The Furthest Who Regularly Travelled

[The Tempest]

Ladies / Gents

In the glory days of Wigan Casino and more importantly in the " This England " documentary mention is made of the regulars from far afield ,who regularly used to travel week in week out, from abroad !, the outer reaches of scotland and deepest darkest cornwall , to dance and meet friends ,

BUT !!

I know some of the scotland crowd who said bollocks to this travelling melarky in the those days and moved to southport , preston , wigan and manchester so the Casino was on their doorsteps on a sunday morning !!!! Like a lot of others did from around the country ,

So who is / was the regular nighter furthest travelled attendees of those / these days and how far do you regularly travel ,

Weekly / Fortnightly / Monthly to your regular do ?

Happy New Year To You All

[Joto]

The Plymouth crew travel weekly/fortnightly to events all around the country, Its always been this way right from the very early days, My sister and a freind thumbed a lift from Plymouth to the casino ( something you wouldn't want to do these days ) Coaches, hire cars,and mini buses, only having old cars ourselves in those days they wouldn't make it ! Many funny memories of break downs come to mind.

Tony and i live in Looe cornwall and still travel, but not as much as we used to, Blackpool would probably be the furthest we have travelled, although i did go to Stirling once for a soul night !!

This saturday we are going across country to Bournmouth.

No Myth here, we have done the miles

[Guest]

Only did it a couple of times but caught the coach from plymouh to the Torch as a bright eyed 16 year old matelot. Those were exciting times

regards

Ian

[good angel]

I think I remember someone turning up to nighters on a moped,it used to take him hours,now thats dedication

Kev

[Theresa]

Was chatting to some nice lads the other night at Keele, Jamie who lives in Southampton and his brother Andy who lives in Newquay hi lads. Andy does the driving and collects Jamie on the way. They do the 100 Club every month and often further afield. Deserve a freaking medal if you ask me.

Furthest I ever drove for one night only was Shotts in Scotland from South London in a Ford Fiesta Popular Plus 1.1...

[Rugby Soul Club]

I used to think we travelled a lot until we drove to France...1,300 mile round trip...

Now when we go anywhere, we just say, well it ain't as far as France...

I think if Flying is included, then Phil Shields is a good candidate...on a plane most weekends to all parts of the uk...

[Guest kid mohair]

I used to think we travelled a lot until we drove to France...1,300 mile round trip...

Now when we go anywhere, we just say, well it ain't as far as France...

I think if Flying is included, then Phil Shields is a good candidate...on a plane most weekends to all parts of the uk...

we done Italy......... never thought we would get there, well worth it though, barcelona in november.

[Mark B]

in the 70's we regularly did cleethorpes from manchester a bit of a hike when there was only the motorway to leeds, we also did peterborough and yate only once each though, we were spoilt in manchester as there was so much on we didnt need to travel to far afield.

mark

[Professorturnups]

Billy often does a 500 mile round trip from Norfolk to Middleton, Stoke, Burnley etc etc, then dances all night and drives home again!

Not bad for someone who's closer to 60 than 50!!

Mark C

[Guest BIG H]

Don't travel near as much these days but in the 80's and early 90's used to do journey from Aberdeen to English niters on a regular basis Morcambe, Darlington, Hickley Stafford, Blackburn, Mexbrough, Congleton, Bretby, 100 Club etc etc all an average of 5 to 8 hours drive away wouldnt be so bad but i used to do the driving too, used to leave on Friday after work and never got home til Sunday nite

[Guest nubes]

Billy often does a 500 mile round trip from Norfolk to Middleton, Stoke, Burnley etc etc, then dances all night and drives home again!

Not bad for someone who's closer to 60 than 50!!

Mark C

....i'd say....Delxxx

[Guest bazabod_downunder]

I used to travel up from Poole in deepest Dorset to the Casino (& others in between), either by coach or car...long hike with many eventful situations...as for the furthest, Lee Garnett in Western Australia drove 6 hrs from the mining town he works to Perth, got the plane to Brisbane, Qld, another 5 hrs then drove down to The Gold Coast, another hour for our 2nd Anniversary a few years back.

Mike Ritson & Roy Burton of Manifesto attend our National Weekender every year......24,000 miles round trip...try hitching that one...lol

We went over to Perth last month which was a hour to the airport then 6 1/2 flight.......5,420 km's round trip for a weekender, now that's dedication.

KTF

Baz

(

Ladies / Gents

In the glory days of Wigan Casino and more importantly in the " This England " documentary mention is made of the regulars from far afield ,who regularly used to travel week in week out, from abroad !, the outer reaches of scotland and deepest darkest cornwall , to dance and meet friends ,

BUT !!

I know some of the scotland crowd who said bollocks to this travelling melarky in the those days and moved to southport , preston , wigan and manchester so the Casino was on their doorsteps on a sunday morning !!!! Like a lot of others did from around the country ,

So who is / was the regular nighter furthest travelled attendees of those / these days and how far do you regularly travel ,

Weekly / Fortnightly / Monthly to your regular do ?

Happy New Year To You All

Edited December 30, 2008 by bazabod_downunder

[Billywhizz]

Billy often does a 500 mile round trip from Norfolk to Middleton, Stoke, Burnley etc etc, then dances all night and drives home again!

Not bad for someone who's closer to 60 than 50!!

Mark C

Steady on Mark, are you talking about age or wasteline.

Billy

[Soulcarp]

Steady on Mark, are you talking about age or wasteline.

Billy

thats why they call himBILLYWHIZZ

Edited December 30, 2008 by soulcarp

[Guest Mark Holmes]

Went to a soul night in Los Angeles from Orlando, did that 2 times. 5,000 miles round trip

Orlando to Seattle twice for a weekender. 6,000 miles round trip

But in the Casino days it was only from Warrington to Wigan

There were a bunch of people came from the UK to the Hitsville Weekender, Alan Pollard literally came for the weekend to make sure he saw the Harthon guys.

[good angel]

Billy often does a 500 mile round trip from Norfolk to Middleton, Stoke, Burnley etc etc, then dances all night and drives home again!

Not bad for someone who's closer to 60 than 50!!

Mark C

Mark,

At his age its must be our taxes that are paying for this, Community Transport

Happy New Year,Billy

Kev

[Ian Williams]

To London from Bristol was enough for me during the late 80's - seemed further then (than now ) due to the small and older unreliable cars we had then - Mini's and Triumph Heralds!

Things have also got easier over the years due to nicer cars with proper heaters in them

The other way to ensure that you get to your do fresh and in a good mood is to organise your night just a few hundred yards from where you live Only trouble you then get is the walk home with all your 45's - ouch

[Guest kid mohair]

We often done market harborough to st Ives (Huntington) i know its only about 50 miles but on illegal scooters that kept breaking down there and back i thought was pretty good and straight to the gents to clean off the oil in which you were covered in ,and in the morning having to run and bump start the fookers.......... i ain't gonna say they were the days cus i still have scooters but the thought off riding to an all nighter on one,

[Soulfool]

I used to travel every month down to Albrighton from Edinburgh, using public transport, until I got to Albrighton that is where there was only one taxi available and if it was in use then I'd be walking, unless the Manager of the Lea Manor wasn't busy, if not he'd come and pick me up. Happy days.

Happy 2009 to all soul-sourcers

David Miller

[Guest peter burke]

HiTeresa, as an ex Cornish girl, I can confirm the many miles we used to travel usually in hired transit vans to WIGAN.

Pete and I had dinner with Arthur and Maria last night and Pete reminded me of the time I drove the Transit van up to

Blackpool for the Mecca, we left Plymouth stopped on the way for Graham Bickford in Bristol [think he had absconded from youth custody, just for the night!] then with fourteen or so of us set off. Traffic and roads appalling and took 10 hours to get there, BUT, Mecca was packed and they wouldn't let us in! even with pleading. A touch peeved we then

headed off to Wigan for the Casino, that was also not without incident, but I won't bore you with that.Had a blinding time so turned out ok in the end but the 1970's were mad.

Up to date, we are pleased to report we see Jaimie, Andy, Steve, Michaela all regularly and still travel many miles on a regular basis, Oct 100 club, Beverley East Yorks, to Orwell Wigan down to 100 club then home, 600 miles, but we are

also huge fans of the European scene, and have supported both Frankfurt and Rimini for many years, did Paris niters

yes just for the night, Berlin, Hamburg, Valencia,Bamberg, thank goodness for RYAN AIR, some flights 1p !

Just to finish off on a selfish note, we only live 25minutes from the fantastic Beachcomber CLEETHORPES, lucky eh!!!!!!!!! Love KAREN XX

[Guest abdntony]

HiTeresa, as an ex Cornish girl, I can confirm the many miles we used to travel usually in hired transit vans to WIGAN.

Pete and I had dinner with Arthur and Maria last night and Pete reminded me of the time I drove the Transit van up to

Blackpool for the Mecca, we left Plymouth stopped on the way for Graham Bickford in Bristol [think he had absconded from youth custody, just for the night!] then with fourteen or so of us set off. Traffic and roads appalling and took 10 hours to get there, BUT, Mecca was packed and they wouldn't let us in! even with pleading. A touch peeved we then

headed off to Wigan for the Casino, that was also not without incident, but I won't bore you with that.Had a blinding time so turned out ok in the end but the 1970's were mad.

Up to date, we are pleased to report we see Jaimie, Andy, Steve, Michaela all regularly and still travel many miles on a regular basis, Oct 100 club, Beverley East Yorks, to Orwell Wigan down to 100 club then home, 600 miles, but we are

also huge fans of the European scene, and have supported both Frankfurt and Rimini for many years, did Paris niters

yes just for the night, Berlin, Hamburg, Valencia,Bamberg, thank goodness for RYAN AIR, some flights 1p !

Just to finish off on a selfish note, we only live 25minutes from the fantastic Beachcomber CLEETHORPES, lucky eh!!!!!!!!! Love KAREN XX

hi karen hi pete glad i made the journey from Inverurie aberdeenshire to rimini thats about the furthest ive travelled hope to venture more into england next year, also hope to go back to rimini have a great new year tony pinacolada aberdeenshire KTF

[Guest vinylvixen]

To London from Bristol was enough for me during the late 80's - seemed further then (than now ) due to the small and older unreliable cars we had then - Mini's and Triumph Heralds!

Should've gone in a Triumph Vitesse instead I used to travel up from Chatham on the train to Wigan so that's only small potatoes compared to Poole and Plymouth. Done Italy, Germany, Spain, France....but I think Mike Ritson wins - 24,000 miles!!!!

[Maria O]

Should've gone in a Triumph Vitesse instead I used to travel up from Chatham on the train to Wigan so that's only small potatoes compared to Poole and Plymouth. Done Italy, Germany, Spain, France....but I think Mike Ritson wins - 24,000 miles!!!!

I did it the other way more than once, when I lived in Sydney. My shortest Sydney to London trip was in 2003, but I just had to see Maxine in Cleggy (and managed to squeeze in a Frankfurt weekender the weekend before). In 1999, I did a 3.5 week trip to the UK by myself with a tourist Brit Rail pass that allowed open train travel to tour around the country - attending venues on my own or occassionally meeting someone from the first soul list (KTF). Most of the time, I was scared stiff in the UK and couldn't even leave my hotel in Japan on the flight over .

I've even flown to a soul night (not a niter that time) on the other side of Oz (2000 flying miles or 4000 driving it), then a hotel break and flew straight back in the morning and it was a 4-4.5hrs in the air each way, depending which way you flew. I was a bit silly for soul nights then, but didn't realise the disease had taken hold and I'd soon be travelling abroad to the uk more, as my soul tastes had changed and I needed a musical fix beyond our small local circle.

But the most painful trip was over a decade ago in Oz. We'd traditionally fly to Melbourne occassionally for soul nights/allniters (as they did for ours), but decided last minute to go to a soul night there and our dear friend Max (the only male with 3 girls) would drive. We left early Saturday morning from Sydney, stopped an hour on the way and arrived 10 hours later - passing country and virtual outback. It was near 40C in places and those funny road signs (kangaroos next 25kms) were a laugh for only so long when you're dehydrated; arriving at Vince's house late afternoon and taking over his shower, one by one. After a great night out of dancing and two hours rest back at the house, we got back in the car and the temp had dropped to 12C when we left about 10am. At one point we stopped on the side of the road because a hail storm and rain was so heavy that nobody could see out and I still remember semi trailers rocking the car and making us scream from fear. The journey was a horror of seasons and we took turns to keep the driver awake. I got dropped off at home around 10pm on the Sunday night, having stopped a few times to ensure our driver breaks.

...We'd had lots of fun, but we never drove (or threatened to drive) interstate again. We used to call some of our trips "soul marathons" but that driving one was 870kms or 540 miles EACH WAY with the soul night between. Even now, I'd rather get on a plane to Australia than sit in a car for more than a few hours.

These days it's the many European trips which I love the most (we usually go with Pete & Karen) having visited Germany (over 10 trips), Italy, Spain and Sweden (-immigration took my passport away during my Paris chance). Meeting so many wonderful soul people from the countries we've visited makes the travel experience richer - the places we see, the food we eat, - and the life, the galleries and history we breathe. Many have become good friends and even welcomed us into their homes.

We do see some hefty miles burnt here in the UK too - like that more recent wonderful night Karen mentioned starting at Yorkshire, then to the Orwell in Wigan, then hitched on to the 100 Club in London, then back. In fact,

any event less than 2 hours drive away - is what we often call "nearby"

The problem with travelling, is that after a while - it better be worth going (even when someone else is driving) else it just gets harder.

I don't think I'd ever be proud of the hours travelled. It feels a bit like wasting my life away doing nothing.

...and it's daunting thinking how many good records I could have bought instead of spending my wages on trains, planes and automobiles

Enjoy it while you can I guess. I wonder how the world recession will impact on soul traveller numbers in 2009.

m

ps. I'm not generally surprised about where soul events are held in the world, but was taken aback when Malayka once told me about her soul DJ booking in ....Russia!

Edited January 1, 2009 by Maria O

[Paul R]

HiTeresa, as an ex Cornish girl, I can confirm the many miles we used to travel usually in hired transit vans to WIGAN.

Pete and I had dinner with Arthur and Maria last night and Pete reminded me of the time I drove the Transit van up to

Blackpool for the Mecca, we left Plymouth stopped on the way for Graham Bickford in Bristol [think he had absconded from youth custody, just for the night!] then with fourteen or so of us set off. Traffic and roads appalling and took 10 hours to get there, BUT, Mecca was packed and they wouldn't let us in! even with pleading. A touch peeved we then

headed off to Wigan for the Casino, that was also not without incident, but I won't bore you with that.Had a blinding time so turned out ok in the end but the 1970's were mad.

Up to date, we are pleased to report we see Jaimie, Andy, Steve, Michaela all regularly and still travel many miles on a regular basis, Oct 100 club, Beverley East Yorks, to Orwell Wigan down to 100 club then home, 600 miles, but we are

also huge fans of the European scene, and have supported both Frankfurt and Rimini for many years, did Paris niters

yes just for the night, Berlin, Hamburg, Valencia,Bamberg, thank goodness for RYAN AIR, some flights 1p !

Just to finish off on a selfish note, we only live 25minutes from the fantastic Beachcomber CLEETHORPES, lucky eh!!!!!!!!! Love KAREN XX

Blimey, is that Karen & pete as in karen & pete from Plymouth(via Halifax & Cornwall). I probably haven't seen you since your wedding! Great to hear you're still around. Happy New year & all that!

Paul(Jimmy) Rimmer.

[Guest peter burke]

Yes Paul, it is the very same. What a lovely surprise to see your post, I know you can confirm to anyone reading

this thread that very long distance travelled back in the day was no myth. Do you remember a drunken excited

discussion with Danny Everard about enquireing whether it would be a viable option to charter a SMALL PLANE from

CORNWALL to WIGAN as we were all cheesed of with 18 to 20 hours in the cars, vans and coaches [l978 I think]!!!!!LOL

I have pm'd you about a catch up, as we have been married 27 years this May coming and after all that time it could

turn into an epic Levine type thread!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love Karen and [Pete]xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Edited January 1, 2009 by peter burke

[Guest vinylvixen]

I did it the other way more than once, when I lived in Sydney. My shortest Sydney to London trip was in 2003, but I just had to see Maxine in Cleggy (and managed to squeeze in a Frankfurt weekender the weekend before). In 1999, I did a 3.5 week trip to the UK by myself with a tourist Brit Rail pass that allowed open train travel to tour around the country - attending venues on my own or occassionally meeting someone from the first soul list (KTF). Most of the time, I was scared stiff in the UK and couldn't even leave my hotel in Japan on the flight over .

I've even flown to a soul night (not a niter that time) on the other side of Oz (2000 flying miles or 4000 driving it), then a hotel break and flew straight back in the morning and it was a 4-4.5hrs in the air each way, depending which way you flew. I was a bit silly for soul nights then, but didn't realise the disease had taken hold and I'd soon be travelling abroad to the uk more, as my soul tastes had changed and I needed a musical fix beyond our small local circle.

But the most painful trip was over a decade ago in Oz. We'd traditionally fly to Melbourne occassionally for soul nights/allniters (as they did for ours), but decided last minute to go to a soul night there and our dear friend Max (the only male with 3 girls) would drive. We left early Saturday morning from Sydney, stopped an hour on the way and arrived 10 hours later - passing country and virtual outback. It was near 40C in places and those funny road signs (kangaroos next 25kms) were a laugh for only so long when you're dehydrated; arriving at Vince's house late afternoon and taking over his shower, one by one. After a great night out of dancing and two hours rest back at the house, we got back in the car and the temp had dropped to 12C when we left about 10am. At one point we stopped on the side of the road because a hail storm and rain was so heavy that nobody could see out and I still remember semi trailers rocking the car and making us scream from fear. The journey was a horror of seasons and we took turns to keep the driver awake. I got dropped off at home around 10pm on the Sunday night, having stopped a few times to ensure our driver breaks.

...We'd had lots of fun, but we never drove (or threatened to drive) interstate again. We used to call some of our trips "soul marathons" but that driving one was 870kms or 540 miles EACH WAY with the soul night between. Even now, I'd rather get on a plane to Australia than sit in a car for more than a few hours.

These days it's the many European trips which I love the most (we usually go with Pete & Karen) having visited Germany (over 10 trips), Italy, Spain and Sweden (-immigration took my passport away during my Paris chance). Meeting so many wonderful soul people from the countries we've visited makes the travel experience richer - the places we see, the food we eat, - and the life, the galleries and history we breathe. Many have become good friends and even welcomed us into their homes.

We do see some hefty miles burnt here in the UK too - like that more recent wonderful night Karen mentioned starting at Yorkshire, then to the Orwell in Wigan, then hitched on to the 100 Club in London, then back. In fact,

any event less than 2 hours drive away - is what we often call "nearby"

The problem with travelling, is that after a while - it better be worth going (even when someone else is driving) else it just gets harder.

I don't think I'd ever be proud of the hours travelled. It feels a bit like wasting my life away doing nothing.

...and it's daunting thinking how many good records I could have bought instead of spending my wages on trains, planes and automobiles

Enjoy it while you can I guess. I wonder how the world recession will impact on soul traveller numbers in 2009.

m

ps. I'm not generally surprised about where soul events are held in the world, but was taken aback when Malayka once told me about her soul DJ booking in ....Russia!

Maria, I think you've won on 'collective' soul miles travelled....my head's aching trying to work out the KMs

[Steve G]

As Jo says there was a crowd of us used to go from Kent on the train- a small crowd mind you!

The first time I ever went - couldn't afford the train so went on the coach from London Victoria - Manchester then train from Manny Vic to Wigan Wallgate with Kim Styles.

Oh was it fun coming back on the coach - I think I got back at 6.30 pm on Sunday night. From then on it was the train!

I still have the times etched on my mind 20.25 or 20.30 from Euston, and then the 22.37 from Crewe - ouch!!!

[Guest vinylvixen]

As Jo says there was a crowd of us used to go from Kent on the train- a small crowd mind you!

The first time I ever went - couldn't afford the train so went on the coach from London Victoria - Manchester then train from Manny Vic to Wigan Wallgate with Kim Styles.

Oh was it fun coming back on the coach - I think I got back at 6.30 pm on Sunday night. From then on it was the train!

I still have the times etched on my mind 20.25 or 20.30 from Euston, and then the 22.37 from Crewe - ouch!!!

I didn't admit to the coach trip bit.....I did it too But worse still was bumping into my cousin on the train coming back down to London from Wigan on the Sunday morning. I asked where she was going and in my drug addled brain I didn't put two and two together.....she was going to MY PARENTS She continued from London to Chatham on the train and I only had enough to get the coach back to Chatham....guess who was sitting at the dinner table when I got home and my mum asking me why I didn't want anything to eat Happy days....