End of interview message from Joe Gladwin, in character as Wally, recorded in Huddersfield in May 1985.

Fast forward to 2019, I was delighted to hear from the Summer Winos - Andrew T. Smith and Bob Fischer - who were keen to include my recording of Wally's message in their live show which was going out on tour.

It was a proud moment for me to be in the audience when they presented their show - including those few precious seconds from my original cassette tape - at the Oldham Library theatre. 

The date of the performance was 12 July 2019, which coincidentally was 20 years to the day that millions of fans of the series mourned the loss of Bill Owen, aged 85.

Album

Wally Batty's message_1985

Interview with Gordon Wharmby (1933-2002)
Recorded on location at Cartworth Moor, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire

Gordon Wharmby_1992

Interview with Joe Gladwin (1906-1987)
Recorded May 1985, Huddersfield

Joe Gladwin_1985

Interview with Robert Fyfe (1930-2021)
Recorded June 1992, on location at Cartworth Moor, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire

Robert Fyfe_1992

Interview with Sarah Thomas (1952 - )
Recorded June 1992, on location at Cartworth Moor, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire

Sarah Thomas_1992

Stephen Lewis (1926-2015)
Recorded June 1992, on location at Cartworth Moor, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire

Stephen Lewis - Blakey's message_1992

1 [13] Sparks to top of hour

1 [5] Hermits...B South,,, Into Ian Dury

Mick Coleman_ Stockport Plaza show Sept 2023

Recalling some of the first songs played on the opening day of Piccadilly Radio - Manchester and the North West's first independent local radio station - on Tuesday 2nd April 1974

Piccadilly Radio 50th anniversary [Easter special 31-03-24]

'Let the Music Play' is the current exhibition for 2024 at Portland Basin Museum, Ashton-under-Lyne, celebrating Tameside's local music heritage, from brass bands, choirs and military music through to rock ‘n’ roll, the beat boom, the folk scene and more besides....

Audio montage* includes interviews with Michelle Hill, the museum curator and Pete Simensky, drummer with the local '60s group The Meteors who has kindly loaned his drumkit as a main focal point in the exhibition.

*Tameside Radio 05-05-2024




Tameside music heritage: Portland Basin exhibition 2024

Hot on the heels of their recent Heritage Chart Top 10-er Sleeping With The Enemy, the 80s band that time forgot are setting their sights on the elusive No.1 spot this time around with a remix of Honeymoon, a song from 2020 which, I said at the time. was one of the catchiest, most instantly likeable songs I had heard in years. 

Fast forward to 2024, we have Honeymoon (The Love Hangover mix)and I feel just as strongly, even more so. 

In the era of real charts a la Top of the Pops, Honeymoon would have been a definite 'Tip for the Top' from me

Daniel Takes A Train_Tip for the Top_15-09-24

Listening to Johnnie Walker

1985: Fifteen year old Jonathan Mansfield from Audenshaw was reaching new heights - literally - with his starring role in Fiddler On The Roof ~ the latest musical production at Lees Street Church in Higher Openshaw.  
With a little bit of help (and official permission granted), Reporter photographer Dave Dent was able to find a suitable vantage point for Jonathan to strike a pose - as the lead character the Fiddler - on the roof - for real (the actual roof - or as near as!) ~  which Dave – using all his skills and creativity - captured in a brilliant photo seen here.

Fiddler on the roof (Newsround Tameside 1985)

The sad news of the death of The Four Tops' last surviving original member in July 2024 brought back memories of the day in 1980 when two of the legendary line-up were the surprise star turn at the Holy Trinity Church Christmas fair in North Manchester

----------------

In 1980, I was a district reporter on the East Manchester Reporter, a local weekly newspaper which reached out to the north of the city, covering Newton Heath, Moston and Harpurhey, bordering on to Blackley.
It was here, at Holy Trinity C of E School, in a tight-knit neighbourhood of terraced houses just off Moston Lane that two of the original Four Tops came to open the parish Christmas fair.  The presence of  Abdul Fakir and Renaldo Benson - known to all as 'Duke' and 'Obie'. had the desired effect, attracting a larger-than-usual turnout for the fair which raised £1,100 for church funds  - a hugely impressive sum in an era of high unemployment and economic restraint. Inevitably there was a long and winding queue of fans and autograph seekers eager to meet two of the legendary American soul group, among the main players of the 1960s 'Motown Sound' -  their classic hits including  Reach Out I'll Be There, Standing In The Shadows of Love and Walk Away Renee.
What a scoop for the church - and for us!  The vicar, Father Nicholas was one of our regular contacts and had invited me along with Reporter photographer Dave Dent to capture a unique occasion for the church, school and the local community.  Duke and Obie were happy to chat to me and to pose for a photo with Father Nicholas and two girls from the local Brownie pack.  Obie Benson and Duke Fakir of The Four Tops are offered crisps by two members of Holy Trinity Brownies, Janine Pope and Amanda Bartholomew, both aged eight. Looking on is Father Nicholas.  

Photo by Dave Dent, East Manchester Reporter, 25/10/1980

'Tops' turn out for Manchester church fair

First play on the show for the latest Heritage Chart hit by Daniel Takes A Train, the band that time forgot ~ an epic '80s anthem for 2024
Dreaming Of A Better Day - their best yet?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yu5EHxOzj0

Better Day - best yet?

The unsigned '80s band that time forgot - on the Hit Parade - Heritage Chart May 2025

The Hit Parade [1]

The Hit Parade [2]

An unforgettable weekend broadcast for 2,000 Scouts and leaders at the Greater Manchester East County Campsite, Linnet Clough, Mellor, near Stockport.

8 Towns Radio at Linnet Clough July 1990

'Radiothon '92' was a fundraising campaign in support of our regular service for the patients and staff of Tameside Hospital.
This 'promo' sets out our stall to potential sponsors for what would be Tameside's first ever licensed radio service, on air during October 1992
Production and v/o: Craig Etchells
Presenter link:  Andy Hoyle

8 Towns Radio 1992 - Tameside's first taste of community radio [promo]

'Radiothon '92' was a fundraising campaign in support of our regular service for the patients and staff of Tameside Hospital. Our business sponsorship campaign proved very successful, in fact, much more successful than we had ever dared to hope!
Through our promotional blitz, over many months, we managed to attract a number of advertisers who wished to book a regular spot throughout the 28-day trial broadcast.
Production: Craig Etchells (except for The Adamson Group ad)
Voices: Andy Hoyle, Lisa Clayton, Craig Etchells, Ian Shepherd

8 Towns Radio October 1992: The ads which supported Tameside's first community broadcast

Our pioneering community radio service - the first licensed Tameside radio station, run by volunteers from Tameside Hospital's 8 Towns Radio.
This montage features daytime presenters Mike Wallbank & Lisa Clayton

8 Towns Radio October 1992:  making history, across Tameside on 1413AM....

Recorded by Bill Owen, June 1990, Holmfirth, West Yorkshire
Presenter ID for Andy Hoyle - 8 Towns Radio show

Short archive clip which I shared on Soundcloud  to mark 20 years since the death (on 12th July 1999) of Bill Owen, the much loved actor who played Compo, in the BBC's long running sitcom, Last of the Summer Wine. When I interviewed Bill in 1990 for  8 Towns Radio - the bedside radio service for the patients of Tameside Hospital, Ashton-under-Lyne -  Andy was on hand to assist with the recording. Afterwards, Bill kindly agreed to record a special message for Andy to include on his show...

"Ey Up! This is Compo!" _1990

Pop nostalgia enthusiast, presenter of The Show That Time Forgot LIVE on  Tameside Radio,  Sunday 1pm-3pm  103.6FM, Alexa, mobile apps and tamesideradio.com  Listen on demand anytime, anywhere on the FREE Tameside Radio app and at https://www.questmedianetwork.co.uk/on-demand/

The Show That Time Forgot

Popular tracks