A SHOWBIZ impresario who was forced to hand over the keys to the Carlton Club after a licensing wrangle looked back this week on a 35-year love affair with the nightspot.

Former Carlton owner Derek McCulloch, aged 52, of Thynne Street, was made bankrupt last month following the collapse of the club in January.

Last October, licensing officers provoked outrage from regulars when they revoked the club's late opening licence. An undercover police operation had revealed that it had temporarily failed to provide food on the premises, as its licence required.

Next week will mark 20 years since Derek signed the deeds to the club, taking over from his friend and mentor, Bill Medland, who ran the Carlton through the 'sixties.

During that time, the club played host to musical legends including Edwin Starr, Wilson Pickett, Eric Clapton and Jackie Wilson.

For nine years, under Derek's supervision, the club's famous soul and disco nights pulled in fans from all over the country, including many future stars.

Said Derek: "We had people like Rick Astley, footballer John Barnes, and Heather Small of M-People turning up. Rick sang 'Never Gonna Give You Up' live for the first time at the Carlton. Chris Evans worked for me at the time, and it was me who convinced him he had a broadcasting voice and told him how to go into radio.

Besides managing glam rockers like Mudd and Sweet from his agency at the Lion Hotel, Derek helped launch Hott Waxx records which soon became the biggest independent record shop outside of London.

Added Derek: "I was also asked to manage Lisa Stansfield - and I said I was too busy! I don't like to be reminded of that!"

But it was through playing with his bands, Technique and Last Orders, that Derek really indulged his love of music.

Having started off at the Cavern in the Beatles' era, Derek has played alongside Marc Bolan and T-Rex, Pink Floyd, Gary Glitter and the Four Tops.

Said Derek: "I first went to the Carlton with my band, Technique, when I was 17 years old. Our big break came when we were offered a gig in the West Indies but we had to turn it down because the other lads wouldn't leave their jobs. A band called Ambrose Slade was pulled in to replace us at the last minute, and there they met Jimi Hendrix's manager. He renamed them Slade and the rest is history!"

Now, determined to keep on rocking, Derek has relaunched his singing career with a series of appearances in pubs throughout the north west, under the name of Derek Mack.

Said Derek: "I miss the Carlton but losing it has given us a different life. We did three years of grafting to claw it all back and then suddenly it was all gone.

"A couple of people have approached the owners, asking them about reopening it. It would be so easy - it would be packed out just by word of mouth. Warrington town centre is not the same without it."

Derek will appear at Friars Court, Barbould Street, on July 29, August 19, and Sept 9 at 9pm.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.