A change of career direction has seen a former British Disc Jockey of the Year and nightclub owner arrive in Keighley - to take charge of a fish and chip shop.

For years Darrel Newton, 41, mixed with top stars like Johnnie Mathis, Glen Campbell, Cannon and Ball, Bananarama and Bucks Fizz as he enjoyed the glitter of life around the country's major nightclubs.

But now he says he has grown out of all that, and armed with a recently acquired honours degree in business studies he has found a home on the range - at the Church Green Fisheries.

Not that Darrel is content with the business he bought from friend Ken Endicott. He plans a total refurbishment of the premises with a new range, carpets and re-decoration. "I want to create more of an ambience and atmosphere," he says. "I want it to be a fun place to come, but still good value for money. And I want to extend the menu a bit, to include things like pies, specialities and a children's menu - something for everyone."

Darrel started his showbusiness career with Peter Stringfellow in Leeds, and worked at top nightclubs in Manchester and London - as well as the world-famous Batley Varieties.

In those days he mixed with the top stars - though he recalls one early gaffe. "I had booked a group called Wet Wet Wet to appear in Leeds about 10 years ago, but they were not all that popular and we could not sell enough tickets, so I cancelled them," he says. "What a mistake that was - they soon became one of the biggest groups around."

More recently, Darrel decided to quit the showbiz scene and get the education he never received at school. Now he has an HND in business studies from Wakefield College and an honours degree from Huddersfield.

He comes from a catering background - his mother and father had fish and chip shops and pubs. He says he has always liked the catering trade, and is looking forward to making a success of his latest venture. "I am new to Keighley, but so far I like what I have seen," he says.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.