“I remember I started going to the Fleet all nighter’s at 14 and walking from Walton to Fletton with my mates and then dancing most of the night, walking back tired but still buzzing from the great music,(well maybe not just the music), talking about who we thought were great dancers and trying to learn the Stomp, going to bed and then waking with terrible cramp. Of course in 1979 we weren’t aware so much about stretching and warming down.
I would do it all again, and still go when I can, though I certainly don’t walk from Walton anymore and always warm up properly (and with a few pints)”

“Different town then , more a large market town, got to Wirrina early. Already about 100 there, milled around talking to like minded friends from all over Peterborough and beyond. We’d talk until doors opened then was a rush to go best place in ballroom. At the time best dancers, Danny Daniels and and one other , that really could spin. If you needed a bit of quiet you could go to the foyer, many good times at first Phoenix then later going on to Wigan ,Blackpool, Derby Nottingham and others I forget, great times feels like yesterday ”

“One of my most vivid memories is a freezing cold Saturday night outside of The Fleet. We were in the dead zone between pubs shutting & the nighter starting. The heater was broken on my old beat up 1968 Mini so we decided to take our gear & stand in the entrance to the brick kilns behind the car park.

We squeezed through the hedge into the brick yard with a cassette (tape recorder) player into the mouth of one of the kilns - It was luxury ! We turned on the music & were gradually joined by more & more people until the crowd numbered 30 or 40. I would say I’m still in contact with a fair proportion of those people. We all stayed chatting & listening to tapes for hours - I didn’t bother going into the all nighter until about 4am.Happy days with special friends”