Ken burned brighter than candlelight...

Ken Naylor, pictured in 1994

TRIBUTES have been paid to Oldham’s king of clubs Ken Naylor, ahead of his funeral next week.

Ken (87) is credited with bringing showbiz stars such as Bill Haley and the Comets, Bernard Manning, Freddie Starr and Bob Monkhouse to Oldham after taking over the legendary Candlelight club in 1963.

At that time the club opened six nights a week and hosted up to 250 diners a night and a casino. It is now thought to be the UK’s oldest club under the same ownership.

Ken, who died on Friday leaving wife Diane, four sons and a daughter, used to run shows on Blackpool’s North Pier, booking the country’s best performers — acts he later brought to Oldham.

His son James, who now owns and runs the Candlelight as a function venue, said his father will be known by many as a man not scared to bring new and exciting attractions to the town.

James said: “He certainly lived a colourful life. He was very much one of the old school, one of yesterday’s heroes as he would put it himself. He was a no-nonsense character — people knew that.

“But he didn’t just stick up for himself, he stuck up for everyone else — just one of the reasons why he was so well-liked. He wasn’t a politically-correct man, but he was a real fighter for what he believed in.”

Ken’s funeral is at St Mary’s Church, Todmorden on October 22 (1.30pm). A wake will be held at the Candlelight from 4.30pm.


WHAT are your earliest memories of the Candlelight? Email the newsdesk at news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk.