(c’83-’86) The Hopwood brothers (Barry and Shawn) took occupancy of the Woking Grammar School for Boys – which had subsequently been used as an annexe to Woking College until 1981 and what has been the Woking police station since 1990 – and launched The Old Schoolhouse in mid ’83. Sometime it’s short lifetime Dr. Feelgood, Manfred Mann, Hawkwind, Edwin Starr, Cardiacs and many local bands all played here. It closed in December ’86.

Guildford based, Pied Piper and the Rats are known to have played in August ’83, sharing the stage with Plan A, La Maison Du Chants, and Freedom Dance. Black Easter dropped by on 9 February ’84. The Screaming Lullabies appearances included a support slot on 26 April ’84; with No Joy, COW, and The Spin Dolls, for goth rock band In Excelsis, formed by former UK Decay guitarist Steve Spon. Three months earlier, on 14 January ’84, Screaming Lullibies had headlined there, with Dark Paradise, COW and The Spin Dolls in support. LongPig (often listed as Long Pig) gigged extensively in the Woking area and notably on the 19 April ’84, they performed at the opening of the Jailhouse Club, held at The Old Schoolhouse. Almost two years after !Action Pact!’s “Suicide Bag” EP, was released in July ’82 and rocketed to the top of the British punk chart they graced the Schoolhouse stage on 7 June ’84. FRA were at the venue supporting Glib Thicket, which saw the band labelled “socially concerned peroxide inheritors of the Rush vision” by Andy Marstrand previously of Woking bands Exodus and Interface. 1984 was also the year that Actifed returned ‘home’ for a gigs at the The Royal, Guildford on 6 June and The Old Schoolhouse, Woking on 14 June.

(L-R) John, Paul Burden, and Debbie of The Spin Dolls at Old Schoolhouse, Woking 26 April 1984.

Lifespan were regular inhabitants of Woking’s Electric Circus at The Old Schoolhouse. In early ’85 Bagshot based What The Curtains committed their four best tracks to video (which Soundscene would love to find) at the venue, including “Acacia Child”. A Jazz Club started on 1 May ’85, featuring Humphrey Lytleton and the Mike Peters Famous Jazz Band as the opening night entertainment. Held every Wednesday; Kenny Baker, Acker Bilk and Terry Lightfoot were all lined-up for headline slots with support thanks to the initial programming of local agent John Boddy. Sang Froid, supported by KURRU and 20 Flight Rockers, took over on 2 May ’85 at the opening night of Tarquin’s (aka Simon George) Karvern Club night, to be held every first Thursday – after the club night had failed twice in ’84 at The Royal, Guildford. This was about the same time that 20 Flight Rockers were invited to play the BBC’s Janice Long show. The Knives were booked for the Kavern Club on 6 June, but we have no record of them showing up. Punk group Brigandage, supported by Joy of Living, and Lost Cherrees rocked in on 16 May ’85. This was Joy of Living’s fifth gig and according to bassist Dave Fanning, he’d had another argument with some of the band who just weren’t pulling their weight and it all fell apart. Towards the end of the year on 5 October seeing Edwin Starr cost you five quid.

27 July 1986

On their Criminal Tango Tour, Manfred Mann’s Earthband swung by on 24 Mar ’86 with several tracks preserved on VHS for posterity. Face to Face walked up the street from The Red House in ’86 to performed at the Miss Woking event, report by Soundscene to be “the gig of the year”. Steel Bill and The Buffalos were at the Station Approach location, with The Lost Prophets (not Pontypridd’s pride and joy – they arrived 11years too late), at half the price of a ticket to see Edwin Starr the previous year.

Cardiacs at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking

With at least six appearances at Woking’s Old Schoolhouse, Cardiacs were possibly the venues most regular headliner. They definitely graced the stage on 22 Dec ’86, the night after Mega City Four appeared, and the venues last gig with Steel Bill and the Buffalos, The Body Politic and Five O’Clock High in support. And so the curtain fell on The Old Schoolhouse.

Video:

Gallery:

Back of an Old Schoolhouse disco membership card. Source: Maxine Coyne via WOKING when we were young
The Old Schoolhouse disco membership card. Source: Maxine Coyne via WOKING when we were young
La Maison du Chants at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking.
Freedom Dance at The Old School House, Woking
Picture courtesy of Col Birdf
Soundscene April 25th 1985
Cardiacs at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking
Cardiacs at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking
Cardiacs at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking
Cardiacs at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking
Cardiacs at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking
Black Easter, Old School House, Woking – 9th February 1984
Black Easter, Old School House, Woking – 9th February 1984
Soundscene, April 11th 1985
Soundscene: April 18th 1985
James Steen looked back at 1987 in the 31st December ’87. This is the January section of that issues Soundscene column.
Soundscene 24 May ’84
Picture courtesy of Col Bird
Picture courtesy of Col Bird
Picture courtesy of Col Bird
The Northern Soul club at the Old Schoolhouse gets a mention in this article on the Woking Mod scene, written by John Atkinson and Stuart Roe, from the ‘Angry Voices’ #2 fanzine. Picture courtesy of Col Bird
1984 and it’s Mick’s birthday… Picture courtesy of Col Bird
A copy of the flyer for 14 Jan 1984 Screaming Lullabies gig with Dark Paradise, COW and Spin Dolls at The Old School House. Picture courtesy of Sharon Pilling.
Sang Froid, KURRU, and 20 Flight Rockers at the first Kavern Club night at the Old Schoolhouse, Woking on 2 May 1985. Picture courtesy of Sharon Pilling of Screaming Lullabies and Kurru.
Screaming Lullibies headlined at the Old Schoolhouse, Woking on 14th January 1984. Dark Paradise, COW and The Spin Dolls supported. Picture courtesy of Sharon Pilling.
Robin of The Spin Dolls at Old Schoolhouse, Woking 26 April 1984.
Screaming Lullibies supported In Excelsis, with No Joy and COW at the Old Schoolhouse, Woking on 26th April 1984. While not listed The Spin Dolls appeared too. Picture courtesy of Sharon Pilling.
COW at the Old Schoolhouse, Woking on 26 April 1984.
19 April 1985: Longpig, supported by Joy of Life, played The Jailhouse Alternative Night at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking.
La Maison du Chants at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking.
La Maison du Chants at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking.
La Maison du Chants at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking.
14 January 1984: Old Schoolhouse ticket for Screaming Lullabies, Dark Paradise, Cow, and Spin Dolls.
Flyer for the last concert at The Old Schoolhouse. Source: Mark Kettett