Also known by many as ‘Ferneberga House’, or colloquially as ‘Funny Bugger House’ there were regular dances at the Town Hall through the 40s, 50s and early 60s.
In the late 50s on Wednesday & Saturday nights there was live music, and you could dance to The Mickey Kennedy Band, Chris Barber Band or The New Stars. In the early 60’s there was a jazz night with clarinetist and bandleader Terry Lightfoot; and the Clyde Valley Stompers, who climbed to a high of No.25 in the charts with their recording of the “Peter and the Wolf” main theme.
In 1963 the gig roster at the Town Hall, Farnborough really kicked into gear with acts that included the like of Chris Montez with The Eagles, whose debut album, “Smash Hits from The Eagles” was released in the UK and the US that year, in support on 10 April ’63. Local trad jazz band, The Mickey Kennedy Band performed on 5 July 63. The Town Hall was packed on 16 October ’63 with Tommy Roe, Freddie & The Dreamers, The Searchers, Ian Crawford & The Boomerangs, and the Rob Charles Combo all performing – probably as part of a package tour. Then American singer / songwriter Johnny Burnette, in the latter years of his career, appeared there on 6 November ’63.
In ’64, Sonny Boy Williamson appeared with The Yardbirds on 3 March in his custom-made, two-tone suit, bowler hat, matching umbrella, and attaché case for his harmonicas. The Zombies, riding the crest of “She’s Not There”, paid Farnborough’s Town Hall a visit on 9 September ’64.
Another hit-maker in ’64 were The Merseybeats, and they gigged at the Town Hall on 13 January ’65. The next month, 10 February ’65 The Yardbirds revisited, without Sonny, to be supported by newly formed locals The Soul-Tones, or rather a rebranded Seltones. The Moody Blues played on 24 February ’65, The Mark Leeman Five on 14 April ’65, Gene Vincent on 22 April ’65, The Who on 30 June ’65, and The Riot Squad on 11 August ’65. On 8 September The Who returned, and Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers were booked for 20 October ’65.
On 19 January ’66, Zoot Money performed, followed a week later by John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers on 26 January ’66. The Who played the venue again on 8 February ’66, and The Emeralds supported Dave Berry and The Cruisers on 16 February ’66. A few weeks later, on 9 March we find The Who returning once more. Martha and the Vandellas performed, who almost “…but not quite – evoked a big response from a dead audience” according to the local rags review for their 16 April ’66, short 30-minute, appearance at the Town Hall. Georgie Fame was reportedly received more warmly on 27 April ’66. Another act to return was John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers on 8 June ’66. It is also rumored that Stevie Wonder played the Town Hall on 12 June ’66, but we know for certain that the same week, on 15 June ’66, Geno Washington and The Ram Jam Band appeared. Later that year, on 7 September ’66, just over a month after their debut at the Twisted Wheel, Cream rocked the hall; then Eric Clapton’s old band John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers were back on 21 September.
The venue also hosted the High Curley Stompers, The Kinks, The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Hollies, Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages, Lonnie Donegan, Emperor Rosko, Steam Packet, Pickettywitch, Eden Cane, Johnny Leyton, Sounds Incorporated, The Cyril Davies All Stars, Phillip Goodhand-Tait and the Stormsville Shakers, The Graham Bond Organisation, The Bedrocks, Springfields, Millie, Johnny Burnette, The Barron Knights, and The Spencer Davies Group at some point in the 60s; nearly always supported by a local band and at a cost of about six bob (six shilling / 72 old pennies). Many of these were booked by Bob Potter who ran a Saturday night dance club out of the venue.
Status Quo made an appearance on 9 May ’68; and on 5 September ’69, there was a gig at the Town Hall headlined by Canticle that also featured Bill Boazman, Diz Disley, Graham Butterfield, Fiona, Johnny Silvo, and Dave Moses.
By ’71 the bands had all gone replaced by a Saturday night disco. Then Mervin ? took over promoting the Town Hall, Farnborough from Dave Wise in the mid/late 70s; and the local bands were back, such as White as White (and Twice as Dirty) in June ’75, and Straightshooter who played the venue in ’78. In March ’80, The Aldershot News used the Town Hall as the backdrop for a photo shoot of Aldershot punk band Deadlock, whose track “Scrap the Town Hall”, an anti-proposed Rushmoor Council offices anthem, boosted their notoriety. Then, in the ’80s and early ’90s it was leased by SD-Scicon. The building was later rented / bought by EDS and turned it into a training centre.
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