Cleethorpes Weekender Memories

[Chris Turnbull]

Not meant to be a plug for the event - just wanted to mark the end of an era, share a few memories and say a huge thanks to Ady for some of the best times 

Last one of course this weekend - been to every one apart from the 25th when I was laid up with a bad back, but other than that 100% record since 1993 or whatever it was, so seriously going to miss it 

Superb venue of course, and some fantastic live acts - some that stick out are Betty Lavette, Willie Tee, Al Wilson, Bobby Hutton, Darrow Fletcher, Mary Love, Maxine Brown of course, but so many others 

Peak years probably 1996 or so to maybe 2005/6? Seemed to tail off gradually after that with increased competition from elsewhere - Blackpool seemed to take a lot away, and the euro crowd seemed to disappear as well

Loved the old modern room as it originally was upstairs with Richard Searling, Adam, Terry Jones, etc and of course 100 Club on Sea downstairs with Ady, Butch, Mick Smith, Shifty, Keith Money, etc 

All the big record dealers as well back in the day - many happy hours hunting in the record room

Tunes in the caravan, Leaking Boot for fish & chips - all a bit jumpers for goalposts maybe but I was 23 when I started going and now 53 with two grown up kids, so kind of grown up there really

Anyone else going to miss it?   

[Daved]

I had my stag weekend there in 1997. It was sweltering hot in the room and Maxine Brown was superb.

[Sutty]

First went mid-90’s, Doris Troy one I think, maybe the one before. I insisted we would be fine for food as they’d have all the facilities we’d need for the weekend. Friday afternoon the “shop” was a converted garden shed and had a couple of bunches of bananas, an artic roll and a Sarah Lee frozen gateau for the entire weekends attendees. We bought the bananas and artic roll and spent the weekend eating in the on-site chippy.

For the next year we’d wised up and decided to take a load of pizzas to cook in the chalet oven. Only problem was, we were in a different chalet and all we had was a tiny microwave, so we had to cook the pizzas one slice at a time, which took forever. We looked forward to spending the weekend eating in the on-site chippy until Bub and Jerry (funniest men alive along with Stuart) found the number of a pizza delivery place on Saturday morning and it felt like fine dining in their chalet washing them down with half pints of whisky for breakfast. Hammered by 11am and I can’t remember much of the rest of the weekend as it stayed that way.

I used to like it when what is the big modern room was full of the usual punters there for the bingo, and the toilets were shared. The looks on their faces was hilarious seeing all these reprobates from the northern room ranting like mad while they were doing their business, and complaining the cubicles were always occupied (with a bunch of blokes going in together). The small modern room upstairs was great.

Oh and the one where few of us got spiked with Ketamine on the Saturday night and spend the nighter wandering round the campsite thinking there were aliens out to get us. That was fun (not).

When Willie Tee came on and started playing a funk track for warm up and half the crowd left the room muttering “this isn’t soul!”, he then then played a storming set, never forget their version of “one more chance”

Sunday nights were the best.

 

 

[Chalky]

I haven’t been since the last one Ady ran, that was the end of an era for me.  Loved the weekends and the Yarmouth ones that preceded them. Missed two I think, Little Ann being one which I was gutted about. 

So many laughs, high jinks, especially with Al Coney about.  So many good times, so many great acts, I don’t remember there being one poor act?

[Roburt]

Went to everyone up to Ady handing over too ... have so many great memories ... Dougie letting me help him at all the sound checks, spending time with the artists, going to the 'Smallest Pub in the UK' (just down the road) ...

early events - Sunday night chalet parties, later events -- Saturday afternoon caravan piss-ups /  bolox talkin.  

Finding bargains on the Friday afternoon at the record bar. Selling some of them on just a few hours later -- got quite a few copies of the Bobby McClure Island 45 for 20p each out of a 60's stall cheap box & sold (all but one) on for a quid each to mates just 5 hours later. Fighting over copies of import 45's brought around to our dive (missed out on the great Icemen slowie "How Can I Get Over A Fox Like You" which Charlie get coz his money was out the quickest ... looking on in amazement as Tall Pimple asked "wot you all doing fightin over that, you can't dance to it"). Meeting up with the Macce lads every year  -- remembering not to drink with them, otherwise a whole days events would be 'lost in the twilight zone' ...  

Got 1000's of photos around here (both prints from the early days & digital uns from after).  

Edited June 7, 2023 by Roburt

[Sutty]

Lest we forget the great poster in reception one time for the following weeks live act, “Phoney M”

[Roburt]

Anuda memory jerker ... 

[Soulmark]

Will be there this weekend always quality underplayed tunes can’t wait

[Roburt]

Seems someone's lost their ID from last year ...  

[Roburt]

In the early years, there was a Hammond organ (seemingly abandoned) in the backstage area. It was discussed that it should be acquired but those old things are very heavy, so it was not touched. No idea when it did go & who got it. 

[Ralf Mehnert]

On 07/06/2023 at 12:51, Sutty said:

Lest we forget the great poster in reception one time for the following weeks live act, “Phoney M”

+ Malice Cooper (on a Lambretta chopper)