Showing posts with label 2000s. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2000s. Show all posts

Bands

Link to website with list of bands who played at the Memorial Hall.

northwichbeat.piczo.com/

http://www.manchesterbeat.com/venues/northwich/memorial/memorial.php 

The Who Tour 1966 included:-

February 17th, 1966 Club A Go-Go, Newcastle
February 18th, 1966 Volunteer Hall, Galashiels, Scotland
February 19th, 1966 Memorial Hall, Northwich 
February 20th, 1966 Oasis Club, Manchester
February 21st, 1966 Beachcomber Club, Preston

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.