MANY people will remember Warrington legend ‘Stan the Man’ for his party-loving ways and signature dance moves at the iconic Mr Smith’s nightclub.

But for his son Clive Knowles, 56, he will remember his dad as the caring family man who always lived life to the full – especially on a Friday and Saturday night.

Stan Knowles, who was the much-loved partying pensioner who became synonymous with Mr Smith’s, died at 1pm on Friday, aged 90, after being rushed to hospital.

“He was very well and fit until he was about 80 and he was hit by a taxi in Warrington town centre which knocked his confidence a bit,” said son Clive.

“But he came back to town and he was back dancing when he was about 81.

“When he was about 87 his knees started to give in with arthritis and he couldn’t dance so he just went to the bingo on a Saturday night.

“In the past two years he has been diagnosed with a few ailments. He had a very slow-growing tumour but that didn’t affect him. He died with cancer not because of it.

“In the past week he had deteriorated and he was rushed into hospital on the Wednesday.

“As the paramedics were taking him out he took a photo of himself from the wall so he could show the nurses that he was ‘Stan the Man’.

“Even in the end he was advertising that he was ‘Stan the Man’.

“He showed the ambulance staff and the nurses.

“He has been into hospital four or five times in the past 12 months.

“I would say five out of 10 nurses would recognise him and say they had danced with him at some point.”

Stan, who lived in Penketh, was born on September 21, 1927, in Everton.

But before moving to Warrington around 20 years ago he honed his dance moves in the nightclubs in Liverpool.

“My dad had his own unique style and I wish I had half of his energy and I’m 56,” said Clive

“He lived for the weekend – Friday and Saturday nights.

“He enjoyed life to the full. He used to say he didn’t like Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays but he looked forward to the weekend and I think that is what kept him going all these years.

“Unfortunately he never passed on any of his dance moves – they are one of his secrets.

“It’s like the Heinz soup or Coca Cola recipe. I will never get to know it unless he’s hidden it in the safe somewhere.”

As tributes continue to pour in for Stan, who has four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, his family have been overwhelmed by the kind words from those who had met and shared a dance with the Warrington legend.

“It is quite amazing,” said Clive.

“He was certainly well-liked and well-loved throughout Warrington.

“It’s very comforting to know so many people not only knew him but loved him as well.

“It will take some getting used to especially for my mum as she has been married to him for 60 years.”

His daughter Barbara Devaney, 54, also paid tribute to her dad on Facebook.

She said: "Thank you from our family for all of your lovely comments - it helps at this difficult time to know he was loved by so many.

"He was a brilliant father and grandfather and great grandfather, giving so much of his time playing snakes and ladders, dominoes and cards with the kids.

"He will be missed so much and we are heartbroken at his loss but blessed to have had him in our lives."

Grandson Luke Cleary said: "It’s with a heavy heart that we have sadly lost our very much loved granddad.

"He was the ripe old old age of 90 but regardless you never prepare yourself for the grief of losing a loved one.

"Thank you all for all your kind words of love & support. Many of you will have definitely known, danced, drank and partied with him over the years. RIP Stan The Man, you will be truly missed."

Warrington Guardian:

Hundreds of tributes to the popular Penketh man have been flooding in on social media after a post on the Facebook page dedicated to him, which has almost 10,000 members, reported last night, December 8: "It is with a heavy heart I have to inform you that today we sadly lost our very much loved Stan the Man. Rest in peace Stan."

Warrington Guardian readers have been posting their own tributes to Stan.

Mark Blackburn said: "I spent three days in hospital with Stan the man in the bed next to me.

"Very friendly man, any time a new nurse or doctor would come in he would take news articles he'd cut out the paper about himself from his wallet and regale them with stories of his exploits.

"RIP Stan the Man, wherever you are now show them some moves."

Lynsey Bennett Jones said: "What a true legend he was throughout my teenage years in town and had the pleasure of dancing with him a few times.

"A very sad loss but he had a great long life. Now dance the night away in heaven Stan."

Catherine Lake wrote: "God bless you Stan you were such an amazing fella. Loved my dances with you in Mr Smiths. Hope you're up there dancing right now in heaven."

Siobhan Shivlet Dagnall said: "Good night and God bless Stan you were a true Warrington legend and an absolute gent."

Sharon Young wrote: "I was lucky enough to dance with Stan a few years back. He had more energy than most of the young ones. 

"Rest in peace Stan. You've left so many happy memories for so many people."

Emma Hunter wrote in to say: "I remember being younger than I was meant to be going into Mr Smith's and also going in when I was 18 plus and dancing with Stan, he was and is a legend and I will always remember him."

Beverley Donland told us: "I've danced with Stan the Man in Mr Smiths and Chicago Rock, played pool with him in the Looking Glass and Gala Bingo.

"Going to town on a night out wasn't the same without seeing him in a club dancing with a big smile on his face. He will be remembered and talked about for years to come by many Warrington club goers. Keep on dancing with with the God's Stan the Man."

Stan was so well-known by club-goers in the town he had been invited to 'countless' weddings over the past 20 years.

In recent years he swapped the dancefloor for bingo halls at weekends, saying he felt like a film star when he was out in town as everybody knew his name.

Speaking to the Warrington Guardian after Mr Smith's nightclub was demolished following a devastating fire in April 2015, the former Liverpool docks crane driver said: "People would go abroad and tell others they were from Warrington and the next question would be 'Do you know Stan the Man?'

"And whenever anyone mentions Mr Smith's, they mention Stan the Man in the same conversation.

"It was a sad day when it closed and it was the new idea in town of late nights that finished it off.

"People stopped bothering going to Mr Smith's as they were enjoying themselves and dancing in the pubs in town until 1 or 2am.

"It's a pity they couldn't turn it into something entertaining like a theatre."

Stan had double reasons to celebrate this year, turning 90 in September and also marking 60 years of happy marriage to wife Doreen.

Warrington Guardian:

Cat Mercer, pictured above, who runs the Facebook page dedicated to Stan, said: "Had a good boogie with Stan every time I saw him over 10 to 15 years. We shared a birthday!"

Share your own memories and pictures of Stan below.