The Country Club was a very special place to many people and Clive Miles, the proprietor, touched and inspired many hearts.. Clive aka The Dance Daddy managed to turn an old warehouse into a clubbing legend. When you entered The Country Club, once you had found it, you knew you had walked into a magical place. Anyone lucky enough to have met him will never forget him. A talented man in photography
he also won awards for spraying murals on vehicles and when he found his passion for music it showed in his club and the music he played! The Country Club didn't have material backdrops. Clive personally airbrushed onto the walls the most beautiful fantasy art in bright UV colours that helped create part of the atmosphere of The Country Club. Every week something was different be it a whole new piece of artwork or just a bowl of fruit where last week lay a decanter. He seemed to know every customer personally and if he saw someone new would make the effort to speak to them and make them feel welcome. The low ceilings, the DJ's, the music, Clive, his passion, his artwork and your smiling faces helped to make The Country Club the extended family it was to me and I am sure many others. Clive put his heart, soul and health into The Country Club and was gutted when it eventually had to close. For ten years he talked about maybe doing a Country Club tour or a Country Club reunion however it never came into fruition. I think maybe as the years past and music scene changed he was perhaps afraid of it failing and as such risking the good name (dare I say cult status) The Country Club has when spoken about. Clive battled hard and fought through his cancer going into remission a few times before it finally dug it's ugly claws into him and would not let go. It was at this time that I offered to arrange the reunion for him. "Go on then, yes, organise the reunion for me." It was agreed to make the event not for profit, money being the route of evil, so we chose to give to cancer charities to help support people like Clive and his family and those looking for a cure for cancer. Clive's choice was Macmillan Cancer Support. Neither Clive nor I could have asked for a better response from all the DJ's, crew and most importantly you the clubbers! It is because of your heartfelt response to the first official Country Club Reunion on the 13th April 2013 that we are able to ensure Clive's legend truly does live on. It was and still is a roller coaster of emotions organising however, it was made 100% worthwhile seeing the sea of smiling faces, dancing and knowing that although Clive couldn't be there in person as planned, he was watching on live stream thanks to Mark Rush Palmer. You all made Clive's dream come true. You showed him just how much love and respect we all have for him years after the club shut. You made him so happy. I thank each and every one of you for making that happen. Words just can not express my gratitude! This is how the reunion came about and it is because of YOU that we can continue this annual event in Clive's, our Dance Daddy's memory. Celebrate everything he gave us and introducing the 'newbies' to a part of what was The Country Club. While you support us, we will all be able to countinue to celebrate Clive's life; the wonderful memories he gave us; the Country Club; the music; the passion; the inspiration for so many and raise funds for cancer charities. The Legend Lives On...
THANK YOU
Cher
