Carl Dene (aka Farmer Carl)

 

Carl Woodroffe sadly died today (1-7-26) aged 80.  First DJ'd at the club b/w 1968-69 & later on guest spots. He worked the Chateau Impney at Droitwich before then.

Read about him on DJhistory site

The Chateau Impney was a famous 1960s soul venue (b.1869)

Carl standing on the roof of a gentleman's outfitter with the daughter of the owner 1968 

The picture was taken on the balcony of the building housing Eva's boutique, operated by Steve Dobson who also owned The Catacombs. The girl in the photo is Steve's daughter, and she and Carl are togged out in clothes from the boutique. (Neil Rushton)

Blues & Soul magazine 

(No.108 April 27th to May 10th 1973)

 The DJ. at the 76 since Alan Day left is (Carl Dene, a guy who will be very well-known to many old Twisted Wheel regulars.

 Carl, from Brum is 27 and is a Soul fan from the early 60"s when he went to an All-nighter at the Wheel without even knowing what it was all about. Naturally the Wheel had a profound effect on him first time out. "I turned on straightaway.' he said. "D.J.'ing followed relatively quickly after this when Carl offered to help out the guy who owned Le Metro in Birmingham. From there he spread around various clubs notably the Chateau at Droitwich.

 Besides the 76 Carl nowadays works at the Catacombs on Thursday and the Queen Mary Ballroom at Dudley where he has to throw a few pop sounds in. He is only just getting going again after a self-imposed "semi-retirement" of a few years but he certainly hasn't got rusty in the meantime His programme at the 76 consisted mainly of the regular Northern sounds with a smattering of those good old Wheel sounds from way back.

 Carl's   favourite    sounds   show    his   personal leanings towards those classic sounds of the 60's The    incomparable    "Call    On    Me" by Bobby Bland and Darrel Banks' superb cut of "Our Love Is In The Pocket" are his favourite tracks.

 Incidentally Carl and I found out that apart from a mutual leaning towards the "old days", neither of us has as yet been able to trace a copy of "Call On Me". It was on Vocalion and anyone who can help us is implored to give me a call. (via - Ian Gibbons)

Max Millward (Blue Max)

 

I didn't know Max until after the Cat's had closed but I was well aware of his part in making the club the iconic place it became. When he passed away, I was concerned it may go unnoticed by the media so I contacted the Express & Star, Wolverhampton's evening news paper to make them aware. I think they were on the case anyway as they did pay a nice tribute to 'Blue Max'. - James Adrian Marchant (2026)

DJ dies as he finishes set in club

By Laura Stuart-Cook

A popular DJ and record shop owner credited with bringing Northern Soul to the Black Country has died of a heart attack, aged 67, after performing in a club Grandfather Max Millward - known as DJ Blue Max - died in New Cross Hospital on Sunday after performing a set at the Brookfields Club, known as The Stables, iii Cannock Road, Shareshill, on Saturday night. An ambulance was called after Mr. Millward said he felt short of breath.

The founder of Max Millwards Records in Lichfield Road, Wednesfield, he was renowned amongst soul fans for his collection of rare Northern sou vinyl's and popular DJ sets.

The shop closed in 2008 because of growing competition from larger stores. Mr Millward had been married to wife Linda, aged 54, of Birchfield Close, Essington, for 30 years. Thcy have two children, Katie aged 30 years, and Jamie, aged 27, and a granddaughter.

PASSION

Mrs. Millward said: "He had a smile for everybody and was always happy to help. music was his passion and he had many friends. "He'd complained of indi­gestion before the gig but we didn't know anything was seriously wrong," Mr. Atkins, landlord of the Great Western, in Corn Hill, Wolverhampton, today paid tribute to his friend of 35 years. Mr Atkins who was a DJ in the 1970s, said: "Max was due to play here at a soul night on Sunday. It's a shock that he's gone. "He was a lovely man who never had a bad word to say about anyone. All the DJs used to get their records from his shop in Wednesfield because it was the best."

Friend Adrian Marchant added: "Max Millward is known the length and breadth of the UK as a pio­neer of Northern Soul and has done more than anyone to make Wolverhampton a soul music capitol." Wolverhampton based promoter Tony Perry added " We used Max quite a lot, he was the kind of bloke who would help anybody. His knowledge of soul music was outstanding."