Peterborough Soul Club 2Nd All-Nighter

[Simon T]

Just found this. It's a bit before my time and I was wondering if anyone on here went?

[Guest bunty]

Just found this. It's a bit before my time and I was wondering if anyone on here went?

I did!.... along with half of cambridge!! always a brill nighter imo. and my fave Dj Tony Dellar! those were the days!

[Irish Spinner]

I was there i lived in Cambridge then and got a lift over there with Roger Stern in a big old Rover that got stuck in low gear un like myself LOL:thumbsup: and yes Bunty was there along with my old mates Danny and still close friend Bill Bingham from Peterbro Danny won the dance comp at the Casino that year i think .Might even have a Pic of the lads and myself on the nite.

Irish

[Pauldonnelly]

from a bit earlier on in the year, possibly the greatest night ever at THE WIRRINA

As a resident at THE WIRRINA since its conception in 1974 I still get a big thrill from getting involved with the annual reunions, thanks to my bro he did the report for 2004

Wirrina All-nighters 30th anniversary 16th July 2004.

So what the hell is, or to be more precise, what was the Wirrina.The Wirrina was a Peterborough City Council run complex comprising of a sports hall and a rather plush ballroom.

The PSC all-nighters took place on a monthly basis over a two year period from 1974 to 1976. Granted it was at the height of popularity boom, and all that, but the place pulled the crowds... big crowds. So much so that on occasions both the ballroom and the sports hall were choc-a-bloc. Sure it didn't have the reputation of the Casino, the Torch and the Mecca but the influence of the Wirrina All-nighters on the Northern scene in East Anglia should never be underestimated. Indeed, for popularity it was only ever rivalled by St Ives, but despite this the Wirrina all-nighters remain relatively unknown on the Northern map. These days, talk to people about the Peterborough all-nighters and invariably the Fleet is the topic of conversation, but for those, myself included, who attended the Wirrina during the Phoenix Soul Club era remember those nights with a sense of fondness. Right, nostalgic sentiment out the window, history lesson over, fast forward thirty years.

To be honest I didn't really feel up for a Northern night, let alone a re-union. The cold I'd been suffering since Wednesday had really taken hold and my throat was killing me. But, the Mrs wanted to go out and there was nothing good on the box so we made our way to the Parkway (aka the railway) Club in Peterborough for the Wirrina all-nighters 30th anniversary re-union. Paul had contacted me the night before asking me to write a few choice words about the nights proceedings, so pen in one hand and a packet of strepsils in the other I plonked my arse on the closest seat to the bar and settled in for the night. To be honest I'd never been too taken with re-unions. Experience had taught me they were predictable and invariably didn't live upto the hype, I would find myself moaning about the stuff they didn't play, shaking my head in dismay at another squandered opportunity. However, this was the Wirrina Anniversary, the very same venue I attended my first allnighter back in the day, so I decided to stay positive and keep an open mind.

Up first, Mr Phoenix himself, my big bro Paul Donnelly. Whenever Paul does an early doors spot he has a tendancy to throw caution to the wind, dig a little deeper and pull out a few unusual tunes that never seem to get an airing these days, and tonight was no different.G Davis and R Tyler - Hold on help is on the way , Alpaca Phase III - I like to Party and Kim Tolliver - Don't know what foot to dance on. All popular sounds at the Wirrina in their own right set the scene for the first 45 minutes. The Bull Twins, Neil and Ady came over to our table and had a quick chat. Neil asked my why the pad and pen? I responded "I'm collating the funny stories you've told me over the past thirty years mate", and quickly showed him a blank page. Bully, always quick on the draw, recited the "god shave me joke" an Oundle Road Classic if ever there was one. In the back ground Paul was still plugging away, no-one dancing but I wasn't moaning, nice to hear Marvin Holmes and Justice again. Mick Thompkins, a guy I hadn't seen since his wedding nigh on twenty years ago, popped up like the shop kepper on Mr Benn and proclaimed that the drinks were on him.... all night, I considered telling him not to be so daft, but thought better of it. One thing about re-union nights is that it has a bad habit of pulling people out of the woodwork Trev Morley, a guy I did my apprenticeship with, approached with a rye smile on his face, we chatted about this and that. It was nice seeing Trev again. Meanwhile, the tumbleweed was still blowing across the dancefloor. Paul wrapped up the graveyard shift with three gems from the period, the sublime Margo Thunder, The Idle Few and the Fantastic Puzzles, the puzzles finally pulling a few people onto the floor. It was quarter past eight and the place was beginning to fill out. Paul handed over to Steve "Jonah" Jones for the next hour or so.

Jonah kicked off with The O'Jays working on your case , continuing with the classics My dear heart and Linda Jones' Just can't live my life. A few more people were venturing onto the floor. Credit to Jonah he had the floor packed within 20 minutes or so,and still the classics came. The Embers - watch out girl, Eloise Laws - Love Factory, The Anderson Brothers - I can see him, Bobby Hutton - Lend a hand, and Billy Prophet _ What Can I do. Jonah continued to please the crowd and as a result raisied the temperature a couple notches on the thermomenter adding to what was already a warm and sticky Peterborough evening. Mick Thompkins pushed another pint of Theakstons in front of me.Good lad. Jonah wrapped up what was an enjoyable hour with the Silhouettes - not me baby and Thelma Houstons - Baby Mine.

Enter Gary Spencer, not as regular on the scene of late, but Spena had lost none of it. Kicking off with the Bari track and Duke Browner. By now the place was at bursting point and over 300 had pushed their way into the small hall. It was nice to see so many of the old Wirrina gang coming through the doors, Pop Fisher, Johhny Carroll, Mick Beeby, Nick Gilbert, Stef Malajny, Steve Donnelly, Phil O'hearn, Billy Bingham and Gill to name but a few, and not forgetting Mick "another Theakstons" Thompkins.

Spena was settling in nicely, and the floor was still busy, Danny Monday, The Carstairs, Eula Cooper and Jeanette Williams filled the airways. On the satge with Spena was Paul and Smudge, so I took time away from the table and joined them for ten minutes or so. My intention was to grab a couple of choice quotes and from each and capture a candid moment of the three together to film. I needn't have bothered really, it must have been the silly season. Paul rattled on about not enough clapping which Smudge chipped in with a comment about penicillin continuing that he was more than a little unhappy that the mirror ball wasn't spinning and Spen, well, he stood there exclaiming that he was missing his carp fishing, the crowd were oblivious and to be honest I doubt if they would have cared. Despite missing his fishing Spen played the crowd and treated them to what they wanted to hear. Freddie Chavez, Sandi Sheldon and Reuben.... one after another, they were all wheeled out.

I made my way back to the table and joined the party. Another Theakstons had magically appeared. I glanced back up at the stage and seeing the three of them there I tried to get a mental picture of the old Wirrina days, but unfortunatley the only thing that came into my head was the similarity between Paul, Smudge and Spen and the three tenors. Gary finished off his hour with the Tramps - Hold back the night and the The Exciters - reachin',

Andy "smudge" Smith up next. I had been chatting with Smudge the week before about the big tunes that were played at the Wirrina and as is the norm with a conversation of this ilk it wasn't long before it spiralled out of control, degenerating from the sublime to the rediculous. Elusive, the Flasher and California Strut all got a mention. I considered the possibility of Smudge playing a few "howlers" just for a laugh. It was with some relief when he kicked of his spot with Willie Mitchell's The Champion. Again, the classic oldies were the order of the day. Tony and Tyrone's please operator, was well recieved as was the Montclairs and Chubby Checker's you just don't know. Johnny Bragg's They're talkin' about me also got a spin, that is the third time I have heard that it in as many weeks, is this one due for a revival? Who knows.

By now the sore throat was all but a distant memory, the beer had taken hold and it was time to verbal. I spent an interesting 20 minutes or so with Johnny Carroll discussing the pros and cons of todays soul scene and the relative popularity of the Parkway venue in general. I took time out to chat with Stef Malajny about the ol' days.He bought a smile to my face. Meanwhile Smudge played on, and the floor remained full.

Time for Paul Donnelly to return. Straight in with the Julian Covey then Vel-vets, quickly followed by the Fi-dels, the Soul twins and Tommy Bush, The Gypsies, Bits and Pieces There was a sense of irony in his voice when he introduced Nolan Porters "if I could only be sure" taking time to point out that it cleared the floor when played at the Wirrina circa 1975 though claiming that he knew one day it would be a biggie LOL. by now Paul had necked a few so to hear him give up trying to say "Dooly Silverspoon" was nothing short of hilarious. Despite the big numbers there were those who were conspicuous by their abscence, it would have been nice to see Danny Daniels(who won the dancing competition at Wigan 1975, Spike, Macky, Bob Trotter, Rhyder, Mark Gedge, Johnny Barr, Mick Cooper and all, but times change. One who couldn't be there was Mark Draycott, a dear freind of mine who was a regular at the Wirrina.Sadly Mark died last year and Paul dedicated the MVP's in his memory, a nice touch, one that mark would have appreciated. Paul played upto midnight spinning the World Column, Candi Staton and the Brothers' are you ready for this, finishing off with Manifesto.

12 midnight, yeah! .Tony Dellar takes to the stage, yeah! , thirty years on and Mr Deller had hardly changed, he's just as as mad now as he was then. Still fun to watch him go through his routine though. I especially liked the air trumpet solo he performed to Moses Smith, classic Dellar. Tony kept them coming thick and fast, Mickie Champion, Morris Chestnut, Lenny Curtis and he wasn't going to let us go without hearing James Barnett.

At 1-05am the lights came on and it was time to bid our farewells whilst a good 150 or so sang to Long after tonight is all over, and with a sense of satisfaction we made our way into the refreshing air of the night.

Granted the Phoenix Soul Club never was a Casino, or Blackpool Mecca, or the Torch not that it ever wanted to yet the affection for the Wirrina all-nighters is still evident, even after all these years, and despite my initial apprehension we had a good time; to be be more precise, we had a fun time........even if they didn't play Oscar Perry and Jackey Beavers

Thanks to all involved.

Mick Donnelly 17/07/04

Edited July 12, 2010 by PaulDonnelly

[macca]

Me too!! I missed the exciters nite though, which I always regretted.

I'd like to see the photo of danny & co. he had to have protection that night, I was told.

[Pauldonnelly]

I was there i lived in Cambridge then and got a lift over there with Roger Stern in a big old Rover that got stuck in low gear un like myself LOL:thumbsup: and yes Bunty was there along with my old mates Danny and still close friend Bill Bingham from Peterbro Danny won the dance comp at the Casino that year i think .Might even have a Pic of the lads and myself on the nite.

Irish

I always through Danny won it in 75....

Edited July 12, 2010 by PaulDonnelly

[Guest smudgesmith]

I thought the Peterborough Allnighters were started by John Anderson to go up against St Ives!!!!! anyway thats what Poke told me.......nothing to do with "Don" although once again i might be talking a pile of sh@@e

[Guest martyn]

Drove past The Wirrina the other week , it looked derelict . Is it used for anything now or just awaiting the ball & chain ?

Didn't attend (for my sins ) any of the pre K.C. Wirrina nighters ,so the place doesn't cary the same sentimental values for me as say St Ives , Yate or Wigan as I never saw it in its prime .When K.C. was running them there they were pretty much awful.........I should have made the effort rather than sticking to St Ives I suppose

[macca]

The address for memberships given in the poster is Wooton Avenue in Fletton. This was where the Mindum (?) brothers Pete & Dave lived, right? My mum knew the family well 'cos that's where she lived before she got married. So was the Phoenix a joint venture then? PK & Biffo were their jocking names. You don't see names like that on flyers these days, do you?

Edited July 12, 2010 by macca

[Guest Mick Donnelly]

I thought the Peterborough Allnighters were started by John Anderson to go up against St Ives!!!!! anyway thats what Poke told me.......nothing to do with "Don" although once again i might be talking a pile of sh@@e

Looks like you are right Smudge as the address for Memebreship is soul Bowl's Kings Lynn address.

[Pauldonnelly]

I thought the Peterborough Allnighters were started by John Anderson to go up against St Ives!!!!! anyway thats what Poke told me.......nothing to do with "Don" although once again i might be talking a pile of sh@@e

Lets fill in some very important/missing dates.

If The Pohoenix was 1974 to July 76+

and the

Soul Bowl nighters from Dec 76?

what was the night of Betty Wright at Wigan??

[Pauldonnelly]

Harry Fentons....lol

[macca]

Lets fill in some very important/missing dates.

If The Pohoenix was 1974 to July 76+

and the

Soul Bowl nighters from Dec 76?

what was the night of Betty Wright at Wigan??

26th April 1975.

[macca]

So that's three promotors hussling for business in a town of, what, 100,000 in 1976? The Mindum Brothers, John Anderson and Ken Cox. The Phoenix Soul Club, The Peterborough Soul Club and the East Anglian Soul Club. This town ain't big enough for the three of us...

[Irish Spinner]

I always through Danny won it in 75....

Do beleave your right Paul September 75 annIversary.

[Pauldonnelly]

26th April 1975.

well I'm completely fooked now

[Pauldonnelly]

well I'm completely fooked now

July 76 the Exiters? lol

Dec 76 Soul Bowl

after July 76 we booked Betty Wright on the Friday and Wigan had her on the Saturday. The Wirriina was takem away from the Phoenix due to gear problems after July and the contract Miindham had with Betty Wright had to be paid??? Then a few months later Anderson rolls into town...me starting to think some sculldugery took place...

[macca]

she must have been over two summers on the trot then, 'cos it was definitely 1975 when she did her memorable wigan gig...

[Pauldonnelly]

she must have been over two summers on the trot then, 'cos it was definitely 1975 when she did her memorable wigan gig...

Ummmmmmmmmmm the plot thickens, cheers mate

[Guest bunty]

well I'm completely fooked now

Hi Paul, I agree with your earlier post ... the wirrina the night the Exciters appeared was kin brilliant:yes: ... I was near the stage area and just before coming on stage to perform I saw the female singer actually fighting with her man! did anyone else see this? coz whenever I've talked about it before no one else remembers it! did I dream it?

Yes the Wirrina does deserve a place on the northern soul map and so does our old friend Tony Dellar in my opinion one of the best Djs from then & now! he never gets the recognition he deserves! ... maybe us East Anglians should stand up & be counted ... if we wanna be on that map:whistling:

[Mick Howard]

Drove past The Wirrina the other week , it looked derelict . Is it used for anything now or just awaiting the ball & chain ?

Didn't attend (for my sins ) any of the pre K.C. Wirrina nighters ,so the place doesn't cary the same sentimental values for me as say St Ives , Yate or Wigan as I never saw it in its prime .When K.C. was running them there they were pretty much awful.........I should have made the effort rather than sticking to St Ives I suppose

Martyn

I was also in the area recently & did my own 'pilgrimage'. Your'e spot on and I agree that it looks like its ready to be demolished.

Isn't it funny though how much bigger things seemed when one was young; Wagon Wheels were as big as.... well, wagon wheels and the Wirrina was HUUUUUUGE (it was called a Stadium for goodness sake) but seeing it again after 30 odd years really puts it into perspective.

I felt a bit sad as it was the first all nighter I ever went to - the long hot summer of 76 - ahhhhhh.......

Mick

[Guest martyn]

Martyn

I was also in the area recently & did my own 'pilgrimage'. Your'e spot on and I agree that it looks like its ready to be demolished.

Isn't it funny though how much bigger things seemed when one was young; Wagon Wheels were as big as.... well, wagon wheels and the Wirrina was HUUUUUUGE (it was called a Stadium for goodness sake) but seeing it again after 30 odd years really puts it into perspective.

I felt a bit sad as it was the first all nighter I ever went to - the long hot summer of 76 - ahhhhhh.......

Mick

Hi Mick ,

I thought the same - I'd thought it was so much bigger , though I didn't stop & look inside .

I knew all the people on that 2nd photo by the way . I still see Garath , Glynn & Tommy occasionaly

[Guest smudgesmith]

Hi Mick ,

I thought the same - I'd thought it was so much bigger , though I didn't stop & look inside .

I knew all the people on that 2nd photo by the way . I still see Garath , Glynn & Tommy occasionaly   ' />

Like you say its funny how things look smaller years on.....................except our stomachs lol

We used to wear trousers with 28 inch waist and 40 inch bottoms, now its 40 inch waist with 28 inch bottoms.

Paul will no doubt correct me but i think he tried to get the original "Wirrina" building for one of the reunions,the local authorities refused for various reasons,health and safety being one.I think this is correct although I may have just written another pile of sh@@e

[Mick Howard]

I knew all the people on that 2nd photo by the way . I still see Garath , Glynn & Tommy occasionaly

Martyn

Didn't know those guys - I think I took that photo to get the feel of the place really.

Bottom photo is me on the left, my mate Nick who was also in the RAF on the right and then Tony Rudd from Wisbech at the front.

They were taken in the roller rink bit which only started to get used a bit later. I think that it was just the smaller place first wasn't it?

Mick

[Guest Bill Bingham]

Danny definately won casino comp 1975,we went up on the bus with the cambridge crew,the local hells angels knew who had won the dance comp and were waiting outside,the first prize was for money in them days before they started giving trophies to the winners.At the end of the allnighter danny and I waited for the bus to draw up at the door then we ran for it.As to the wirrena looking smaller than every one thought im pretty sure it is because the side hall has been knocked down,to mention the exiters nighter cant remember when it was but can remember what a great night it was.

Edited July 13, 2010 by billbingham

[dthedrug]

Hi All.....their is a current thread asking how many times did you go to WIGAN??? As I sat pontificating on what a strange question, and what relevance is it in 2010 "How many times" none really, except for the memory of the experiences each time you went, in the summer of 73 the closure of the TORCH in March was already becoming at the time the death nail of the rare soul scene we did a few venues with UP THE JUNCTION being the best, also as my Brother was studying at Leeds Univ I spent a few visits to the Central, and because of the huge number of students, i had a great time Pubbing and clubbing it , Leeds never closed back the unlike Wolves whose town center Pubs all shut at 10 PM every day. the pace was AGRO MAD! It was August Bank Holiday 73, when Chris G and me were at Great Yarmouth, as we went pass the Oasis there were about 15+ Bros & Sisters outside they were all from Stoke area and they were pissed of as the DJ did not have any Rare Soul Sounds to play (i believe that they assumed every body was a member of the In Crowd. As luck would have I had a box of records with me I went to the car to get them and we all went back in to the Dance Hall gave the DJ my Bo and in moments the sound of Duke Browner Sam & Kitty "Shes a Hart breaker" Gene Pitney was coming out of the speakers (I'm sure BOOT LACE was there it was then I found out about a New All-nighters at Wigan was starting in a few weeks I missed the 1st one but from then on I did not miss any,

what I can say is my experience of getting to Wigan was at times horrible, without a car! I had to Thumb a ride (very nice) from Letchworth there were some Cambridge & Bedford people who used to go, but again after going to the Sea Cadet hall and the Mallet the EASC started this was what we all had waited for and over the next few years St Ives Peterborough Cleathorps Yate Clea's Samantha's and so on made life much better, no longer did I thumb a Ride!! I have original Posters from thees event the main one that missing was the huge ALL-NIGHTERS an Leeds, love one back anyone?? DAVE KIL

[Suinoz]

Danny definately won casino comp 1975,we went up on the bus with the cambridge crew,the local hells angels knew who had won the dance comp and were waiting outside,the first prize was for money in them days before they started giving trophies to the winners.At the end of the allnighter danny and I waited for the bus to draw up at the door then we ran for it.As to the wirrena looking smaller than every one thought im pretty sure it is because the side hall has been knocked down,to mention the exiters nighter cant remember when it was but can remember what a great night it was.

Ayup Bill, yep mate your dead right, i went and took a look at the old place last year when i was in the U.K. and the small room on the side has aleady gone. Fantastic room, fist time i saw dancers performing to Northern ( i did'nt know it then ) and it got me hooked. That was on a Tuesday night and Gary Spencer was spining the tunes. There i was dressed in a burgundy pin striped 3 piece suit, brown and white stack shoes and a stair carpet tie looking like a right twat sitting at the back of the room. Next day the suit went in the bin, went to Derby market and got mesen a pair of baggies and the rest is history. Had some memorable nights at the old Wirrina, speshly when they were in the gymnasium. Bloody brilliant !! Hope to catch up with you at Skeggy in September. Stay soulful me ole' mate. Tony T Bone Edgley, the Stanground flyer.

[Guest smudgesmith]

Ayup Bill, yep mate your dead right, i went and took a look at the old place last year when i was in the U.K. and the small room on the side has aleady gone. Fantastic room, fist time i saw dancers performing to Northern ( i did'nt know it then ) and it got me hooked. That was on a Tuesday night and Gary Spencer was spining the tunes. There i was dressed in a burgundy pin striped 3 piece suit, brown and white stack shoes and a stair carpet tie looking like a right twat sitting at the back of the room. Next day the suit went in the bin, went to Derby market and got mesen a pair of baggies and the rest is history. Had some memorable nights at the old Wirrina, speshly when they were in the gymnasium. Bloody brilliant !! Hope to catch up with you at Skeggy in September. Stay soulful me ole' mate. Tony T Bone Edgley, the Stanground flyer.

I nicked that suit out of your mums dustbin in Oakdale Ave............wore for4 my first job interview:lol:......i looked a twat aswell!!!!

Give Sue a big kiss see ya soon

[Suinoz]

I nicked that suit out of your mums dustbin in Oakdale Ave............wore for4 my first job interview:lol:......i looked a twat aswell!!!!

Give Sue a big kiss see ya soon

Yep and i stole it back 4 years later to get married, still looked a right twat. Already given her one for you Andy ( a kiss that is mate ) See you in September.

[Rupert]

July 76 the Exiters? lol

Dec 76 Soul Bowl

see as your brain is already mashed up bud.

what date was edwin starr on the small room of the wirrina ? 76

any idea. only went to 2 nighters in the small room (being a young un.)

before we went to the roller rink. thats when it went down hill i thought.

rupe

[Guest smudgesmith]

July 76 the Exiters? lol

Dec 76 Soul Bowl

see as your brain is already mashed up bud.

what date was edwin starr on the small room of the wirrina ? 76

any idea. only went to 2 nighters in the small room (being a young un.)

before we went to the roller rink. thats when it went down hill i thought.

rupe

No Rupe the roller rink has always been flat,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,otherwise it would be called a roller hill!!!!!!! Mind you are from Boston:thumbsup:

[Rupert]

No Rupe the roller rink has always been flat,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,otherwise it would be called a roller hill!!!!!!! Mind you are from Boston:thumbsup:

ya smart arse.