A NORTHERN Soul DJ who was one of the main players in the genre's 70s heyday is making a comeback for a special event in Kidderminster.

The West Midlands Soul Club's twice-yearly Nautical William revival night will be held at The Glades Leisure Centre in Bromsgrove Street next week.

The event, one of the biggest in the Northern Soul calendar, attracts fans from all over the country and celebrates the popular ship-like building on the Kidderminster to Bridgnorth Road, which was a haven for enthusiasts in the 70s but has long since closed.

The scene is based around obscure dance tunes from US cities such as Detroit, New York and Chicago.

DJs Mr Tee, Steve Russell and Basil will be filling the dance floor - where athletic moves such as backflips are not an uncommon sight - on Saturday, November 2.

But they will not be alone.

Mr Tee - aka Terry Thomas, who runs a shop in Blackwell Street, Kidderminster - explained: "At each event we try to add something special and this is no exception.

"Over the last 12 months we have been trying to track down some of the original DJs from the Nautical William heydays of the 70s.

"This time we have managed to locate Tony Hyde, who together with his former DJ partner Glynn Garfield travelled to Northern Soul venues throughout the UK as The Soul Twins.

"One weekend would find them in Bristol, while the next they would be braving the fog to DJ in County Durham."

He added: "Tony, who has not spun a Northern Soul record for many a year, will be treating us to samples of his still superb collection."

And Mr Tee promised a nostalgic event for people "with memories and dancing feet" as well as a younger crowd being attracted by increased radio and television coverage of the genre.

He can be contacted on 01562 745446.

Mr Tee, in his role as a national expert, helped compile a new double CD, More Northern Soul Memories which is now available.