Jenks of MSG

Subject: Jenks of MSG
From: VIN
Date: 30 Nov 05 - 11:18 AM

Does any fellow aging folkie type from around the Manchester area know what became of 'Jenks' when he stopped running the Manchester Sports Guild? Just a passing curious thought.

Subject: RE: Jenks of MSG
From: GUEST,Caroline Jenkins
Date: 30 Mar 18 - 01:52 PM

Hi there, I know it’s been many years but I just wondered if you ever received any reply to your question? I’m Jenks’ granddaughter, so may be able to help with a few answers, but I don’t remember much about him and would be fascinated to know more. Thanks caroline

Subject: RE: Jenks of MSG
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 30 Mar 18 - 03:57 PM

I remember Jenks from the MSG in the 1970-72 period when I was at university in Manchester and attended MSG, and occasionally dealt with him when I was running Manchester Uni Folk Song Society.... happy days!
Look forward to hearing some family memories from Caroline!
Derek

Subject: RE: Jenks of MSG
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 31 Mar 18 - 03:28 AM

I hardly remember him but perhaps Caroline can start by telling us his "real" name (he was always known as Jenks and I've never been sure whether this was a term of abuse or affection) and approximately when he was born.

Subject: RE: Jenks of MSG
From: Paul Reade
Date: 31 Mar 18 - 10:42 AM

From my memories of the MSG his “real” name was Leslie Jenkins

Subject: RE: Jenks of MSG
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 01 Apr 18 - 08:24 AM

OK it's Leslie. He also had a middle initial "C".

Could he be the Leslie Charles Jenkins who died at Flat 2, 286 Dickenson Road, Longsight on 31 October 1986? If so, he was born on 12 Feb 1918.

A bit more info might help.

Subject: RE: Jenks of MSG
From: GUEST,Caroline
Date: 27 Sep 19 - 02:29 PM

Hello, sorry i’ve only just seen this - I didn’t realise anyone had replied! Thank you for getting in touch, it’s much appreciated.

Yes, he was Leslie Charles Jenkins and that would have been about right, date-wise. I was Young when he died, so don’t have that many memories of him, but I do remember being told he had an Alsatian who was very protective.

Subject: RE: Jenks of MSG
From: GUEST,Caroline
Date: 27 Sep 19 - 02:44 PM

Oh and I found this: http://www.jazznorthwest.co.uk/msg1.htm

Subject: RE: Jenks of MSG
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 27 Sep 19 - 02:57 PM

I was first introduced to Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger at MSG by my friend Terry Whelan
My favourite memory of the place was, after E and P's performance we were standing talking to them outside when a beautiful Jaguar car pulled up at the pavement and a pretty young man in a roll-necked sweater stepped out and headed for the night-club next door
My mate Barry whispered in reverent tones, "That's Georgie Best"
"Who's Georgie Best?" asked Peggy
"Only the best footballer in the Universe" Barry replied
Peggy hastily scrabbled in her tote back, pulled out a notebook and ran after him to get autograph
She returned looking sheepish and said, "For my son Calum, you understand"
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Jenks of MSG
From: GUEST,Derek Schofield
Date: 27 Sep 19 - 03:26 PM

I always had the impression Jenks lived above the shop at MSG, but presumably I'm mistaken. He was only 68 when he died, and I'm not sure when MSG closed and where/if he worked afterwards.
Derek

Subject: RE: Jenks of MSG
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 27 Sep 19 - 04:18 PM

Sorry Caroline; I don’t think there are any official records about his Alsatian!! What sort of info wre you hoping to find?

Back in the 1970’s the Mr Best referred to by Jim Carroll was living in a house which resembled a public toilet in Woodford, Cheshire. Whilst something of a landmark, its subsequent owners replaced the white ceramic tiles on the outside with brick and have since entirelr re-modelled the structure.

I don’t think there was any tangible connection between Messrs Jenks and Best.

Subject: RE: Jenks of MSG
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 28 Sep 19 - 02:36 AM

"I don’t think there was any tangible connection between Messrs Jenks and Best."
!!!!!
Could have sworn I said he went into the night club next door - must have had too much tea
"headed for the night-club next door"
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Jenks of MSG
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 28 Sep 19 - 03:00 AM

The year (which I didn't refer to) was 1968, by the way
Shortly afterwards I and the friends I mentioned went on a prolonged drinking spree at the insistence of Nigel Denver who was appearing at MSG later - Nigel was the Last Man Standing that night
Also (it all seemed to have happened in 1968), Alex Campbell did one of his technicolour yawns over a n MSG audience member
I seem to remember a singer/banjo player (Frank Duffy) ran a non-guest club evening there - at the time it was one of the largest audiences I had ever sung in front of (I sang 'The Patriot Game' for my sins)
Next time Ewan and Peggy appeared there they were put up at a Guest House not far from the beautiful Elizabethan 'Shambles' which later escaped demolishment by being lifted high in the air by a crane and lowered down later onto the roof of a newly-built underground car park (or maybe that was the effects of bigel's pub-crawl)   
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Jenks of MSG
From: GUEST,Ray
Date: 28 Sep 19 - 04:09 AM

Never did like Alex Campbell - and that was presumably before the curry.

The singers night was on Mondays and Frank Duffy was only one of many people who hsted it (Tony [Hardman] & Arthur [Wakefield] + [Eddie] Bryn Pugh being examples). I didn’t get to the Guild that often as my last train always meant that I missed most of the main act’s final set (+ _ I wasn’t up for the 20 mile walk home).

I assume the guest house was the Mitre Hotel and you’re talking about Sinclair’s Inn. I don’t think a crane was involved; they jacked it up and shoved it. It was, of course, moved again when they built M&S. there aren’t many buildings which can claim to have existed in three places!

Subject: RE: Jenks of MSG
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 28 Sep 19 - 04:35 AM

Aye, Alex wasn't everybody's cup of tea, I loved him. At least he had the one thing lacking in so many of today's "slick" performers, he had character. He could keep an audience entertained all night, even when he wasn't actually singing and playing, not a lot of that around these days either.

Subject: RE: Jenks of MSG
From: The Sandman
Date: 28 Sep 19 - 09:35 AM

Alex was a very witty man and a great raconteur, he was a kind hearted man who helped Peggy, by marrying her ,enabling her to stay in the country.