Ralph Lancaster was the slightly effete owner of the Gatsby Club, where Rita Littlewood had the occasional singing engagement in the 1970s. Ralph first auditioned Rita in May 1975, when agent Alec Gilroy mounted a revival of her singing career. Immediately impressed, Ralph signed Rita for a spot but insisted that she perform with the club pianist instead of Ernest Bishop. Rita went down well and was given further engagements, with punters coming from as far away as Crewe to see her perform. On one evening, a fracas in the club between Ray Langton and Maurice Gordon over Deirdre Hunt became so severe that Ralph threatened to call the police, although the two men agreed to leave the premises quietly. Ralph blamed Rita for the incident as Ray was part of a group from the Street who had come a