Clive Rayson

What was it that brought Clive to Brighton?

That's a question he has asked himself quite a few times now, for it was never meant to be.

There he was, a 'real face' on the mean streets of Kettering aka 'Soultown UK' (I kid you not!), when he and Dave Kearns (a real 'faceache'!) were asked to do a job in Hayes, Middlesex. Now the two boys hadn't strayed too far from Ketrin' before - well, why would they? - when one of them said 'Let's call in on Paddy Shevlin, he runs a nightclub near there!'. Well, Brighton is nearer to Hayes than Kettering but come on lads!! Anyhow they packed their marmite sandwiches and two Weetabix (everyone from Ketrin' is brought up on Weetabix) and headed for their big adventure.

They got excited when the sea finally came into view, though Dave thought it was The Mediterranean! - then they started asking people, where's Paddy? Unfortunately, it wasn't like Ketrin' where everyone knew whose cat run up your alley but amazingly they asked one bouncer who did know 'yer man'.

Well, I could tell you what life changing events the boys experienced that night, but not on here. Suffice it to say that was 1982 and 'the boy Clive', never went home.

Soon he had joined Paddy and Kathy doing the Smugglers soul sessions and once he realised he could still get his Weetabix, he was happy to make his life here.

He and Paddy are both graduates of Kettering's University of Soul (North Park Club) where Clive's father, Noel, was a senior tutor. The two are still heavily involved in 'what's going on' up there and in May this year are due to stage The Freewheelers Reunion at Wicksteed Park in the town.