First Public Appearance

[13_temple_street]

I was standing against a wall relaxing with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of Tenants’ Larger in the other, a burly built young man made a beeline towards me, can I have a word with you ‘At that moment my natural reaction was to tilt my head forward ‘ I can’t hear you very well because of all the noise ‘ I replied; we were surrounded by a crowd of men and women trying to attract the attention of one of the three bar staff working the bar. The bar was in the Iron Door Jazz Club, a newly opened jazz venue in Liverpool’s business centre. The large smoke-filled room was packed with women and men smoking and drinking, the glow of the cigarettes and smoke was just a normal sight in the 60s. Gazing around in the dimly lit room my eyes were drawn to the yellowish-colored lights dotted on the walls, there was one secured to the wall above my head on closer examination, the glowing yellow light bulb, lived inside a replica authentic-looking coach lamp, brass and black with beveled glass. I could hear a piano playing, the sound was emitting from an entrance to the basement area, and someone was playing stride piano. Clarence was responsible for the exciting sound; Clarence appeared most nights to perform on this piano during the changeover of the jazz bands. He was attired as a Mississippi gambling man, bowler hat, and striped shirt, cravat complete with a genuine sparkly gold and diamond tie pin c/o Harry Ormesher’s grandmother's jewelry Box) to complete his attire a genuine brightly patterned silk waistcoat. The piano stopped playing, another sound soon followed it was the famous Saints Jazz band. This band had performed at the club’s opening on Saturday, April 9th, 1960.
Clarence appeared and came over to talk to me and the burly gent who seemed to be in awe of Clarence the bar area was now quieter I excused myself and asked Mary the person in charge of the bar for a lager and lime for Clarence, the burly man was drinking Marston’s bitter so I bought him one as well. I always made a point of paying cash for my drinks. Dave Martin (Clarence’s baptized name) departed.’ What did you want to discuss with me’ I asked the burly young man. There is a group of us about thirty or forty, when we are all together; we are all rugby supporters, I support Widnes others of the group support St Helens and Wigan, for the past five years we have been meeting on a Sunday afternoon in Liverpool City centre;’ They have nominated me as a spokesperson, to ask you to consider opening the club on Sunday lunchtime, the lads all like this place’. I looked around the room to see if Hadge was in his place, every night at this time Harry would appear into the bar area with his entourage of his’ yes’ men they would occupy a row of chairs set against a faux stone wall in the bar area; Harry would proceed to light one of his large cigars, relax and enjoy the music, generally he would not talk until he had finished his cigar. ‘Hadge Hadge ‘I shouted over; Harry acknowledged my request, I outlined the burly man’s request who incidentally turned out to be a research scientist working for I.C.i in Runcorn. Coincidentally some weeks before Harry and I had discussed opening on Sunday lunchtime it was to be an extension of the promotion we used to perform at the Banqueting Rooms at the Temple Bar and Restaurant, with the up-and-coming local rock and roll groups. Brian Casser was in the club that evening socially, he was summand and joined the Sunday lunchtime debating group upstairs in the bar area. The outcome was; that the club starts opening on Sunday lunchtime 15th May 1960 with Cass and the Casanovas. We agreed not to advertise the new venture in the Echo; the burly man would presumably organize his burly mates. He did exactly what it says on the tin; all of his friends must have turned up on Sunday lunchtime, we continued to promote rock and roll, more beat bands were coming onstream, little did anyone attending that first lunchtime session and witness the Beatles performance realize that history was in the making