The real story of The world famous Batley Variety
Club
The Batley Variety Club owes its very existance to
one man, the late Yorkshire Showman and self made millionaire
businessman, Peter Fleming. Like many West Yorkshire towns, Batley's
main claim to fame used to be its woollen mills but for a few short
years it played host to some of the world's most famous stars.
People even called it the Las Vegas of the North. The big names from
across the Atlantic brought the Batley Variety Club to the world
stage. It was the first club that really started to pay big money to
American stars. During a visit to Batley Market, the late Eartha
Kitt led shoppers in a rendering of "On Ilkla Moor Baht At" Shirley
Bassey was driven in a Rolls Royce to Birkenshaw for fish and chips.
Bee Gee Maurice Gibb ended up marrying waitress Yvonne and Roy
Orbison also found a wife.
Other celebrities that frequented the
club were Tom Jones, Tina Turner, Cliff Richards, Cilla Black and
The Bee Gees. ITV regularly filmed the club, and famous visitors
included Frank Sinatra and numerous members of the Royal family.
However, the real catch brought to the entertainment starved folk of
Yorkshire, was world famous Louis Armstrong. Long-hailed as one of
the best jazz musicians the world had ever seen, in 1968 he knocked
the Beatles off the top of the UK single charts with What a
Wonderful World yet he still found the time to come to West
Yorkshire.
His astronomical fee, in todays terms, was over £1
million pounds - but the puiblicity and kudos he brought exceeded
this amount. The club was sold by Peter Fleming, who foresaw the
demise of the cabaret scene. His instinct was to take him from
poverty to millionaire status and international prominence. During a
romance with film actress, "The Blonde Bombshell", Diana Dors,
hailed as Britains Marilyn Monroe, he decided to reinvest money and
energy into the booming Gaming Industry, taking advantage of
Government Deregulation.
He set up Kory Automatics, and became a
world leader in the supply of Bingo and Lottery equipment, as well
as operating Bingo Clubs and Amusement Arcades. The company turned
over £25 million pounds. Piognantly, the man who was self educated
and never went to school, delegated with world leaders and
ministers, and personally shaped and developed the Bingo industry.
When the African State leader needed to introduce the lottery and
infrastructure to his country, it was Peter Fleming who he naturally
turned to. Despite millionaire status and celebrity friends, he was
a quiet man, prefering the company of his 3 children, James, Rachel
and Matthew.
The later years were spent teaching James the business,
which had expanded internationally and diversified into other
sectors. Business interests are at their strongest with James in
full control of the empire his father started from nothing, that
exceeded £40 million pounds. Sadly, after bravely fighting illness,
Peter Fleming passed away on Tuesday 10th February 2004.
The funeral
was similar to a state ceremony. Over 300 guests arrived at Bradford
Cathedral on February 19th 2004. A horse drawn Victorian carriage
carried the coffin, with two Belgian black stallions being brought
in over 200 miles to Bradford for the occasion. Bradford town centre
and the main roads were all closed down, whilst over 150 traffic
wardens were employed to instigate a none stop continual procession
of over 50 cars including 6 black stretched limousines. Amazed looks
were drawn from cars and buildings that the cortege passed.
Throughout his life, he was respected by all, and the end was a
befitting tribute for a man who started in life with literally
nothing. |