DAYS of the famous Tanner Hop are revived by readers Ted and Marie Nelson who have kindly accepted my earlier invitation to take a waltz down Memory Lane.

The toe-tapping partnership well remember gliding along the floor of SS Peter and Paul parish hall at Haresfinch when the price of admission was sixpence, thus giving rise to its popular nickname.

Ted and Marie, who live in Chadwick Road, just a sashay or two from that old-time venue, add a few more dance haunts of yesteryear after studying the long list supplied (November 11) by my old boyhood chum Cliff Pennington of Clinkham Wood.

The pair now chip in with the local Volunteer Hall and the Engineers Hall, plus two popular Rainhill venues - Reeve Hall and the Oddfellows where Fred Capper's band played.

Ted Nelson, still an enthusiastic saxophonist at the age of 83, has also been reminded of what was billed as 'A Night To Remember' when the combined local dance orchestras of the legendary band-leading Moss Brothers - Wally and Dick - performed in unison in St Helens Town Hall.

That sell-out occasion attracted an overspill of hundreds of ticket-less dance enthusiasts who had been unable to get in.

So, to keep the unlucky ones happy, the music of the combined Wally Moss Band and the Dick's Californian State Orchestra was relayed to them by loudspeaker system.

That night, Victoria Square - specially lit up for the occasion - was to witness a unique and lively evening of dancing in the street!

Marie tells us that the event was sponsored by the Redifusion company to celebrate one of their anniversaries.

"What exactly this milestone was has escaped my husband's memory box," she adds chirpilly, "but he tells me that two grand pianos were interlocked at the back of the stage for the Moss brothers to play."

They were flanked by Sousaphone player Bill Holden, of the Californian State line-up, and Harry Hunley, of the Wally Moss Band, on double bass.

Dance banding was often something of a family business in those happy times. "The band leaders were not the only brothers taking part," says Marie. Trumpet players Billy and Jack Melling, who served Wally Moss and the 'Cal', respectively, also had a rare opportunity to make music together.

"My husband, Ted, who played first sax with Wally, can still name all who played on that great occasion," says Marie, "and in his opinion Bill and Jack Melling were the sweetest-toned trumpet players ever!"

Ted and Marie have, unfortunately, not provided the date of that night to remember.

WONDER if any of our evergreen hoppers can pinpoint it and perhaps add a dancing memory of their own? If so, please drop me a line at the Star.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.