Re: When town was king of clubs (3/8/15) I hope you may be interested in a 90-year-old's memories with regard to Bolton's ballrooms in the 1940s and 1950s. I refer particularly to the town centre ones such as the Palais (Paramount), the Aspin and the Embassy.

During the early years of the Second World War and until call-up in early 1943 we often went to the Palais on Saturday evening after playing football and would go down from the mezzanine somewhat nervously to ask an unescorted young lady for a dance.

The Palais in those days was a beautiful intimate ballroom (not a club), with an excellent dance/swing band led by Johnny Healy — plus a regular vocalist.

After the war that band continued for some years and in addition to the other events mentioned were the Holcombe Hunt Ball and the Police Ball — both black tie I think — amongst others — and very glamorous they were too!

I fear that such events (along with dinner dances at other venues seem now to be much less frequent — more is the pity — or perhaps I am just out of date!

To sum up, those ballrooms, with many men (and women) in uniform brought a glamour and a glitter to the dark days of wartime and austerity thereafter, that can only be relived again in memories — that includes for me, my fiancee and later.

Ron Moss