Candlelight that once burned brightly

THE closure of Oldham’s legendary Candlelight Club on Boxing Day, 2008, marked the end of an era.

Owner Ken Naylor was responsible for bringing some of the top entertainers from the 1960s and ’70s to the borough.

He was rewarded by sell-out crowds from across Oldham and beyond — all clamouring to find out who would be next on the bill. Clubbing at the Candlelight was truly one of the best nights out in the North-West. Ken called time on the club which had been his life with a parting shot at modern nightlife in Oldham which he claimed was now “finished”.

He blamed the credit crunch, rules and regulations governing everything from doormen to smoking, and 24-hour drinking keeping revellers in pubs and out of clubs.

Dwindling numbers had turned what was once a thriving club with a cracking atmosphere into a struggling shadow of its former self, relying on a trusty handful of faithful regulars to stay afloat.

Ken’s decision to quit the club scene after 45 years at the Candlelight has now prompted some of those who owe some of their best nights out to one of the most influential club-owners of his time, to take a trip down memory lane.

They recalled seeing artists from an exhaustive list including Bill Haley and the Comets, Bob Monkhouse, Freddie Star, Billy Fury, PJ Proby, Acker Bilk and Herman’s Hermits to name but a few.

Les Brooks summed up his feelings when he said: “It’s a sad day when the oldest nightclub in the North-West under the same ownership closes down.

“I have been going to the Candlelight since the early ’60s.

“I met my wife there and my parents met there when it was the Savoy in 1944. In the 1970s and ’80s, I ran singles parties attracting hundreds — many of whom paired off and are now married.

“I had my 40th birthday party there and Ken even opened up the club for my leaving party when I emigrated to Australia in 1991.

“What a lot of people don’t realise is that many current club and pub owners learned their trade working for Ken as a doorman or member of staff. Many barmaids in Oldham were trained there.

“PJ Proby, who is now working to packed houses around Europe, started his comeback at the Candlelight. Indeed Ken and myself managed him for a while, after he played the Candlelight.”

John Battersby, of Brookfield Street, Oldham, said: “My memories of the Candlelight go back to the original club which was situated on Albion Street over the Army and Navy store.

“When it first opened, it was a gambling club.

“For the first few weeks, the licensing authorities would not grant a drinks licence.

“To get around this, they give the drinks away and relied on the income from the gambling tables to subsidise the cost of the drinks.”

Former Oldhamer Les Meredith (pictured right) sent his best wishes to Ken from his overseas home in sunny Spain.

He said: “I used to go to the Candlelight Club 41 years ago. I have won and lost many hands of cards there! You had to put 2/6d (12.5p) down on the table before being allowed to play.

“I sometimes lost my wage after working on the buses in Mumps. We used to attend many of the functions held there and had always to be dressed smartly or we were refused entry.”

An anonymous reader said: “I brought my husband, who comes from Cornwall, to the Candlelight Club in 1979 to see the strippers . . . he loved it.

“We still talk about that good night out nearly 30 years ago. What a shame it’s closed.”