My girlfriend (later my wife Elizabeth) went every Saturday evening to
the "Morgue" to see and dance to nearly every pop group whom became
famous or were famous.
Beatles, Hollies, Screaming Lord Sutch, Acker Bilk, Kenny Ball, Bob Miller
and the Millermen (this band played on National Radio every Wednesday
lunchtime for months), Freddie and the Dreamers, Gerry Marsden, The
Merseybeats, The Kinks, Manfred Man and the Manfreds. The list is
endless.
One memory I have is when Wayne Fontana visited one Saturday
night and in the early 60's I was employed by a local radio and TV
firm,and his amplifier developed a fault and at nearly 18.00hrs he was
put in touch with the firm and our engineer put a new Valve in it and
repaired it, otherwise he would have had problems performing.
I
understand that a M.C at the Hall named Mckenzie states the Beatles used
his name as the " Father Mckenzie" in one of their famous hits (Eleanor
Rigby). The M.C lived I believe in Rudheath.
I am sorry I have no more
knowledge in relation to the Memorial Hall.
Good Luck with your research
.
Regards
Stan Hilditch
Memorial Hall Memories
December
2012 – January 2013
“When I was a child I got to know the
Beatles through their gigs at the hall. When they crowned the May Queen there
were problems with the stage and The Beatles had to be sneaked away. A friend
had a meat van so they were snuck around the back and into the van to make a
gate away. I was in the back of the van them.”
John Harison
I played in a rock group called the Echoes.
I have photos of me as a teddy boy. I’ll see if I can find some. I was 16 and
played head guitar.
“Going
to see Steam Trains with my dad in the summer time”
“I used to go and see the Northwich and
district choir. It was serious music but very good. I don’t think the choir
exist anymore. I remember seeing Hannah Gordon there. She used to host a
cabaret night.”
I go to the Northwich flower show once a
year. I’ve been going for 15 years. They have stalls selling things and a demo.
It’s always full to capacity. They have a raffle and I won it twice. The money
for the raffle goes to charities like St. Lukes hospice. I go with a friend who
is into flower arranging.
I went to a few business events there. I
designed the graphics for both events. I’m in the library a lot so I will bring
some in.
I go to Modern Jive dancing there. It’s a
bit more forgiving and you can improvise. I went on my own which was good. If
you go with a partner people don’t ask you to dance. I’ve not been for a while
as my son just came over from Zimbarbwei.
It’s the best thing to happen. The building
is “hedious”!
I went to see my niece and nephew in Peter
Pan. They couldn’t do the flying but it was magical. It was a nice venue and it
was good that they got to stage it at the hall for a change.
I have been in a few dance performances by
the Joan Pierpoint Dance School. It was a modern jazz dance performance.
They used to do Pop Mobility there when it
first started. It used to be packed with women dancing about. My husband used
to do the door and I would do the cloak room. That’s where we did most of our
courting.
1973 I went to see Latin American dance
champions with my mum, that really inspired me to learn dance for myself. I
also watched my own daughter on stage dancing for the Joan Pierpoint school of
dancing.
I went to the Memorial hall for my lunch
sometimes. I’d get a 3 course meal and it was fairly cheap. Sometime it was a
roast. It was my mother in law who took me first when my children were young.
She’s in a home now.
Saturday Nights to see some do the American
Tamla Motown artists such as Edwin Starr, The Chilites etc. Also the Saturday
‘all Nighters’ with the sausage and baked bean breakfasts, although those
memories are rather more hazy!
I used to go and see the kids when they were
in the Riverbank Day Nursery Christmas play. My son played the inn keeper and
he had to sing a song “and I forgot my words” He was shy and wanted to come and
sit with me.
WRESTLING
1961 – First went to the memorial Hall when
I was 16 with my dad. We were looking for a new Radio Gram. We had Christmas
dinner there every year and I always enjoyed the wrestling matches between ‘Big
Daddy’ and ‘Giant haystack’. Rae
Williams
DISCO
I used to go to the Morg under 18’s disco. I
had my first date there. People from all the Schools used to go so we arranged
to meet there. The disco was run by the police. It was an effort to build
bridges between the young people and the police. The Police would be there in
plain clothes. It was really informal and good humoured.
I used to go to the Morg under 18s disco. I
had my first dare there. People from all the schools used to go so we arranged
to meet there. The disco was run by the police. It was an effort to build
bridges between the young people and the police. The police would be there in
plain clothes. It was really informal and good humoured.
Going to the Discos on a Wednesday and
getting drunk on Merrydown cider at 14 J not letting my mum +
dad know Tut Tut
Working
as part of the stage crew for Mid Cheshire Amateur Operatic Society for many
productions – the fun, the camaraderie. Also playing the violin in the
orchestra, for a few productions, notably The King and I. ‘After Show’ parties,
and clearing up the hall on the Sunday.
I remember dancing enthusiastically to B52’s
‘Rock Lobster’ at The Morg Dance (1986) Me and Adele Hinchliffe sometimes
dressed up like the Blues Brothers (chortle). Also getting my award
contribution to the Community Guardian Angels Awards 2011. Very proud! And lots
of fun with Jene-circus workshop, Pantos, Cbeebie Boogie Pete Show laughing our
heads off, watching films and going to meetings…big part of our life really.
I saw Gene Kypeco the big band drummer at
the hall. Big bands were dying off then and competing with bands like the Beatles.
Peter M Coane
They used to have union meetings. I went to
one in 1972 when I was a student – Students were much more political in those
days. Peter M Coane
I used to go to my aunty’s slimming world. I
used to play hide and seek whilst my mum was at Slimming World. Samantha Walker
My kids used to go to the kids discos. They
thought they were the bees knees going to the Memorial Hall.
We have meals at the hall in the restaurant.
They are the best loos in Northwich. We have the set meal which is normally
soup, a meat or fish dinner and a pudding for £7.50. The Service is great. I
went to the archaeology day, someone from Chester came and 2 or 3 people gave
talks. Dorothy Wilton
I remember going to see bands and groups in
the 60’s. I saw the Beatles. I can’t remember the dates. I performed in Barnton
Variety Workshop panto. I was in the chorus I think it was Cinderella. I had to
sing. It was great fun. The dress rehearsals were there. There are dressing
rooms at the back. They are basic. One big room where everybody mucked in and
helped each other. It was all ages from young ones to Edna who was in her 80’s.
Barnton primary School used to have singing
concerts and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house.
I go once a week to the mature movers dance
class run by Cheshire Dance.
We went there to see my daughter play in the
school band just before Christmas 2012. “I play the clarinet and got to go
behind the stage, it went really well”.
I used to go to the Morg under 18’s disco.
It was a good laugh.
I worked for M+S and we used to set up a
stall as part of jobs club.
I went to Cheshire Landscape Trust meetings
there.
I remember going to some kind of fair on a
Saturday, there were all sorts of stalls and we won some alcohol on the raffle.
We were only 16 so the person wouldn’t give us our prize. After she had gone
another person sneaked us the alcohol. I never kept the bottle.
Teddy Boys were banned from the Memorial
Hall because of the reputation for violence.
I went to see Button Moon there. I was about
3 or 4. I remember Mr Spoon. It was puppets. As I got older I went to beer
festivals twice, the first time I remember the food and beer were excellent.
There was an excellent Hazlenut beer and a cider called ‘suicide’. The second
time I stuck to a few beers and didn’t get too drunk. I went to the purple
cactus club and saw some comedians. One of the comedians was Junor Simpson. It
was busy and I bumped into some old friends.
I go to Tai chi there once a week.
I learnt to dance in Ardwick Manchester.
When we came to Northwich we used to go to the Memorial Hall to do ballroom and
Latin American dance. I may have some old tickets and other things. If I find
them I’ll drop them off at the Memorial Hall next time I go dancing. Alan Lever
I saw lots of bands there. I saw the Beatles
and Johnny Mathis. We used to go out as a big gang. People don’t seem to do
that so much these days.
I remember going to see Julie Unwin. Her
father was a solicitor in Northwich. Julie had just finished music school as an
opera singer. It was standing room only and very warm that night and all the
windows were open. We went and sat along the river with a glass of wine. The
man sung ‘Nessun Dorma’ and had to re-sing it as an encore.
The Beatles came but I couldn’t get in, I
had to look through the window. There was only one policeman there. We couldn’t
see anything so we just went home. I go to flower arranging and Roberts Brass
Band. Christine Johnson
I have performed as part of a ballet class probably
1962-3ish, we would put on a production for parents etc. My first live musical
was to watch Brigadon performed by the Operatic Soc. I have been to many
events, past and present. The dance floor is beautiful to dance on, it being
sprung. Terry Pratchett spoke to a full house, quite a few years ago. Yes I
have some good memories. Denis P.
Memorial Hall Memories
Memories collected on Memorial Hall Tags and Flags
I had some Beatles Signatures which I sold recently for over £1,000. I've got copies which I will bring to the collection days.” David Ashbrook
The Dance floor here is great . Its what we care about. Its sprung so it cushions you. When your over 50 and your knees are going you need that.” Gary Hulme
“I once got on the stage with the band Amen Corner. I got to blow a trumpet. About five of us got up. We were invited, we weren’t like a mob.”
“I remember dancing on the stage with Jimmy Ruffin. I remember Back drop and the splits and all the mowtown.”
“We came to see Edwin Starr. Vinnie Kane, at the age of 20, got up on the stage to sing “War” with them. He was supposed to sing “What is it good for?”But he kept trying to sing all of it and they had to start it again 3 times.”
“I saw the Beatles twice. About 40 of us came because they were so good.”
“ I remember Tom Mckenzie. He used to compare. He was a little unassuming man. He worked at British Actel I think. He had pictures of him and the Beatles when they were young which he used to carry around in his pocket. They say that he is the Father Mckenzie in the Beatles song.”
“We travelled here to the 60's night from Maccelsfield. There's nothing like this there.”
“The Beatles were paid £800 to play the Lord Mayors event in Northwich. A few weeks later they offered to pay them £1,200 to play here again. That wasn't enough and 2 weeks later they topped the bill in America for 15,000.”
“Thanks to all the staff in the restaurant. They are always kind and helpful. The food is always good for a reasonable price and it will be sorely missed.”
“Would you like a different table.”
“If its a good one.”
“Yes its a good one, its made of wood.” Overheard at the 60's night.
“I recall Adrian the Wrestler. He had long blond hair and all the ladies liked him. I was in the Northwich carnival. I had to curtsy and the auditions. I got picked but my sister was a bit of an ugly duckling and didn't get picked.”
“Its the first time we have been here tonight. I ran a thing here in the day for disabled people but I need to be kept in at night.”
“When Pj Proby was here I was too young to come in so I used to hang out at the back
trying to see the stars. I never really managed to see anyone though.” Sue Conneely
“I remember coming to see my son's air cadets passing out parade. Only one person literally passed out that day which is record. More people usually faint after standing still for so long.”
“I met my husband here.(wife).
“He was a friend of a friend. I've never forgiven him (husband)”
“We stopped coming but have come recently for the Northern Soul Nights.” (wife)
“Spud Ruddock was from the Witton Club and he was a rocker. He was a bit of an instigator of big fights. We would all go out for 10 minutes, have a big fight and then go back in and enjoy the rest of the night. Spud Ruddock gave me a lift on his bike once .”
“There is a good friendly crowd. I've been coming to the Northern soul nights for a few years. I travel all over and this is my favourite .” Carol Whittingham.
“Biddy Bidewell, was Black Bobs friend. Black Bob was about the only black man in Northwich at the time. The fights we used to have were all good light hearted, nobody got killed. One of the girls hair caught on fire once when she was smoking on the dance floor. Smoking and hairspray not a good combination. We used to get back stage passes to go and see Jimmy Ruffin. There were two bouncers Stan and another tall fella. Two men and no trouble in here and you didn't mess with them.” Bev, Biddy, Karen and Chris (Mods)
“In 1963 The Beatles played here and then 6 months later they were top of the pops. A guy called Black Bob ripped PJ Probys shirt off.”
“At come dancing I've seen Gwilli get up when there was an electricity cut and sing. Everybody carried on dancing as he sung. We used to get 250 people in for come dancing.”
“I was helping the scouts get ready back stage. It was to raise funds. One of the ladies came out in a £50 dress. I said “Look at that dress, I wouldn't wear that.” The next thing a voice from the stage told me to be quiet.”
“We used to have careers fairs here. Employers like Roberts Bakery would come and practically every school in the area would join in. There would be a table with a few people from each company behind it. The kids chose who they wanted to see and ask questions of. They asked some funny questions. One day a girl sat down at the Roberts Bakery stall and they asked her what she would like to do at the bakery and she told them she wanted to be a teacher. She had got the wrong stall.”
“My brother was involved in the building of the hall. He was 15 and an apprentice joiner.
He has gone on to work as a joiner all his life.”
“When Gary Glitter played here his pants split and he was so annoyed that he spat at grub.”
“I remember The Hollies, the Walker Brothers and Manfred man. Michael Mckentire played here and there were only 40 people here.”
“My memory is of meeting nice people and watching mature people enjoying themselves.”
“I remember college rag balls and they used to have a rag queen. Everybody was drunk, young and there was obligatory sex. We were mods. If you wanted to be smart you decided to be a mod and if you wanted to be scruffy you were a rocker. The main rocker was called spud. One night we got invited to the Witton club as spuds guests. All the other girls were staring at us but spud wouldn't let them say anything about us.”
“The Beatles, the screaming was so loud that we couldn't hear them singing.” Vivien Wilson
“The police used to run discos and our oldest daughter would come. I used to have to park around the corner when I came to pick her up so that her friends didn't see me in my gardening shoes.”
“I remember when PJ Proby came- what was funny- I was only in my teens. He had a turquoise corduroy suit on - me and a few girls tore it and we all got a piece. I think he got in a fight that night because he was detained in Northwich police station.” Vivien Wilson
John Fryer I think he had a fight with a guy called Bob Preston....know as "Black Bob". He lived in Crewe and did a lot of work for local BMX riders from Crewe before he passed away.
“Clive Nelson was writing a book on the memorial hall.”
“I Can remember them queueing around the block to get in.”
“When the Troggs were on recently they played songs which nobody had heard before. The reason they were new to us was because they were banned on the radio first time around.”
“Iggy Pop was supposed to play here but he got lost and didn't turn up. Marmalade played instead. Rumours were that Iggy Pop had stayed in America and not bothered to try and come.”
“PJ Proby was on stage. He was rubbish. I got on the stage and I got hold of him and his shirt came off. I got thrown out. PJ Proby lived in Warrington and had a job on the buses. He didn't really fit in with the mods and rockers because he was a bit of an Elvis impersonator. People threw things at him in a light hearted way.”
“I used to get in for free if I helped out a bit. One of my jobs was carrying the girls who had fainted down at the front. Two of us used to do it.”
“I remember there being a fire eater here. We had been coming to dances for years. We used to compete in ballroom dancing.”
“We used to go to the Penrhyn Arms and The Fox pub. We used to go to the chippy. Round the hall was a quaint place with lots more Tudor buildings than there are now. The hall was a hub for young people. I started coming in 1961. At half time they would change from a band and Tom Mckenzie would put records on, old 45's. Everybody would get up and dance then. The craze was trad jazz but then rock bands started to come in from Manchester and Liverpool . There was a promoter, a little guy with a moustache. We saw bands like the Beatles and The Rolling Stones, bands who went on to be big. I used to wear a Mohair suit with a cardboard handkerchief in the pocket and a string tie. We used to suck Parma Violets to get rid of the smell of drink. There used to be a free bus to take everybody home. Everybody knew each other, people from ICI and all over the place. Lots of couples met here. Then people started to drive and it all started to slip away.”
“I was one of the first people in the area to get a Gold Duke of Edinburgh award. I had already been to Buckingham Palace by the time I came here to a presentation.”
Conversations at Weaver Hall Museum
“When I was a kid I used to live in Walley Road where the memorial hall car park is now. The hall was built when I was about 5 or 6 . When the Beatles came I remember all the women coming past running and screaming. I had no idea what was happening so just started running too.
I remember as a child looking into the cafe on the side of the building. You could see all the ladies lunching in their hats and I used to think that's my idea of posh that is. I was just a working class kid so I wouldn't have thought of going in such a posh place. There was a large double doors at the back where all the stars went through. I used to stand on the steps and pretend to be a star. People walking past saying “Look at that kid, he's nuts.”
I remember my granny with big jars. Inside the jars with big pennies which she had helped collect to pay for the hall. A lot of the Victorian terraces were demolished in 1965. My school was just up the road and I used to walk to school with a big black labrador. They used to laugh because despite living the closest I was always the latest. People had lived around here for generations and they all knew each other. There used to be rival gangs in the area and we used to have punch ups. Lots of people moved from here to the Greenwood Estate.
When the memorial hall was in its hay day my Mum And Dad used to take us to Prices Chippy. Dad used to say if we wanted chips we had best go early before the memorial hall chucked out. There used to be free buses ran by North Western and Billy Martin buses. There used to be dance shows by Kitty Oakes School at the Memorial Hall and in the 70's Heavy metal nights.” - Tony and Marguerite Fallows, 288 London Road, Northwich.
“Wyn and I met at the memorial hall at a Valentines dance.”
“He asked me for a dance. I think I'd gone on a bus from the Bacon factory. That was over 50 years ago now.” Wyn and Neville Abberley
Conversation between Husband and Wife, David and Anne Mannion
David - “ I met Anne my wife at the Memorial Hall in 1965. I think we had gone to see the Swinging Blue Jeans. We met in a Dutch courage haze.”
Ann - “I hadn't been drinking, my mum wouldn't have allowed it. He asked me to dance. That was 48 years ago”
David - “We used to go every week. The Kinks stuck in my head and Spencer Davies. My catch phrase used to be “Kinks are Fab”. I was 18 and poverty stricken so we never had the money to go to Manchester to follow the bands. I was allowed in the hall at 17.”
Ann - “I used to drink lime and lemonade.”
David “I used to drink rum and black. The band The Undertakers used to have a coffin as part of their act. I can't remember what was in it but maybe people popped out of it and they kept booze in it. In the 1950's Northwich was almost Victorian in its attitudes. The liberation between the 1950's and the '60's was amazing. As young people we just accepted it but we knew that changes were happening. Music started to change. Records would be brought into Liverpool from America and end up on the stall in the market.
Ann - “Parents didn't really know what was going on with there kids in the 60's so they just let you go out and get on with it. As long as what you did was outside the house. If you came home drunk and were sick there would be trouble. It didn't matter if they were drunk. You do as I say not as I do.”
David - “ My cousin Alan Mannion used to work at the college and he decided to take cine film of Northwich as it changed in the 1960's. I have a copy on DVD which I will bring in for everybody to see.”
Conversation with between Ken Greenhough
“I had a rock band called 'The Echoes'. We used to back a lot of up and coming bands like the Beatles. We were offered a record contract but one of the other band members didn't want to take it up. He was going to University and when he said no his friend in the band didn't want to bother. We used to do covers and some of our own stuff too. We didn't make any recordings. It didn't mean that much in those days. We used to play at the hall most Thursdays and Saturdays. I didn't have a car so I'd have to take my big amp and guitar on the bus. At the end of each session there would be 2 or 3 girls offering to carry my guitar. I do regret not taking the record contract.
I used to give a girl a lift home to the hotel where she lived with her Dad. When it came to selling the hotel the owner wanted to repay me for all the lifts. He knew that I was a musician so he offered me this old piano. He told me that he couldn't sell it because this band had stayed there and all scribbled there names on it. I was only living in a flat at the time so didn't have room for it. He took it outside and chopped it up for firewood. The band who had signed it were The Beatles. Years later there was a radio show on about memorabilia and I phoned up to tell the story. The expert told me that if I'd had the piano I could have sold it today and retired to the Bahamas on the proceeds. Now I'm in a local band called Calico Jack, we play bluegrass and country.”
Conversation with Bryan Dearden, Cuddington, Northwich
“I used to run a kids disco in Cuddington. In the 80's we decided to do a disco in the memorial hall. We used to do children's parties and make children's dreams come true. The children's dream part was doing outings and fixings. Children would write a letter saying what they would like to do and we would try and make it happen. We borrowed a plane from Liverpool airport and several trains over the years. We took one girl to see the horse Red Rum. The profits from the discos used to go to the children's home. We sold the tickets for 30p which was 3 times more than we charged in Cuddington. Malcolm Norburn used to do the music. Children would come from all around Northwich, maybe from about a 6 mile radius. In terms of adults we would have the DJ who would be responsible for stopping any trouble on the dance floor too, somebody on tuck and another helper. We would have about 120 kids coming along. Kids who didn't know me would say that the worst thing I could do if they were naughty was shout at them. The kids who knew me better knew that the worst thing that would happen is that they wouldn't get to go on trips with us anymore.
People used to sell things called 'Sunny Smiles' they would raise money for children's homes in Frodsham. The money would be presented as part of a 'Festival of Queens'. Each queen would carry a purse of monies raised up and present it to the charity. I used to be a compere at that. I still have lots of DJ equipment but its too heavy to move about for me now.”
I went to pick up some photos from Bryan's house and he has a large collections of photos cuttings etc.
I had some Beatles Signatures which I sold recently for over £1,000. I've got copies which I will bring to the collection days.” David Ashbrook
The Dance floor here is great . Its what we care about. Its sprung so it cushions you. When your over 50 and your knees are going you need that.” Gary Hulme
“I once got on the stage with the band Amen Corner. I got to blow a trumpet. About five of us got up. We were invited, we weren’t like a mob.”
“I remember dancing on the stage with Jimmy Ruffin. I remember Back drop and the splits and all the mowtown.”
“We came to see Edwin Starr. Vinnie Kane, at the age of 20, got up on the stage to sing “War” with them. He was supposed to sing “What is it good for?”But he kept trying to sing all of it and they had to start it again 3 times.”
“I saw the Beatles twice. About 40 of us came because they were so good.”
“ I remember Tom Mckenzie. He used to compare. He was a little unassuming man. He worked at British Actel I think. He had pictures of him and the Beatles when they were young which he used to carry around in his pocket. They say that he is the Father Mckenzie in the Beatles song.”
“We travelled here to the 60's night from Maccelsfield. There's nothing like this there.”
“The Beatles were paid £800 to play the Lord Mayors event in Northwich. A few weeks later they offered to pay them £1,200 to play here again. That wasn't enough and 2 weeks later they topped the bill in America for 15,000.”
“Thanks to all the staff in the restaurant. They are always kind and helpful. The food is always good for a reasonable price and it will be sorely missed.”
“Would you like a different table.”
“If its a good one.”
“Yes its a good one, its made of wood.” Overheard at the 60's night.
“I recall Adrian the Wrestler. He had long blond hair and all the ladies liked him. I was in the Northwich carnival. I had to curtsy and the auditions. I got picked but my sister was a bit of an ugly duckling and didn't get picked.”
“Its the first time we have been here tonight. I ran a thing here in the day for disabled people but I need to be kept in at night.”
“When Pj Proby was here I was too young to come in so I used to hang out at the back
trying to see the stars. I never really managed to see anyone though.” Sue Conneely
“I remember coming to see my son's air cadets passing out parade. Only one person literally passed out that day which is record. More people usually faint after standing still for so long.”
“I met my husband here.(wife).
“He was a friend of a friend. I've never forgiven him (husband)”
“We stopped coming but have come recently for the Northern Soul Nights.” (wife)
“Spud Ruddock was from the Witton Club and he was a rocker. He was a bit of an instigator of big fights. We would all go out for 10 minutes, have a big fight and then go back in and enjoy the rest of the night. Spud Ruddock gave me a lift on his bike once .”
“There is a good friendly crowd. I've been coming to the Northern soul nights for a few years. I travel all over and this is my favourite .” Carol Whittingham.
“Biddy Bidewell, was Black Bobs friend. Black Bob was about the only black man in Northwich at the time. The fights we used to have were all good light hearted, nobody got killed. One of the girls hair caught on fire once when she was smoking on the dance floor. Smoking and hairspray not a good combination. We used to get back stage passes to go and see Jimmy Ruffin. There were two bouncers Stan and another tall fella. Two men and no trouble in here and you didn't mess with them.” Bev, Biddy, Karen and Chris (Mods)
“In 1963 The Beatles played here and then 6 months later they were top of the pops. A guy called Black Bob ripped PJ Probys shirt off.”
“At come dancing I've seen Gwilli get up when there was an electricity cut and sing. Everybody carried on dancing as he sung. We used to get 250 people in for come dancing.”
“I was helping the scouts get ready back stage. It was to raise funds. One of the ladies came out in a £50 dress. I said “Look at that dress, I wouldn't wear that.” The next thing a voice from the stage told me to be quiet.”
“We used to have careers fairs here. Employers like Roberts Bakery would come and practically every school in the area would join in. There would be a table with a few people from each company behind it. The kids chose who they wanted to see and ask questions of. They asked some funny questions. One day a girl sat down at the Roberts Bakery stall and they asked her what she would like to do at the bakery and she told them she wanted to be a teacher. She had got the wrong stall.”
“My brother was involved in the building of the hall. He was 15 and an apprentice joiner.
He has gone on to work as a joiner all his life.”
“When Gary Glitter played here his pants split and he was so annoyed that he spat at grub.”
“I remember The Hollies, the Walker Brothers and Manfred man. Michael Mckentire played here and there were only 40 people here.”
“My memory is of meeting nice people and watching mature people enjoying themselves.”
“I remember college rag balls and they used to have a rag queen. Everybody was drunk, young and there was obligatory sex. We were mods. If you wanted to be smart you decided to be a mod and if you wanted to be scruffy you were a rocker. The main rocker was called spud. One night we got invited to the Witton club as spuds guests. All the other girls were staring at us but spud wouldn't let them say anything about us.”
“The Beatles, the screaming was so loud that we couldn't hear them singing.” Vivien Wilson
“The police used to run discos and our oldest daughter would come. I used to have to park around the corner when I came to pick her up so that her friends didn't see me in my gardening shoes.”
“I remember when PJ Proby came- what was funny- I was only in my teens. He had a turquoise corduroy suit on - me and a few girls tore it and we all got a piece. I think he got in a fight that night because he was detained in Northwich police station.” Vivien Wilson
John Fryer I think he had a fight with a guy called Bob Preston....know as "Black Bob". He lived in Crewe and did a lot of work for local BMX riders from Crewe before he passed away.
“Clive Nelson was writing a book on the memorial hall.”
“I Can remember them queueing around the block to get in.”
“When the Troggs were on recently they played songs which nobody had heard before. The reason they were new to us was because they were banned on the radio first time around.”
“Iggy Pop was supposed to play here but he got lost and didn't turn up. Marmalade played instead. Rumours were that Iggy Pop had stayed in America and not bothered to try and come.”
“PJ Proby was on stage. He was rubbish. I got on the stage and I got hold of him and his shirt came off. I got thrown out. PJ Proby lived in Warrington and had a job on the buses. He didn't really fit in with the mods and rockers because he was a bit of an Elvis impersonator. People threw things at him in a light hearted way.”
“I used to get in for free if I helped out a bit. One of my jobs was carrying the girls who had fainted down at the front. Two of us used to do it.”
“I remember there being a fire eater here. We had been coming to dances for years. We used to compete in ballroom dancing.”
“We used to go to the Penrhyn Arms and The Fox pub. We used to go to the chippy. Round the hall was a quaint place with lots more Tudor buildings than there are now. The hall was a hub for young people. I started coming in 1961. At half time they would change from a band and Tom Mckenzie would put records on, old 45's. Everybody would get up and dance then. The craze was trad jazz but then rock bands started to come in from Manchester and Liverpool . There was a promoter, a little guy with a moustache. We saw bands like the Beatles and The Rolling Stones, bands who went on to be big. I used to wear a Mohair suit with a cardboard handkerchief in the pocket and a string tie. We used to suck Parma Violets to get rid of the smell of drink. There used to be a free bus to take everybody home. Everybody knew each other, people from ICI and all over the place. Lots of couples met here. Then people started to drive and it all started to slip away.”
“I was one of the first people in the area to get a Gold Duke of Edinburgh award. I had already been to Buckingham Palace by the time I came here to a presentation.”
Conversations at Weaver Hall Museum
“When I was a kid I used to live in Walley Road where the memorial hall car park is now. The hall was built when I was about 5 or 6 . When the Beatles came I remember all the women coming past running and screaming. I had no idea what was happening so just started running too.
I remember as a child looking into the cafe on the side of the building. You could see all the ladies lunching in their hats and I used to think that's my idea of posh that is. I was just a working class kid so I wouldn't have thought of going in such a posh place. There was a large double doors at the back where all the stars went through. I used to stand on the steps and pretend to be a star. People walking past saying “Look at that kid, he's nuts.”
I remember my granny with big jars. Inside the jars with big pennies which she had helped collect to pay for the hall. A lot of the Victorian terraces were demolished in 1965. My school was just up the road and I used to walk to school with a big black labrador. They used to laugh because despite living the closest I was always the latest. People had lived around here for generations and they all knew each other. There used to be rival gangs in the area and we used to have punch ups. Lots of people moved from here to the Greenwood Estate.
When the memorial hall was in its hay day my Mum And Dad used to take us to Prices Chippy. Dad used to say if we wanted chips we had best go early before the memorial hall chucked out. There used to be free buses ran by North Western and Billy Martin buses. There used to be dance shows by Kitty Oakes School at the Memorial Hall and in the 70's Heavy metal nights.” - Tony and Marguerite Fallows, 288 London Road, Northwich.
“Wyn and I met at the memorial hall at a Valentines dance.”
“He asked me for a dance. I think I'd gone on a bus from the Bacon factory. That was over 50 years ago now.” Wyn and Neville Abberley
Conversation between Husband and Wife, David and Anne Mannion
David - “ I met Anne my wife at the Memorial Hall in 1965. I think we had gone to see the Swinging Blue Jeans. We met in a Dutch courage haze.”
Ann - “I hadn't been drinking, my mum wouldn't have allowed it. He asked me to dance. That was 48 years ago”
David - “We used to go every week. The Kinks stuck in my head and Spencer Davies. My catch phrase used to be “Kinks are Fab”. I was 18 and poverty stricken so we never had the money to go to Manchester to follow the bands. I was allowed in the hall at 17.”
Ann - “I used to drink lime and lemonade.”
David “I used to drink rum and black. The band The Undertakers used to have a coffin as part of their act. I can't remember what was in it but maybe people popped out of it and they kept booze in it. In the 1950's Northwich was almost Victorian in its attitudes. The liberation between the 1950's and the '60's was amazing. As young people we just accepted it but we knew that changes were happening. Music started to change. Records would be brought into Liverpool from America and end up on the stall in the market.
Ann - “Parents didn't really know what was going on with there kids in the 60's so they just let you go out and get on with it. As long as what you did was outside the house. If you came home drunk and were sick there would be trouble. It didn't matter if they were drunk. You do as I say not as I do.”
David - “ My cousin Alan Mannion used to work at the college and he decided to take cine film of Northwich as it changed in the 1960's. I have a copy on DVD which I will bring in for everybody to see.”
Conversation with between Ken Greenhough
“I had a rock band called 'The Echoes'. We used to back a lot of up and coming bands like the Beatles. We were offered a record contract but one of the other band members didn't want to take it up. He was going to University and when he said no his friend in the band didn't want to bother. We used to do covers and some of our own stuff too. We didn't make any recordings. It didn't mean that much in those days. We used to play at the hall most Thursdays and Saturdays. I didn't have a car so I'd have to take my big amp and guitar on the bus. At the end of each session there would be 2 or 3 girls offering to carry my guitar. I do regret not taking the record contract.
I used to give a girl a lift home to the hotel where she lived with her Dad. When it came to selling the hotel the owner wanted to repay me for all the lifts. He knew that I was a musician so he offered me this old piano. He told me that he couldn't sell it because this band had stayed there and all scribbled there names on it. I was only living in a flat at the time so didn't have room for it. He took it outside and chopped it up for firewood. The band who had signed it were The Beatles. Years later there was a radio show on about memorabilia and I phoned up to tell the story. The expert told me that if I'd had the piano I could have sold it today and retired to the Bahamas on the proceeds. Now I'm in a local band called Calico Jack, we play bluegrass and country.”
Conversation with Bryan Dearden, Cuddington, Northwich
“I used to run a kids disco in Cuddington. In the 80's we decided to do a disco in the memorial hall. We used to do children's parties and make children's dreams come true. The children's dream part was doing outings and fixings. Children would write a letter saying what they would like to do and we would try and make it happen. We borrowed a plane from Liverpool airport and several trains over the years. We took one girl to see the horse Red Rum. The profits from the discos used to go to the children's home. We sold the tickets for 30p which was 3 times more than we charged in Cuddington. Malcolm Norburn used to do the music. Children would come from all around Northwich, maybe from about a 6 mile radius. In terms of adults we would have the DJ who would be responsible for stopping any trouble on the dance floor too, somebody on tuck and another helper. We would have about 120 kids coming along. Kids who didn't know me would say that the worst thing I could do if they were naughty was shout at them. The kids who knew me better knew that the worst thing that would happen is that they wouldn't get to go on trips with us anymore.
People used to sell things called 'Sunny Smiles' they would raise money for children's homes in Frodsham. The money would be presented as part of a 'Festival of Queens'. Each queen would carry a purse of monies raised up and present it to the charity. I used to be a compere at that. I still have lots of DJ equipment but its too heavy to move about for me now.”
I went to pick up some photos from Bryan's house and he has a large collections of photos cuttings etc.
John Clark Archive
John Robert William Clark was the Engineer and Surveyor to Northwich Urban District Council from 1953 - 1973, and was responsible for the design of the Memorial Hall.
Click on the images to enlarge.
Click on the images to enlarge.
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| Northwich Urban District Council Town Guide 1973 |
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| Northwich Urban District Council Town Guide 1973 |
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| Duchess of Kent opening Town Centre |
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| Duchess of Kent opening Town Centre |
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| Judo outside Memorial Hall in 1969 |
Memorial Hall Staff Memories
Former staff of Northwich Memorial:-
Sheila - 30 yrs service
Gina - 34 yrs service
Barbara - 28 yrs service
Sue - 23 yrs service
Eunice - 25 yrs service
The former staff still meet up every week for coffee and a chat.
The staff cared about the Hall and the Customers - they tried their best to make every event a success. They were like a family, and spend more time working together than they spend with their families. They all got their jobs through word of mouth, and mostly knew each other from school. They shared many laughs, and a few tears, whilst working at the Memoral Hall. Even their children worked at the hall, and they are still friends.
Here are a few of their many memories of working at the Memorial Hall.
Police Discos - the hall was always packed on Wednesday nights - kids used to phone up to ask "is the morgue on tonight?".
The Kinks - remember standing on the windowsill outside to watch the band as could not get tickets.
Terry Pratchett - Crowds were waiting outside before the doors opened. The Carnival Queen Procession rehearsal was on beforehand, and they would not cancel their booking, so the sell out crowd had to wait for the hall to be set up for Terry Pratchett. When he arrived, one of the staff, who did not recognise him, sent him to the back of the queue for queue-jumping. After his talk, he signed books. The queue wound all around the inside of the hall, and people brought their whole book collection for signing, and even leather jackets.
Henry Sandown - wanted Antiques Roadshow music played as he came on stage - Sheila wasn't familiar with PA system, and couldn't turn the music off! Henry just laughed it off.
Northwich Floods - when the River Weaver flooded the Bull Ring and flats on London Road, the Memorial Hall was used as a refuge for evacuated residents.
Elections - the Hall was used for counting votes - if there was a recount, they wouldn't get out until the birds were up and singing - they still had to be back at work in time for lunch.
Beer Festival - after the first year, they had to move the barrels from the middle to the outside of the hall as the weight was causing the floor to collapse. One woman was in tears when trying to buy a ticket for a sold-out Beer Festival - "I'll get the sack if I can't get my boss a ticket".
The Charlatans - so loud there were loads of complaints from the local residents, and the police station over the road. After the gig, the floor collapsed due to the all the kids jumping up and down to the band.
Official Events - public enquiries (when to for weeks and meant many events had to be cancelled), Cheshire Regiment given Freedom of the Town (special branch came to search the Hall), Council Meetings (put on buffets - one member of the public used to turn up regularly and fill sandwich box with the buffet).
The Beatles - a group of Japanese tourists were on a tour of all the venues where The Beatles performed. They wanted to take photographs of the dressing room where they changed. Staff hadn't the heart to tell them that the dressing rooms were a later addition, and weren't there when the band performed.
Ballet - had to wash the tights of one of the male ballet dancers, and dried them on the kitchen hotplates.
Male Strippers - a group of Welsh Male Strippers performed. The hall was full of women, many standing on the tables shouting and screaming. Sheila was appauled at their behaviour, until she realised that one of them was her daughter!
Food - used to make Meals on Wheels 3 days/week for many years. Knew most of the regulars who came for lunch by name, but one rather quiet gentleman was known as "Haddock, Chips and Carrots". One women sent her coleslaw back saying it was "not cooked". When told coleslaw is eaten raw, she replied "well, they cook it in tesco's". Another customer complained that their "ice cream was too cold".
Flag - had to put the flag up outside the hall. Had a list of offical dates, but used to the phone police station to find out why their flag was flying on other dates.
Indoor Bowls - 3 bowlers died in the hall over 3 consecutive years.
There were many regular events:-
Mid Cheshire Amateur Operatic Society
Young Farmers
18 Plus
Christian Dinners
Tea Dances
Roberts Bakery Band
Archaeology and Local History Days
Northwich Festival Choir
Town's Women Guild
Beer Festival
Visiting Performers:-
Stu Francis
Keith Chegwin
Mile Harding
Patrick Moore
David Baddiel
Jenny Eclair
Lenny the Lion
Loo of the Year - very proud of this National Award Scheme. Won it for many years, including "Best Loo in the NW in a Public Building".
Building - by the time they retired, the building was falling apart. Would come in and find large cracks had appeared in the walls, and the floor had started to "ripple". Thought the Hall had been built on a raft over a stream, which used to get pumped out.
Sheila - 30 yrs service
Gina - 34 yrs service
Barbara - 28 yrs service
Sue - 23 yrs service
Eunice - 25 yrs service
The former staff still meet up every week for coffee and a chat.
The staff cared about the Hall and the Customers - they tried their best to make every event a success. They were like a family, and spend more time working together than they spend with their families. They all got their jobs through word of mouth, and mostly knew each other from school. They shared many laughs, and a few tears, whilst working at the Memoral Hall. Even their children worked at the hall, and they are still friends.
Here are a few of their many memories of working at the Memorial Hall.
Police Discos - the hall was always packed on Wednesday nights - kids used to phone up to ask "is the morgue on tonight?".
The Kinks - remember standing on the windowsill outside to watch the band as could not get tickets.
Terry Pratchett - Crowds were waiting outside before the doors opened. The Carnival Queen Procession rehearsal was on beforehand, and they would not cancel their booking, so the sell out crowd had to wait for the hall to be set up for Terry Pratchett. When he arrived, one of the staff, who did not recognise him, sent him to the back of the queue for queue-jumping. After his talk, he signed books. The queue wound all around the inside of the hall, and people brought their whole book collection for signing, and even leather jackets.
Henry Sandown - wanted Antiques Roadshow music played as he came on stage - Sheila wasn't familiar with PA system, and couldn't turn the music off! Henry just laughed it off.
Northwich Floods - when the River Weaver flooded the Bull Ring and flats on London Road, the Memorial Hall was used as a refuge for evacuated residents.
Elections - the Hall was used for counting votes - if there was a recount, they wouldn't get out until the birds were up and singing - they still had to be back at work in time for lunch.
Beer Festival - after the first year, they had to move the barrels from the middle to the outside of the hall as the weight was causing the floor to collapse. One woman was in tears when trying to buy a ticket for a sold-out Beer Festival - "I'll get the sack if I can't get my boss a ticket".
The Charlatans - so loud there were loads of complaints from the local residents, and the police station over the road. After the gig, the floor collapsed due to the all the kids jumping up and down to the band.
Official Events - public enquiries (when to for weeks and meant many events had to be cancelled), Cheshire Regiment given Freedom of the Town (special branch came to search the Hall), Council Meetings (put on buffets - one member of the public used to turn up regularly and fill sandwich box with the buffet).
The Beatles - a group of Japanese tourists were on a tour of all the venues where The Beatles performed. They wanted to take photographs of the dressing room where they changed. Staff hadn't the heart to tell them that the dressing rooms were a later addition, and weren't there when the band performed.
Ballet - had to wash the tights of one of the male ballet dancers, and dried them on the kitchen hotplates.
Male Strippers - a group of Welsh Male Strippers performed. The hall was full of women, many standing on the tables shouting and screaming. Sheila was appauled at their behaviour, until she realised that one of them was her daughter!
Food - used to make Meals on Wheels 3 days/week for many years. Knew most of the regulars who came for lunch by name, but one rather quiet gentleman was known as "Haddock, Chips and Carrots". One women sent her coleslaw back saying it was "not cooked". When told coleslaw is eaten raw, she replied "well, they cook it in tesco's". Another customer complained that their "ice cream was too cold".
Flag - had to put the flag up outside the hall. Had a list of offical dates, but used to the phone police station to find out why their flag was flying on other dates.
Indoor Bowls - 3 bowlers died in the hall over 3 consecutive years.
There were many regular events:-
Mid Cheshire Amateur Operatic Society
Young Farmers
18 Plus
Christian Dinners
Tea Dances
Roberts Bakery Band
Archaeology and Local History Days
Northwich Festival Choir
Town's Women Guild
Beer Festival
Visiting Performers:-
Stu Francis
Keith Chegwin
Mile Harding
Patrick Moore
David Baddiel
Jenny Eclair
Lenny the Lion
Loo of the Year - very proud of this National Award Scheme. Won it for many years, including "Best Loo in the NW in a Public Building".
Building - by the time they retired, the building was falling apart. Would come in and find large cracks had appeared in the walls, and the floor had started to "ripple". Thought the Hall had been built on a raft over a stream, which used to get pumped out.
Weaver Hall Events
ROYAL BRITISH LEGION AFTERNOON CHAT
2pm – 4pm Thursday 24th & Thursday 31st January
WEAVER HALL MUSEUM is also hosting these afternoon chats to encourage ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWS / SOUND BITES by bringing together VETERANS with media students so that conversations about their personal and professional memories relating to the commemorative element of the Memorial Hall can be recorded.
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