At the time of Wigan casino's vast success in the mid 1970's. Although Gethro was on every regulars tales of how they had spent there entire night with him. This was seldom the case. At Wigan casino he always liked to keep a certain level of privacy. However he would'nt ignore people as he was happy to talk and even  liked the attention. But like everybody some times your tired and want some time to yourself. He was a very hard worker at the time he worked as a pipe fitter if I remember right. But his first great love was Kim 2nd was northern soul both kept a lot of his time used up. If he was'nt working he was arranging coaches to Wigan or at a soul night somewhere local. He kept a very busy schedule of events for the hours he add spare at the time he lived at 31 Wayside, Woodside, Telford. But going there without ringing him first was never a good idea unless you enjoyed pointless journeys.                                                                                                                                                         At the moment we have the release of a new film called Soulboy. I'm not in the habit of just dismissing it as another pointless film that does'nt touch the real dedication that existed at Wigan casino. Those that think it's rubbish I'm happy to watch them start dancing at 12.30 am Friday night and still be as active Sunday at 12 o'clock and be at work 8 am Monday morning. The large amounts of Amphetamines that we all took then did help to keep us all going. But the real drive to keep going was from in the people not the gear that was taken the 2 things combined made it possible. I'm still excited waiting for Geth's book to be completed as when it's published. The real meaning of the UK's northern soul scene will be easier to understand the reason why it remained a underground secret society.





    

                                            

   A favourite night at Wigan casino for Gethro is impossible. For for a friend to say but a night I know he enjoyed. Was the 1st anniversary the dance competition final. He came 3rd is late wife Kim 2nd and Ceasar from Leeds (I think) came 1st. He said that night Ceasar deserved to win. But the people in the casino that night had given Geth a boost. He could sense he had gotten there support as he looked at the crowd from the stage. At one point the crowd had started to chant his name at the time it had'nt got to the stage where the crowd knew the dancers well. The later competitions seemed to loose the excitement the early anniversaries had.   

                                                       dance competition memory











 

   No place like home

 The most recent contact from Geth was full of optimism. Saying how pleased he was with the way he created the night at Va Va's in Bolton. So younger people who had just came onto the scene got the atmosphere of the club. I must admit the piece Geth had wrote on the Catacomb's was exceptional. You felt you had gone back to 1974 and where in the Temple street club again. It is still the most cramped in dance floor I've ever been on. A surprise you noticed the good from the bad dancers. I always remember busting for a piddle but being only 14 was scared of losing my precious bit of dance floor. So every time the record ended you hoped for a bad one next. There where'nt that many bad records in those day's. I was full of youth did'nt want to miss a second of it. I think I almost pissed myself during Kenya Collins. But still there until it ended. The sheer excitement created in that Wolverhampton club was priceless to every local person in there. Ok I had some precious moments at Wigan casino but it was immense in size. Never gave you the feeling of home you got at the Catacombs. 14 miles to get there was a lot less than over a 100 to the casino.

                                                                                                               
   












































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