4:10pm Monday 30th November 2009
YOUR feature on the Saturday Come Dancing at the Memorial Hall, Northwich, brought back memories of those early days as manager.
Following the retirement of Lewis Buckley, of Southport ,who had brought so many pop stars to Northwich, no promoter was prepared to run the Saturday dances on a lengthy contract.
My suggestion that the Northwich Urban District Council should put on ballroom dances was accepted, initially for a trial period of three or four months.
The first of these was on January 6, 1968, my birthday it so happened, and music by the Syd Munson Orchestra; attendance was excellent. The following week, on stage was the Tommy Nichols Orchestra and we had a full house.
Occasionally, I booked well-known professionals, regional and national champions to give dancing demonstrations. We had them from Japan, Australia and South Africa.
The highlight no doubt was on the penultimate day of Northwich UDC – March 30, 1974 when the guest dancers giving patrons a thrilling display were Billie and Bobby Irvine, six times world champions. They were great days. Things were never the same after that.
GWILI LEWIS Castle
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