A Nobody With Dreams

Author: Pete Cross

Costa Blanca News readers who perhaps hailed from Portsmouth, and indeed holiday makers who still have homes in the beautiful county of Hampshire, and are of a certain vintage, may well remember the Tricorn Club, and its ‘legendary’ DJ, Pete Cross.

This fascinating book takes the reader back to the days of Radio Luxembourg, to monochrome television transmissions, BBC TV's Six Five Special with presenters Josephine Douglas and Pete Murray, Brian Matthew’s Thank Your Lucky Stars, Saturday Club and Sounds of the Sixties. The pirate radio stations were also very active on the airwaves.

When Pete was 15, he began working at WH Smith’s bookstall at Portsmouth Railway Station. Customers included Dick Emery, David Nixon, Bud Flanagan, along with members of Herman’s

Hermits and The Searchers. Portsmouth’s football team were regulars.

Around this time, clubs were opening across the country, Portsmouth being no exception. A local band, The Wrong Direction, on discovering that Pete had an increasing collection of singles, extended plays and long players, asked him if he would be prepared to keep audiences entertained during the band refreshment break, taking on the role of Disk Jockey. This was the start of Pete’s 52 years as a DJ.

The Tricorn Club, Portsmouth, opened in 1968. The opening was televised and starred Dickie Valentine. Early acts were Little and Large, Colin Crompton, Lena Martell and Larry ‘Shut that door’ Grayson.

Pete’s work as a DJ around the clubs soon became noticed. Such was the success of the Tricorn Club that the services of a resident DJ was becoming a necessity, so an approach was made to Pete Cross, to check if he might be interested.

Following an audition, the post was offered and his record spinning days at The Tricorn had begun. With Radio One opening in the late 60s, many of the groups booked at the club had been heard on the BBC, which helped in attracting customers to the club. The tag ‘As heard on Radio One’ being included on posters really helped to bring in the good folk of Portsmouth.

Pete tells many stories of back stage ‘happenings’, from stage lighting rigs collapsing during a frenzied cabaret act, to local skinheads fighting on the dance floor - ham, cheese and chicken baguettes being the weapons of choice! Another memorable evening was just before heading for home, staff were having a nightcap, when would-be burglars dropped to the floor from a roof light, a few feet from Pete and his team! Encouraged to remain on the floor, the local police were soon on the scene, taking the miscreants to a night in the cells. All part of the rich tapestry that was the Tricorn Club.

The list of visitors to the club reads a little like a who’s who of the entertainment world: Noel Edmunds, Emperor Rosko, Dave Cash, and Annie Nightingale. Groups included Slade, Nashville Teens, Roy Young Band, Fortunes, Barclay

James Harvest, Jigsaw, Hobson’s Choice and Status Quo, to name but a few.

One of Pete’s dreams was to try and spin a disc or three with a post at the BBC on Radio One or Two. A 15-minute audition was prepared and presented within the hallowed halls of Broadcasting House. A reply eventually dropped through the letter box at Casa Cross: “Thank-you Peter for coming along to Broadcasting House and auditioning for possible work at the BBC. We admired your enthusiasm and choice of music, but in all honesty, we already have one Tony Blackburn and that’s quite enough. Best of luck for the future. Derek Chinnery.” Classic!

This most enjoyable book can be purchased direct from Pete Cross, for £15.00, via pete@pca.uk.com. Every serious bookcase should possess a copy. 8/10