Len

Indeed it does Johnny. That trip to Leeds was one of many fond memories that this scene provides us with. Btw, there was nothing sinister ref not having a lift off you ever again - The company was fine and dandy ('Like minds') Len

And another….. Nina and I were driving back from ‘The 100 Club’ in a car that I had borrowed from a work colleague. We were stuck in traffic around the North Circular when the temperature gauge started to show hot! So I turned up a road, parked up, we verballed, then for no apparent reason we both got out and went for a walk intensely discussing the car situation for about two hours.... We then got back in the car, the thinking being that the car may have healed up - No such luck, the temperature started to rise again. So I pulled in to a petrol station. I then got out, ‘popped the hood’ and wiggled wires and pipes about, then proceeded to lie on the ground and crawled underneath the car to find out what the problem was. This was all a bit pointless because I know nothing about cars In the mean-time, Nina went to ask a Taxi driver about it - That thinking being that Taxi drivers should know about cars because they drive them. This thinking actually worked! It turned out that the fan belt had snapped. We got it sorted, but when we drove off every time I turned on the indicator the car alarm started to sound! (I kid ye not) Monday morning I gave my work colleague the keys back……”By the way, I fixed your car alarm”……”What car alarm?”……. The above is an example of why I don’t share my stories with normal people - They simply wouldn’t believe them! Len

I’ve thought of another one…… I used to regularly attend Mick Lyon’s and Andy McCabe’s Stateside All-nighter at The Stubshaw Cross Labour Club, Wigan, which was one heck of a drive for me - Especially as I used to take the ‘non motorway’ route from Wellingborough. One such trip took even longer than normal though - I was about half way there, and as I was pulling away from a round-a-bout, a load of smoke bellowed out of my car engine to the point that I couldn’t see a thing. I stopped the car and took the keys out, but the engine just carried on with the revs getting higher and higher, the smoke completely blocking any view all around. The scary bit, was when I went to get out of the car on to the duel carriageway a lorry zoomed by (I could have been a gonna) So I quickly got out of the passenger side and stood on the grass verge, not only waiting and hoping that the bl*ody engine would stop revving! But also bracing myself for a lorry to drive straight in to my car. The engine finally stopped / the smoke cleared / and Green Flag Breakdown Service came to the rescue (The Turbo was kn*ckered) Remember I’m only just half way there at this point, and in my mind I had very nearly been killed so I was a tad shaken up….”So do you want to go back home?”…….”Um no, I want to go to the All-nighter” So Green Flag drove me up to Stoke where I got a courtesy car, and off I went on my merry way to Wigan blocking out any thoughts on what to do about my car - It took me eleven hours to get to the All-nighter. Again - Us lot simply have to get there! Len P.s - I should hopefully get to 'The Bury Virtual All-nighter' tonight with no trouble at all......but you never know

Some of you know this story - It's a bit of an 'opposite' as it was an expencive way to get to a nighter. It was only a few years back. It was an Easter Bank Holiday, and I had decided not to go to 'The Burnley All-nighter', choosing instead to spend the Bank Hol with the family (Priorities an' all that) Anyway, I'd been playing records Sat eve, and Nina (the wife) said....."Why don't you just go to Burnley Len? You're like a 'Bear in a cage'!"........"OK"......(I didn't need much persuading) I quickly rang John Mclure, who used to kindly give me a lift to Burnley, but they were already half way there....."Not a problem John, I'll catch a taxi"........ 200 'of the deepest conversation with the taxi driver' miles later, we arrived at Burnley. In fact the taxi driver and I got on so well (Can't think why) he nearly attended the All-nighter with me! We pulled up outside, I jumped out......"Jeeze Len, you did catch a Taxi!"........"I fancied a pint"....... That particular night was one of the best All-nighters I had been to - I suppose the adventure of getting there puts you in a funny old mood. Later on I was talking to someone outside, when I kinda sensed a group of people were staring at me....."Mmm, am I being paranoid?"....I thought to myself. It got to the point where it was..."No! They are definatelly staring at me, and muttering. Here goes nothing"......."Excuse me, call me paranoid, but are you talking about me?"..... (A strong Northern accent came straight back at me)......."Mate, did you catch a taxi 200 miles to get here?!".......(I returned in my poshest Southern accent)......."Yes I did my good man"........"F****ckin' h*ll! How much did that cost?!"........"£160.00"......."F****ckin h*ll!".......(Posh southern accent again)......."Oh it's not a problem I'm from the south".......We all then had a really good laugh I don't know what it it is about taxi's and me - But years ago the trains had been cancelled, so I caught a taxi to 'The 100 Club'. My mate Clive could not bring himself to be part of spending £50.00 'just' to get to an All-nighter (even though I said I'd pay) So he went home (I remember him shaking his head as he walked away) Us lot simply have to get there! N.B - At Burnley, Karl Heard immediately went and gave me my entrance money back / Ady Croasdell let me in for free at 'The 100 Club' - Both kind acts adding to the 'magic' of two wonderfully adventurous nights... Len

From one Lenny to another - Welcome to Soul-source! All the best, Len

There's a help group mate - I'll PM you the details Len

Oh he's 'Guests's' mate - And there's me thinking you knew everyone Len

Nice one Chalky. I hope many of you peeps that have not yet been to The 'real' Bury All-nighter will come and join us at the first post lock-down All-nighter - A real warm welcome awaits! Until then, enjoy the Bury 'Virtual' All-nighters every Saturday night! 'Soul-source request hour' (7.00pm - 8.00pm) Then DJs every hour playing choices from their record collections (along with mike work) Add your requests on the thread each week - This week's link below Cheers, Len

It must have been 2003 (something like that) We went to an All-nighter at I think was Nantwich. Not 100% sure of the date, but it was of a time when everywhere was still busy with generally the same people. I remember it was winter time, the venue had a small step with little spot lights at the front. Anyway, we were really confused because there was hardly anyone there (Other folk I remember being there were Souly, and back door Kenny) It was very strange for a place to be so poorly attended at that time. Another strange one was when Winsford was really quiet - After all the fantastic nights there, all of a sudden one night not many in at all. Len

I remember asking Nina to pass me the ash tray (They used those tiny foil ashtrays that used to be in McDonalds) Nina turned and said...."Why?".....Looking around at the 100s of tabs that were all over the floor, plus the tiny ashtray was absolutelly overflowing!....."Yeh good point love".... Len

Yup looks like it - Standing room only when we went. I did have that feeling of....."Is this real?"..... Len

Well if this is a 'theme'......One day after Nina and I had been to 'The 100 Club' All-nighter, our young next door neigbour popped round to show us his new baby (Lovely) Along with his new gun (Yes Flamingemeralds - A real "Stick em up" jobby) Surprising at the best of times, but absolutely mindboggling after a nighter! Things like this just happened back then Len P.s - I've run out of 'likes' (I thought us Moderators had unlimited 'likes')

"Ok folkz, now taking you back to those very golden days of 'The Ritz' Manchester. What a time we all had! - Now let's get that dance floor bouncing!" Len 'Terry Callier - I Don't Want To See Myself (Without You)'

Yup - Heard about the gun (Not sure if same gun)..........It was scary in places 'Flamingemeralds' Len

Shhhh! They may hear you! Len

I expect everyone had their very own (what they saw as) 'Scary Corner' (Patto's phrase on here if I remember rightly btw) Our 'Scary Corner' was stage right, we congregated stage left - Maybe we were 'Scary Corner' to some Fab times! (Did I mention it being so?) Len

Not forgetting the many people who used to dance on the stage! I know doing so was seen as a bit 'divvy' by some, but no one really cared, we were all too busy enjoying ourselves (As were they) The atmos really hit you as you walked in, and Boxing day was on another level! It was almost as if we had all been on 'lock-down' having to spend Christmas with our families, by the time the Boxing Day Nighter came we all were chomping at the bit (Quiet litterally) I always describe those times as healthy because it was full of people with great attitudes, embracing the new sounds as well as those that were played through the 80's to not that many people. There is still plenty of room for those tunes to be appreciatted - Maybe a 'second wind' is on it's way folkz! Len

Great pic! I too went to that tiny warm up event in the public toilets (You couldn't write it!)........Talking of 'off your step' - The wife Nina and I walked down those very steps chatting away, only for Nina to almost dissapear because she had stepped down 'off the step' in to the gap at the side. Luckily I caught her by the hand, but our whole gang witnessed it and rolled with laughter I used to give out flyers in those days, and it was great doing the circuit of the balconly - So much fewer flyers were about back then, I would often have someone asking for a flyer as they saw me giving them out. It was great to meet various people on my 'travels' round the venue (I didn't spend too much time in 'Scary Corner' though) Fab times. Len

I may have a photo somewhere (If I find one I'll post it up) but no one took photos generally then (I'm talking in the 1990s) It was a fab place, and a very exciting time for the scene in general (Winsford, Wilton, The 100 Club, The Ritz) to name a few - We were at one or 'tuther every single week. Generally the same attendees at each venue. One time there was an Oldies All-nighter on, and we were sat in a Pizza place in London having decided not to go. We were talking about The Ritz as it was on that night, and as we were finishing our meal, one of us grinned and said....."Shall we go?"........That was enough - We almost ran out of the restuarant and headed off up the motorway! Len

We simply don't want anyone talking politics in this discussion. This is enough to focus on Len

It sure does Ed. This evening a mate told me that a morgue is being constucted near a village where I used to live, because it is about half way between two hospitals. So many people are working their socks off for the cause - We have the easy bit of 'staying at home'. Len

While I was in the garden I thought about those mass graves in New York. It dawned on me that over the years we have watched some awful tragedies from across the world, but have become somewhat desensitized to these stories. We are all now part of this terrible story, and those mass graves really bought it home to me - Does anyone know where they are exactly? Len

Best of luck to everyone - Let's not go down this road. Cheers, Len

Who knows which figures are correct from which countries - We are all people, and we all want the world to get through this. Best of luck to you over there. Len

Doctor Hillary (From the morning television) was asked this, and he said....."I wouldn't believe a word coming out of that country"..... Len