TAKE That star Gary Barlow returned to the Runcorn social club where he first performed in a BBC TV documentary screened on Monday May 5, about his life.

He sang again on stage at Halton Royal British Legion club in Halton Village as he recalled his early days.

In ‘When Corden Met Barlow’, the singer spoke to James Corden about his 25-year career.

He watched footage of himself doing a Moonwalk and performing high kicks as he entertained the audience.

Club chairman Bob Dunn said: “Gary learnt his trade on our stage. He performed without pay when he was only 14.

“We’ve still got the same curtains that we had back then.

“I can remember his first day on stage and the first time he was on television.”

He said their resident organist Stan Clarke used to encourage keyboard player Gary and tutor him.

As a teenage schoolboy, Gary also appeared in a talent show, organised by The World and Greenalls Brewery in the former Runcorn Royal Naval Association in Halton Road.


Wearing a dicky bow tie, he performed his own songs and played keyboard in a duo with a young girl. He won the knockout competition after scoring top marks in all the weekly heats.


Judges were bowled over by his confidence and remarkable songwriting ability.