IT is often said that Wigan brought soul to the north west, but Northwich may be in a position to challenge this claim, writes John Hulme, as we continue to remember Northwich Memorial Hall 60 years on from opening.

Sixty years ago this year, on April 14, 1960, one of the most successful independent music corporations to have ever existed - the Motown Record Corporation was born at 2648 West Grand Boulevard, Detroit City, USA.

Detroit was where Henry Ford founded the Ford Motor Company, so it was perfect branding that Motown Records was a play on words of motor town.

It was not until April 1965, when Dusty Springfield brought the Temptations, The Supremes, The Miracles and Stevie Wonder to a special edition of Ready Steady Go, did the Motown Sound become part of the British pop culture.

In the late sixties, I was at school at the Verdin Grammar School, Winsford where Donald West was the revered headmaster of a strong academic school.

Whilst Mr West’s interests were in the classics and writers like Milton and Shakespeare, his six form pupils were more interested in what was playing at the Northwich Memorial Hall on Saturday night, Winnington Youth Club on a Sunday night and Winsford Civic Hall on a Monday night.

In those days, DJ Jason Judge, who is still on the music scene in Northwich, was spinning the decks before big time greats took to the stage at the Memorial Hall.

I can still his hear is ‘Hear comes Judge’ lyrics ringing in my ears.

Some 50 years later I return to my chats with the late Gwili Lewis, who was manager of the Morg in the 1960s.

“John,” Gwili said. “Do you remember the Round Twenty Club at the Memorial Hall in the late sixties where we had on stage many of the great soul artists?

“They included The Showstoppers, Chairman of the Board, Arthur Conley, Edwin Starr and Johnny Johnson and the Bandwagon.

Northwich Guardian:

A vinyl of Jimmy Ruffin's What Becomes of the Broken Hearted

“I believe Northwich brought soul to the North West way before patrons of the Wigan Casino conceived the phrase Northern Soul.

Gwili continued “The one artist I especially remember was Motown artist, Jimmy Ruffin. He was a delightful person, but he didn’t half give me a problem.

“When he came to the Hall, the beat of his music and stamping of feet to its rhythm by the fans resulted in the floor at the stage end of the hall sinking by about half an inch.

“You can imagine I had a lot of explaining to do to Northwich Urban District Council members.

“And, the fact that Jimmy Ruffin was the son of a Mississippi preacher man gave me no excuse.”