I and my old mates used to go to the bank holiday alldayers at Whitchurch Civic (lived in Market Drayton 12 miles away) in the 70's. I can clearly remember the main hall downstairs , the market place next door and the small upstairs room and bar.
I never DJ'd at the Alldayers but I was a regular Saturday Night DJ for Tony Petherbridge when it was just the upstairs room on Saturday Nights along with Right Track Disco. I can remember one Saturday when JJ Barnes was on, not many people were in and JJ sang in the bar !
I also used to frequent the Raven at Prees Heath on Fridays (the Sweat Box right hand room) when the only DJ who would be on all night was Sam, playing his newly founds for the 1st hour. I later DJ'd there for Tony P when he became Landlord / Owner.
Tony Petherbridge sometimes ran a minibus from outside Whitchurch Civic to the casino, it was full of mainly Whitchurch, Market Drayton and a couple of Shrewsbury soulies (Carol Wood from Bomere Heath springs to mind) I regularly used this. On Sunday morning when we got back to the Raven Tony used to open the bar and we would play our newly acquired 45's, later on in the evening a few of us would go to Tiffanies in Newcastle U Lyme.
There was always trouble between Whitchurch and Market Drayton in the 70's (two close market towns) forget the chippie, ambushes at the bus station / car park etc. Funny thing happen to most of the Drayton soulies we started going out with Whitchurch girls and we never had a spot of trouble again, drinking with them in the 'Black Bear' (just up the street) which was a
Greenalls pub (?).
There is also a 'White Bear' pub which is at the other end of the street.
Below is an ISC flyer which includes Market Drayton swimming baths.
Memories
David (spook)