New book about The Tricorn Club, Portsmouth | Nostalgia

His new book all about his time at the venue after time spent serving an apprenticeship in church halls, social clubs, naval clubs and youth clubs that honed his skills to win the top job at the premier nightspot of the time.

He worked at the club from 1967 until 1975 and his story tells much about his life as a boy in Buckland, as a teenager and how he met and married his wife, Jan.

He started work at Portsmouth & Southsea railway station bookstall WH Smith. Pete says that so many personalities travelled by train he always had his autograph book at the ready. Dick Emery, Herman’s Hermits, The Searchers, Bud Flanagan and David Nixon were just a few of those he served.

The book also includes many posters from the 1960s like when the Beatles were bottom of a bill which saw Chris Montez as the headliner. The top ticket price (in today’s money) was 45p the lowest 18p. To see ELO in London today will cost you £180 for a top-priced seat.

At the Birdcage Club in Eastney Road Walker Brothers’ tickets cost 50p along with free Coca-Cola.

The Tricorn Club opened in in early 1967 in the heart of The Tricorn Centre at Charlotte Street, Landport.

Initially it was a cabaret club but attendances were low and with the coming of disco music the club turned into a discotheque to attract younger people and invited up-and-coming bands; bands such as Mud, Slade, Status Quo and Jimmy James and the Vagabonds. There were also guest Radio 1 DJs such as John Peel, Bob Harris, Dave Cash and Noel Edmonds.

Many of you may remember the lunchtime Radio One Club. The Tricorn hosted the club on five occasions with stars like Monkee Davy Jones, Marc Bolan and Richard Beckinsale.

There are many anecdotes about the stars Pete used to take home for tea at his mum’s house.

The book is full of photographs of all the stars and DJs of the time and really is a book you can’t put down’. If you ever attended a night at the Tricorn Club or many of the other clubs in Southsea you will want to read all about them and bring back memories of a misspent youth.

Pete is now a presenter on Havant-based Angel Radio on 89.3FM with several shows a week including a sixties’ show on Saturday mornings.

•The Tricorn Club Story is available from [email protected] or by ringing (023) 9264 0170. It costs £15 plus £3 p&p.