Kathryn Magson

It's not so much trying to force us oldies out - more a case of them looking down on anyone older. Most of us can't dance as well as we used to - some of the younger ones will spin & backdrop etc with a smirk on their faces & try to take over the dance floor, leaving no room for others. I've sat & watched them do it - I quite enjoy just watching a busy dance floor. Having said all this - most of the younger end that I've met are nice & get on well with everyone regardless of age - room for all of us I reckon. I know a few oldies too that object to the younger end being there...…..

It DOES happen, but not very often I glad to say. A few of the younger ones seem to want to take over the whole scene & shove us oldies out of the way. As for me ....I'm going nowhere lol Overheard one younger guy mutter "f------g sh-te" as he pushed his way past me when the DJ played an old Marvin Gaye track from the 60s. How can anyone say that about Marvin Gaye? I wanted to punch his ;lights out lol

I've not been to a nighter since 1970 - in my late 60s now, so I guess I won't be going to another now lol. I love my nights out - not fussed about the dayers - but I'm usually one of the last to leave at night - 2am or so. I have a couple of local monthly ones that I never miss - I don't drive, but I'm happy to go anywhere further afield if I can blag a lift. I don't hit the dance floor as much as I used to - happy to watch a full floor though. Good to see people of all ages mixing together - some of the young ones can really dance - alongside the old shufflers like me. I always think there's room for all of us - I'm not one who feels the scene should be exclusive to us "old originals" - but equally unhappy with some of the younger ones who feel we should leave the scene cos we're past it. Bit of respect on all sides is needed. I have a friend in her late 60s who still goes to the soul nights - along with her granddaughter & her boyfriend. The girl reminds me of myself when I was 16 - she can really dance, her clothes are fab & she gets on really well with everyone.

Quite agree with you there Mark, but they normally only go round the room once so I don't find it too bad to dodge the cameras. Never been one for having my pic taken

At most of the soul night I go to, there is always someone who will want to take pics. A lot will take photos of the group they are with & some will also go round the room & take pics of everyone. I think that's fine, just so long as they ask first - then if you give permission for your pic to be taken, you have to accept that it could pop up anywhere - Facebook - Soul Source - anywhere at all. Permission first is the key. If you don't want your pic taking, it's probably easier just to head to the bar/toilet/dance floor/best mate that you just spotted at the other end of the room etc when you see the camera heading in your direction - avoid the situation altogether.

Moody Blues - Go Now - tune that ended the Twisted Wheel all-nighters for a while in the 1960s. Always made me want to cry - just sounds so bloody sad!

Same up here in the north - I was out at a local soul night at the weekend & one of my friends was out on the floor, along with her extremely trendy young, mod granddaughter & her boyfriend - age gap of over 50 years. Granddaughter has grown up listening to Grandma's records & loves it - great to see!

I never felt edgy at the Wheel - always felt very much at home. Mistakenly though - one night my purse was nicked from my bag - I'd done what I always did - dumped my bag in a corner & hit the dance floor. Only in a very tiny room - I'd left my bag on the floor by the DJ cage & I was very near to it. Must have been a girl - a guy would have looked a bit sus rummaging in handbags & she must have been very quick or she would have been spotted. It was the only money I had - I had to scrounge money from a few mates to get home. Had some great pals though - they all coppered up to make sure I had enough to get me through to payday. At the time I was living in a bedsit & no parental support, so had no-one to borrow from - really made me appreciate my mates!

I vaguely remember chatting to a guy who said he had travelled down from Scotland - might well have been you David - can't have been many that came so far for a night out! I did know a guy who used to come over from Ireland though - can't remember his name - but he said he had to catch a bus into the port - then the ferry - then a train from Liverpool to Mancs. Always used to pity him when I thought of him enduring that North Sea crossing after the Wheel......