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Opposite Lock Club

  • Thread starter Thread starter the doc
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Used to be a member of the Opposite Lock for a number of years in the mid 1970s. A great club. She t many happy hours there on Thursday, Friday's and Saturday nights. Was a proud owner of an Opposite Lock car sticker which was displayed on my TR7.
Happy Days
 
Loved the place. Only a member for a year or two while I lived in Solihull (1969-1971).
Had some fantastic times there. I seem to recall a minimal Count Basie band
playing there one night and a couple of other memorable people who's names I can't recall.
Subsequently moved to Coventry and a couple of years later, moved back down south.
A year or so later, we were devastated when The Tavern in the Town and the Mulberry Bush were bombed.
We used to go to one or the other every Saturday for lunch.
Still love Birmingham, but it's been 50+ years since, but I still have a soft spot for it.
Good luck Brum.
 
Saw Manard Ferguson “Ex Stan Kenton band” at the Opposite Lock, I had never heard the trumpet played so well, and never heard it played as good since. wow what a horn player.
 
I know housing is important but I don't think such a tall building at the edge of the canal is appropriate. If it interests you to object to the removal of the building that housed the Opposite Lock and the construction of such a monster at the side of the canal here is the place to write to:- 1720090665083.png
 
Here is the artists impression for the construction on Gas Street:-
 

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Brenda 49 said:
Here is the artists impression for the construction on Gas Street:-
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Yes I did read about that on the BBC Birmingham website yesterday :(
l live in London now (where that sort of thing is happening all the time sadly) so I wouldn't be eligible to appeal. Very sad times, I never went to the Opposite Lock but I did go to the sister club The Factory which was in the building next door.
 
the doc said:
Does anyone remember the "Opposite Lock" Club ??

It was on a canal in Birmingham on the Broad Street side of the city and you entered the club from the canal bank (Canal Street?).

It was very lively place and the DJ was an avid Birmingham City FC fan who punctuated the evening's gyrations with "Keep Right On To The End OF The Road". From memory it was one pound for annual membership or 2/6d for visitors.

It was there last time I looked 45 years ago but no doubt has long disappeared. Anyone know what happened to it ??
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Martin (Opposite Lock Club) & I in the last E Type leading the Birmingham Motoring Festival 1975
 

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barryth1949 said:
YesIn 1966 I worked at Pauline Mayman`s the sports car and accessory shop in Broad St. I rememember a guy with a beard coming in to show us plans for a club he wanted to locate in an old building in Gas St. We thought he was mad...he wasn`t of course...He also bought us the motor race around the streets...Is Martin still around?
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Yes, Martin is still around.
 
Hi. Quotes first:

It was very lively place and the DJ was an avid Birmingham City FC fan who punctuated the evening's gyrations with "Keep Right On To The End OF The Road".
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The DJ would have been Roger 'Our Man Harris'.
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The DJ was one Roger Harris. In later years he moved to Kidderminster and became the match day announcer at Kidderminster Harriers where he was known as Captain Crazy. He then went on to become the Worcester City announcer for a while but it was with the Harriers that he became famous. He had always wanted to be very famous but never quite made it :(

Sadly in recent years he suffered with diabetes Type 1 and also Myeloma (I also have that but have a long way to go yet). The Captain died in September and it was his funeral earlier today. I went to pay my respects along with others who knew him.

Also there was Martin Hone. Martin was one of the first to give a DJ'ing job to the young lad from Harborne and then Hall Green. Martin looked in good health and very chatty although I didn't speak to him. Just listened.

Anyway I've attached the front and back of the Order of Service from the funeral for you.

IMG_20241113_0001.jpg IMG_20241113_0004.jpg

If you would like to know more then take a look at the thread on this Harriers forum:

 
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