The Sinking Ship (Stockport)
The Swinging Sinking Ship was in Royal Oak Yard off Mersey Square South, Underbank, Stockport, Cheshire and opened in 1966 with Wimple Winch playing the opening night.
The owner of the club was Mike Carr (b. Michael Joseph Carr, c. 1941 d. March 1968, Stockport, Cheshire, England in a road traffic accident). His partner was Dave Robinson (b. David Robinson), who lost a leg in a car accident.
Carr owned a large coffee bar in Stockport, The Swinging Sinking Ship situated just off Mersey Square South, in Royal Oak Yard. The group The Just Four Men lived in a flat at the top of the building and the premises were turned into a music club, with the newly incarnated Wimple Winch (old English for 'deep well') as the resident group. Carr was involved as their new manager.
Before that Carr owned and ran The Medici Coffee Bar in Rochdale, Lancashire which opened in 1961; The Three Cellars in Newhey, Milnrow, Rochdale, Lancashire which opened in ca. 1964; The Tender Trap in Bacup, Lancashire which opened on Friday, February, 28, 1964; The Masque at 116 Chestergate, Brinksway, Stockport which he opened in 1965 and he ran with his mother Mrs. Renne Carr.
Carr had been to school with drummer Larry King (b. Lawrence Arendes, Tuesday, August 5, 1941, Dock Road, Huyton, Liverpool, Lancashire, England d. Tuesday, March 14, 2017, Aintree Hospital, Aintree, Liverpool, Merseyside, England). King was later in a number of bands including Wimple Winch (Early 1966 - Late 1967), which Carr managed.
He lived with his mother Mrs. Carr and his sister Miss Pat Carr lived in Dewhirst Road, Syke, Rochdale, Lancashire.
The Swinging Sinking Ship club's DJs were Paul Prince & Liz who got married in the club on Saturday, October 22, 1966.
Sadly, The Swinging Sinking Ship burned down on Thursday, April 6, 1967.
Also sadly, Mike Carr died in a road traffic accident in March 1968 in Stockport, three months before he was to marry Miss Brenda-Marie Whitton.
Info courtesy John H Warburg December 2024
The Sinking Ship Club was based in an entry in Underbank Stockport. I remember going there in about 1967. People used to go between here and the Tab. Micheal J carr owned the club and took the money on the door which had a round porthole window. He only had one leg due to a road accident.
Once there was a fire thee any he jumped from a three stoiry building with his pet dog. He eventually died years later in another road acciedent.
Jimmi Hendrix played there. Some tunes I remember were as follows:- New Girl in school-Jan and Dean, Al Capone-Prince Buster, Mellow yellow-Donovan, See saw-Don Covay
It was popular with the mods and scooter boys/girls. Part of the great times in Stockport.
Bernard Roberts - 17/3/09
Set in Sandstone caves. Managed by one of The Four Just Men I beleive. Serious fire damage closed it, and almost caused the death of, I think his name was Demitrius. Images available, me playing with a band called Studio One.
Alan Thom - 27/8/10
Mike Carr was one of the nicest guys I had ever met ... he made a huge success of his coffee bar at a time when "mods" were looking for a place to go.
Good music ... good company. Unfortunately he met an early death in a tragic motor accident - everyone was totally shocked! Wimple Winch - BRILLIANT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mike was very much missed at the time.
Joanna - 16/11/10
Inside shot of The Sinking Ship (right) - 1966 I think, early 67.
Myself, lead Alan Thom, brother Brian Thom drummer, Ken Ham bass and Rod Simons sax. We had previously toured as The Rod Simon Showband from that era, before going soul, jazz-rock almost prog.
Before we (I) knocked things on the head (life & marriage) the lineup extended to another baritone sax, trumpet and Hammond organ touring Manchester and beyond.
Alan Thom - 3/1/11
The cost to see Jimi Hendrix play was five shillings ... whilst Cat Stevens was seven and six. Most went to "Turners" for a drink.
Kitch - 15/10/11
Worked with Mike at Simon engineering, he used to drive me to see the ship being developed at dinner times in his open topped MG. Memories!!!
Dave Garnett - 29/5/12
Remember going to see Long John Baldry playing there with Julie Driscoll They called themselves The Steam Packet I think. It got so warm dancing in that sandstone cave that water condensed on the roof and you would get rained on. The girls danced around their handbags. It was a fabulous time for the Mods on our scooters I bought my first blue pinstrip suit from Burtons. I think I paid £8.00 for it about 1966/67.
Shaun Hallworth - 25/8/12
Michael Joseph Carr was my fiance, he died in March 1968 and we were due to be married in June the same year. The guy who had only one leg was not Michael, but his partner, Dave Robinson - he lost his leg in a car accident.
Brenda-Marie Costello - 1/12/13
Michael Carr, owner of the Sinking Ship was my fiance. He did not take money on the door, works for Symonds or have only one leg - that was his partner, Dave Robinson.
Brenda-Marie Whittam Costello - 30/12/13
Comments
Well, that's my experience of The Sinking Ship, or Pulse, as we called it. I'm Not a big Joni Mitchell fan. But she nailed it when she sang "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got till it's gone! They paved paradise and put up a parking lot!"
Peace and good vibes to the lot of you.
Wes Harding.
Convinced Mike had a much smaller 'club' the other side of the viaduct
Used to go down there from Macclesfield on our scooters for a couple of years until The Ship moved to larger premises off Underbank.