The Preston Cyber Men

[Chalky]

 

I'm after pictures and stories of this motley bunch of characters for a forthcoming podcast.  I'm sure others who aren't aware or don't know them would love to hear some of the crazy funny antics they got up to.

Nighters back then were full of characters and Preston just happened to supply a whole bunch of them.

[Dennisoul]

Chalky I remember Bruce brining a cabbage to Allanton, putting it on the middle of the dance floor and dancing round it lol...Preston cyber men were hilarious

[Guest frenchie]

Oh my word - I could write a book being married to one of them,  but you couldn't post a lot of it

Crazy years but funny as F***. The journeys were the funniest - nighters consisted of Major record talk and other bollox, dancing with a bit of chaos added for good measure.

Gaz Kellet always wearing some kind of implement on his head from a saucepan to a WW1 Metal helmet that he use to call his drinking hat. He pinched my daughters toy pull along dog to go to Tonys in Blackburn once, and apparently looked after it all night - that dog met some crazy people! Gazs car splitting in 2 on the way to a nighter on the motorway! 

The photo Stuart posted of them outside the 100 club was followed by a 12 hour journey back to Preston - Bruce and Teff words when I saw them at Mickey Cruises funeral was "we booked the mini bus until Monday morning so decided to go for a drive round the country!"Of course thats what they wanted to do, Stuart and Billy Mercer nearly hijacked the bus and wanted to kill them. Arrived home at midnightish. Think they stopped at every services they could find from London to Preston causing mayhem, and a couple of dodgy places on the way. Bruce never answered the question why they went to Stamford and Leicester??

They had lot of honorary members like Dave Molloy, Rob Marriott,  Jock, Col Law, Shaun Pawsey just to mention a few. All have memories and stories

[Peter99]

 

I'm after pictures and stories of this motley bunch of characters for a forthcoming podcast.  I'm sure others who aren't aware or don't know them would love to hear some of the crazy funny antics they got up to.

Nighters back then were full of characters and Preston just happened to supply a whole bunch of them.

Are these the same as the Preston Street dancers?

 

P

[Steve G]

No, Preston St Dancers were a "Clifton Hall" disco act.

Preston Cyberman were hard core 60's.....

 

Please don't ask for proof though :lol:

Edited May 24, 2013 by Steve G

[Barry]

Gazs car splitting in 2 on the way to a nighter on the motorway!

 

:lol:

 

I NEED to hear that one.

[Peter99]

No, Preston St Dancers were a "Clifton Hall" disco act.

Preston Cyberman were hard core 60's.....

 

Please don't ask for proof though :lol:

Oy!

 

I know of the Clifton Hall guys - I frequented the place in my misspent youth - great all niter.

 

I know not of the 60's lot.

 

Peter

[Barry]

Oy!

 

I know of the Clifton Hall guys - I frequented the place in my misspent youth - great all niter.

 

I know not of the 60's lot.

 

Peter

 

Preston Street Dancers got everywhere.

[Chalky]

No, Preston St Dancers were a "Clifton Hall" disco act.Preston Cyberman were hard core 60's..... Please don't ask for proof though :lol:

[Peter99]

Preston Street Dancers got everywhere.

Including inside my head some nights! The paranoia was really bad some times.

 

 

 

Peter

[Guest Byrney]

How about the 'Albanians cover up' story ( Dave Malloy and Gaz Kellet?)

You know that one don't you chalky? ;)

[Barry]

Come on....give 'em up.

[Barry]

This is what this board's about.

[Chalky]

How about the 'Albanians cover up' story ( Dave Malloy and Gaz Kellet?)

You know that one don't you chalky? ;)

Yes mate I'll post it in a bit.

[Chalky]

To save me typing this out I've nabbed it from Dave Rimmer's wonderful SoulflKindaMusic site.....hope he doesn't mind?

In Guy's own words....." The Albanians ", wonderful story about how that came about, that's another one that came from George from Derby as did 'Out Of Sight Loving' as well. The Albanians came to be covered up basically when me, Tim, Claire obviously Margaret and a guy from Clitheroe and old mate of mine and his mate Sag, Brian and his mate cycled over to Corfu and we had arranged to meet (we were on holiday there) and on his way cycled through Benitsit you came to the little resort where me, Margaret Tim end Claire were. He was cycling through this town and who should he see wandering about in the middle of the road( I think as this story goes) with terrorist balaclavas on at about 3 o'clock on an extremely hot midsummer's afternoon in Corfu but Gaz Kellet under the influence, possibly of beer, I don't know, which he couldn't believe because he nearly knocked him over, then when Brian told us who he had seen we actually took off one day down that coast line to try and find out where they were stopping and we got to a place called Khyser Bridge which basically is a place which is over looking and 10 mile across the water from Albania and there behind a hedge just on the aide of the road jud off the coast on the sea line there, who should we see all creeping about kind of thing terrorist style, but some of the Preston Cybermen as they were later to be known, all wearing terrorist type balaclavas from some reason, (never got to the bottom of that) and some of them wearing foreign legion type headgear as well and they me all on holiday and after a day spent with them hence the cover up of the Albanians. Bernie Golding went there as well, Gordon from Preston, they were the lads on tour definitely.

[Dennisoul]

To save me typing this out I've nabbed it from Dave Rimmer's wonderful SoulflKindaMusic site.....hope he doesn't mind?

In Guy's own words....." The Albanians ", wonderful story about how that came about, that's another one that came from George from Derby as did 'Out Of Sight Loving' as well. The Albanians came to be covered up basically when me, Tim, Claire obviously Margaret and a guy from Clitheroe and old mate of mine and his mate Sag, Brian and his mate cycled over to Corfu and we had arranged to meet (we were on holiday there) and on his way cycled through Benitsit you came to the little resort where me, Margaret Tim end Claire were. He was cycling through this town and who should he see wandering about in the middle of the road( I think as this story goes) with terrorist balaclavas on at about 3 o'clock on an extremely hot midsummer's afternoon in Corfu but Gaz Kellet under the influence, possibly of beer, I don't know, which he couldn't believe because he nearly knocked him over, then when Brian told us who he had seen we actually took off one day down that coast line to try and find out where they were stopping and we got to a place called Khyser Bridge which basically is a place which is over looking and 10 mile across the water from Albania and there behind a hedge just on the aide of the road jud off the coast on the sea line there, who should we see all creeping about kind of thing terrorist style, but some of the Preston Cybermen as they were later to be known, all wearing terrorist type balaclavas from some reason, (never got to the bottom of that) and some of them wearing foreign legion type headgear as well and they me all on holiday and after a day spent with them hence the cover up of the Albanians. Bernie Golding went there as well, Gordon from Preston, they were the lads on tour definitely.

Lol quality

[Guest laticsbluesmon]

Oh my word - I could write a book being married to one of them,  but you couldn't post a lot of it

Crazy years but funny as F***. The journeys were the funniest - nighters consisted of Major record talk and other bollox, dancing with a bit of chaos added for good measure.

Gaz Kellet always wearing some kind of implement on his head from a saucepan to a WW1 Metal helmet that he use to call his drinking hat. He pinched my daughters toy pull along dog to go to Tonys in Blackburn once, and apparently looked after it all night - that dog met some crazy people! Gazs car splitting in 2 on the way to a nighter on the motorway! 

The photo Stuart posted of them outside the 100 club was followed by a 12 hour journey back to Preston - Bruce and Teff words when I saw them at Mickey Cruises funeral was "we booked the mini bus until Monday morning so decided to go for a drive round the country!"Of course thats what they wanted to do, Stuart and Billy Mercer nearly hijacked the bus and wanted to kill them. Arrived home at midnightish. Think they stopped at every services they could find from London to Preston causing mayhem, and a couple of dodgy places on the way. Bruce never answered the question why they went to Stamford and Leicester??

They had lot of honorary members like Dave Molloy, Rob Marriott,  Jock, Col Law, Shaun Pawsey just to mention a few. All have memories and stories

Penny you always got value for money on the Cybermen outings the Original Cybermen were Billy Mercer,Gaz Kellett, Tony Stanhope [stan] Gis Southworth Stuart Raith to name a few, they were so called because of the way they danced at Stafford in the 80's slowly moving their feet whilst doing the Stafford head wobble,to fine tunes, such as September Jones 'i'm comming home' Harry Starr 'step into my world' The Cybermen lived on the planet 'skf ' smithklinefrench so it really was another world ,Penny as for going stamford and leicester i think we went because we could Pete Lawson rip wrote inone off his soul magazine Worst Driver Bruce pete was always the first to get picked up and the last to get dropped off and always complained bless him ha ha more to follow 

[Guest laticsbluesmon]

Including inside my head some nights! The paranoia was really bad some times.

 

 

 

Peter

The Preston Street Dancers consisted of Dave Duncan,Merv 'the swerve' Carlisle [dad of Clarke Carlisle PFA spokesman and countdown contestant and professional footballer] una, slats, docker and a load more other fine funky dancers who unviled a big banner at rotherham on which was wrote Presto Street Dancers they were mainly into 70's anb 80's modern and stompers and boy could they move 

[Chalky]

What about the pyramid?

[Tony Smith]

if it 's possible I lost and gained more time with the cybermen, still got the jacket!

[Guest Nick Harrison]

The Preston Street Dancers consisted of Dave Duncan,Merv 'the swerve' Carlisle [dad of Clarke Carlisle PFA spokesman and countdown contestant and professional footballer] una, slats, docker and a load more other fine funky dancers who unviled a big banner at rotherham on which was wrote Presto Street Dancers they were mainly into 70's anb 80's modern and stompers and boy could they move 

 

Do recall Mervin of Leyland being involved with semi professional football ? And I know this topic is about Cyber Men - but I am shocked to learn as a lifelong Burnley supporter and having watched Clarke James Carlisle from 2008 till he left us, that Merv was his father.  - eh !!!  

 

And what of Docker's where about's now a day's - having asked some years ago on another thread, with little success and found you  .

 

Thanks for sharing that. 

 

  

Edited May 25, 2013 by Nick Harrison

[Guest son of stan]

Oh Yeah! !!!!! Gaz Kellett and co. Not seen any of them for years.They were hilarious!

Edited May 25, 2013 by son of stan

[Autumnstoned]

Hi Chalky

 

This came up after a google search " Preston Cybermen ". Dunno if it's relevant as it was after my time, but hope it is. Both links have photo's and some stories.

 

 

Edited May 25, 2013 by autumnstoned

[Chalky]

H

Hi Chalky

 

This came up after a google search " Preston Cybermen ". Dunno if it's relevant as it was after my time, but hope it is. Both links have photo's and some stories.

 

 

Thanks mate. I have read the topics again and already have the photos from Paul Franklin. Stuart sent me the one where they storm the 100 Club.

[Autumnstoned]

H

Thanks mate. I have read the topics again and already have the photos from Paul Franklin. Stuart sent me the one where they storm the 100 Club.

 

It's a pleasure - I'm still learning about Stafford - looking forward to the forthcoming podcast.

[Guest Byrney]

You can see some of those nutters here: The legend that is Gaz Kellet around 0.50

Edited May 25, 2013 by Byrney

[Cobbles]

giz southworth ...top bloke and genuine nice guy ....still have lot's of his tape swaps ..... always added to me wants list...

great footage byrney... even dean andreson dancing !!!! a rare clip indeed!...pablo , simon and mark oliver ...not seen in years

franc

[Kev Cane]

Deano dancing should be a thread itself, can honestly only remember him "throwing himself about"  once, (probably a couple more) and that was at Lifeline in Dewsbury, when Butch played Parliaments, "This is my rainy day" Gaz Kellet, top top man, always used to come and stand with us lads from the NE at Mexboro, Blackburn, Shotts etc and crack on about records for ages, great days, wish Gaz was still  doing the rounds, us lads loved him.

 

Kev

Edited May 25, 2013 by kev cane

[Jim Ohara]

You can see some of those nutters here: The legend that is Gaz Kellet around 0.50

Great clip Byrney, isn't that stan at 3.00 too?

[Guest Byrney]

Great clip Byrney, isn't that stan at 3.00 too?

Yeah, you can tell by the Mullet

I was there that night and surprised I'm not on the floor to Diane Lewis. Yet another camera I'm hiding from.

On Gaz Kellet, what a top lad though. Everyone loves him; never played any games, gave it the big one or tried to pull rank. Glad to see characters like Gaz are getting discussed, more of that please.

I can remember I was after Donna Coleman at one time and he scoured boxes for me at Blackburn trying to get me one. Heart of gold.

[Guest frenchie]

You can see some of those nutters here: The legend that is Gaz Kellet around 0.50

 

Stan and Stuart wearing shades ... all night!!!

[Chalky]

Yeah, you can tell by the Mullet

I was there that night and surprised I'm not on the floor to Diane Lewis. Yet another camera I'm hiding from.

On Gaz Kellet, what a top lad though. Everyone loves him; never played any games, gave it the big one or tried to pull rank. Glad to see characters like Gaz are getting discussed, more of that please.

I can remember I was after Donna Coleman at one time and he scoured boxes for me at Blackburn trying to get me one. Heart of gold.

 

 

That was the thing with many of the characters back then and there was more than a few, most were just one of the lads, out for a good time, rank never came into it, everyone on an equal footing, even the DJ's.  Happy days.

 

C'mon more stories of this mad bunch of nutters, especially the car splitting in two

[Guest Mrs M]

The Preston Street Dancers consisted of Dave Duncan,Merv 'the swerve' Carlisle [dad of Clarke Carlisle PFA spokesman and countdown contestant and professional footballer] una, slats, docker and a load more other fine funky dancers who unviled a big banner at rotherham on which was wrote Presto Street Dancers they were mainly into 70's anb 80's modern and stompers and boy could they move

Funny you should mention all the above Preston crowd, when I first came on to the Soul Scene in 1987 it was the Preston Street Dancers I first became great friends with and used to stay at Docker and Shelleys in Ingol on a regular basis, travelling to Morecambe and Bradford Queens Hall. You also had Janet Weir, Mick Fisher, Flid, Tommo from Fulwood, Rennick, Satch, Sharon Fielding... Great crowd and as you say great dancers, Docker in particular.. Happy Days.

[Jim Ohara]

That was the thing with many of the characters back then and there was more than a few, most were just one of the lads, out for a good time, rank never came into it, everyone on an equal footing, even the DJ's.  Happy days.

 

C'mon more stories of this mad bunch of nutters, especially the car splitting in two

You're bang on there Chalky, and this is the reason many of us stayed on the scene for so long, because there were genuine good people having a good time and not giving a f**k

I remember distinctly meeting most of these characters back in the mid 80's, and mad yes they were, but also great blokes

Compare this video link with some of the many recent "northern soul" videos on you tube showing lager swilling fat fu***rs and tables filled with beer everywhere - 2 COMPLETELY DIFFERENT scenes and probably the reason most of us don't travel anywhere

Another interesting thing about comparing these videos is the "passion and individualism" that is very apparant at the 100 club, again compare that with recent vids on you tube and you just have people who don't show any passion (probably cause they are too pissed ), most cant dance and those that attempt dance like something from the 70's in a bad "traditional" way if you know what I mean - no individuals there to be seen ANYWHERE!!!!

Aother thing that doesnt seem to be apart, is the desperation to dance to a record when those first couple of beats start!!

I remember distinctly being in places like Blackburn in the mid 80's and literally "pushing" people out of the way to get a space on the floor when I heard the first few bars of Butch's Just Brothers or G. Davis & R. Tyler (as it was known as at the time) or Dianne Lewis etc. etc.

Passion and enthusiasm were abound then and nobody was afraid to show it

Although i dont travel anymore, i do know one thing - The scene back then for me (mid 80's to early/mid 90's) was something to be proud of and the characters that went with it it made it all the better

End of rant!!

Have a good rest of weekend

Jim

[Philt]

Stan was working at a local printers, used to see him regularly and know he's still in touch with one or two from back then. Said he was off to Spain when last I saw him.

Gis was at the last Grumpy Soul and we're still working on Mr Kellet, hopefully (I think lol) we'll get him there eventually.

Tony has a brilliant story about Gaz fishing after a nighter and telling his 'colleague', who was new to it, that it was de rigueur to shout "cast" when you did. Absolutely pmsl but I'll leave it for T to tell

I think he may also have reversed over Johnny Pearson at some stage ... ...

Edited May 26, 2013 by PhilT

[Guest]

You can see some of those nutters here: The legend that is Gaz Kellet around 0.50

Great clip and a snapshot of the 100 club at the time! I enjoyed it when I went there.

 

Looking at some of the faces, it seems a lot of people where having a good time that night!!!

[Dennisoul]

I remember we'd stopped a services on the way back from Mexboro or chesterfield and Gaz Kellet had a pair of kids sunglasses on...then proceeding to stuff buscuits between his eyes and the sunglasses, and telling us the need to be individual.....Jock was actually on the floor laughing so hard, but managed enough to say can you believe this guys is a bank manager....I literally wet myself!!

[Mike]

posts removed as per the terms of use

 

suggest the member who posted the out of place abusive comments get in touch asp with an explanation 

[Steve G]

Stan was working at a local printers, used to see him regularly and know he's still in touch with one or two from back then. Said he was off to Spain when last I saw him.

 

 

I saw Stan last at Keb Darge's UK leaving party a year or two ago, and Lorraine has seen him a few months back in Preston (Waitrose I think she said!!! )

Edited May 26, 2013 by Steve G

[Guest frenchie]

Stan is still about and we see him regularly. Saw him last week and when he is next over will tell him to get a few stories on here..he aint got the hang of the digital age!!

DJing at various places in Preston along with Gordon. Trending towards the more modern scene now.

Still sporting his long locks which are now grey..a bit like Gandolf

[Steve G]

....and not so many teeth : 

Edited May 26, 2013 by Steve G

[Gilly]

Anyone know how many times Gaz put the wrong type of fuel in his Hillman Imp ?

[Tony Smith]

I saw Stan last at Keb Darge's UK leaving party a year or two ago, and Lorraine has seen him a few months back in Preston (Waitrose I think she said!!! )

Oddly enough I found his business card today??!

[Rich B]

Only met them as a group once - at Stiggers' gaff the morning after a Stafford all nighter. Intimidating, in a friendly way, if that makes any sense whatsoever?

[Guest laticsbluesmon]

Great clip and a snapshot of the 100 club at the time! I enjoyed it when I went there.

 

Looking at some of the faces, it seems a lot of people where having a good time that night!!!

thats a slim Bruce  behind Gaz wearing the Joe Bloggs tee shirt oh to be slim again 

[Guest Byrney]

Surprised there's not a lot more stories about this mad bunch given they were everywhere in the 80s early 90s; I mean from London to Scotland and all points between and lets be honest, they're not the shy retiring types.

I've got a couple of tales, but with capers that are not entirely legal

[Guest in town Mikey]

Was it one of these guys who had the Wendy House, and would pop out of it to dance to a record, then disapear back into it for a while until the next one he wanted to dance to?

 

Another character about that time used to bring a thin metal tray with him (remember him especially at Loghborough Town Hall) and rather than clap, would bash it REALLY hard against his head. In time mind. He wasn't mad or anything.

[Chalky]

I don't care how naughty they are Byrney, I wanna her them I can remove the names for legal reasons if I use the story

Edited June 5, 2013 by chalky

[sir cumference]

Didn`t realise that they played "Mule Train" at that venue?

 

Must have been covered up!

[Back Street Blue]

Compare this video link with some of the many recent "northern soul" videos on you tube showing lager swilling fat fu***rs and tables filled with beer everywhere - 2 COMPLETELY DIFFERENT scenes and probably the reason most of us don't travel anywhere

Another interesting thing about comparing these videos is the "passion and individualism" that is very apparant at the 100 club, again compare that with recent vids on you tube and you just have people who don't show any passion (probably cause they are too pissed ), most cant dance and those that attempt dance like something from the 70's in a bad "traditional" way if you know what I mean - no individuals there to be seen ANYWHERE!!!!

 

 

Love the 100 Club video, nice vibe and good dancers.......but it was shot in 1989 so how can you compare it to recent footage 24 years later?

 

It was shot at an allnighter not a local do with a cheap bar, where speed was obviously the drug of choice so of course there aren't tables full of beer.

 

The passion and enthusiasm you recall from the mid 80's/ mid 90's was just as strong in the 70's and early 80's and is still evident at the do's that I go to where the bars are busy but you'll always get a few people there for the wrong reasons, just like you did BITD.

Edited June 5, 2013 by back street blue