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The first time I went to the Casino allnighter I really didn't know what to expect as I'd been to soul nights before but this was a totally new experience for me.
I was well into Bowie at the time. I'd just had my hair done in a Bowie cut at Harvey & Ruperts in Manchester and was wearing black A-line flares, 3" wedge shoes and a silver satin bomber jacket with a large, black Chinese emblem on the back.
It must have been around 1.30 when I walked in. I could hear the music from the front entrance. I paid my money and went straight upstairs to the top bar with the taste of Brut in my mouth and looked over the gallery.
The dancefloor was half full with bodies pumping in rythmn to the 100mph tunes being played. I was gobsmacked! The energy reverberating around the hall was phenomenal, I'd never felt anything like it before.
I don't know how long I stayed that first night, it must have been no more than an hour. I just felt so out of place the way I was dressed.
The following Saturday I went back to Manchester and bought myself some green cord bags (trousers), a couple of Polo type tops and an allnighter bag. I donned some flat shoes and was ready for that night's forthcoming allnighter. From that night I was hooked...and not just on the allnighters!!

It was then that I stopped drinking. I started a craze of pints of orange & lemonade that carried through to the ordinary soul nights. I still drink the same when I go out, as I 've been tee total for the last 18 years or so. I was also known for wearing Patchouli oil, I couldn't stand the smell of Brut.

In all the times I went, I bet I only paid to get in 5 times. Myself, Billy Mac, Wacker, Terry Hastings and some others were supposed to be on cleaning duty from the early session but we used to wait in the girls small 'powder room' adjacent to the snack bar until the doors opened.
Sometimes Mike Walker used to catch us but he never once threw us out.
I'd already become very pally with Mike through all the early sessions I attended. He was always barking orders at people but that was part of his job.
We helped him to paint the gallery and toilets once for no fee, plus I modelled his Casino vests and allnighter bags with my then girlfriend Sandra. I think that's the reason he let us get away with things.

One thing I do regret is giving away 2 sets of 3 original Casino badges he gave me. He'd had 4 different colours made of the Heart Of Soul badge and the First Allnighter badge. He called me in his office and asked my advice on which I preferred. I picked the ones we all know and he gave me the others which were never produced. At the price original ones are selling for on Ebay (£300+) I would have been quids in!

Halcyon days!