Fire at the Cavendish Club
It is now over a year since I asked for any memories of the Cavendish Club and the fire that destroyed it in December 1972. My thanks to everyone who responded, especially David Bowers from Billington, who recounted his experience of attending the fire. The short story based on the events of that night has now been published in an anthology of stories set in Lancashire.
Do you recall the Easter Fair which was held on the site of the old outdoor market? Perhaps you did your shopping in the covered market which was demolished to make way for the bus terminal. Or maybe you still like to eat fish and chips at the Clacky Diner in Great Harwood. All of these places and more feature in the collection, which is available from Amazon. Below is a flavour of a handful of the stories.
When Ed passes his eleven plus, everyone is overjoyed, everyone that is, except Ed. His worries threaten to spoil a visit to the Easter Fair. But things have a way of working out and with his family as support, he realises that there is more than one way to make your worries disappear.
Helen sorts through her dead mother’s belongings, despairing at the amount of memorabilia she has left behind. An unopened letter with her name on it from a bundle dated 1977 comes to light. Was this her mother once again trying to control her, or was Mother right to keep the letter a secret?
Dan has always struggled with life. Black moods haunt him and he hates his job in the mill. When he meets Edie he glimpses a chance to be happy, yet he knows it is fragile. As things fall apart, even his relationship with God may not be enough to save him.
On December 18th 1972, a fire at the Cavendish Club in Blackburn destroyed the nightclub. Although underage, Louise was there on the night and when she fears the worst, turns to younger sister Claire to help pick up the pieces.