Dave Forrester Booking Agent with Barbara Kelly
Photo: Keith

Dave Forrester was born in Wigan around 1898. He was the son of a furniture store proprietor. He began his show business career as a drummer but soon realised there was more money in booking bands than playing in them. This proved lucrative during the 1920’s and 30’s, as dance bands grew in popularity. In the late 30’s he diversified and built a 1,300 super-cinema in Chorley and later the Plaza in Batley and the Hippodrome in Belfast. The 2nd world war put the brakes on and by 1951 he was bankrupt. Moving south to Hove he, with the help of his wife, started up again, and in 1954 went north to meet Ken Dodd with a view to signing him. The interview did not go well after Dodd asked, “What can you do for me?” Dave replied, “I don’t know son, I haven’t seen your act”. Ken immediately tore up the contract, shocked but also impressed at the same time, Dave became more determined to be his booking agent. He succeeded and Ken Dodd became one of his Agency’s first clients but they never had a formal contract for the whole time they were together. Dave passed away in 1988. He was described in “The Stage” as “the personification of the dour, growling hard as-nails ten-per-centre who won’t relinquish a penny of his commission”. A BBC manager commented, “Dave was always an awkward so and so to deal with, but as far as Ken was concerned, Dave was a good agent”. That must have been true since they were together for 34 years.