Brent

Now ....I Do know what my mother was on about when she used to shout " what you doing up there ? " " bloody bang bang sounds lke your comng through the floor " lol . Brent

Hi Stu You have our thanks and utmost respect for your support of the lad, but could i please utter a word of caution. I understand that the decision to ask him not to attend did not sit at all well with the promoter of the night, but was in fact instigated by a call or "quiet word " with the management of the venue, made by someone who obviously has ther own agenda. I can say that the promoter has shown nothing but support for the lad in this matter. And Deserves nothing but Respect and Support for the way he has helped and supported us in the promotion of "The Horwich All Nighter " venture. ??? Maybe as we have, you could look at who might gain from throwing " shit at the fan " ???? Sitting back and watching the reaction. ?? Who would gain from reducing attendances at particular venues ??? We both ask you to not to let the venue sabateurs Win ? Finally Stu .... We are proud to call you a fellow Soulie ....... Regards and Respect .... Brent.

NICE ONE PAL ....... you`ll always be his dancing stepdads ..... ( His words not mine ) sez he`ll push you around in your wheelchair when hes allowed to go

Hi Billy I took him home late this one pal ..... 2.30 he usually stays tll about 1... 1.30 . He prefers to go to an all nghter , as he gets to hear tunes that he cant hear at a soul night, or download from you tube . etc. His favourite Djs happen to be Kev Murphy ... Andy Dyson .... Karl Rhodes Sean Chapman ... Nige Brown ..... non of which are likely to play rare tunes at a soul night. He wears retro clothing because HE wants to ...... Outside of soul nights he wears Doc Martens , Levis, Ben Shermans , and has asked for a Crombie for christmas. and his mates dont say a word... he is what he is .... a soulie He is the 5th of 7 children that vary in age from 38 down to 8 and is the only one to Choose Soul as a passion .... I spend as much time with Him as I do with his brothers , sisters , and my grandchildren and their hobbies that are as varied as Football , Drawing , Soul music , fishing etc so on any given day i am as likely to be found collecting worms as collecting records. Still finding time to pay the bills, be dads taxis, personal banker for children that left home while they still knew everything, Have sore knees , MOT the car Etc. And still Be PROUD OF ALL MY KIDS. He is so motivated, when i cant be bothered he has been known to resort to bribery, with such things as IF i iron your shirt and do your pants can we go ??? LOL. Accademically he is n the top 5% of his year at school and his gong to venues has been dependant on that being maintained. He will be 14 at the beginning of september and as such not A CHILD ...... HE IS A YOUNG SOULIE....... He is more mature than many of the ADULT ??? people that go to all nghters. AND Certainly more emotionally stable than many of them. He Does know what devils work is done at all nighters and is mature anough to turn a blind eye to it. What I cannot understand is how actually has his presence at a venue affected someone else??? Cheers Billy Regards and Respect ......Brent And to the others ... You Know Who you are ....... Has he shit on someones chair ??? or in your manbag??? or is he just a better dancer or more passionate soulie ??? Have you some emotional hangup about youngsters ???? Why start a thread about youngsters in the first place that was bound to turn into a witch hunt. or was that your agenda??? well done you PEADOPHOBE ! What Harm was he doing ??? Never mind Victor Meldrew ...... More like John Wayne Gacey.... Hope your fukin proud of yourself..... And thanks to the knob who took it upon themselves to contact a venue owner ...... The youngster has been asked not to attend again. Well DONE ... we have our suspicions who? At this moment I would be ashamed to call myself a soulie with a spirit of tolerance and acceptance. Please now can we call an end to this witch hunt ......... you win.

Hi liam ..... On behalf of one young soulie I thank you for the support you, and his other friends have shown for him........ To comment on your final statement Liam, IT WILL NOT. Before I answer any of the points and questions asked by some of the apparent Paedophobes...... What are the moderators of this site doing allowing Names to be named in the first place?? What crime are these young soulies being accused of ? Poor moderation ??? According to licencing laws as i understand them ..... No entry to licenced premises under the age of 12........ No consumption of alcohol under the age of 18 ..... Unless Where food is being served ............. wine may be consumed age 14 when served exclusively as part of the meal................ Specific variations may be imposed by the local licencing officer. With regard to Public Entertainment licencing for live and mechanically reproduced music, dancing and entertainment there is No age restriction. The only thing that may restrict these youngsters is with regard to public liability insurance, and as most all nighters come within the remit of local communities/ local authorities they are unlikely to have age restrictions....... So unless these young soulies enter into activities that breach the public order act ......... They are legal ..... And excuse me if i am wrong ...... but since when Have all...nighters been the exclusive domain of over 45s ???? Or did I miss an act of parliament published in Blues and Soul ??? If your concern is for their safety and wellbeing, I can certainly assure you that their safety is paramount and that they are much safer under my scrutiny and the scrutiny of friends that have been Deemed Locum parentis. Than being allowed on the local park ( 3 reported rapes in the last year ) and stood witha gang on the corner ( youth clubs went years ago Victor }. If your concern is that you,d rather not make a prat out of yourself in front of someone who might remember .... thats your choice? If your feel that strongly about the subject that you wouldnt attend ... then IMO not as valid a reason as chit music, or middle of the road Djs ......But.... Once again ... Your Choice .... And ....... the thought comes to mind .... Should we start a poll to see if we should encourage you to return??? ........... Maybe not ?? I can also Assure you that for the posters who mentioned Nappies Etc . That particular phobia ,may come from the fact that you, will have to wear incontinence pads, and be spoon fed long before they have to be..................... Its called old age?? Remember to them.............. An all nighter is when you can dance to the music you love , cant hear anywhere else and socialise with people you respect and have similar values regardless of age, creed or politics To you it seems an all nighter............... Is when you dont have to get out of bed for a pee 5 times a night. I will stop him from going when i have to drag him out of the bar in a drunken stupor, letching at the women with large chest on the dancefloor, Comes home from school and downloads Chemist screwing for beginners or how to make Drynamil spansules out of a blue peter tracy island. Get real ........... by all means voice your opinion and vote ... but to try and raise the profile of ones views and encourage others to partake in what has become close to a witch hunt with exaggerated pseudo arguements verges on persecution.. if you need help with your Paedofobia please seek it elsewhere. And just to upset some more paeople Keep The Fluff ............ Brent .

Now then .... . Having read the posts from both sides of this debate ... Some interesting..some......... none the less relevant ........ But. seemingly posted by Victor Meldrew ................... This thread seems to have degenerated into a witch- hunt against two youngsters in particular . Northern Soul and all nighters has never been mainstream and as a subculture, evolved its own accepted unwritten rules and etiquette that enabled it to survive... Some of these rituals of acceptance and tolerance were created out of a need to avoid confrontation and clashes between hormonal youngsters coming to an all nighter from all walks of life, with one goal....... soul music. something that is still relevant in todays climate. So why do we become so insular ? Trying to stop these youngsters from becoming the next generation of soulies with similar rituals and values? We made the rules as youngsters so why not accept these young soulies ......................... They need to be nurtured not nutered? Without them who carries the flag after our demise?? Have we become so anally retentive that we cant remember the way that the hairs on the back of your neck stood on end the first time you heard these "Played out Oldies"? Stop looking at Ethan and Lottie, expecting them to start playing hop-scotch or tag on the dance floor. Stop stereotyping them and start looking at them as what they are ....Young Soulies with a passion for the music. Have you ever taken the time to engage them in conversation??? I can assure you, especially Ethan that his passion and enthusiasm shines through. He is more than capable of telling you if the OKEH record you have just bought is a first or second issue, or which Dj is his favourite or going and asking to hear HIS favourite tune..... . Should by chance one of them ask "How are you" Please Victor resist the urge to say " None the better for you asking" ..... just say.......... " Fine how are you" and if the conversation continues you may be surprised that you dont have anything to fear from these young soulies. Finally if anyone wishes to comment on my parenting skills, please do it in person i,m the ugly bloke usually within 50 feet of Ethan. Regards and respect Brent:hatsoff2:

Bloody ell Frank. How are you pal? That photo was of MY wedding. with Richard as My Best Man. Some mate he turned out to be ... Never even TRIED to talk me out of it..... LOL If you fancy a pint or if that lovely wife of yours will give you parole papers for the night. I have a do on next Friday the 28th At Rumworth Halls in Bolton. Let me know and i,ll put your name on the guest list. ( and i,ll play judy street for ya ) lol Been quite an interesting thread about vava, and i have enjoyed contributing to it. Just let me know about next friday . Regards BRENT.

HI jIMMY Steve midgeley was a great mate of mine from VaVA and through Wigan , my first wife Lesley Wilson from Barnsley was brought to wigan by him and BuB. Ady Dundass and Eric were two great friends ( i used to sell Back st for them) in fact i saw eric about 18 months ago. he still lives in leeds. I remember running him back to his mothers flat in Hunslett after samanthas. I used to Date Ann from selby. Also do you remember Les .........ady and erics ex mate. I also remember getting the horrors on the road from leedsto SelBy and Vick from bolton had to drive my car. lol. Best Wishes .... Brent

You get the ice cream Chris......... Major lance appeared at an Early session b4 The nighter at VAVA and about 40 peple turned up. and how could i have mistaken you for Mick.... Love ........... Brent.

Nah MICK .... not Hmm, its UM UM UM UM UM UM LOL.... np wont mention it Chris . Love ................... Brent

Lol Mick . So you felt ripped off too, How do you think we felt...... Twice in one night. can remember shout ing DOOR....DOOR instead of MORE ... MORE at the end of his act, Might as well have been someone from out of the Soldier Blue Cafe.... Ive Never played the record since. Thanks for the Date Malc ... august 72 ... let me work it out ?? Ok Vava disco nighters must have started in late 71 ..... it was first opened /built in summer 71. So if you went to the disco nighter Mick ..... You WOULD have been still at Smithills with your short trousers and Beard.. The Name VAVA was supposed to be Spanish or similar for GO GO..... just a bit of trivia. Thinking about Vava. Can anyone tell me the First and only live act to appear at vava ???????. No Cheating and going through old Blues and Soul Chris !! Love ........ Brent Ps Chris did you ask your Dave about the car thing???? ........ B

Now Now Mick! Dont get age ist { You just couldnt resist getting that one in could you.?) Troggs was after VaVa had started pal! Now let me work it out ............... i used to get dropped off at va vas after my driving lessons ..so i was 17 .......in august 73 so if you double it and take away the first one you thought of then ................. lol Yes pal those dates seem about right . The disco nighters started about August 72 . One reference point that people might be able to help me pin down dates is ......... Does anyone know when Roy C appeared at the Torch cos me and tich went to the Navada on the sat night and paid good money to see him there and he was chit....... so pissed off we rang martin valentine to take us to the torch..... We were talking to Hank and Dave Urmston when who should walk on stage .............. Bloody Roy C!!!!!! That was near to the beginning of Northern at VAVA. LOVE TO YOU BOTH ....Brent

One of the finest badges ever Designed...... By Tich ( Tony Briscoe ) The Manager of VaVa never one to pass up the chance of making a few bob on the side, had admired and commented on the amount of Torch badges worn at the nighter. He came up with the Design for one that had two cherubs on it, Tich was sat upstairs one night in the Wheatsheaf with me, Phil Jackson ( Jock), and Martin Valentine, and this badge design came up in conversation. Within 2 minutes Tich stood up clutching a piece of paper and proudly declared that his design was better. The Design was nicked from a Greenall Whitley beer mat on the Table. Tich gave it to the manager and the rest they say is history.... but he did get a free pass for the nighter out of it................ Anyone know why we always sat upstairs in the Wheatsheaf.??........ Well?? It was the ideal place to see both the Front Door AND the back door of Boots chemists on the corner. If anyone was to pass a dodgy forged script The assistant would ring the law and plod would always sneak up the back street and in the back door waiting for you /them to come and collect it. If you saw plod go in then you just didnt go back for it. Well they didn`t plus the lights were bright and you could read Rogers MIMS and practice scribbly writing. As a bonus Jock had filled the jukebox with Pressings and was on 50% commission. CHRIS .... Ask your Dave about the time they stripped a borrowed car in your dads garage on Winslow , while they were on holiday and got caught dumping it ??? and the time we went to Leeds Central in a borrowed car and your Dave had the bright idea of Tying both the doors together with rope for security and still be there in the morning ?? We were once in the Wheatsheaf with no money and no gear so Jimmy M had an idea, While Tich was in the toilet Jim and your Dave sold him to Charlie Robbie for 100 chalkies and £5,00 lol I used to help out behind the snack bar at the nighter in Va Va if it was busy and one night Eccles brought a pile of £ 1.oo off vouchers (From Asda or somewhere) for a joke, and they were all over the floor . Coddy Hughes worked out that In the Dark and about 3 0 clock on a moonless night they resembled pound notes, he got Barry Big Eyes to bring them to the snack bar and change them for real ones and in return for turning a blind eye me and Barry got a canister of Filon each, with the manager running round like a headless chicken threatening to close the place unless the culprit was pointed out. MMMMMMMMM! Filon! Loads of tales to tell about Va Va , But unless i know that they would accept their skeletons being mentioned as my own heatfelt memories, let me check with ones i can, and to the others............ i can assure you that your secrets are safe with me ............AT A PRICE!!!!

Taking DJ bookings, PM me or e mail pt.coulson@yahoo.co.uk (also Trendy Weddings and Christenings catered for) Bloody ell Trigg how big of a clue do you need?

Bloody Hell ...... Art aw reet Brian??? Ok You got me .... How Much for the negative??? must have been early in the Night .... no red eye . Must admit to having always been a hansome bstard . any More Mate?? not many photos of me about other than on wanted posters. even though Big Roger has a few......lol. you still about??

YES PAL .... GETTING AS BAD AS TRIGG COULSON ... lol Paul Brady sorry!

Hi chris Ok i,l write a bit morein the next few days... But first i,ll Throw a few names out that might jog memories...... Steve Midgeley from Barnsley (Back door Kenny,s Cousin) My Mate Snowy ( skiing with bill snow) from Donny Mace from Little Hulton Gill Grimes ( God i,ve thought about her over the years XXX) Steve Fay from farnworth. Mick Gooding (wendys Hubby ) Steve Jones from Manchester . Eric sayner(Smith) from Leeds Ady From Selby. Ann and Mary From Selby. Roy ( Filon) Charlesworth from Rotherham.. Matchys pal. Martin Valentine ( 6ft 12) from Horwich Kev Fox from Leigh... Dr Deakins pal..lol. loads of Faces that have long since Faded but not forgotten ...............all regulars at VAVAs MIGHT EVEN RECOLLECT THE NIGHT IT WAS CODDY (later to become a good friend) HUGHES .BIRTHDAY .... R.I.P PAL.

Got some good stories about Troggs ..... Especially the Night that the Torch closed.......... Ask Rich Hillel about the cloakroom free for all.... and Yes Bob Hinsley was the dj there . Ask Bob about the trips Taken on Steve Highams Coaches to the torch........... B

Got some good stories about Troggs ..... Especially the Night that the Torch closed.......... Ask Rich Hillel about the cloakroom free for all.... and Yes Bob Hinsley was the dj there . Ask Bob about the trips Taken on Steve Highams Coaches to the torch........... B

Soldier Blue ....... Lol It was a shabine run by a guy called Rubin ....... spent many an hour in the cellar playing 3 card brag with Robin Seales and Terry Grundy.... Rubin was the uncle of OLLY and Pat Brady.

Hi all After reading some of the replies to this post , I have copied a letter that i wrote to the local paper about 3 years ago. I hope that it may be of interest to you all. Just a few facts "Bolton has a strong link to the Northern soul scene" In the late 1960s when most of the British youth followed the Californian Hippy and Flower Power culture, many of the teenagers in northern towns across England, aligned themselves with Detroit rather than San-Francisco. The music of Motown could be heard in every pub and club from Radcliffe to Rivington. Times changed and so did the Music coming out of Detroit, The Temptations began to sing about "Psychedelic Shack" instead of "My Girl". Motown had gone to California (Literally) it moved its Hq from Detroit to Los Angeles, In Areas across the north such as Bolton, Wigan, Preston, Barnsley and Wakefield, some of the DJs in these pubs and clubs sensed a change in the music, and searched for other sources of that foot tapping dance beat. They discovered that Detroit music was not just Motown albeit it was the largest record label, there was in fact a myriad of smaller independent labels that had produced records identical to that Motown sound, some of them featuring the same singers and journeyman musicians, who moved around the companies searching for work. Some of these records were so rare that if a Dj played it at his club it would bring the die-hard mods from miles away. and if someone had 2 copies " wow " collectors and Djs would bid extortionate amounts to own them. Bolton for some strange reason seems to have had more than its fair share of these Clubs, Record Collectors and Djs, as well as Soul enthusiasts and GOOD Dancers. One of the first was The Cromwellian club on Bank St, which is quoted as being instrumental in history of rare soul music (later termed Northern Soul) which drew clientele from all over the North West. Later the inplace to go was Bolton Palais (now Icon ) where the Dj was the legendary Wycliffe Alan Barratt Jr (Wick) the son of an African American soldier ( Well thats what he always told me ) In about 1970 the local government built its admin. Headquarters of Elizabeth house on what was Great Moor St Bus Station and opened Trendy nightclub called VA VA. In order to generate business on Fridays they opened all night playing chart records. VA VAs was quite unique in that it had an all nighter on Fridays, This was to get around the Sunday rule that stated that in Bolton " Members only clubs " could obtain a Music licence to play records after 2 am on Sunday morning. A Few of us Soulies and record collectors who often went to all nighters on Saturdays such as The Torch in Tunstall, Stoke on Trent would often take a few records down and when the locals had fallen asleep we would dance away to our favourite music. I worked At Va Va during the week,and knew the management well and after a while and having borrowed records from older soulies such as Jimmy Muirehead and Mick Gooding, Hank and Dave Urmston, the management were approached and the question of playing soul from the start of the session was posed and we were told "find a Dj and your on". Wick Barratt was asked and he said that he knew a mate from Tonge Fold called Richard Searling who worked at Global Records in Manchester. within weeks what had been an all nighter littered with sleeping bodies became a hot sweaty mass of dancing Soulies that came from as far as Scotland, Barnsley, Sheffield as we spread the word about a Friday nighter in Bolton, All this on 2 dance floors the biggest of which was about the size of my bedroom and the other as big as the rug in it. One of my fondest memories of this time is one of 20 stone plus Dave " Bub" Buttle, pulling into the car park on a Moped that he had ridden over the pennines from his home in Barnsley, with his backside hanging over the sides like John Waynes saddle bags. And another of Bub walking down the path of our house and my Dad, looking out of the window shouting to my Mum without batting an eyelid, " Edith" " Tha better goo an get sum grub in" " this one fav vers he con eyt orse". Later in 73 Wigan Casino opened its doors so we would go to VA VAs on friday, Wigan Casino on Saturdays and then round it off with a dose of Bolton Palais on sundays. I became Friends with a journalist who wrote for the specialist magazine " Blues and Soul" and spent many pleasurable hours discussing the pros and cons of this particular record or that particular artist. That journalist now many years later works for the Bolton Evening News and is features writer Frank Elson. Best Wishes and fondest memories Brent Howarth Long winded or what??? not even got to Barry Big Eyes or Big Willie from Much Wenlock , Eccles and his brother from Preston , Richie Hills or even my mate Tich from Bolton, Dave Molloys older brother Jimmy. Roger and Colin, and Paul Delaney . LOL KTF .... Brent.

These are the updated arangements ....... Brent Thanks to all who have sent their condolences and memories to Mark and to Lyndas Family. Here are the arangements for Lyndas Funeral :- On Friday 26th January Service at St James Church, Breightmet Bolton ....1.30pm Interrment at Overdale Crematorium, West Chapel, Chorley New Road , Bolton .. 2.30 pm Wake and Soul Music Celebration of Lyndas Life and Memories will be Held at Tonge Ward Labour Club, from 3.30 pm until Midnight. We will then move venues at midnight to The Tippings hotel on Blackburn Rd. Bolton. Next to Mc Donalds where a FREE all-nighter will be held and will continue until 8.00am. In order to give anyone who is unable to attend the earlier session the chance to join in and give her a true soulful send off. This is NOT a pay venue or club event, But is a chance for anyone who Knew Lynda to swap stories, Pay their respects, in the way that Lynda, as a true Bolton Soulie would have loved . Keep the Faith Lynda ...... Lots of Love ......... Brent, Ann, Dave D, Linda. Ronnie N Sue, Pete Eccles, Roger N Bernie, Gazzo, Paul Wiggy N Sue, Dolly N Trina, Jimmy and Mags, Vick N Di, Ray S and all the rest of the Bolton Soulies .... XXXXXXX