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Tempus Fugit
(c’71-’73) Rendle Francis (guitar), Haydn Betchley (keyboards), Eric ‘Ferric’ Gosling (vocals), Gordon Travis (bass), and Steve Purton (drums).
Forming in mid-’71, this 5-piece Godalming / Haselmere band rehearsed in the hall at the back of St Mark’s, Ockford Ridge, Godalming, where they helped out with lighting and effects for some of the youth group presentations, such as “Passiontide” and “Where to Go”.
Tempus Fugit band card. Source: Haydn Betchley On 25 March ’72 the band, mistakenly listed as Tempest Fuget on tickets and accompanied at times by dancers Susan Blackledge and Kink Bura, played for three hours at the Village Hall, Chiddingfold to a crowd approximately 300 teenagers. This performance secured the band a monthly booking at the Chiddingfold hall. They were certainly there on 1 July ’72 as part of the Chiddingfold Carnival.
Tempus Fugit business card. Source: Haydn Betchley The band continued as a 4-piece after Betchley left. Gosling, who was known for a growling vocal style, later played with Manhole, The Riff Power Blues Band and is still gigging around Godalming in Cryin’ Out Loud. Purton moved away.
Gallery:
25 March 1972: Advert for Tempus Fugit at Chiddingfold Village Hall. Source Haydn Betchley 
25 March 1972: Ticket No.80 for Tempus Fugit at Chiddingfold Village Hall. Source: Haydn Betchley 
25 March 1972: Clipping for Tempus Fugit’s appearance at Chiddingfold Village Hall. Source: Haydn Betchley 
1 July 1972: Advert has Tempus Fugit appearing at Chiddingfold Village Hall as part of the Chiddingfold Carnival. Source: Haydn Betchley 
1 July 1972: Press clipping about Chiddingfold Carnival. Source: Haydn Betchley 
Ticket for a Tepus Fugit gig at an unknown venue on the 24th of an unknown month and year. Source: Haydn Betchley 
Tempus Fugit clipping. Source: Haydn Betchley. 
Tempus Fugit clipping. Source Haydn Betchley -
57 Beans
(c’78-’80) Ann Morrison (vocals), Pete “Will” Williams (drums), and ?.
57 Beans started at Winston Churchill School, St. John’s. Morrison left sometime in late ’79 / early ’80, joining The Mighty Strypes. They released a retrospective demo in late 1980 that carried “Yesterday’s Dream“, written by Morrison, and “Lead Trigger” amongst others. As the band folded, Williams went on to join City.
Gallery:
Jon Harlow reviews 57 Beans demo cassette for Soundscene, 15 January 1981. Source: Mark Nesbit -
The Skeleton Skiffle Group
(c’57-’62) Peter Roberts (tea chest bass) George Robson (guitar), Tony Robson (guitar/vocals), John Bryan (guitar), Mick Hammond (washboard/drums), and Mick Betts (?).
This Aldershot skiffle band were known for their strong stage presence and good vocals – three of the members sang in church choirs and the band spent a lot of time singing in the local pubs, at venues such as Memorial Hall, Farnham; and local jazz clubs, encouraging people to sing along.
The Skeleton Skiffle Group on stage at Ritz Cinema, Aldershot. Source: Mike Luck via Historic Aldershot Military Town The Skeleton Skiffle Group also played the Summer Fete at the Recreation Ground near to Ash Football Club and won a lot of competitions. At one in Southampton, judged by Frankie Vaughan and a female jazz singer (TBID’d), most of the band went to the pub after playing, while Hammond stayed with Tony Robson who was only 15 (he was 14 when they started). They were pronounced the winners and Hammond had to find the band and get them back for an encore, where they were presented with a cup that was kept at the youth club.
They also played at the Hippodrome, Aldershot with many of the top groups at the time, including The Freight Train Boys, Chas McDevitt and his Skiffle Group, and Johnny Parker and his Band on 24 November ’57. One of these acts was the duo of Chas McDevitt and Nancy Whiskey, who wanted the Skeletons to go on tour with them. This was declined due to a member’s apprenticeship commitment, and they went back to playing the interval at the New Cental Ballroom, Aldershot for other bands, such as The Mickey Kennedy Band.
The Skeletons at New Central Ballroom, Aldershot playing the interval between Mickey Kennedy Band sets. Source: Tony Robson via Historic Aldershot Military Town Roberts introduction and joining of the Skeletons was very much happenstance: He was sitting in Macari’s Cafe, Aldershot sipping coffee and the band were to play the Hippodrome that night, but Allan Smith the tea chest bassist (a tea chest with one string) failed to appear. George Robson came running into Macari’s, grabbed Roberts and said “Come with me Pete, we want you to play the bass” – that was the start of Roberts time with the band. The band were auditioned for a TV appearance at one point and they also played at the odd event, including Silvia Stallard’s wedding in ’57.
By ’60 the skiffle morphed into R&R and Tony Robson started to use the stage name Tony Angelo and took on lead vocals. Hammond progressed from washboard to snare, then drums. By this point the band were known as just The Skeletons, but were still supporting around Aldershot. In early ’62, Emille Ford and the Checkmates played The Palais Ballroom, Aldershot and The Skeletons opened.
The Skeletons c’62 at The Palais, Aldershot. Source: Carol Daniels via Historic Aldershot Military Town Unfortunately, National Service disseminated the group all over and the group fell apart. Tony Angelo went on to form The Bandits, with Brian Allender. Mike Betts became Sky’s roadie, doing the same part time for Sound of Time. He ended up playing the bagpipes.
Gallery:
Press clipping from 1957 of The Skeletons winning a skiffle competition at the Hippodrome. Aldershot. Source: Josephine Kerry via Historic Aldershot Military Town 
Enlarged picture of band from 1957 press clipping. Source: Tony Robson via Historic Aldershot Military Town 
The Freight Train Boys, Chas McDevitt and his Skiffle Group, Johnny Parker and his Band, and The Skeleton Skiffle Group played at the Hippodrome. Aldershot. Source: Tony Robson via Historic Aldershot Military Town 
The Skeletons in the audience at Central Ballroom, Aldershot. Source: Sheila Brooks via Historic Aldershot Military Town Aldershot, Allan Smith, Brian Allender, Chas McDevitt, Chas McDevitt and his Skiffle Group, Emille Ford and the Checkmates, Farnham, Frankie Vaughan, George Robson, he Freight Train Boys, Hippodrome, John Bryan, Johnny Parker and his Band, Macari’s Cafe, Memorial Hall, Mick Betts, Mick Hammond, Nancy Whiskey, New Central Ballroom, Palais Ballroom, Peter Roberts, Silvia Stallard, Sky, Sound of Time, Southampton, The Bandits, The Mickey Kennedy Band, The Skeleton Skiffle Group, The Skeletons, Tony Angelo, Tony Robson -
Hippodrome, Aldershot
The Hippodrome operated as a venue from ’13 to ’61 and was located on the corner of Station Road and Birchett Road, Aldershot. Designed by Bertie Crewe and built for Clarence Sounes, it opened on 3 February ’13.
Hippodrome, Aldershot. Source: Paul Arkins via Historic Aldershot Military Town The theatre was the largest for miles; seating about 1,000 people. Taken over by Kingshot Theatres in ’30, there was a “Grand Re-Opening” on 6 April ’31. In the late 40’s a band, such as Rex Gordon & His Orchestra, were often only seen, or heard as the audience sought refreshment, in the interval. By ’53, in addition to the twice-nightly variety shows the Hippodrome also staged pantomimes, circus acts, plays and musical comedies, not forgetting the Raymond Revue, and other nude presentations.
24 November 1957: The Skeleton Skiffle Group amongst the acts that played at the Hippodrome. Aldershot. Source: Tony Robson via Historic Aldershot Military Town The Hippodrome played host to many famous bands and musical artists including Humphrey Lyttelton, Acker Bilk, Eric Delaney, Nancy Whiskey, Joe Loss and his Orchestra, Lonnie Donegan, Chris Barber and his Jazz Band, Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Laine, and Primo Scala and His Accordion Band. In the late ’50s, there were also local bands on the stage like The Kingpins, who competed in a battle of the bands at the Hippodrome in ’57, and The Skeleton Skiffle Group, who joined the Freight Train Boys, Chas McDevitt and his Skiffle Group, and Johnny Parker and his Band, on the venue’s stage on 24 November ’57.
Hippodrome, Aldershot being demolished. Source: Keith Bean via Historic Aldershot Military Town The Hippodrome was demolished in ’61/’62. A retail and office block, called Hippodrome House, now occupies the site.
Gallery:
13 September 1948: Rex Gordon & His Orchestra played the interval. Source: http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/AlanChudleyBiography.htm 
The Kingpins at the Hippodrome, Aldershot in 1957. Source: Keith Barnard via Historic Aldershot Military Town Press clipping from 1957 of The Skeletons winning a skiffle competition at the Hippodrome. Aldershot. Source: Josephine Kerry via Historic Aldershot Military Town 
Inside the Hippodrome, Aldershot. Source: Paul Arkins via Historic Aldershot Military Town 
Hippodrome, Aldershot c’61/’62 Acker Bilk, Aldershot, Bertie Crewe, Chas McDevitt, Chas McDevitt and his Skiffle Group, Chris Barber and his Jazz Band, Clarence Sounces, Cleo Laine, Eric Delaney, Freight Train Boys, Hippdrome, Hippodrome House, Humphrey Lyttelton, Joe Loss and his Orchestra, Johnny Dankworth, Johnny Parker and his Band, Kingshot Theatres, Lonnie Donegan, Nancy Whiskey, Primo Scala and His Accordion Band, Raymond Revue, Rex Gordon & His Orchestra, The Hippodrome, The Kingpins, The Skeleton Skiffle Group -
Down in the Street
The Down in the Street fanzine was written by Stewart Home, of Basic Essentials and other local bands, who also co-produced Bitch Bitch, and was his first punk ‘zine. The first came out in ’79 and it ran to seven editions by the time he stopped publishing it in ’80.
Issue No.4, the June/July ’80 issue, covered the likes of Actifed, Crisis, Matrix, and Revolt.
Gallery:
Article on Revolt from ‘Down In The Street’ fanzine No.4. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
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The Fallen Angels
(c’80-’81) Mark Nisbet (guitar), Stephen Bishop (drums), Mark “Midge” Mitchell (bass), and Mark Applin (vocals).
Heavy rock focused, The Fallen Angels was the first band for these 15- to 16-year-old rockers from West End. They covered the likes of Deep Purple, Gillian and J.J. Cale as well as playing their own material. The band played the Village Hall, Chobham on 10 January 1981, supported by Omayyad and Camberley’s Ruf Justice, with Tim Hawes and Lloyd Newman of Hipgnosiz making a surprise appearance.
Applin would later join Stillbrook.Gallery:
10 January 1981: John Harlow introduces The Fallen Angels in the Soundscene column of 15 Jan 1981. Source: Mark Nesbit 
10 January 1981: Review of The Fallen Angels gig at Chobham Village Hall, supported by Ruf Justice, Hipgnosiz, and Omayyad. Source: Mark Nesbit 
The Fallen Angels (c’81). Picture courtesy of Skylephant 
The Fallen Angels (c’81). Picture courtesy of Skylephant -
White as White (and Twice as Dirty)
(c’72-’77) Paul Trew (bass), Ian Mckean (guitar), Richard Houghton (drums), and ‘Paz’ Mansoni (keyboards).
Trew and Mckean had a combo called Illyidre in ’72. When Houghton and Mansoni joined these 16-year-olds formed White as White (and Twice as Dirty) in ’73; playing mostly in the Farnborough, Aldershot, and Basingstoke area.
17 December 1973. White as WhPicture courtesy of Paul Trew They debuted at St Patrick’s Hall, North Camp on 14 December ’73, with a gig poster created by a 15-year-old John Bently. They also appeared at the Windsor Free Festival in ’74 – where Graham Parker was working a food stand – and Watchfield Free Festival in ’75. Trew and Houghton traveled to the Windsor Free Festival, 3-up, on Ray Everett’s moped. While at the Watchfield Festival, Mckean lent Joe Strummer, who was playing with the 101ers, his guitar for part of their set. They found themselves supporting Savoy Brown and Babe Ruth.
8 March 1975: Pallantine, Odd-Sox, and White as White (and Twice as Dirty) were at Farnborough Recreation Centre. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew Pallantine, Johnny Odd-Sox, and White as White (and Twice as Dirty) were booked and performed at a ‘Triple Band Spectacular’ put on by The Hard Rock Club on 8 March ’75 at the Recreation Centre, Farnborough. Five months later, Johnny Odd-Sox, and White as White were back on 8 August ’75, along with Wooden Lion, Palantir and Narziss for a five-hour long gig to raise funds to perform at Windsor Free Festival Benefit from 28 August that year for nine days, but we do not know if any of the bands made it to Windsor. The band said farewell to all after a gig at Mister Kipps, Farnham in ’77.
Mckean went on to play and record with Thirteen, Twenty Flight Rockers and Balaam and the Angels; and also played with Judy Tzuke. He is currently the rock band teacher at Wetherby School, guitar teacher at Loughton Music Academy and St Bonaventure’s RC School, and is performing in London regularly as part of Bones and the Aft with Bently, who is now a London based artist and teacher. Manson was in T. T. Transmission, with Houghton; who also played in Blimus with Trew and appeared at Guilfest, Guildford and Weyfest. Trew played with many local bands including the The Vulgars Bros, The Torpedoes, The Vandals, The Virgin Daze, and Out of Order.Gallery:
White as White band info sheet featuring photos of the band at Farnborough Town Hall in July 1975. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew 
8 August 1975: Flyer for a Windsor Festival Benefit gig at Farnborough Recreation Centre, for White as White, Johnny Odd-Sox and Wooden Lion; also featuring Palantir and Narziss. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew 101ers, Aldershot, Babe Ruth, Balaam and the Angels, Basingstoke, Blimus, Bones and the Aft, Farnborough, Farnham, Graham Parker, Guildford, GuilFest, Ian Mckean, Illyidre, Joe Strummer, John Bently, Johnny Odd-Sox, Judy Tzuke, Loughton Music Academy, Mister Kipps, Narziss, North Camp, Out of Order, Palantir, Pallantine, Paul Trew, Ray Everett, Recreation Centre, Richard Houghton, Savoy Brown, St Bonaventure’s RC School, St. Patrick's Hall, T. T. Transmission, The Hard Rock Club, The Torpedoes, The Vandals, The Virgin Daze, The Vulgar Bros, Thirteen, Twenty Flight Rockers, Watchfield Free Festival, Wetherby School, Weyfest, White As White, White as White (and Twice as Dirty), Windsor Free Festival, Wooden Lion -
The Larry Miller Band
(c’75-date) Larry Miller (guitar / vocals), Andy Allen (bass) and Simon Baker (drums).
The Larry Miller Band amalgamated around Claygate born Miller who’d grown up in Esher, moved to Guildford, then Chiddingfold, and then Bowlhead Green – the Surrey Delta as it’s been labeled. He played violin from the age of seven to his mid-teens before switching to guitar after picking up his brother’s axe. Inspired by catching Rory Gallagher’s “Live! In Europe” and then live in Brighton, he formed The Larry Miller Band. His band struggled to find gigs in the early years, but rehearsed endlessly, often in Allen’s bedroom in a house he shared with David Morgan who was involved with The Vulgar Bros.
Jon Bicknell joined the band on bass in late ’79, which also had a new drummer in Calvin Brewer. They rehearsed at the Village Hall, Witley and played a number of gigs locally, including Bunters, Guildford. A visit to Chestnut Studios, Churt resulted in the recording of a 4-song demo cassette which Bicknell sent to Melody Maker, who gave it a positive review. The 17-year-old Bicknell was let go after getting his hair cut short, a crime to which Miller reportedly said, ‘No room for shorthairs in my band’. This was in ’80, a time when the band got involved with the Stonehenge Festival Farnborough Benefit to fund local band’s appearance at the event. The Larry Miller Band went ahead and joined those other local bands: Vixen, Lynx, The Vulgar Bros., Human Beings, Blue Unction, Roosta Boots, The Torpedoes, Animal, and Magic Pictures to play the Stonehenge Festival in ’80. When Rory Gallagher played the Civic Hall, Guildford in ’80 Miller was at the front, meanwhile his own band, on 18 October ’80, started a regular slot at Magnums, Basingstoke, returning on 8 November and 26 December, and where they played again on 16 and 31 January ’81.
Sleeve front for Larry Miller’s “Right Chaps!” LP from 1983. Miller used to work at Alan Paine, Godalming – the same firm at which Jean-Jacques Burnel of The Stranglers worked – and colleagues there recall him composing songs, many of which made up ‘Right Chaps‘ in between packing jumpers. Eventually after selling a bunch of kit, they got a van and phoned the pubs and clubs across the south still hosting blues rock bands. The constant gigging led to ’83’s LP “Right Chaps” on new label Matinee Music [MATSIC007]. Miller used to work at Alan Paine, Godalming – the same firm at which Jean-Jacques Burnel of The Stranglers worked – and colleagues there recall him composing songs, many of which made up “Right Chaps” in between packing jumpers. Unfortynately, Baker had to leave the band after “Right Chaps” as he focused on starting a family, while the band was touring heavily. That touring included the Marquee, London opening for the Climax Blues Band on 3 April ’83, The Royal, Guildford on 16 April ’83, The Wooden Bridge, Guildford, supported by Genghis Khan, on 12 May ’83, back to the Marquee on 9 September, and The Red Lion, Brentford on 8 December ’83.
10 August ’84: The Wooden Bridge audience for The Larry Miller Band. Picture courtesy of Kevin Procter On 1 April ’84, the band hit the stage at the Marquee again and then on 21 April had Addlestone’s Seducer warm up the audience at The Old Schoolhouse, Woking. They were back at the Marquee on 24 May ’84. The Wooden Bridge hosted The Larry Miller band again on 10 August and 13 October ’84. The earlier date saw the band supported by Kalibre whose guitarist and vocalist John Rice, who had been part of the road crew for The Larry Miller Band for some years – there is a credit to him on the back of Larry’s first album, ‘Right, Chaps’ – managed to secure Kalibre the slot. Sandwiched between those appearances at The Wooden Bridge was the Marquee on 29 September ’84, were they returned to play on 10 January ’85. They also returned to The Royal two days later and again on 17 May ’85. We are also aware of an appearance at St. Johns Hall, Farnborough. The follow-up EP “Red Italian Boots” was recorded, we understand at Matinee Studios, Reading, but never released due to managerial problems.
Early in ’86, The Larry Miller Band performed at Sheffield University on 22 January ’86. That year, Miller also did guitar and vocals on a charity single with Scott Hunter and Nigel Tomsett. A few months later, the Larry Miller Band was the second act for the first day of The Reading Festival, on 22 August ’86. The band has since released several albums and done a number of UK and European tours. On New Years Eve ’96, they were at The Blues Tavern, Heath End (aka The Halfway House). In 2009, Miller played an amazing seven encores at the Cambridge Rock Festival and a declaration was made of a “National Larry Miller day”.
Baker rejoined the band before work began on “Unfinished Business” and bassist Derek White joined around the same time. The band added keyboardist Ian Salisbury a little later and “Unfinished Business” was released in 2010. A year after Miller released his ninth album “Soldier of the Line” a stroke in 2015 put him in rehab with a long-term prognosis that was unclear according to his management. An event that led to a benefit concert in 2019 featuring Bernie Marsden of Whitesnake and Del Bromham of Stray.
When Miller met Bicknell 25 years after booting him out, Miller apologized. Bicknell had joined Squire, a few months after departing The Larry Miller Band, where his trim was perfect.
Gallery:
Sleeve back for Larry Miller’s “Right Chaps!” LP from 1983. 
Inner sleeve for Larry Miller’s “Right Chaps!” LP from 1983. 
Advert for The Wooden Bridge from Sounds 14 May 1983 edition. Image courtesy of Pete Cole 
Advert for The Royal, Guildford from Sounds,12 January 1985. Image courtesy of Pete Cole 
May 1985: The Royal, Guildford, Sounds Advert. Source: Alan Thomas via Randy California Tribute 
Larry Miller 
Larry Miller Addlestone, Alan Paine, Andy Allen, Animal, Basingstoke, Bernie Marsden, Blue Unction, Bowlhead Green, Brentford, Brighton, Bunters, Calvin Brewer, Cambridge Rock Festival, Chestnut Studios, Chiddingfold, Churt, Civic hall, Claygate, Climax Blues Band, David Morgan, Del Bromham, Derek White, Esher, Farnborough, Farnham, Genghis Khan, Godalming, Guildford, Heath End, Human Beings, Ian Salisbury, Jean-Jacques Burnel, John Rice, Jon Bicknell, Kalibre, Larry Miller, Larry Miller Band, London, Lynx, Magic Pictures, Magnums, Marquee, Matinee Music, Matinee Studios, Melody Maker, Nigel Tomsett, Reading, Reading Festival, Roosta Boots, Rory Gallagher, Scott Hunter, Seducer, Sheffield, Sheffield University, Simon Baker, Squire, St. Johns Hall, Stonehenge Festival, Stray, The Blues Tavern, The Halfway House, The Larry Miller Band, The Old Schoolhouse, The Red Lion, The Royal, The Stranglers, The Torpedoes, The Vulgar Bros, Village hall, Vixen, Whitesnake, Witley, Woking, Wooden Bridge -
Memorial / Village Hall, Worplesdon
Opened in 1922 by Brigadier-General Scudamore, the Village Hall in Worplesdon was built to recognize the sacrifice of men in the First World War; sat 300, had a large stage, a cinema room and a billiards room.
In the mid 60’s it became an early venue for the Hayward / Mansfield duo, who ran the Ricky-Tick, Guildford club nights. There were at least eleven Ricky Tick (known as ‘R&B Guildford’ then) nights at Worplesdon Memorial Hall. John Mayall’s Blues Breakers rolled into the village on 9 August ’63, followed the next week, 16 August ’63, by The Cyril Davies All-stars with Long John Baldry. This gig is supposedly the one referenced in a Louder Sounds, May 2014 article ‘Boom Boom: The Untold Story of British R&B’ when Roland Kelly is quoted saying “We went to see them [Cyril Davies and Long John Baldry] over at Worplesdon Village Hall, which is near Guildford. He was absolutely stoned out of his brain with a suitcase of scotch, he could hardly stand but he still did the gig.”
The next gig scheduled for 23 August ’63 was a disaster: The Rolling Stones never showed up and neither Hayward (at the Windsor venue) or Mansfield (reportedly handing out Ricky Tick flyers at a concert in Guildford) were present. Guildford Ricky Tick managers David Woodrow, with help from Brenda Elsdon, did their best to pacify the crowd by telling stories, sing-a-longs, games and party tricks by the audience. The hall’s caretaker and his wife made cups of tea and orange squash for the fans, as there was no bar. Mansfield arrived around 9pm and diffused the situation with refunds and 1/2 priced admission to the Cyril Davies All-stars with Long John Baldry the next Friday, 30 August ’63. Admission ran from 2/6 to 7/6, pennies in today’s money. The Stones had gone to a London club to celebrate their appearance on ‘Ready, Steady, Go!’ instead.
October 1963: The Village Hall, Worplesdon hosted Cyril Davies All Stars and Long John Baldry; The Dimensions; and Hogsnort Rupert and his Soul Builders with Mel Turner. Source: ConcertPosterAuctions.com On 6 September ’63, John Mayall’s Blues Breakers were back, a month after their first appearance, and again on 20 September ’63. Sandwiched in-between these two date was Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions, probably with Rod Stewart, on 13 September ’63. The first concert in October featured the Cyril Davies All-stars with Long John Baldry on 4 October ’63 and the next week on 11 October, it was Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions once again, while local band Hogsnort Rupert’s Soul Builders with Mel Turner took to the stage the week after that, the 18 October ’63. Jumping to November ’63, Cyril Davies All-Stars and Long John Baldry were back again on 2 November followed by the last Rick Tick at the hall which featured The Stormsville Shakers on 15 November ’63. The Ricky Tick moved to The Plaza, Guildford on 29 November ’63.
12 March 1978: Strange Cult at the Memorial Village Hall, Worplesdon. Picture courtesy of John Hudson Leaping to the next decade, on 12 March ’78, Guildford based 3-piece Strange Cult played at the Memorial Village Hall, along with The Ellery Bops, with future members of The Vapors, Ed Bazalgette on guitar and Howard Smith on drums. The Absolute, with future Vapor Steve Smith on drums, were also billed to perform, but didn’t.
The light and spacious Walker Room in the Memorial Hall is still very active, with a raised stage at one end and hardwood floor used every week by the resident dance groups. The stage, which contains a grand piano, is just right for a band or other entertainment.
Gallery:
Village Hall, Worplesdon in 1922 
August 1963: Cyril Davies All Stars and Long John Baldry played Worplesdon Village Hall on the 16th. The Rolling Stones failed to show up on the 23rd. 
12 March 1978: Strange Cult at the Memorial Village Hall, Worplesdon. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
12 March 1978: Strange Cult at the Memorial Village Hall, Worplesdon. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
12 March 1978: Strange Cult at the Memorial Village Hall, Worplesdon. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
12 March 1978: Strange Cult at the Memorial Village Hall, Worplesdon. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
12 March 1978: Strange Cult at the Memorial Village Hall, Worplesdon. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
12 March 1978: Strange Cult at the Memorial Village Hall, Worplesdon. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
12 March 1978: Strange Cult at the Memorial Village Hall, Worplesdon. Picture courtesy of John Hudson 
Walker Room in Worplesdon Memorial Hall c’2020 
Walker Room in Worplesdon Memorial Hall c’2020 Brenda Elsdon, Brigadier-General Scudamore, David Woodrow, Ed Bazalgette, Guildford, Hogsnort Rupert, Hogsnort Rupert’s Soul Builders, Howard Smith, Jimmy Powell, Jimmy Powell & The Dimensions, John Mayall's Blues Breakers, Long John Baldry, Louder Sounds, Mel Turner, Memorial Hall, Memorial Village Hall, R&B Guildford, Ready Steady Go, Ricky Tick Club, Rod Stewart, Roland Kelly, Rolling Stones, Steve Smith, Stormsville Shakers, Strange Cult, The Absolute, The Cyril Davies All Stars, The Dimensions, The Ellery Bops, The Plaza, The Ricky Tick, The Vapors, Village hall, Walker Room, Worplesdon -
Zorch
(c’73-’76) Basil Brooks (synth), Howard “Gwyo Zepix” Scarr (synth), Neil “Captain Electric” Thorpe (synth / auto drum), and Cary ? (?).
Brooks was living in the Charrington Street squat, Kentish Town and had been drawn to electronic music by an uncle who produced documentary film scores. Scarr had arrived in London, having dropped out of East Anglia University, and placed an ad in Melody Maker: “Anybody from Planet X wanted to join synthi freak for band.” The audition saw Brooks and Scarr connect with synthesizer player, Neil Thorpe. They formed Zorch; with the final member, American Cary, being brought in by Thorpe.
Zorch in 1974 The Band played the Stonehenge and Windsor free festival in ’74. At the later they met event organizer Simon Renshaw who became Zorch’s manager; sound man Tony Andrews who took over the PA and unrelated John Andrews, then with Max Master and The Meteorites, joined on lights. In addition, John Andrews’ wife, Silver Layla, began dancing with them. Cary didn’t seem to fit anymore and split. In ’74 everyone else moved to a cottage, owned by Brooks’ gran, called Churt House Cottage, Churt; forming a small commune; living and working together; Brooks, Scarr, Thorpe the music, sound and light by Tony Andrews and John Andrews, and Silver, dancing. Glyph Owenson, an Exeter University drop out, joined them here and he played guitar through a Hi Fli synthesizer (while referred to as a synthesizer in company marketing, this was an analog multi-effect processor).
Zorch (l-r: Scarr, Tony Andrews, Brooks, Silver, and John Andrews) at the cottage in Churt in ’75 They recorded their first demo cassette at the cottage. What response they did get was not encouraging, with Island Records A&R man Richard Williams later writing “synthesizer / electronic music hadn’t come of age yet and the only band as yet to pull it off were the American Tonto’s Expanding Head Band.” It was the cottage location that gave Scarr his ‘nom de plume’: The nationwide rollout of postcode’s was completed in ’74 and a letter arrived at the cottage with an additional line added to the address: GU10 2PX. Scarr was unable to find GWyO ZePiX amongst the bodies strewn about the house so assumed the identity himself. On 16 November ’74, Zorch, supported by A Phantasy Circus and Private Property, played the Corn Exchange, Devizes.
The band continued to perform, sometimes with TV’s on their heads, tracks like “Nice bananas, Nasty Bananas” and “All Bran Barn Flan”, and we know they appeared at Farnham Art College, and the University of Sussex, Brighton amongst others. The Virgin Acts agency took them on, securing them just one gig, supporting Groundhogs at Liverpool Stadium. They were not well received. The band subsequently sent letters to the music press under assumed names, with Jane Westbrook of Liverpool’s “I left my mind somewhere last night and Zorch are welcome to it” appearing on the letters page of the Melody Maker.
25 Jan 1975: Byzantium, supported by Zorch, at the University of London ’75 started with the band supporting Byzantium at the University of London on 25 January. Then, around Easter ’75, the four-piece band played their last gig together in Horsham. Thorpe’s amplified prayers over the bands intro tape had become the straw on the camel’s back, and Thorpe left the band shortly after and headed to India, closely followed by Owenson. Brooks and Scarr continued with three monophonic EMS analogue synthesizer and two reel-to-reel tape machines as a delay line to fill out the sound through Tony Andrews’ sound system; while Silver danced, and John Andrews’ Acidica provided the psychedelic light show. Interest in the band was increasing, with a full-page article ‘Zorch Light Up’ in Let It Rock. But with all the gear they never played more than once a week.
Zorch at Meigan Fayre, 1975 The duo still played Meigan Fayre and Stonehenge in ’75. They also played the Watchfield Free Festival in August ’75, kicking off their set – at just gone 1am – by firing a flare over the crowd and what was described by one attendee as ‘a strange noise from the stage to reawaken us….a kind of weird synth band”. Unfortunately, before they had progressed very far the rain came down and they had to abandon. They also recorded in Peter Zinovieff’s Electronic Music Studios (EMS), Putney (the only band to do so); using the EMS Synthi 100 to lay down the “Ouroboros” Suite; some of which was used as the soundtrack for a short film titled “Mother Earth”. Zorch split up in ’76 sometime after their last gig at the College of Technology, Brighton.
Brooks joined The Steve Hillage Band and did the live sound effects for The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy stage shows; and still lives at the cottage reportedly. Scarr joined Skywhale before moving to Germany in ’79. He returned in 2000 to join Gong and in 2008 was working with Hans Zimmer on “The Dark Knight” soundtrack as well as touring with his German band Ayefore. Zorch also reformed in 2000 and have played a few UK gigs including playing the Assembly Rooms, Glastonbury; recording the “Glastonbury Live” LP in 2001. In 2006 they took part in the Gong Unconvention in Melkweg, Amsterdam.The band still exists, loosely. Tony Andrews continued his work on creating the smallest, loudest, and most accurate sound box leading to the formation of Turbosound, and eventually Funktion-One. John Andrews, who sadly passed in 2015, improved on his lighting equipment and sold it to companies like Optikinetics and continued to live in Churt House Cottage.
Gallery:
Zorch in 1974 
Zorch on stage at Windsor Free Festival 1974 with the Acidica light show. Photograph by John Hunter 
Brooks’ Synthi A at the Stonehenge Festival in June 1974. Source: Basil & Tracy Brooks
Flickr
Zorch’s Thorpe & Owenson at the Liverpool Stadium gig in ’74 
16 November 1974: Zorch, supported by A Phantasy Circus and Private Property, at the Corn Exchange, Devizes. 
1975 Meigan Fyre flyer 
Members of Zorch (2nd from left Renshaw, then Tony Andrews and Silve, and far right Brooks) with others, at Stonehenge 1975. Source: Basil & Tracy Brooks
Flickr
Zorch 1975 flyer cover 
Zorch 1975 flyer inner 
Zorch’s Brooks and Scarr after a Sussex University gig in 1976. Photograph by Hamish Macdonald. 
Zorch at Brighton College of Education with Acidica Lights in ’76, a benefit gig for the People’s Free Festival. Photograph by Hamish Macdonald 
Spring ’76 clipping from OD announcing Zorch’s split 
Zorch image, possibly from a fanzine 
Zorch’s Scarr and Brooks 
Zorch dancer Silver 
Unknown Zorch gig 
Zorch poster blank A Phantasy Circus, Acidica, Amsterdam, Art College, Assembly Rooms, Ayefore, Basil Brooks, Brighton, Byzantium, Charrington Street, Churt, Churt House Cottage, College of Technology, Corn Exchange, Devizes, East Anglia University, Electronic Music Studios, EMS, Exeter University, Farnham, Funktion-One, Glastonbury, Glyph Owenson, Gong, Groundhogs, Hans Zimmer, Horsham, Howard Scarr, Island Records, Jane Westbrook, John Andrews, Kentish Town, Let It Rock, Liverpool, Max Master and The Meteorites, Meigan Fayre, Melkweg, Melody Maker, Neil Thorpe, Optikinetics, Peter Zinovieff, Private Property, Putney, Richard Williams, Silver Layla, Simon Renshaw, Skywhale, Stadium, Stonehenge Festival, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, The Steve Hillage Band, Tonto’s Expanding Head Band, Tony Andrews, Turbosound, University of London, University of Sussex, Virgin Acts, Watchfield Free Festival, Windsor Free Festival, Zorch
Our Soundscene 
Human beings takes me back to 1981. Followed them all over the Surrey reading area for a year a great band and 3 good guys playing well written songs of the era. I wish john Tim and steve well what ever they are doing now. Should reform for a few shows just like Oasis but do the wooden bridge.
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