Mickie Malone

Mickie Malone was a club singer and comic who entered into a short-term financial arrangement with unlikely songwriter Stan Ogden in March 1970.

Stan had overheard Ena Sharples playing a song of her own composition, Dreaming Time, and got the idea of peddling the tune as his own work to make some extra money. He contacted Mickie through Ray Langton as the two were supposed friends and Mickie met Stan in the Rovers by appointment. Mickie, a former window cleaner, was brash and crude, calling himself "Mickie - row the boat home - Malone" and he upset Hilda Ogden when he made innuendos about her, Betty Turpin and Jack Walker. Mickie insisted on seeing written down scores, something way beyond Stan's abilities. He therefore conned Ena into writing the score and lyrics down by saying he would try to sell it for her and then passed it on to Mickie, pocketing the cash himself. The song went down a treat and Mickie asked for another which Stan duly delivered after some delay, during which time Mickey grew impatient and threatening, perfectly happy to imply the use of violence should things not go his own way.

Things went wrong though when Ena, who had had none of the proceeds come her way, heard Len Fairclough whistling Dreaming Time and was told that he'd heard it at the Robin Hood the night before. She attended that night and saw Mickie, its resident singer, perform her tune. She questioned its source and was told it was from one of "beautiful people" aka Stan Ogden. Ena realised she'd been had but got her revenge: she gave Stan the score of a third tune which he gave to Mickie as another composition of his own. His pianist Charlie started to play the score which all three men instantly recognised as the hymn Onward, Christian Soldiers. As Stan related afterwards, it was only because a drumkit was in the way that Mickie tripped over when he chased Stan from the Robin Hood.


 * Bill Maynard, who played Mickie, released the song "Dreaming Time" on 23rd March 1970 but it failed to hit the charts

1970

 * Mon 2nd Mar
 * Wed 4th Mar
 * Mon 9th Mar
 * Wed 11th Mar
 * Mon 16th Mar
 * Wed 18th Mar