Built in 1933, Cranleigh Village Hall occupies a prominent spot on Cranleigh High Street. With a main hall that can seat 250 people it is an ideal venue for live music that can draw a bit of a crowd. In ’59 Terry Ward, the future lead singer for the Bumblies, debuted his vocal skills with The Rhythmics at the venue.

Terry Ward’s first solo vocal with The Rythmics, at Cranleigh Village Hall in 1959.

On 16 February ’63, Cranleigh’s Village Hall hosted a four-hour beat show, featuring rock ‘n’ rollers, Brian Howard and the Silhouettes that included ex Johnny Kidd and the Pirates guitarist Johnny Patto, Phil Childs on bass, and Barry Gilford on drums; letting the Kossacs rev up the dancers.

Eric Clapton, who was more used to arenas and stadiums, played the hall at least twice, the first was opened by Chas n’ Dave. That night, the 11 February ’77, Clapton’s band – formed by Ronnie Lane (guitar), Bruce Rowlands (drums), Charlie Hart (piano), and Brian Belsham (bass) – performed for over two hours, all of which was initiated by Roger Swallow of the village’s Swallow Tiles. Adam Russel recalls a few, who couldn’t get tickets, climbing onto the roof of a local garage from where a view of the stage could be gained. 30 minutes before the end of the show the doors were opened and they piled in with others, and Eric’s uncle got Russel backstage where he hung for a while.

7 September 1979: Eric Clapton appeared at Cranleigh Village Hall.

Clapton – who’d cut his US tour short a little earlier in the year for a perforated ulcer – returned on 7 September ’79, this time with Albert Lee on guitar, as did Russel. Stuart Reffold’s band Poker were the support, and the hall was packed and crowded around Clapton who stood in the middle of them all. Poker paused between songs, and Clapton was heard to shout “Come on get on with it … it’s show business“…

Gallery:

Cranleigh Village Hall in the mid to late 1930s.
16 February 1963: Cranleigh Village Hall hosted a four-hour beat show, featuring Brian Howard and the Silhouttes, and Kossacs, with Caroline on vocals. Picture courtesy of Ben Darnton.
11 February 1977: Eric Clapton & Friends appearance at Cranleigh Village Hall. Courtesy of Ben Darnton and originally posted by Gary Prior in Cranleigh,Ewhurst & Surrounding Areas History.
11 February 1977: Eric Clapton guitars picks commemorating the gig at Cranleigh Village Hall.
A letter to Record Mirror, published in the 26 February 1977 issue, thanking Eric Clapton for the gig at Cranleigh Village Hall.
11 February 1977: The sleeve for Eric Clapton’s “Timepieces Vol.II”, released in 1985, includes an image of the gig at Cranleigh Village Hall.
Cranleigh Village Hall.