IN 1978 the doors closed on a famous Leigh institution -- The Garrick. Over the years thousands of star-struck members trod a weekly path to the Leigh Road club which took owner and impresario, the late Roy Jackson, from rags to riches.

The larger than life owner attracted some of the biggest acts of the 60s and 70s to a grateful Leigh, as well as raising thousands of pounds for local charities.

Roy's showbusiness dream started when at the age of 30, married to Doreen and a father of four, he gave up his estate agency, insurance business and cooked meats shop in Atherton to launch the Caroline Club in the town. That was named after his daughter, and later became the Keg O Kee.

In 1961 he moved into Leigh, buying and converting the old shirt factory behind Sterling's furniture shop and The Odeon Cinema into The Garrick, named in honour of his sons Gary and Eric.

He jumped in feet first and booked all the top names, drawing in a regular clientele which formed queues a mile long along Leigh Road.

The doors opened in 1961 with chart topping star Ronnie Carroll and closed 17 years later, in March 1978, with comic duo Canon and Ball.

In between Roy's empire grew with Jackson's Restaurant in Leigh and The Towers at Warrington.

Throughout the time the club was managed by Roy's late brother-in-law Joe Everett, former landlord of the Black Horse pub in Tyldesley.

This week his wife, Brenda, who also worked at the club, recalled some happy memories.

She said Roy, who was born in poverty in Hindsford, was a tough businessman and if he didn't like the acts he booked from Sunday to Saturday he paid them off.

Regularly waiting in the wings and propping up the bar on Sunday nights ready to pick up on a DCM (Don't Come Monday) spot was Gerry Dorsey, later to become Englebert Humperdink.

Another bar fly was Freddie Starr who stuttered very badly and often didn't have the price of a 10d (4p) coke in his pocket

She recalls that Aussie singer Frank Ifield was with Joe and Roy in the Black Horse when he learned that "I Remember You" had hit the top of the charts in 1962.

American hell raiser P J Proby got married at Bolton Register Office while he was appearing at the club and had his reception there after his show.

Barefoot singer Sandie Shaw's first cabaret performance was at The Garrick, and other headliners included Status Quo, Tom Jones, The Drifters, Craig Douglas, The Ivy League, The Rockin' Berries, Vince Hill, Bob Monkhouse, Diana Dors. The impressive list goes, including Leigh's own chart-topper Georgie Fame.

Food available included chicken and chips in a basket at six shillings (30p) and steak and chips 12s 6d (62p).

Wags wrote other suggestions for container food on the menus -- naming them spaghetti in a suitcase, curry in a carrier bag, cauliflower in a carrycot and peas in a valise. Brenda still has them at her Lowton home. She said: "Roy, who was a good-hearted fellow, died 14 years ago and Doreen, my sister, two years ago.

"The club was one of the best in the north. There used to be 900 in on Saturday night and from when Joe took over the managership to Roy selling up because of ill health in 1976 the police were only called twice. There was hardly any trouble.

"Things changed when Roy and Doreen retired to St Annes and the club was taken over, but I was sad to see it go and I am sure so were thousands of others who have fond memories."

Brenda has one outstanding memento of the club -- an equipment box left behind in a dressing room by Status Quo and discovered when the club was being cleared out. It bears the group's names and songs in black marker inks.

BY LESLIE RICHARDS, LEIGH JOURNAL