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The White Lyon, Worplesdon
The White Lyon was a regular music venue in the mid to late ’80s. The jazz trio called Dumb Waiter along with Sammy Rat’s Big Big Blues Band, who debuted there around ’86, Piccadilly Mudmen, and The Flying Tigers played regularly.
There has been a pub on the site since the late 18th century, while the most recent building was built post-1939. The artist Sidney Sime would sit in the bar at what was then The New Inn making cartoon drawings of other characters who drank there. That was the former pub building, that survived for a few years after the new pub was built and was the headquarters of the local Home Guard during the Second World War, now replaced but the 20th century roadhouse we knew as The White Lyon.
Rockit Men at the White Lyon, Worplesdon 1989. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records On Christmas Eve ’87, The Special Sammy Rat Band, without the ‘Big Big Blues’, provided a night of Rock ‘n Roll, returning on 1 September ’88 as the full-blown Sammy Rats Big Big Blues Band. Hot Club appeared on 16 September ’88 and The Rockit Men were also rocking it at The White Lyon in ’89. The Ant Hill Mob’s debut gig was at the venue on 31 January ’91, returning on 11 April ’91. The Tamla Tigers, with their Soul, Motown and Stax numbers and Godfrey Matthews on keyboards, always packed the place out.
The White Lyon in 2018 In a prominent location of the A320 the pub closed in early 2018, reopening in late October 2018, as a dim sum restaurant, with bar, renamed White Lyon & Dragon. Closing during Covid, it did not reopen and by 2021 the building was being used as officers. As of September 2024 a planning application had been discussed for converting The White Lyon from a public house to an office and five apartments.
Gallery:
Sammy Rat’s Big Big Blues Band debuted at The White Lyon, Worplesdon c’86. Source: Glyn Edwards via Guildford Town Past & Present 
24 Dec 1987: The White Lyon, Worplesdon hosted The “Special” Sammy Rat Band. Picture courtesy of Sammy Rat 
Rockit Men at the White Lyon, Worplesdon 1989. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
Rockit Men at the White Lyon, Worplesdon 1989. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
Rockit Men at the White Lyon, Worplesdon 1989. Picture courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records 
The White Lyon, Worplesdon in 1989. Photographed by Mark Sturley and here courtesy of Ben’s Collectors Records -
The Senators
(c’59) – Richard Hodby (drums), Terry Ward (guitar/vocals), and John Dixon (guitar).
Both Ward and Dixon originated in Cranleigh, while Hodby lived in Ewhurst. We know the band played at the Village Hall, Ewhurst in ’59.
The Senators folded after Ward became a Butlins’ Redcoat in Pwllheli, Wales; where Ringo Starr was the drummer with Rory Storm and The Hurricanes – Ward even ended up doing a set with the band a few times a week. Ward and Hodby went on to form the Bumblies.
Gallery:
The Senators at Ewhurst Village Hall in 1959. -
Funtime for Philip
(c’83) Martin Smith (?) & ? (guitar), ? (guitar), ? (bass), ? (percussion), ? (keyboard), and ? (?).
The band joined LongPig, La Maison Du Chants, Freedom Dance and Dark Trio at the New Wave Society’s May Bug Ball event on 7 May ’83 in the Great Hall of the University of Surrey, Guildford. As a result, the band received coverage in The Werewolf fanzine.
Gallery:
7 May 1984: Funtime for Philip were forth on the bill for this Surrey University New Wave Society event. Picture courtesy of Sharon Pilling. 
7 May 1984: LongPig, La Maison du Chants, Freedom Dance and Funtime for Philip are at Surrey University. Picture courtesy of Alan and Jackie Wallis 
Funtime for Philip were featured in this issue of The Werewolf fanzine. Picture courtesy of Sharon Pilling. 
7 May 1983: Funtime for Philip at May Bug Ball, University of Surrey. Picture courtesy of Debra Harris. -
The Mickey Kennedy Band
(c’57-’66) Mickey Kennedy (sax), Bob McGowan (double bass), Paul Wearing (drums), Bert Pendrill (piano), George Pryor (trombone), and Bob Gibbons (trumpet).
Farnborough based, The Mickey Kennedy Band started out as a 6-piece Dixieland band and played locally ‘for dancing’ in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s including “The Traco”.
5 July 1963: Mickey Kennedy Band (L-R: Ted Fowler (trumpet) ? (piano), Mickey Kennedy (sax), ? (sax), Charlie Partleton (drums), ? (sax), Sheila Kenndey (sax) and ? (double bass)) at Farnborough’s Town Hall. Source: Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia Formed around band leader and driving instructor, infamous for the Morris Minors used, Mickey Kennedy, they were a regular fixture at the Town Hall, Farnborough for dances in the 50s and held a regular Monday night at the Queen’s Hall, Aldershot. Kennedy always stood at front playing his sax. Drummer Charlie Partleton, who was a barber at Swan hairdressers, and civil servant Ted Fowler (trumpet) replaced Waring and Gibbons respectively, at some point, and Sheila Kennedy (sax) joined. Sometime in the early 60’s Jock Cree was on drums. On 5 July ’63 the band performed at the Technical College, Farnborough, and we know the band performed at a wedding reception at Frogmore Village Hall in ’65/’66, at which time Alan Harvey deputized for his uncle Partleton on drums – Harvey’s first ever paid gig.
Partleton, Fowler, and the Kennedy’s along with their son, Michael Kennedy, were members of the Farnborough Concert Orchestra, in the 60’s. Mickey and Sheila were married and have both now sadly passed; Sheila on 15 Dec 2017, aged 83 at Frimley Park Hospital. Partleton passed in June 2016, at 92. Fowler was also 1st horn in The Aldershot Brass Band / The Aldershot Brass Ensemble. Cree died in Cove in 2006. Harvey would go on to appear in The Modern Art of Living. Pendrill emigrated to Australia, where he performed as Bert Penn ‘King of the Keys’.Gallery:
The Mickey Kennedy Dixieland Band. Source: Alan Gowan via Historic Aldershot Military Town 
The Mickey Kennedy Band c’60s. Source: Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia Alan Harvey, Aldershot, Aldershot Brass Band, Aldershot Brass Ensemble, Bert Pendrill, Bert Penn, Bob Gibbons, Bob McGowan, Charlie Partleton, Cove, Farnborough, Farnborough Concert Orchestra, Frimley, Frimley Park Hospital, Frogmore, George Pryor, Jock Cree, Michael Kennedy, Mickey Kennedy, Paul Waring, Queens Hall, Ted Fowler, The Mickey Kennedy Band, The Modern Art of LIving, The Traco, Town Hall, Village hall -
Town Hall, Farnborough
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.
Photograph of Farnborough Town Hall by Peter Trevaskis c’1960. Picture courtesy of Ben Darnton 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.
3 March 1964: Sonny Boy Williamson with The Yardbirds at the Town Hall, Farnborough. Behind Sonny is a young Eric Clapton. Source: Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 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.
16 April 1966: Martha Reeves and the Vandellas on stage at the Town Hall, Farnborough. Source: Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 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.
White as White (and Twice as Dirty) at Farnborough Town Hall in June ’75. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew 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.
Gallery:
5 July 1963: Mickey Kennedy Band. Source: Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 
11 August 1965: Advert for The Riot Squad at Town Hall, Farnborough. 
The Town Hall, Farnborough pre ’66. Source: Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 
The Town Hall, Farnborough gets a mention in this Melody Maker (26 March 1966 issue) clipping about Martha and the Vandellas British tour. 
16 April 1966: A review of Martha Reeves and the Vandellas at the Town Hall, Farnborough. Source: Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia. 
15 June 1966: The Ram Jam Band with Geno Washington played the Town Hall, Farnborough. Advert from the Aldershot News & Camberley News from June 1966 
The Town Hall, Farnborough c’72. Source: Don West via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 
Straightshooter in 1978, pictured before a gig at the Town Hall, Farnborough. 
Deadlock – Aldershot News photo shoot outside the Town Hall, Farnborough, March ’80 Bill Bozman, Bob Potter, Canticle, Chris Barber Band, Chris Montez, Cliff Bennett & The Rebel Rousers, Clyde Valley Stompers, Cream, Dave Berry and the Cruisers, Dave Moses, Dave Wise, Deadlock, Diz Disley, Eden Cane, EDS, Emeralds, Emperor Rosko, Eric Clapton, Farnborough, Ferneberga House, Fiona, Freddie & The Dreamers, Funny Bugger House, Gene Vincent, Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band, Georgie Fame, Graham Butterfield, High Curley Stompers, Ian Crawford & The Boomerangs, John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers, Johnny Burnette, Johnny Leyton, Johnny Silvo, Lonnie Donegan, Martha and the Vandellas, Millie, Phillip Goodhand-Tate, Pickettywitch, Rob Charles Combo, Rushmoor Council, Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages, SD-Scicon, Sonny Boy Williamson, Sounds Incorporated, Springfields, Status Quo, Steam Packet, Stevie Wonder, Straightshooter, Terry Lightfoot, The Barron Knights, The Bedrocks, The Cyril Davies All Stars, The Eagles, The Graham Bond Organisation, The Hollies, The Kinks, The Mark Leeman Five, The Merseybeats, The Mickey Kennedy Band, The Moody Blues, The New Stars, The Riot Squad, The Searchers, The Seltones, The Soul-Tones, The Spencer Davies Group, The Stormsville Shakers, The Swinging Blue Jeans, THe Who, The Yardbirds, The Zombies, Tommy Roe, Town Hall, Twisted Wheel, White As White, Zoot Money -
High Curley Stompers
(c’52-’69) Alan Roe (trumpet), Trevor Swale (clarinet / sax), Neil Manders (bass), Bill Tottle or Billy “Billy Wayne” Woodall (drums), Chas McDevitt (banjo), Peter Honri (piano) and Norman Bull and/or Tony Milliner (trombone).
27 April 1953: High Curley Stompers at The Savoy, Southsea. Source: http://michaelcooper.org.uk/ Founded by Dunross Farm, Bagshot based pianist Peter Honri – who once had his nose broken in a match by Brian Blessed while playing rugby – this Farnborough / Camberley band were named after the High Curley farming area in Bagshot. They played Dixieland Jazz and often relied on musicians from the Parachute Regiment, Aldershot to make up the full compliment.
Bassist Manders, an Aldershot based photographer, managed the band and secured their first venue – The Victoria Hotel, Camberley before they moved to The White Hart, Frimley with sessions held in an upstairs room with the audience on hard wooden chairs and a raffle, often for an LP, at the back. The band ventured up into Staines and London, for the London Architects’ Annual Ball for example, and further afield, such as The Savoy, Southsea – although the Portsmouth Evening News billed the band as The “Curley” Stompers – on 27 April ’53. The band would return to The Savoy’s ballroom on 22 June, 24 August, 2 November, when they were joined by Roy Richards and his Mayfair Music, and 14 December ’53. The original drummer, John Gannon, had other commitments and Tottle and Woodall took over; and soprano sax player John Brunner guested from time to time.
The band returned to the ballroom at The Savoy, Southsea on 10 May, 5 July ’54, and 31 December ’54. The next year they continued their irregular appearances at The Savoy, performing on 7 March, and 20 June ’55. In ’55/’56 they had a Sunday night residency at the Cambridge Hotel, Camberley which lasted into the 60’s. They also played the Town Hall, Farnborough. McDevitt was replaced by Ron Simpson in ’56 through May ’57. In the early 60’s they were heard every Saturday night at St Andrews Church Hall/Village Hall, Frimley Green.
By ’62 the line-up had changed again: Manders was still present, Simpson had been replaced by Alan Brown, Len Downs had taken over the drums, Honri had left, and Alan Thomas replaced him with Derek Mills taking on the keys later on. Brian White was on clarinet instead of Swale, Roe had been replaced by Dave Stradwick, while Peter Sherman held trombone and also covered lead vocals. This line-up reportedly lasted until 1966, while the group continued through to ’69.
22 April 1966: High Curley Stompers at Cambridge Hotel, Camberley Source: Camberley Photographs from the 1880s to the 1980s. Brunner, who was mentioned earlier, was not the only guest. Godfrey Dubber, of the early Humphrey Lyttelton band, also “sat in”; and New Years Eve concerts included guests such as George Melly and The Alberts. Other musicians associated with the band included a Mr. Shoebridge (trombone).
Milliner would leave the Stompers to join Dave Carey’s band, moving onto the Fairweather-Brown band, In the mid-60s he was a semi-pro in Tubby Hayes’ Rehearsal Band and then led The Tony Milliner – Alan Littlejohn Sextet operating out of the Tally Ho, London. The 70’s found him in Stan Greig’s London Jazz Big Band and at some point, he was in Sandy Brown’s Jazz Band and many others through to the new century. He passed away on the 3 August 2015. Simpson was last heard of living and playing in New Orleans. Roe now lives in Alton. Honri, who was an actor and music hall historian, along with John Earl founded the first trust to raise funds to buy the lease for Wilton’s Music Hall. Gannon lives/d in the West Country somewhere, as did Honri who passed in 29 August 2016 and received an obituary in The Telegraph. Bull lives in Beckenham. White formed Brian White’s Magna Jazz Band. Woodall joined The Bob Miller Big Band. Unfortunately as time passes fewer and fewer of the band members are with us, including: Manders, Swale, Brunner – who became a Sci-Fi writer -, Tottle who spent his later years in Church Crookham passed in 2009/10, and Downs – who passed in 2000, was a supervisor at Solartron and pulled a band together of work colleagues called the Vic Collins Jazzmen, with himself (piano) Vic Collins (trombone), John Smith (banjo), Dave MacD? (bass), Mike Robinson (guitar) and Tuttle (drums).Gallery:
27 April 1953: Poster for Camberley’s High Curley Stompers at The Savoy, Southsea. 
27 April 1953: High Curley Stompers at The Savoy, Southsea. Source: http://michaelcooper.org.uk/ 
27 April 1953: High Curley Stompers at The Savoy, Southsea. Source: Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia Alan Brown, Alan Roe, Alan Thomas, Aldershot, Bagshot, Bill Tottle, Billy Woodall, Brian Blessed, Brian White, Brian White’s Magna Jazz Band, Camberley, Cambridge Hotel, Chas McDevitt, Church Hall, Dave Stradwick, Derek Mills, Dunross Farm, Fairweather-Brown, Farnborough, Frimley, Frimley Green, George Melly, Godfrey Dubber, High Curley Stompers, Humphrey Lyttelton, John Brunner, John Earl, John Gannon, Len Downs, London, London Architects’ Annual Ball, Neil Manders, Norman Bull, Parachute Regiment, Peter Honri, Peter Sherman, Portsmouth Evening News, Ron Simpson, Roy Richards and his Mayfair Music, Sandy Brown’s Jazz Band, Solartron, Southsea, St. Andrews, Stan Greig’s London Jazz Big Band, Tally Ho, The Alberts, The Bob Miller Big Band, The Savoy, The Tony Milliner – Alan Littlejohn Sextet, The Victoria Hotel, The White Hart, Tony Milliner, Town Hall, Trevor Swale, Tubby Hayes’ Rehearsal Band, Vic Collins Jazzmen, Village hall, Wilton’s Music Hall -
Displayed
(c’81-’82) Ian Johnston (vocals), Anthony Whittaker (guitar), Gavin Dunt (bass), and Rick Creed (drums).
Dunt, following the split of Matrix, got together with a few friends in early ’81 to form Displayed. The band played a few gigs locally at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford; the Village Hall, Cranleigh; and at the Hopwood run Old Co-op, Woking. There was also a gig at the Art College, Winchester. They later moved rehearsals to London and were joined by Disruptive Patterns‘ keyboardist, Adam Peters.
Gallery:
Displayed’s Gavin Dunt at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Gavin Dunt 
Displayed’s Ian Johnston at The Wooden Bridge, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Gavin Dunt 
Displayed (L-R Ian Johnston, Anthony Whittaker and Gavin Dunt) at The Woodenbridge, Guildford. Picture courtesy of Gavin Dunt -
Quotations
(c’78-’81) Mick Hughes (guitar), George Gough (guitar), Trevor Collins (drums) and Michael Holloway (bass).
This Farnborough band’s first gig was supporting Dead or Alive at Farnborough 6th Form on 25 April 1978. The band’s had to recycled pre-printed tickets as the gig’s venue had to change from R.A.E Pavilion to the 6th Form, and the date changed twice from 28 April, to the 26 April, finally settling on 25 April ’78.
19 May 1978: Quotations at Krakatoa Youth Club, Cove School. Picture courtesy of Mick Hughes The following month, on 19 May, the band played the Krakatoa Youth Club, Farnborough, held at Cove County Secondary School. Hughes moved away from the area in ’80 leading to a disbandment; but after auditioning for a vocalist the band reformed. In ’81 they played Agincourt, Camberley with Pete Howard of Skan Hire doing the sound.
Hughes went on to play guitar for John Coghlan’s Quo and Quo Connection.
Gallery:
25 April 1978: Quotations (L-R: Mick Hughes, George Gough, Trevor Collins and Michael Holloway) at their first gig. Source Mick Hughes via Farnborough Hants Nostalgia 
25 April 1978: Recycled ticket (due to change of venue and date) for Dead or Alive, supported by Quotations, at Farnborough 6th Form College. Source: Mick Hughes via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 
19 May 1978: Quotations at Krakatoa Youth Club, Cove School. Picture courtesy of Mick Hughes 
19 May 1978: Quotations at Krakatoa Youth Club, Cove School. Picture courtesy of Mick Hughes 
19 May 1978: Quotations at Krakatoa Youth Club, Cove School. Picture courtesy of Mick Hughes 
19 May 1978: Quotations at Krakatoa Youth Club, Cove School. Picture courtesy of Mick Hughes 
19 May 1978: Quotations at Krakatoa Youth Club, Cove School. Picture courtesy of Mick Hughes 
19 May 1978: Quotations at Krakatoa Youth Club, Cove School. Picture courtesy of Mick Hughes 
19 May 1978: Quotations at Krakatoa Youth Club, Cove School. Picture courtesy of Mick Hughes 
19 May 1978: Quotations at Krakatoa Youth Club, Cove School. Picture courtesy of Mick Hughes 
19 May 1978: Quotations at Krakatoa Youth Club, Cove School. Picture courtesy of Mick Hughes 
19 May 1978: Quotations at Krakatoa Youth Club, Cove School. Picture courtesy of Mick Hughes 
19 May 1978: Quotations at Krakatoa Youth Club, Cove School. Picture courtesy of Mick Hughes 
19 May 1978: Quotations at Krakatoa Youth Club, Cove School. Picture courtesy of Mick Hughes 
19 May 1978: Quotations at Krakatoa Youth Club, Cove School. Picture courtesy of Mick Hughes 
17 April 1981: The Quotations played the Agincourt, Camberley. Source: Mick Hughes via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia 
17 April 1981: The Quotations played the Agincourt, Camberley. Source: Mick Hughes via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia -
Touchwood
(c’72) Kym Frederick (?), Barb ? (?) and Ray ? (guitar).
Local band Touchwood included married couple Barb and Ray from Guildford. We know that they once played at Frimley Green Football Club.
Gallery:
Touchwood c’72 (L-R Barb ?, Ray ?, and Kym Frederick). Picture courtesy of Steve McKeown via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia -
Working Men’s Club, Woking
Situated at the top of Walton Road (No.23), Maybury, Woking this was the venue for The Jam’s humble beginnings and rehearsals during the 70s. As well as The Jam’s first appearance at the club on 7 April 1974, it has also hosted many club bands.
Paul Weller outside the Liberal Club, Woking. Source: Richard Knotek via WOKING when we were young It’s also rumored that The Jam got banned for dancing on the piano. Rick Parfitt was a member; after a solo performance there aged 12 or 13 he was invited to join his 1st band: The Bandits. He also got engaged to Patty at the club.
The Jam appeared at the venue six times in 1974, on 7 April, 6 July, 13 July, 3 August, 21 November, and 21 December; and Rick Buckler recalls that “They used to let us rehearse on Sunday afternoons when the place was shut.” The band returned in ’75, playing on 5 January and then on 10 January they auditioned for EMI in the club and were rejected. They would return three more times in ’75, on 2 February, 6 April, and 3 May. In the late 70’s Buster and later Donegal Joe also played the venue around that time. On 25 March ’89, Flashback performed at the Working Men’s Club and in ’96, Orphic Soop appeared at the venue, supported by Mindwire, on 11 October.
Recently an image of The Jam outside the Liberal Club, Woking has been circulating. This photo-shopped image uses a picture from a Janette Beckman photo session with The Jam in London, a gig poster for a 1979 gig in Aylesbury on the Setting Sons tour, a picture of John Weller and a cleaned-up image of Woking Liberal Club just before demolition.
Liberal Club, Woking prior to demolition. The club, which was later renamed the Woking Liberal & Radical Club around ’96, then Woking Liberal Club, fell into disrepair and was demolished in November 2014. In 2015 another trio got into a jam, having swindled almost £170,000 out of the club, at Guildford Crown Court. In late 2016 it was announced that ten flats were to be built on the site.
Gallery:
11 October 1996: Orphic Soop supported by Mindwire appeared at the Liberal & Radical Club, Woking. Picture courtesy of David Lapage. 
Demolition of the Working Mens Club, Woking. Source: Steve Carver via WOKING when we were young 
Liberal Club, Woking prior to demolition. 
Source: Richard Knotek via WOKING when we were young
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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