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Richard Ashworth
(c’76-date) Richard Ashworth (vocals/guitar)
Ashworth is a Guildford/Godalming based singer-songwriter. Across 1970-71 he had been in Guildford based Running Dry.
Ashworth, along with his brother Mike Ashworth, managed Wax Records in Woodbridge Rd and as Wax Promotions, along with Pete Newberry, who was responsible for the Gin Mill, Godalming, put on the first Dr. Feelgood gig in Guildford at The Plaza, Guildford in ’74, booking them at least once more. The teen impresarios also put on The Guildford Stranglers at the Technical College, Farnborough.
Sleeve front of 1979’s “Surrey Skyline” by Richard Ashworth, and White Dub In ’74, Ashworth produced, along with the Asylum – who he managed – and Martin Adams, the group’s (It’s My) Destiny. Along with keyboardist Sev Lewkowicz, Ashworth, played electric guitar and Neil Young covers at the Star Folk Club – held at The Star Inn, Guildford – in ’75. The traditionalists were not ready; although no members of the audience shouted “Judas!” at Lewkowicz or Ashworth, as had happened at the oft cited Bob Dylan gig in Manchester years earlier.
He teamed up with White Dub, consisting of Lewkowicz (keyboards), Lee Sutherland (bass), and Pete Hobson (drums) in ’78. Together they released M3 Revisited [ORDER 1], a 7″ EP on Overdrive Records. This was followed by two more 7″ singles again with White Dub and on Overdrive Records. In ’79, Surrey Skyline [ORDER 2] was produced by Sev Lewkowicz and engineered by Paul Friend at Chestnut Studios, Frensham. The next year Babes in the Wood [ORDER 3] was released. Produced once again by Lewkowicz, Tim Wheatley had replaced Sutherland on bass in White Dub. The next year Ashworth was featured in Barbed Wire fanzine’s May/June 1980 Vol 3 No 2 (issue 6).
Front sleeve of 1980’s “Babes in the Wood” by Richard Ashworth with White Dub. Richard Ashworth deployed Cryin’ Out Loud’s rhythm section of Tim & Matt Wheatley on his Songs to Grow up With album in ’97, which included the song “Wilbur Rowe”. But, to the best of our knowledge, the 8 song LP was not released on Overdrive Records, until ’99; 21 years after Babes in the Woods. He co-wrote the album Echo by Gracious! with Lewkowicz and has contributed to albums by House and Nostromo.
Gallery:
Front cover of 1978s “M3 Revisted” by Richard Ashworth and White Dub 
Back cover of 1978s “M3 Revisted” by Richard Ashworth and White Dub 
Sleeve back of 1979’s “Surrey Skyline” by Richard Ashworth, a d White Dub 
Back sleeve of 1980’s “Babes in the Wood” by Richard Ashworth with White Dub. 
Ashworth was featured in Barbed Wire fanzine’s May/June 1980 Vol 3 No 2 (issue 6). Picture courtesy of Fred PipesAsylum, Barbed Wire, Chestnut Studios, Cryin’ Out Loud, Dr. Feelgood, Farnborough, Frensham, Gin Mill, Godalming, Gracious, Guildford, House, Lee Sutherland, Martin Adams, Matt Wheatley, Mike Ashworth, Nostromo, Overdrive Records, Pete Hobson, Pete Newberry, Richard Ashworth, Running Dry, Sev Lewkowicz, Star Folk Club, Technical College, The Guildford Stranglers, The Plaza, The Star Inn, Tim Wheatley, Wax Promotions, Wax Records, White Dub -
Headley Grange, Headley
Built in 1795 ‘to shelter the infirm, aged paupers, and orphan or illegitimate children’ – it was a workhouse. On 23 November 1830, during the labourer uprising, it was sacked by rioters from Selborne. The damage failed to close Headley which continued as a workhouse until 1870 when it became a private house and given the moniker Headley Grange.
In 1961, and several owners later, a Mrs. Smith started letting the house to visiting Americans, and then as a hostel for Farnham School of Art students. Headley was then rented by various recording agencies and for a period of five or six years it became a live-in practice / recording studio for the likes of OMD, Genesis, Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Bad Company, The Pretty Things, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Ian Dury, Elvis Costello, and Clover.
Zeppelin and Genesis both recorded in the drawing room, and in 1971, it is said that at Headley most of Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven came into being, in a single day. A nice thought but it ignores the writing at Bron-Yr-Aur, the cottage in Wales, initial recordings at Island Studios, London, and additional work in London, after Headley, where the iconic guitar solo was recorded. But it cannot be denied that parts of Led Zeppelin’s albums Led Zeppelin III, Led Zeppelin IV – the LP’s Black Dog being named for a Labrador Retriever that hung around the building, although old footage shows a German Shepherd -, Houses of the Holy and Physical Graffiti were composed / recorded at Headley Grange. Jimmy Page has described Headley as “somewhat rundown; the heating didn’t work. But it had one major advantage. Other bands had rehearsed there and hadn’t had any complaints.”
The English rock band Help Yourself were residents of the Grange twice, in ’71 and ’73, when they perfected tracks for their Beware the Shadow and Strange Affair LPs.
The eponymous Bad Company went platinum five times over, and through the bands association with Peter Grant it had been recorded at Headley using Led Zeppelin’s mobile studio in November ’73. The Grange was booked and the studio installed, but Led Zeppelin were nowhere to be seen, delayed for two weeks. According to Paul Rodgers “Peter told us that if we were quick, we could probably use the studio to lay a couple of tracks down. We steamed in and put the entire album down.”
It was in ’74 that Genesis ‘retired’ to Headly Grange to work on their next LP; and later that year The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway was released.
Genesis outside Headley Grange c’74 The house is no longer let, reverting to a quiet private residence. In 2009, for the documentary It Might Get Loud, Page revisited the building and discussed how the drums for When the Levee Breaks were recorded. That sound, captured in Headley’s three-story hallway, is one of the most recognizable openings to a rock song and has been heavily sampled by the likes of Björk, Massive Attack, Sophie B. Hawkins, Enigma, Beastie Boys, Eminem, Ice-T, Dr. Dre, Simple Minds, and Anthrax. It’s a romantic notion, perpetuated by rock legend, that the sonic magic of that drum sound comes from the architecture of the house itself. Epsom born sound engineer Andy Johns confirmed in interviews that a key part of the sound came from the Italian made Binson Echorecs reverb. The stairwell hall is part of the story, but on its own, would not have been sufficient to get the “Levee” drum sound.
The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Chad Smith at Headley Grange in July 2014 In July 2014, Spitfire Audio arranged for drummers: Chad Smith of The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Roger Taylor of Queen, and session drummer Andy Gangadeen, who has drummed with the Spice Girls, Basia, Lisa Stansfield through to Jeff Beck, to visit Headley Grange and recorded samples in the same hallway as John Bonham.
Gallery:
July 1974: Genesis at Headley Grange during the writing of ‘The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway’ 
Jimmy page and dog in the front garden of Headley Grange 
Headley Grange Andy Gangadeen, Andy Johns, Anthrax, Bad Company, Basia, Beastie Boys, Binson Echorecs, Björk, Chad Smith, Clover, Dr. Dre, Elvis Costello, Eminem, Enigma, Farnham School of Art, Fleetwood Mac, Genesis, Headley, Headley Grange, Help Yourself, Ian Dury, Ice-T, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, John Bonham, Led Zeppelin, Lisa Stansfield, Massive Attack, OMD, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Paul Rodgers, Peter Grant, Queen, Roger Taylor, Selborne, Simple Minds, Sophie B. Hawkins, Spice Girls, The Pretty Things, The Red Hot Chili Peppers -
Who’s The Spy?
(c’90) Mark Davenport (vocals), Chris Barker (bass), Otteran “Ott” Langrell (keyboard), and Matt White (drums).
Farnborough band known to have played the Palace, Aldershot on 14 February ’90, with Blue Velvet in support and a few months later, on 6 July ’90, at the Labour Hall, Cove, Who’s the Spy opened for Frantic.
Davenport ran The Workhouse, Aldershot rehearsal space. Ott (aka Eco, Grover Smith, Hikikomori, and Umberloid) is a record producer and musician who has worked with Sinéad O’Connor, Embrace, Orb, and Brian Eno, and has achieved recognition since 2002 for his own psychedelic dub tracks and his collaborations with Simon Posford (Hallucinogen / Shpongle). He has released two albums on Twisted Records: Blumenkraft (2003), Skylon (2008) and two albums on Ottsonic: Mir (2011) and Fairchildren (2015) and performed at the Glastonbury Festival in 2007.
Gallery:
Taken from a 1990’s Soundscene column – not the FT. Image Credit: Pete Cole 
Who’s The Spy cassettes. Source: Elizabeth West via Farnborough (Hants) Nostalgia Aldershot, Blue Velvet, Brian Eno, Chris Barker, Cove, Eco, Embrace, Farnborough, Frantic, Glastonbury Festival, Grover Smith, Hikikomori, Labour Hall, Mark Davenport, Matt White, Orb, Ott, Otteran Langrell, Ottsonic, Simon Posford, Sinéad O’Connor, The Workhouse, Twisted Records, Umberloid, Who’s The Spy -
The Hogs Back Band
(c’94-date) Barrie Dean (caller / bass), Martin Brewster (drums), Phil Gorton (melodeon), and David Searle (guitar).
Guildford based ceilidh and barn dance band.
Dean is currently also involved with a group called Beyond the Nut.
Gallery:
The Hogs Back Band -
The 1996 Gig List
What follows is a list of gigs, with images of tickets, adverts and flyers where possible, either at GU postcode venues or featuring bands, listed in bold, we like to claim are part of the Woking/GU Soundscene in 1996:
January 4
The Falcon, Camden: Who Moved the Ground?January 11
Olivers, Gosport: Who Moved the Ground?January 17
Sparsholt Veterinary College, Winchester: Who Moved the Ground? w/ CircleJanuary 19
Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester: Who Moved the Ground?January 20
West End Centre, Aldershot: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Dry RiserJanuary 22
The Monarch, Camden: Who Moved the Ground?January 23
The Crown, Midhurst: Who Moved the Ground?January 25
George Fourth, Brixton: Who Moved the Ground?January 26
Goldsmiths Tavern, New Cross: Who Moved the Ground?January 27
Alleycat Live, Reading: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Bang Bang Machine, and Gretschen HofnerFebruary 1
Railway Inn, Gosport: Who Moved the Ground?February 2
Blues Tavern, Heath End: Simon Davis’ UnivariumFebruary 3
Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester: Who Moved the Ground?
Queen’s Tap, Swindon: RedwoodFebruary 4
University of Surrey, Guildford: Who Moved the Ground?February 5
The Underworld, Bradford: Who Moved the Ground?February 7
Rock Garden, Covent Garden: RedwoodFebruary 13
Dreamhouse, Water Rats Pub, King’s Cross: RedwoodFebruary 15
University of Surrey, Guildford: Who Moved the Ground? (acoustic)February 16
Railway Enthusiasts Club, Farnborough: Who Moved the Ground? w/ CagedFebruary 17
Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough: Who Moved the Ground? w/ J.C RegulatorFebruary 21
Unplugged Club, London: RedwoodFebruary 22
Cellar Bar, Bracknell: Who Moved the Ground?February 24
The Gander, Bournemouth: RedwoodFebruary 25
The Old Crown, Devizes: Who Moved the Ground?March 2
Half Moon, Putney, London: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Maximum Who, and MyRevolutionMarch 3
Fairfield Halls, Croydon: Who Moved the Ground?March 4
Essex University, Colchester: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Bumper, and Impact
The Borderline, London: RedwoodMarch 8
Folk Festival, Southcombe Park Sports Reserve, Port Fairy, Australia: WOBMarch 9
Unplugged Club, London: RedwoodMarch 10
Fairfield Halls, Croydon: Who Moved the Ground?March 11
Flappers, Worthing: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Glasshouse, and Free MachineMarch 14
The Agincourt, Camberley: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Hairy ThingsMarch 15
Stoke Hotel, Guildford: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Redwood. and Book HarrisonMarch 21
The Warehouse, Fleet: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Skipper, and Dry RiserMarch 22
Wilde Theatre, Bracknell: Who Moved the Ground?
West End Centre, Aldershot: JC Regulator w/ Headnoise, and Sandwhich BoxMarch 23
Unplugged Club, London: RedwoodMarch 26
Clothiers Arms, Stroud: Who Moved the Ground?March 29
The Windmill, Four Marks: Who Moved the Ground?April 5
The Forum, Tunbridge Wells: RedwoodApril 6
Olivers, Gosport: Who Moved the Ground?April 13
TJ’s, Eastbourne: RedwoodApril 16
Cafe Bar Binis, Apart Hotel, Gotzens, Austria: Who Moved the Ground?April 17
Cafe Bar Binis, Apart Hotel, Gotzens, Austria: Who Moved the Ground?April 22
Skarbnik, Jastrzebie Zdruj, Poland: Who Moved the Ground?April 23
Xylolit Gallery, Lodz, Poland: Who Moved the Ground?April 25
Studio Kino, Bialysok, Poland: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Sanctus Iuda, and The RebelsApril 26
Klub Hannover, Gizycko, Poland: Who Moved the Ground?April 29
Lichtwirtscaft, Leipzig, Germany: Who Moved the Ground?April 30
Kanguruh, Halle, Germany: Who Moved the Ground? w/ HeadrushMay 2
Bolldorf, Halle, Germany: Who Moved the Ground?May 5
Amagerbanen, Copenhagen, Denmark: Who Moved the Ground?May 10
Civic Hall, Guildford: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Bennet, and Supermodel
Town Centre, Woking: WombMay 11
The Square, Harlow: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Bender, and Dub KitchinMay 12
University of Surrey, Guildford: Who Moved the Ground? w/ WOBMay 13
The Falcon, Camden: Who Moved the Ground? w/ The Holy JoesMay 14
The Crown, Midhurst: Who Moved the Ground?May 15
The Pirate, Falmouth: Who Moved the Ground?May 18
The Wheatsheaf, Stoke: Who Moved the Ground?May 19
Dublin Castle, Camden: Who Moved the Ground?May 20
Angels, Godalming: Who Moved the Ground? w/ FurballMay 24
West End Centre, Aldershot: Who Moved the Ground? w/ My Revolution, and TongueMay 27
The Cornerhouse, Middlesbrough: Who Moved the Ground?May 31
Goldsmiths Tavern, New Cross: Who Moved the Ground?June 5
Laurel Tree, Camden: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Buxom, and PeptoneJune 7
Olivers, Gosport: Who Moved the Ground?June 14
Carpe Diem, Birmingham: Who Moved the Ground?June 22
Jolly Miller, Calne: Who Moved the Ground?June 28
Main Stage, Bracknell Festival, South Hill Park, Bracknell: Who Moved the Ground? w/ ChumbawambaJune 29
Main Stage, Bracknell Festival, South Hill Park, Bracknell: Ian Dury and The Blockheads, Thurman, Supermodel, WOB, and The Coal PortersJuly 5
Churchills, Salisbury: Who Moved the Ground?July 11
Blues Tavern, Heath End: John OtwayJuly 26
Newark Castle, Newark-on-Trent: WOBAugust 14
Bull & Gate, Kentish Town: InterAugust 17
Guildford Folk & Blues Festival, Stoke Park, Guildford:
17-18 August 1996: Guildford Folk & Blues Festival flyer. August 18
Folk & Blues Festival, Guildford: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Shane Macgowan & The PopesAugust 23
The Bandstand, Greenbelt Festival, Northants: Who Moved the Ground?September 7
Wraybury Hall, Staines: Inter w/ Magic SamSeptember 18
Alleycat Live, Reading: Inter w/ Sidi Bou Said, and SpeedySeptember 19
The Falcon, Camden: Inter w/ Freeboy, Plaza, and KeelerSeptember 21
Tumbledown Dick, Farnborough: Who Moved the Ground? w/ J.C. RegulatorSeptember 22
University of Surrey, Guildford: SubCircusSeptember 24
The Falcon, Camden: Inter w/ Kill Laura, and TastySeptember 27
Railway Inn, Winchester: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Book HarrisonSeptember 28
West End Centre, Aldershot: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Fil PlanetSeptember 29
University of Surrey, Guildford: David Devant and the Spirit WifeOctober 1
Joe Bananas, Camberley: InterOctober 4
West End Centre, Aldershot: Inter w/ The Sweeney, and BennettOctober 6
University of Surrey, Guildford: The John Mizarolli BandOctober 10
Bull & Gate, Kentish Town: Kissing Katy, Inter, and Realise
10 October 1996: Inter played Interspace at The Bull & Gate. Source: Bull & Gate Memories Y Club, Chelmsford: Orphic Soop
October 1996 gig list for Orphic Soop. Source: The Surrey & NE Hampshire Music Scene Facebook Group October 11
HMV, Friary, Guildford: Orphic Soop
Superbowl, Dagenham: Inter w/ Just as GoodOctober 12
Zodiac, Oxford: Reef w/ Orphic SoopOctober 13
Civic Hall, Wolverhampton: Reef w/ Orphic Soop
University of Surrey, Guildford: SaladOctober 14
Irish Center, Leeds: Reef w/ Orphic SoopOctober 15
Tower Rooms, Hull: Reef w/ Orphic SoopOctober 16
Maltings, Farnham: Eat the SofaOctober 17
West End Centre, Aldershot: Who Moved the Ground? w/ Blessed Ethel, and TongueOctober 18
Waterfront, Gloucester: Orphic SoopOctober 20
University of Surrey, Guildford: My Life StoryOctober 24
Fibbers, York: Orphic SoopOctober 25
Plymouth University, Plymouth: Orphic SoopOctober 27
University of Surrey, Guildford: Vent 414October 29
Dingwalls, Camden: Gallon Drunk
29 October 1996: Gallon Drunk headlined at Dingwalls, Camden. Source: Wendy McNally via BULL & GATE MEMORIES – remembering all who sailed in her musical tidal waveOctober 31
Liberal & Radical Club, Woking: Orphic Soop w/ MindwireNovember 2
Dublin Castle, London: Orphic SoopNovember 3
University of Surrey, Guildford: Olivers ArmyNovember 6|
Carlisle, Richmond: Orphic SoopNovember 9
Ally Cat, Reading: Orphic SoopNovember 10
|University of Surrey, Guildford: WildwoodNovember 12
King’s Head, Fulham: Orphic SoopNovember 17
University of Surrey, Guildford: The EggNovember 20
Angler’s Retreat, Uxbridge: Orphic SoopNovember 23
Farnham ’96, The Maltings, Farnham: J.C. Regulator, Dweeb, Posh, Supermodel, Chuck, Inter, Redwood, The Hairy Things, The Bigger God, Pharmacy, PA Skinny, Twister, Avalanche, and Snowball.
23 November 1996: Flyer for Farnham ’96 presented by Shed Club and Bluefire/Snakebite City. JC Regulator performed at this one-day festival. Source: Sarah Drover via Inter
23 November 1996: Flyer for Farnham ’96 presented by Shed Club and Bluefire/Snakebite City. JC Regulator performed at this one-day festival. Source: Sarah Drover via InterNovember 24
University of Surrey, Guildford: RedwoodDecember 14
West End Centre, Aldershot: Who Moved the Ground? w/ SnowballDecember 19
Blues Tavern, Heath End: John OtwayDecember 31
Blues Tavern, Heath End: Larry Miller BandBack to
The 1995 Gig ListAldershot, Alleycat Live, Ally Cat, Amagerbanen, Angels, Angler’s Retreat, Apart Hotel, Australia, Austria, Avalanche, Bang Bang Machine, Bender, Bennet, Bialysok, Birmingham, Blessed Ethel, Blues Tavern, Book Harrison, Bournemouth, Bracknell, Bracknell Festival, Bradford, Brixton, Bull & Gate, Bumper, Buxom, Cafe Bar Binis, Caged, Calne, Camberley, Camden, Carlisle, Carpe Diem, Cellar Bar, Chelmsford, Chuck, Chumbawamba, Churchills, Circle, Civic hall, Clothiers Arms, Colchester, Copenhagen, Covent Garden, Croydon, Dagenham, David Devant and the Spirit Wife, Denmark, Devizes, Dingwalls, Dreamhouse, Dry Riser, Dub Kitchin, Dublin Castle, Dweeb, Eastbourne, Eat the Sofa, Essex University, Fairfield Halls, Farnborough, Farnham, Farnham '96, Fibbers, Fil Planet, Flappers, Fleet, Folk & Blues Festival, Folk Festival, Four Marks, Free Machine, Freeboy, Friary, Fulham, Furball, Gallon Drunk, George Fourth, Germany, Gizycko, Glasshouse, Gloucester, Godalming, Goldsmiths Tavern, Gosport, Gotzens, Greenbelt Festival, Gretschen Hofner, Guildford, Guildford Folk & Blues Festival, Half Moon, Halle, Harlow, Headnoise, Heath End, HMV, Hull, Ian Dury and The Blockheads, Impact, Inter, Irish Center, J.C. Regulator, Jastrzebie Zdruj, Joe Bananas, John Otway, Jolly Miller, Just as Good, Kanguruh, Keeler, Kentish Town, Kill Laura, King's Cross, King's Head, Kissing Katy, Klub Hannover, Larry Miller Band, Laurel Tree, Leeds, Leipzig, Liberal & Radical Club, Lichtwirtscaft, Lodz, London, Magic Sam, Main Stage, Maltings, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Midhurst, Mindwire, My LIfe Story, My Revolution, New Cross, Newark Castle, Newark-on-Trent, Northants, Oliver’s Army, Olivers, Orphic Soop, Oxford, Pa Skinny, Peptone, Pharmacy, Plaza, Plymouth, Plymouth University, Poland, Port Fairy, Posh, Putney, Queen’s Tap, Railway Enthusiast's Club, Railway Inn, Reading, Realise, Redwood, Reef, Richmond, Rock Garden, Royal Northern College of Music, Salad, Salisbury, Sanctus Iuda, Sandwhich Box, Shane MacGowan, Shane MacGowan & The Popes, Sidi Bou Said, Simon Davis’ Univarium, Skarbnik, Skipper, Snowball, South Hill Park, Southcombe Park Sports Reserve, Sparsholt Veterinary College, Speedy, Staines, Stoke Hotel, Stoke Park, Stroud, Studio Kino, SubCircus, Superbowl, Supermodel, Swindon, Tasty, The Agincourt, The Bandstand, The Bigger God, The Borderline, The Coal Porters, The Cornerhouse, The Crown, The Egg, The Falcon, The Forum, The Gander, The Hairy Things, The Holy Joes, The John Mizarolli Band, The Maximum Who, The Monarch, The Old Crown, The Rebels, The Square, The Sweeney, The Underworld, The Warehouse, The Windmill, Thurman, TJ’s, Tongue, Tower Rooms, Town Centre, Tumbledown Dick, Tunbridge Wells, Twister, University of Surrey, Unplugged Club, Uxbridge, Vent 414, Water Rats Pub, Waterfront, West End Centre, Who Moved the Ground?, Wilde Theatre, Wildwood, Winchester, WOB, Woking, Wolverhampton, Womb, Worthing, Wraybury Hall, Xylolit Gallery, Y Club, York, Zodiac -
The Hautboy, Ockham
Now residential “units”, The Hautboy Inn, Ockham was built by William 1st Earl of Lovelace in 1864, Lord Lieutenant of Surrey and owner of Ockham Park. It replaced the old Hautboy and Fiddle Inn at Bridge End, Ockham, which the Earl had acquired in 1833 when the previous owner went bankrupt.
The Hautboy made the news in 1898 when it refused admission to the coffee room of a lady cyclist wearing ‘rational attire’. There was also a brief appearance in “Pit of Darkness”, starring William Franklyn, in ’61.
Vulgar Bros played their first gig at the Hautboy, Ockham c’76. Picture courtesy of Paul Trew The mid-70’s were its heydays as a live music venue, with bands performing from the gallery. At this time it was managed by the owners of the Restaurant Ship Hispaniola, berthed on Victoria Embankment, London, with a Mr. Plata as General Manager. Then it had a Spanish bar and an English Pub. January to July ’74 saw Pepe Todoli and his group hold a regular spot playing Spanish music. The venue was reknowned for it’s great atmosphere and great beers, but musicians of any worth could tell you in not uncertain terms what they thought of the slapback from the wall at the far end.
Then sometime in ’76, The Vulgar Brothers played their first gig at the venue. It is also rumored, but as yet unproven, that The Enid played from the gallery. John Sammes recalls playing there almost every Friday in ’77 with Bob Evans, which occasionally featured guest appearances by Rob Jacob of The Volunteers and others.
The Hautboy, Ockham boarded up c’2008. Picture source: Russell Judge In the mid-80’s it became a bit of a bikers’ pub with a pair of macaws flying freely inside, but we know Vic Cracknell, who also appeared at the Crown & Cushion, Haslemere, was still playing there in 2006. The Hautboy closed in 2007 and the Grade II listed building converted.
Gallery:
The Hautboy’s Dining Room c’1938. Source: Jackie Helm 
The Hautboy -
Memorial Hall, Hawley
The Memorial Hall, Hawley was built just after The Great War to commemorate the 60 Hawley residents who fell between 1914 and 1918. It has hosted many events over the years, including Farnborough Folk Clubs’ 2nd Concert on 27 September ’69 that featured Jon Betmead, Roger Nutbeam, Fiona, Canticle, Borderers, and Chris Jant.
Gallery:
27 September ’69 
The Memorial Hall, Hawley more recently. -
Grant’s Tomb
(c’69-’71) – Joe Breitenfeld (bass), Mike Taro (vocals/guitar) Grant Clifton (guitar/vocals), and ? (drums)
Robert ‘Bob’ Oliver offered to manage the band, but they were with the Wally Dent Agency at the time; they later signed to Bob Potter. We know the band played The Red Cross Hall on Walton Road, Woking. The band also swelled from a four to six members after signing to Potter’s agency.
Grant’s Tomb, Red Cross Hall, Woking. Source: Mike Taro Breitenfeld’s mother used to clean for the Rolling Stones and the band got a lot of their old garb! In ’71 members of Cryptic Evil joined the band and Grant’s Tomb were rebranded Luvaduc, and were also signed to the Potter’s International Entertainment Agency.
Many a band and DJ may recall Mike Taro’s Disco Supply Store on Boundary Road, Woking, also known as Light & Sound Centre. Taro had also previously played in Cactus Incorporate. We would later find Breitenfeld in Redwood and the Lakesiders, but he unfortunately passed in 2022.
Gallery:
Grant’s Tomb. Source: Joe Breitenfeld 
Grant’s Tomb. Source: Mike Taro 
Grant’s Tomb. Source: Mike Taro 
Grant’s Tomb. Source: Mike Taro 
Grant’s Tomb. Source: Mike Taro 
Grant’s Tomb, Red Cross Hall, Woking. Source: Light and Sound Events 
Grant’s Tomb 
Promo Card for Grant’s Tomb -
Redwood
(c’78) – Linda Smith (vocals), Joe Breitenfeld (bass) and ?.
The band played predominantly country and western covers at working men’s and British Legion clubs around the Guildford, Farnham and Godalming area. Bruno Bannerman (guitar) joined the band in ‘78, completing a dozen or so gigs over about 5 weeks before being fired for ‘bad attitude’ and lousy playing. A few weeks later Bannerman turned down the invitation to return after they fired his replacement too.
Smith and Breitenfield, who’d also been in Feast, Grant’s Tomb, and Luvaduc, went on to form Lakesiders circa 1980.
Gallery:
Redwood (l-r Smith, Bannerman, and Breitenfeld) 
Redwood (l-r Breitenfeld and Bannerman) -
Earthforce
(c’77-’78) Steve Bayfield (sitar, guitar & vocals), Alan Shipgood (bass & tabla), James Gleave (electric piano & synthesizer), Tony Pettitt (harmonium, synthesizer, acoustic guitar, & percussion), and Mick Marsh (drums & percussion).
Earthforce’s Steve Byfield on Sitar During the Summer of ’76 Bayfield bought a sitar and a 12-string guitar and pursued a non-electric, acid folk rock style of music. In March/April ’77 Bayfield started jamming with Shipgood and Gleave – from Ken Hyder’s Celtic-roots band, Talisker – Pettitt and Marsh. Jenie Critchell (guitar & vocals), Raymond Critchell (guitar & vocals) John Bland (percussion) and John Lathey (guitar) also joined.
28 May 1977: Advert for Music for Socialism Festival featuring Earthforce The group played at a Music for Socialism indoor festival held at Battersea Arts Centre, London on 28 May ’77 along with Henry Cow – who co-founded Music for Socialism – Red Balune, Talisker, 0dB and many other performers and groups. But, by mid-’77 the collective was beginning to crack as the Critchells planned a move abroad, Pettitt to South Wales and Gleave would later depart for Europe. Before this, Norman Jon Kissoon and Bayfield set up a recording session in Farnborough on 30 and 31 July. Unable to get it all down on tape that weekend, a second session in Merrow – believed to be in the Merrow Village Hall – completed the recordings on 20 August. A limited 60 copies of the “Eathforce” cassette LP, featuring an image of three trees near Glastonbury Tor on the cover, were ready for distribution in October ’77.
On 13 September ’78, Earthforce joined Hot Vultures and John Lathey Crofter’s Folk Club, The Wheatsheaf, Alton. The Bellerby Theatre, Guildford hosted the collective for their final gig in November ’78; with the addition of members of the Oa Band, and supported by John Lathey.
In 2002/03 the groups original recordings were remastered and an 11 track CD released on ShroomAngel Productions [SAP 002] in May 2004 and described as a cross between Popul Vuh and Gong by one reviewer. Then in April 2021 a selection of those tracks was released on Vinyl by US based Lion Productions [LP 181]
Jenie Critchell left us in 1995.Gallery:
The 2021 vinyl version of Earthforce’s “Earthforce” LP 
Cover of Earthforce’s 2004’s CD re-release of “Earthforce”. 0dB, Alan Shipgood, Alton, Battersea Arts Centre, Bellerby Theatre, Crofter’s Folk Club, Earthforce, Farnborough, Guildford, Henry Cow, Hot Vultures, James Gleave, Jenie Crithell, John Bland, John Lathey, Ken Hyder, London, Merrow, Mick Marsh, Music for Socialism, Norman Jon Kissoon, Oa Band, Raymond Critchell, Red Balune, ShroomAngel Productions, Steve Bayfield, Taliskar, The Wheatsheaf, Tony Pettitt, Village hall
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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