An interesting item appears in the Evening Telegraph of May 9th 1972. ''The Red Lion Jazz Club will shortly re-open."  The landlord, Mr John Ellis stating that there had been a jazz club in existence some five years ago, and in fact the Wellingborough guide book still listed one. My research however, leads me to believe that Mr. Ellis is somewhat out on his reckoning. The last session apparently having been held at the Red Lion as far back as 1963.

The Red Lion at Bozeat

An earlier 'modern' jazz club was established at the Red Lion some six months before this date, when the local modernists presented 'Shearing' type of music, and with the engagement of professional musicians, were able to sustain interest for a period of several months.

It was when the club moved to larger premises in the nearby village of Wollaston that the venture proved to be unsuccessful and the club closed its doors after only two or three sessions.

It was at this club, The Nags Head, at Wollaston, now famous locally for the size of its landlord and the popularity of its discotheques, that the Jack Lantsbery band held its first public performance. It was assumed at the time, 1959, that in this pre-breathaliser era, being approximately equidistant from Wellingborough, Northampton and Rushden, the Nag’s Head would provide a good base. Perhaps the fact that the young people of fifteen years of age were not as mobile as the teenagers of today may be a prime reason for the lack of success at Wollaston. When the traditional club was opened some four years later at the Red Lion at Bozeat it was not however the lack of fans which caused its premature closure. The Bozeat regulars took delight in smashing glasses, and the popular craze of the time was to burn the initials of one's girl friend on ones bare forearm with lighted matches. Surely a sign of rare devotion. This bad behaviour finally forced the club to close as damage to persons and property was rapidly outgrowing profitability. The band however continued to use the pub as a rehearsal room for several months, with the occasional devotee coming in to listen.

1972 sees local jazz enthusiast Johnny Spriggs organising a group of musicians for live session once again at the Red Lion, as press cuttings show, plans are in hand for presenting several top British jazzmen.

A visit to the Red Lion that the resident band, led by drummer Ronnie Ball and featuring Kenny Plummer, an excellent musician on tenor sax and flute, provide a good sound, and with future guests to include organist Jimmy Caiman, the club should be sure of success.

Although history has a habit of repeating itself, let us hope that the unruly element has either learned better behaviour or have left the area. The Red Lion deserves to remain as part of the county's Jazz heritage.