We were very lucky growing up in Droylsden in the Sixties as the Top Twenty Club was a really great place to go.
I remember seeing lots of groups there including St. Louis Union, Dave Dee Dozy Beaky Mick and Tich, The Rocking Vickers, The Orions, etc. etc. Wonderful memories.
Pauline Yates (nee Crutchley) I spent 2 years as a warm-up DJ at Top Twenty for both Ray and Tony (and occasionally at Beat City too) under the stage name of Terry Lean (Terylene ~ geddit?) at the same time managing the All Blacks.
I even got paid by Barry Collens once in a while! I eventually escaped by joining the French Foreign Legion ~ well, the British Army anyway in mid-65.
Terry Pastore
20/10/09
I used to go to the Top Twenty Club,and I saw many groups there.
I saw Brian Poole and The Tremeloes in March 1964, it was bloody freezing in that dancehall that night, still got his autograph.
Saw The Kinks they were terrific, Dave Dee etc, ex Searcher Tony Jackson and the Vibrations - he was good but I remember being dissapointed that he didnt play his Hofner violin bass guitar! Got his autograph as well, couldnt believe how small he was too!
Used to love seeing The Dollies - they were fit, saw the Rocking Vicars still got thei single which was written by Ray Davies.
The Factotums were always on there. Hi there Steve Knowles bass guitarist with them, remember Dave, Pete, Johnny Holden from Fold st?
There was a bit of a con one time when the club flyer had The Walker Brothers announced to appear but in small print below it said their backing group.
Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders made many appearances there.
Even the BBC turned up once to film what the youngsters of Droylsden got up to. We saw it on tv a few days later but it was only on for a few minutes - I think the programme was something like Look North and I think it was done about 1967 or 68? Wonder if it exists in the archives?
Oh yeah I always tell this one. I had a pee next to Mick Avory of the Kinks. I was in the toilet and he came in next to me, and I still remember he had a green shiny suit on. (Try saying that last bit after a couple of drinks).
I loved those days it was magic, my one wish though is I would love to see a photo of The Beatles at the Oasis Club in Manchester or even a pic of inside the club, I never got the chance to visit this beat venue. ...got more stories and flyers about the Top Twenty.
It became the Carlsboro and the British Legion and now its the Starlight Club .. keep on rocking...
Philip Hindley
30/12/09
Bet I'm the only person to ride a motor-bike round the Top Twenty dance floor. Got it up in the lift and away I went, not for long though and it was only a practice night for Merv's Bardots.
Mervy Horrocks
6/1/10
Think I mentioned it on another page that we used to watch Mervs Bardots practice at Aldwyn primary school. That guy in one of the top twenty photos stood from the side looks like Steve Knowles bassist with the Factotums?
I remember Johnny Hart well he used to have a garage business on Albert Street, Droylsden, sadly he died about 3 or 4 years ago. He was a nice guy, always let on.
Saw The Applejacks on the Top Twenty, once, The Merseybeats,The Big Three,Dave Dee etc, they went down a storm, they had just released Hold Tight which I still think is fantastic!
Saw Emile Ford on there when it became The Carlsboro Club, but it was cabaret!
Keep on Rockin'
Philip Hindley
13/1/10
How the memories have come flooding back of the Top Twenty, seeing many of the famous groups of the time locally, The Kinks, that was a big event that night, regulars included Rocking Vicars, Factotums, Mighty Avengers, all great musicians.
The DJ's also made for great nights, Ray Teret, being our favourite.
Remember Screaming Lord Sutch, and Frankensteins Monsters, but did'nt get too near the stage as you got splattered with fake blood.
The fun started when you got out of the lift, and the daunting Barry Collins and his mother collecting the entrance fee.
All the girls used to fancy Barry Wrigley, whatever happended to him ?
How many couples met there, and are still together.
Being a Droylsden girl, all my memories are of there with my mates, Mary Hindley, and her sisters Winnie & Marlene, Pauline Crutchley, Marjorie Broadhurst, this is to name but a few.
Once again thanks for the memories. I am not almost 60, I'm 17 and getting ready to go out.
Kath Oatway (Frost)
14/1/10
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