The Change of Horses 2005
ORPINGTON FOLK CLUB
Established 1965

A BRIEF HISTORY OF ORPINGTON FOLK CLUB

THE ROYAL OAK

1965•1978

THE ROYAL ALBERT

1978•1982

THE WHITE HART

1982•2002

THE ANGLESEA ARM

2002•2004

THE CHANGE of HORSES

2005

Occasionaly guest(s) write to us about their memories of the club
Some of these can be found Here...

Three local music enthusiasts launched Orpington Folk Club on the 17th May 1965,
Kevin McCabe, Chris Andrews and Terry Sparkes.  To advertise the club they performed in
Orpington, Bromley and Sidcup High Street.  With Kevin on guitar, Chris on a rare Washburn
banjo and Terry dressed in a town criers outfit.  They were to be pleasantly surprised on their opening night.

Note from Chris, Sept 2009 :  It was Ralph May who gave Kevin and I the bug to go traveling and ended up on the road for years.  Did Terry ever play the fiddle?  Who is the fiddle player in the photo?

Ralph McTell in conversation with John Beresford, January 2008.
The Levee Breakers Link...

Photograph: Harry Pattullo

The first evening featured a group called "The Levee
Breakers" supported by the resident group "The Poachers",
photograph left. It was held at the "Royal Oak", Green
Street Green.  This was to be the clubs home for more than
fourteen years, until the pub was refurbished in 1979

Below some members get together and decorate a float for
the Whitsuntide bank holiday Fifteens association carnival
parade 31st May.  They played and sang all the way up
Orpington high street to Goddington Park.

No prizes for recognising Harry

Lorry supplied by: Tommy Farrant
Photograph: Kentish Times

On that first night, over two hundred people attended.  So many that the guest group performed
outside for 60 or more of those who were unable get into the room. In its infancy the club regularly
featured such notables as Ralph May later to become Ralph McTell (Ralph had his first ever paid gig at Orpington) John Renbourn, Davey Graham (who wrote the guitar tune "Angie"), Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick. David Bowie and his side kick Ken "Wild Man" Simons did several floor spots, Wally Whyton, Bill Clifton and many more have all played at the club.
(See our Rogues Gallery page)

On the 21st March 1979 "Fiddlers Dram" appeared at the club instead of the booked guest,
Martin Carthy who was unable to attend. They recorded "Day Trip To Bangor" shortly afterwards
and were on "Top Of The Pops", at number two or three. (Dingle's Records DIN304)

While at the "Royal Oak" the opportunity arose to decorate the room. The Resident musicians,
organiser and secretary painted the ceiling mat black with star clusters resembling the constellations.
Lighting was installed to improve the mood of the room and the use of a microphone and sound
system to assist the guest(s). The wall was covered in posters and record sleeves. A part of the
wall behind where the guest(s) performed was covered in the autographs of the performers.
One such autograph written by Stan Arnold said, “Stan Arnold outwitted by a cat.”
The pub cat had sat on a stool next to Stan during his performance and Stan said, to the cat
"what do you think of the show so far" the cat responded by licking itself where only a cat can
reach.

To advertise the club one of the residents made a billboard and placed it alongside the A21 main
road, which runs adjacent to the pub. Vehicles traveling between Bromley, Sevenoaks and
Orpington via Green Street Green were able to see it. He also climbed on to the roof of the
clubroom and painted the words "FOLK CLUB" in large bright letters, which could be seen from
the road and by low flying aircraft. The club members also went out several times in the dead of
night to stick posters up around Orpington and the surrounding area. They spent many a cold
Saturday morning giving out handouts in the high street. For four years running the club entered a
float in the Orpington carnival in late May, singing and playing well known standard folk songs like
"Goodnight Irene". For their efforts they even won a prize one year.

Due to a change of ownership and renovations in 1979 the club moved. It found a new home at the
'Royal Albert', Lower road, Orpington and changed its meeting night from Monday to Friday
evenings. A group of members got together to bring chairs and tables from "The Royal Oak".
traveling in convoy to the new venue with items of furniture including a stall sticking out the
windows.

The change of venue at this time spawned a change in organisation. Some of the mainstays of the
club got together to spread the work load and each chipped in £5 to help with the cost of
advertising the different night for reopening the following Friday. Such is the faith and enjoyment in
the club that by 1982 a substantial following built up.

Due to alterations, on the 5th November 1982 and the need for more room, the club moved to
'The White Hart', Orpington, situated centrally in the High Street, in the upstairs function room.
Finally changing from a Friday, to Thursday evenings, on Thursday 2nd December 1982.
In 1986 the club celebrated its 21st birthday, an event marked by the unveiling of a
commemorative plaque on the front wall of the pub, and a live broadcast by Radio Kent, produced
and edited by Simon Evans and the late and much loved Charlie Jacobs.

The club has taken part at various civic and charity functions. 1984 for "One Good Turn" it was in
concert with Motley and Kent Korkers. 1989 it took part in the opening of 'Crofton Halls'
formally the civic centre halls. In 1990 the 'Scratch Band' helped to raise cash for A.R.C.
Appeal for Romanian Children by performing at a garden party at Farnborough Park.

During the 90s the club organised a few open-top bus trips. Stopping off at the 'Norman Conquest'
Rochester for lunch and several Kent village pubs on the way back. Laden with beer, musical instruments and performing to the locals at every opportunity. In the autumn rambles through the countryside finishing up at a pub for lunch and a song or two. At Christmas a meal at "The White Hart" pub with club members, residents and organisers.

1990 was the club's 25th anniversary year. It was celebrated by making a live recording of the then "Scratch Band", made up of resident musicians and organiser. It is available on cassette for £3.00. As part of our own celebrations and Bromley council's Arts Festival, 'The Scratch Band' played in concert with Jake Thakray at Coney Hall, near Hayes, Kent. In March there was a special club night sponsored by Bromley Council with ex-Steeleye Span and Albion Band member, John Kirkpatrick and his wife Sue Harris. And finally on the 25th anniversary night the 17th of May, an evening of music was arranged with as many of the original organisers and musicians that could be mustered.

Throughout 1990 the guest performers featured were chosen from those that had supported the
club over many years.

There have been many memorable moments over the years. One highlight for the club was in
September 1997 when Sydney Carter ( "Lord of the dance" 1963) arrived with Jeremy Taylor
our guest for the night. Sydney was persuaded to sing. He performed "My Last Cigarette"
which he had written in hospital. A memorable evening.

After 20 years at The White Hart, Orpington Folk Club had to move.  The White Hart changed to
Spirit 'Q', a different arm of the Spirit brewery and was refurbished and turned into a sports pub.
We where able to find a venue at the 'Anglesea Arms' Kent Road, Orpington from 26th
September 2002 until 16th December 2004.  It was decided that evening to find some where else
as the previous landlords had left and we were not made as welcome.  After much traveling around
looking for a venue and false promises we have found another home at the 'Change of Horses',
Farnborough Village, Orpington.  Pete and Margaret our hosts enjoy our music and are
happy to have us there.

Elated club organisers on the first night
at the 'Change of Horses', Farnborough.

Brian Bruce, Ted Handley, Ivan North
and Steve Jennings 3rd March 2005.

Our first night at the "Change of Horses" 3rd March 2005 with "Triality". Unfortunately only two
of the brothers could make it. Charlie and Ted Handley.

May 19th 2005 was the clubs 40th birthday. Many guests, ex-resident singers/ musicians and
members were invited. Ross Barlow sang a song specially written by him to mark the occasion
called,'When Ralph McTell played Orpington'. After the interval Ted Handley and Ivan North
cut the cake and Terry Sparkes gave a short speech about the start of the the club in 1965.
He gleefully pointed out that "There was no one there over the age of thirty".

As from the 3rd March 2005 we now meet at the "Change of Horses", Farnborough High Street,
Orpington, Kent.

During March 2007 some great news came our way, the pillars supporting the club roof, 'the
restaurant' were to be removed. Although very grateful for the use of the restaurant the pillars were
a nuisance and blocked the view of guests and floor singers. We are glad to see the back of them.
The Change of Horses has to be one of the best folk venues around.

17th May 2007 the club reached its 42nd birthday. The event was eclipsed by Colin Clark's
Charity Singers Night. The evening managed to raise £211.50

Saturday 29th November 2009 the Scratch Band were asked to play for a charity barn dance, run by the Trefoil Guild. The Trefoil Guild is an organisation of over 20,000 members – mostly made up of women and men who have been and still are connected with Guiding and Scouting.
 

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