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Wilton Club

The Wilton Club was at 11a New Cannon Street rear of Market Street, Manchester 4 and opened in 1959.

The club was owned by the controversial comedian Bernard Manning (b. Bernard John Manning, Wednesday, August 13, 1930, Ancoats, Manchester 4, Lancashire, England d. Monday, June 18, 2007, The North Manchester General Hospital, Crumpsall, Manchester 8, Greater Manchester, England of a kidney problem).

Manning left the Roman Catholic Mount Carmel School, Manchester at 14 and later did his National Service in Berlin (1948 - 1950). He was then singer with The Oscar Rabin Band who he moved to London with in 1950.

Later he borrowed £30,000 from his father and transformed a rundown billiards hall and turned it into The Embassy Club at Westbourne Grove off Rochdale Road, Blackley, Manchester 9, that later moved to Westbourne Grove off Rochdale Road, Blackley, Manchester 9.

When the club opened in 1959 Manning brought two of his old friends from The Cromford Club, Manchester pianist Dave Green (b. David Green) and bassist Frank Hogan (1931 - 1987 of a heart attack) to be his club band. In ca 1960 The Dave Green Trio became a quartet with addition of lead guitarist Mike Harding (b. Michael Christopher Harding, Monday, October 23, 1944, 38 Hall Road, Crumpsall, Manchester 8, Lancashire, England).

Info courtesy John H. Warburg. 20 March 2022