down from Hull where I was at college in 83/84/85/86 with Martin Midgley from Bradford and Striker from Hull etc (then up from Oxford), remember doing Loughborough/Stafford double from Oxford on Scoot, then soon after Bucky's Lowestoft nighter followed by Chelmsford alldayer and then the 100 Club (350 mile round trip), the first year or so out of college I did almost all my nighters by Scooter on me tod (unless I had a passenger - now that WAS tiring!) regardless of where they were (inc Morecambe, Brian's Wheel Revivals and Mexborough by Scooter from Oxford and Peterborough then Leighton Buzzard alldayer from Hull). Used to see Ratty from the Mansfield Monsters everywhere I went on his scoot too.

Remember someone with broken leg - didn't you go to Leighton Buzzard with it too? I remember someone off their head, being quite pleased as to how good a cast was for spinning on.

Dave Carne (ex-Oxford Roadrunners)

Edited November 23, 2009 by DaveNPete

[Guest martyn]

Was a regular at The Fleet from 78 to 82 .The first nighter was in the early summer of 78 if I remember correctly.........Anyone else remember standing in the entrances to the brick kilns in the winter when it was cold ? We had this theory it made the gear work quicker

[Ian Parker]

frequent visitor to 'The Fleet' in the very early 80's.. another one of those venues i cant remember a thing about ! Clifton Hall, horwich, Cleethorpes winter gardens etc etc. all distant memories

[macca]

Was a regular at The Fleet from 78 to 82 .The first nighter was in the early summer of 78 if I remember correctly.........Anyone else remember standing in the entrances to the brick kilns in the winter when it was cold ? We had this theory it made the gear work quicker

Right on both counts Martyn. I definitely remember attending an all-nighter at The Fleet well before November.

The kilns had, shall we say, a trigger like effect on one's central nervous system. I also remember ornithological forays down to the water's edge where I would attempt to communicate with coots and mallards via rhyder hunt's duck warbler. Happy memories indeed. Does anyone remember weedgie john? he used to go out with stanground girl vicky brookbanks and only went to the fleet to get blocked. he used to wear a levi jacket with a UVF patch and once I was sitting next to him and James Coit came on, which was massive at the time, and I asked him what he thought of the record and his reply was 'it's no that bad, but it's not a gid as the f*** sash. I pissed myself. the fleet had a lot of characters, as did many venues...

[Pauldonnelly]

Right on both counts Martyn. I definitely remember attending an all-nighter at The Fleet well before November.

The kilns had, shall we say, a trigger like effect on one's central nervous system. I also remember ornithological forays down to the water's edge where I would attempt to communicate with coots and mallards via rhyder hunt's duck warbler. Happy memories indeed. Does anyone remember weedgie john? he used to go out with stanground girl vicky brookbanks and only went to the fleet to get blocked. he used to wear a levi jacket with a UVF patch and once I was sitting next to him and James Coit came on, which was massive at the time, and I asked him what he thought of the record and his reply was 'it's no that bad, but it's not a gid as the f*** sash. I pissed myself. the fleet had a lot of characters, as did many venues...

LOL mate...one things for sure the Boro certainly has played its part over the last 4O years in help shaping all this bollocks we call the Northern Soul Scene

[Steve G]

Used to love it there and also DJing there as a regular resident type thing in the early/mid80s, the only venue I have ever been to where I could walk there and back!

Edited November 27, 2009 by Steve G

[Guest SteveC]

the only venue I have ever been to where I could walk there and back!

Snap Steve. Even though it was all the way to West Town via the train station (what wonderful escorts we were for the Norwich crew who were going home on the train).

[Guest martyn]

Right on both counts Martyn. I definitely remember attending an all-nighter at The Fleet well before November.

The kilns had, shall we say, a trigger like effect on one's central nervous system. I also remember ornithological forays down to the water's edge where I would attempt to communicate with coots and mallards via rhyder hunt's duck warbler. Happy memories indeed. Does anyone remember weedgie john? he used to go out with stanground girl vicky brookbanks and only went to the fleet to get blocked. he used to wear a levi jacket with a UVF patch and once I was sitting next to him and James Coit came on, which was massive at the time, and I asked him what he thought of the record and his reply was 'it's no that bad, but it's not a gid as the f*** sash. I pissed myself. the fleet had a lot of characters, as did many venues...

I remember the UVF bloak ,always struck me as a wrong un ..........Pretty sure the nighters moved from the Wirrina to The Fleet in May/June 78 . The first night was when Sam hit us with his new batch of stuff that included Wakefield Sun ,Grand Piano Co & Micky Mouse Concerto - and we lapped it up

Agree with you about the characters , I will trump your UVF man with Mick Lewin , Kipper & Nipper

[harpo1]

Had great nights there, A47 was a nightmare to get there though.....couple of memories spring to mind....the time me and Planty drove to Warrington to pick up Brian and Madeline, called at Gary Rushbrooks in Notts...then Brians van broke down(PLANTY WAS DRIVIND AS bRIAN HAD EITHER AN ARM OR LEG IN PLASTER)Had to get Mick Holsworth to pick us up next day as they we both doing Lacarno dayer...then up to Brians to pick up Plantys car...got in just in time to get bus to work mon. am...i suppose alost 30 years on with 100's os such weekend adventires it seems nowt...but this was at the time a fantastic fun fiasco. Then the night Kev Draper played "I Don't Like to Lose" uncovered, at the time Richards top play, caused a bit of a stir that one LOL

rEMEMBER THAT WALLPAPER]

hARPO

[dthedrug]

Had great nights there, A47 was a nightmare to get there though.....couple of memories spring to mind....the time me and Planty drove to Warrington to pick up Brian and Madeline, called at Gary Rushbrooks in Notts...then Brians van broke down(PLANTY WAS DRIVIND AS bRIAN HAD EITHER AN ARM OR LEG IN PLASTER)Had to get Mick Holsworth to pick us up next day as they we both doing Lacarno dayer...then up to Brians to pick up Plantys car...got in just in time to get bus to work mon. am...i suppose alost 30 years on with 100's os such weekend adventires it seems nowt...but this was at the time a fantastic fun fiasco. Then the night Kev Draper played "I Don't Like to Lose" uncovered, at the time Richards top play, caused a bit of a stir that one LOL

rEMEMBER THAT WALLPAPER]

hARPO

Harpo do you know what I liked about Fleet ...? Absalutly Nothing ..... 78 was the year I stopped going to soul do,s got a job working in the Kitchen at Butlins Clacton???and wa\it for it guess who used to go on Holiday to Butlins???? yep good old Brian (I will watch your records Dave) And his luvley partner Mad Aline, yes the took about 1/2 oz & 800 back street blues to see them through the weeek....GOOD LINK YES?? DAVE KIL.

[Guest rod]

The Fleet ha ha ha . no one ever changed those fuckin mad 70s curtains did they? ha ha ha. All those niters & no-one ever changed the trippy Austin Powers curtains. Me mam had wallpaper just like that once ha ha h aaaaargh. Worth a visit on merit alone for rare 70s curtain afficianadoes. Good good stuff

[macca]

I remember the UVF bloak ,always struck me as a wrong un ..........Pretty sure the nighters moved from the Wirrina to The Fleet in May/June 78 . The first night was when Sam hit us with his new batch of stuff that included Wakefield Sun ,Grand Piano Co & Micky Mouse Concerto - and we lapped it up

Agree with you about the characters , I will trump your UVF man with Mick Lewin , Kipper & Nipper

He also played esperanto and said the intro sounded like a certain rotund blackpool mecca dj tap dancing.

Yes, mr. lewin, kypros and nipper, aka john foote, with an 'e'. I've tried searching for him on facebook but no joy.

used to pawn my watch on a monthly basis at the fleet. curry at the mumtaz before the all-nighter. beers in the white lion before the long walk down bridge street to fletton.

[Guest martyn]

He also played esperanto and said the intro sounded like a certain rotund blackpool mecca dj tap dancing.

Yes, mr. lewin, kypros and nipper, aka john foote, with an 'e'. I've tried searching for him on facebook but no joy.

used to pawn my watch on a monthly basis at the fleet. curry at the mumtaz before the all-nighter. beers in the white lion before the long walk down bridge street to fletton.

Remember the St Neots girls , always there , Marion ,Sally ,Janis ,Cheryl ,Lyn ,Linda ,Sue , Cathy etc etc ? .......

[Guest SteveC]

Bloody hell - Lyn from St Neots - now thats a blast from the past. Ain't seen her since those days we're talking about. Anyone know how she is?

[Guest martyn]

Bloody hell - Lyn from St Neots - now thats a blast from the past. Ain't seen her since those days we're talking about. Anyone know how she is?

Married with kids I believe , I still see Sue (married to Rob from Bedford ) & they keep in touch - will enquire . Haven't seen Lyn myself since the late 80's

[Guest SteveC]

Married with kids I believe , I still see Sue (married to Rob from Bedford ) & they keep in touch - will enquire . Haven't seen Lyn myself since the late 80's

Seen Rob and Sue, Squirrel, Steve Martin the other weekend in Bedford whilst visiting Molly and Lorraine. Needless to say we had a good old reminiscing session

[Guest martyn]

Seen Rob and Sue, Squirrel, Steve Martin the other weekend in Bedford whilst visiting Molly and Lorraine. Needless to say we had a good old reminiscing session

Do we know each other mate , I'm sure we must looking at who you were visiting . Lorraine smells of dounuts BTW .

[Guest SteveC]

Do we know each other mate , I'm sure we must looking at who you were visiting . Lorraine smells of dounuts BTW .

Steve C from P'boro but live near Southampton. Yes she does smell of doughnuts...won't say what Molly smells of ...very bad though

[TOAD]

Had great nights there, A47 was a nightmare to get there though.....couple of memories spring to mind....the time me and Planty drove to Warrington to pick up Brian and Madeline, called at Gary Rushbrooks in Notts...then Brians van broke down(PLANTY WAS DRIVIND AS bRIAN HAD EITHER AN ARM OR LEG IN PLASTER)Had to get Mick Holsworth to pick us up next day as they we both doing Lacarno dayer...then up to Brians to pick up Plantys car...got in just in time to get bus to work mon. am...i suppose alost 30 years on with 100's os such weekend adventires it seems nowt...but this was at the time a fantastic fun fiasco. Then the night Kev Draper played "I Don't Like to Lose" uncovered, at the time Richards top play, caused a bit of a stir that one LOL

rEMEMBER THAT WALLPAPER]

hARPO

paul is that angie behind you ?

plenty of record bargins there ! Jack Montgomery Dearly beloved £1.50.

[Guest martyn]

Steve C from P'boro but live near Southampton. Yes she does smell of doughnuts...won't say what Molly smells of ...very bad though

Martyn S from Bedford

[Guest Sean Haydon]

paul is that angie behind you ?

plenty of record bargins there ! Jack Montgomery Dearly beloved £1.50.

Yes Tim, it is Angie, Carl Jones's ex. Do you remember the Vicar? Whatever happened to him, someone said he got busted, or was it just a rumour?

[TOAD]

the vicar ? NOT personally LOL...

Aint seen Angie since The Last Old Vic Night

[Guest Sean Haydon]

the vicar ? NOT personally LOL...

Aint seen Angie since The Last Old Vic Night

The DJ Vicar, you must remember him mate. Ain't seen Angie in years either mate, really nice girl.

[TOAD]

toney clayton ?

what year are we talkin of after casino pre Stafford ?

you used to pick me up after work at that resurant in the sticks !

[Guest Sean Haydon]

toney clayton ?

what year are we talkin of after casino pre Stafford ?

you used to pick me up after work at that resurant in the sticks !

That's him, well done mate! Gotta be about 83-84, Post Wigan Soul Searching!! Also, in the little back room is where we heard Brian play Nina Simone-My Baby Just Cares For Me and thinking, Fuck me, if this is the way our music's going, then i'm off! So, here we are some 26 years later and still Loving it!!

Big respect to Mr Rae for all those fantastic years

[harpo1]

Gota say it was a bit up and down and bad journey on A47, but prior to the Wigan Sat night rebirth, anywhere was beter than some of the banal 60's pop played by some in those oldies only times,

We had some laughs there with Mr Warrot and the Kettering lot,

I've had shit nights at the good venues, good nights at the shit ones, nights ruined after a great journey by going inside, all it needs is the right few people and thats the catalyst

[harpo1]

Gota say it was a bit up and down and bad journey on A47, but prior to the Wigan Sat night rebirth, anywhere was beter than some of the banal 60's pop played by some in those oldies only times,

We had some laughs there with Mr Warrot and the Kettering lot,

I've had shit nights at the good venues, good nights at the shit ones, nights ruined after a great journey by going inside, all it needs is the right few people and thats the catalyst

[TOAD]

That's him, well done mate! Gotta be about 83-84, Post Wigan Soul Searching!! Also, in the little back room is where we heard Brian play Nina Simone-My Baby Just Cares For Me and thinking, Fuck me, if this is the way our music's going, then i'm off! So, here we are some 26 years later and still Loving it!!

Big respect to Mr Rae for all those fantastic years

ahh the 6ts Club Soul Room every 45 a UK DEMO

[Guest Sean Haydon]

Gota say it was a bit up and down and bad journey on A47, but prior to the Wigan Sat night rebirth, anywhere was beter than some of the banal 60's pop played by some in those oldies only times,

We had some laughs there with Mr Warrot and the Kettering lot,

I've had shit nights at the good venues, good nights at the shit ones, nights ruined after a great journey by going inside, all it needs is the right few people and thats the catalyst

A bad Journey alright! Do you remember me spinning and smashing my dads car up on the way home, and he didn't know i'd got it! And all Dave Shaw was worried about was his bleedin record!

Edited December 27, 2009 by SHorny

[Trev Smith]

The Fleet was my first All nighter on my 14 birthday !! im 45 now .... I Remember keeping warm at the brickworks before it opened , looking at records i could'nt afford and sorting things out for the night a head !! then the mad crush to get in . dj's for me ... nev , kev draper , dave evison, brian rae but the whole experince was good . met my wife sue there when i was 16 !! very fond memories for me... if only i could turn back the hands of time !!!!

[Mick Howard]

The top two photos ouside the Fleet circa 1978

First photo on left is me (2nd from the left - very white skin) and my mates Blakey, Nick and Browny and the second just Nick (nice trousers young man).

Bottom photo is Coalville Tiffanies (my then girlfriend Sue just in the picture on the left)

Mick