dedji1955

The pubs might have officially closed at 11pm but most pubs carried on serving behind closed doors. also the Casino started opening earlier towards the end... We never went in the John Bull it was more of a bikers pub, and I didn't spend much time in the Raven... The Clarence now called Sams Bar (Its a shit hole now) just up from the station, Crofters on the junction of Hallgate and Market St, The Grand Hotel. Dorning St and the Wallgate.. A club above Wallgate station along with the pictures is where we would go, although sometimes we went in early and cleaned up to get in free Some of my mates think the plaque is sited in the wrong location, it's a long time ago and it's difficult to say If your coming into Wigan via J25/M6 you will pass a Northern Soul sculpture screen the council erected, if your not passing it's not worth making a trip though Have you got a date when you visiting???

The "Bees Knees" did change to the "Last Orders" but has now reverted back to it's original name "Dog and Partridge" It's worth going upstairs in the "Grand Arcade" to the "Casino Cafe" they have some good original Casino memorabilia on display and check out the murals on the walls to the upstairs exit If you turn right into the street before you enter the Arcade you are on "Millgate" you will see some of the "Ship Hotel" facade on your right.... If you continue on your right is a bar called "Casino de Cuba" if it is open they have plenty of Dave Barrows Casino prints on display... Bri Rigby who was an original Beachcomber n Ms DJ runs a soul night there on some Sundays.... The front door entrance to Ms was opposite the bar and slightly up the hill The "History Shop" has been renamed "History of Wigan Life" it is on Library St... note it is closed on Wednesdays..... ask for the Casino catalogue, it has an index to link to all the Casino newspaper cuttings and articles Their is an art shop on Hallgate which is off Market St.... The shop sometimes has Dave Barrows work on display and I'm sure it's Russ's old record shop If your in Wigan at the weekend there are often soul events on, some are good Hope you enjoy your visit to my home town.. Fred

There are reasons it was changed so that you need a gmail/google account and I'm sure it wasn't all down to Pete.. Anyone wishing to view it can.. It takes 2 mins to set up an account.. If folks can't contact Pete PM me their address and I will arrange for the link to be forwarded

To view the video you need to have a gmail or google account to send to Pete Smith who will then send you a link to view it.. Anyone on FB can send the link to Pete in a pm.. I'm sure plenty of folks have petes email address and could get the link via email

The Dancers appeared on TOTPs twice and there was a slight change in the Dancers, they included Gethro, Jako, Steve Powell, Kim, Anne Rodgers Kim was Gethros GF who he later married, she sadly died many years ago Vernon told me that all the heats and the finals of a Wigan dance comp were filmed to show serving squaddies.. Now I would love to see a vid of that

As Pete Smith doesn't appear to be active on SS and there is interest in the TOTPs recording I have copie what pete posted on FB for anyone wanting to see the video Hello. Right I have sussed out this video business so if any of you want to watch the Wigans Chosen Few "Footsee" TOTP 75 video this is what you have to do. This is a bit convoluted but it's the only thing we could come up with. I have full permission to post it now. First you have to have a gmail account (google mail), if you haven't got one go to the address at the bottom. If you don't have gmail you cannot watch it. Then you are going to have to message me to give me your email address. I will then add you to the list of people who can watch it. You will have to personal message me to do this (or email me if you already have my email address). Please be patient as I'll be offline all night obviously. You can post your email address here at your own risk from spammers. When I have your address you'll get sent the link and you can watch it until the cows come home. Anyone can copy this and paste it to Soul Source or anywhere else if they want to. I'd like everyone to be able to see it. If you're not interested that's fine, but a lot of people still want to see it and this is the only way at the moment. cheers Pete Smith

They sure did on the 6-12-2014... The reviews weren't good not sure if they have another lined up this year

I was present at the unveiling and it was good to see that some of the original DJs took the trouble to turn up for the unveiling.. Russ Winstanley...Richard Searling.. Dave Evison.. Bri Rigby and Alan Caine where all present and stayed to talk and have their pictures taken with the folks who turned up Respect to them all and to Drew for spearheading the campaign

A friend did some clearance nighters closed and found some boxes of unissued badges but as the demand was not what it is now never bothered Another local Guy did some work on Gerry Marshalls Sons Scooter and was given some unissued badges which he sold at a Scooter Rally for a pittance Many of the organisers of coach trips where sent packs of blank membership cards so the folks on the coaches would get in The History Museum in Wigan has some records, newspaper articles etc... You could also make a Freedom of Information to the Police, Council, Taxation or any of the Public Authorities for the info, documents they have

Dave I was not party to the incident but like you I know the Lady and I know she felt it was a racist incident The Soul Scene is bound to throw up a few racist incidents from time to time but they are very few.. None of my Black friends have had concerns about feeling uncomfortable at venues Having read the Craig Charles article it was clear it was a throw away comment he had picked up from someone else and was not his personal experience

As a Black person born in Wigan I started going the Casino in 1970 before the Nighters started and I can honestly say hand on heart I have never suffered any racism at any soul venue.. Whilst we all know it was mainly white folk at NS venues there was a few black faces and I never knew any of them to have any hassle Having said that the FB group "Soul Against Racism" was set up after a Black person was subjected to racism at a venue

Like every one else I was shocked and numbed to hear about the loss of Paul.. Apart from being an amazing spinner he was such a Nice Guy My deepest condolences go out to Carole and all Pauls Family and Friends Simon shared this excellent video of Paul on the floor

I totally disagree with you on that point.. I would love and would return to Goldsoul venues if they would deal the problem... First they need to accept there is a problem, however as usual Kev entered this discussion by trying to belittle others The last 2 Nighters I went at KH I witnessed fights, folks pi**ed up drinking on the dance floor and Disco Divas fooling around... Blackpool Nighters are a nightmare...Mick L mentioned about debriefings after incidents and security spotting troublemakers before they cause a incident... When others mention this on FB Kev refuses to debate or enter into any dialogue

Back Street Blues whilst I have liked and agree with most of your comments and I realise it will always be more of a problem in Town Centre locations.. However if the Promoter wants to sort out the problem and is prepared to turn folks away who are at the wrong venue or or warn and eject unruly and drunken idiots the problem can be controlled I have no grudge against Kev or Goldsoul and have been to numerous of their events in the UK and Spain, but IMHO and from observations I have seen for myself they do not listen or care enough about their loyal customers/punters who have given them their success

Kev as well you know a lot of the regulars have stopped going to Stoke and Blackpool because of the hassle and piss taking on the dance floor from Disco Divas and Beer Monsters... Yes there is plenty of security but they appear to ignore it You will not enter any meaningful debate or accept any criticism without taking the higher ground and trying to ridicule folk... There is no need for it, you have problems at your venues which could be sorted if you had a door policy in place I for one won't return unless you do something about it and with your attitude I can't see that happening soon

I have always stuck up for Russ in the past, as a Wiganer I was going to his earlier venues in the early 70s before he started at the Casino He has only himself to blame for any ridicule... Why make such blatant lies and exaggerations when their are so many folks about who went and no the truth You also want to see the comments piss taking Russ has made about his fellow DJs on his FB page and in messages he has bombarded me with

I used to admire Russ and although we were never friends as a Wiganer I was going to his venues at the Rugby Club and Newtown Legion in the early 70s I have stuck up for him in the past but he has lost the plot and is adamant the statements he is issuing are true We all know there were nights at the Casino when it was empty and could never hold 5K Winnie and others are spot on about how he is trying to rewrite history to suit the scene he is involved with and the punters he attracts According to this last message he sent me he appears to believe he saved the scene Russ Winstanley Yes we inherited Druggy idiots from The Torch etc. As explained, got rid of the majority of them by helping the Police to get all clear to continue. Seen details of the first prosecution today in 1977. What lies have I said? Druggy Morons killed Wheel and Torch but thankfully not the Casino. If it wasn't for me starting the Casino you wouldn't be sat talking all this crap.

Russ told me in a message over 4 million went, this was how he came up with the figure.. It also includes his response to the drugs issue .Rubbish. We sorted ours out. Wow one arrest a week out of 9,500 yet no prosecutions. We averaged 1,500 each Monday, Wednesday and Friday early session and 5,000 on Saturdays and 5,000 monthly Friday Alnighters. That's a bit more than 4 Million !!!! We stamped out the Druggy idiots in 1974 as we got the All clear. This is fact.

It depends on which Scene you're talking about

A Interesting/Amusing interview with Russ in which he maintains the 4 million attendance figure at the Casino, however this time he claims there was never 1 fight He also gives the full story on how he discovered the Frank Wilson record with the help of someone from Motown https://chorley.fm/russ-winstanley/

Following a post I put on FB Diane Herring one of Russ's current DJs posted the following Russ Winstanley has asked me to put this on as he cant get on for some strange reason . He says can you show your proof that people where arrested inside the casino for drugs hes at the Bellingham on sunday please bring your evidence or shut up if there was so many arrests in the casino it must be easy to find.

Personally I thought the claims from Gerry Marshall that the Casino had their own Drug Squad was amusing Would anyone like to step forward who was in that squad Their is a vast amount of articles and newspaper cuttings archived in Wigan on the Casino History and they make good reading especially as they were all written long before folks were bothered about being PC

The local History Shop and library are full of old newspaper article and cuttings of the darker side of the Casino, including details of the prosecutions The head of the local Police claimed they averaged one arrest a week Journalists should research their stories better

FFS has Russ Winstanley lost the plot, his memory or why does he continue to with these blatant lies In a local magazine he claims over 4 million people attended the Casino Nighters and not one was ever prosecuted The article starts on page 39https://issuu.com/local_life/docs/wigannorth0215

The last few shows Richard has done on BBC Radio Manchester have been excellant I guess only a fraction of the folks who enjoy the music get out n about and like his previous shows they will be on playback... https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02n708l