Hiya John B - Back Hope Street is not far from Kersal, Higher Broughton to be precise. Bugger of a place to find. It is a single track back alley between Lower Broughton Road and Great Clowes Street - very close to The Cliff (Man Utd. training ground.) and at the Bury New Road end of above roads - See if your wife remembers any of them.

The Fishermans was always a good one - Was it Jack and Mavis Riley running it at the time? The Church at Prestwich was good as well but I remember it a bit after your time when Jolly Jack were regulars. Was Mike Canavan a regular then?

The Star was good - Run by Martin Gittins and Bob Ashworth it had an unbroken recored (ie every week) for many years. Many good artists and singers nights even though the room was a little odd. Long thin room - like a train carriage - and the only passage through to both the pool room and the gents! As I said before they had some other oddities (See first post) but they are sorely missed.

Nice to hear from you and if you are ever tempted to visit look us up at Swinton. (Goes for any other ex-pats out there as well of course!)

Dave the Gnome