IT'S almost 25 years since the doors closed on Leigh's Garrick Club.

A regular customer in the mid 60s, I have fond members of the little nightspot tucked away behind Leigh Road.

As members of the press we were privileged to be given free entrance by the large-as-life owner, Roy Jackson, but in the long run he was repaid by the publicity he received for his charity work.

I had some superb nights there, but the stars who still stand out in my mind are Bob Monkhouse and the glam Diana Dors, but most of all the hilarious hypnotist, Martin St James, who had the place in uproar.

The audience had never seen anything like his act before. Volunteers rushed to be put under his spell and provided a riot of entertainment. It was funnier because it was people the crowd knew who were actually providing the comedy.

I still remember crying with laughter.

The club's long since gone but the memories of those starry nights have never faded.

Has anyone any good Garrick tales to share?