What is it about Watford (UK)?

Subject: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: chrisgl
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 11:03 AM

So I finally start to 'get it together' with regards to doing something folkie aaand find that the local club shut down some while ago and there's nothing _obvious_ ahappnin' within the locale.

But travel out to St Albans and things start to happen.

So, what is it about Watford? Sadly I can probably guess, but just maybe there's a bunch of 'cats who wonder the same...

chris :-)

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: Scrump
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 11:26 AM

You could always start your own club in Watford - all clubs have to be started by someone. Or you could move to St Albans?

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: English Jon
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 11:41 AM

I'm just waiting for Martin from Barton to post to this thread....

Graham Taylor walking down Watford high st - sees old lady with heavy shopping..."scuse me love, can you manage?" - she says "you got yourself into this mess, you get yourself out...."

EJ

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 01:35 PM

Chris, Herga FC meets Mondays at 8pm at the Pinner Green Social Club, just down the road from Watford.

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: Hamish
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 01:47 PM

I think the open mic still runs at The Pump House but, er, that's about it for Watford per se. (You don't mind if I call you Percy, do you?)

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: breezy
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 02:20 PM

Yep Watford is devoid of 'folk'

Its all because of the town centre revelopment and the ring road and the harlequin shopping centre

the heart has gone

There were 2 clubs when I came to town, 1976

yes it all happens in St Albans, sessions, singarounds, and a real folk club on Sundays at the Comfort Hotel with top guests and very good residents

this Sunday 1st oct Dave Gigg from Irvine is the guest

see separate thread for the Windward club

then mondays is herga folk club, mainly singers nights with the occasional guest as George P mentioned above

As for watford, well the least said the better, OH nearly forgot the sportsman croxley green, 1st Thursday of the month, singaround in the shed

Martin from barton is Luton based, so he cant comment on Watford

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: chrisgl
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 02:56 PM

From: Scrump > You could always start your own club in Watford

Don't think I've not got that as an idea, but you have to wonder why what was here has gone... (see a bit below)


From: English Jon > Graham Taylor...

I don't understand. Who he?


From: George Papavgeris > Herga FC meets Mondays...

Thanks George, I've 'hit' your website - it's a marked event


From: Hamish > I think the open mic still runs at The Pump House

Sadly not. I believe the place got too expensive (does that equate to not enough people turning up? or decamping to places elsewhere)

From: breezy > Yep Watford is devoid of 'folk'...

Mayhap it's time to be grabbing it by the shoulders and giving it a good shake ;)   YOu have to wonder about a place that allows local pubs to be turned into trendy McDonalds. Bleah :-P

> yes it all happens in St Albans,

So I understand. Something to do with one John I've heard on the wind

>... the sportsman croxley green, 1st Thursday of the month,
> singaround in the shed

That I hadn't spotted.


Thanks all. Have to get a motor for me bike, do the tour and see who's else is from this forsaken place and up to try for something new.


chris :-)
(Watford: Look, an old building - quick, knock it down and put up an office block before someone sees)

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 26 Sep 06 - 08:00 PM

"The place got too expensive" - yes, well, IIRC that's exactly why Bob Wakeling decided that the long-running folk club at the Pump House was no longer viable.

Chrisgl - you could try asking Elton John about Graham Taylor. Or possibly anyone walking down Watford High Street or Vicarage Road. Nice one Jon!

Kitty

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: chrisgl
Date: 27 Sep 06 - 04:39 PM

Kitty said > you could try asking Elton John about Graham Taylor

Gottcha One can't live in W for some 50 odd years without knowing about these folks. But I figure I don't have to own up to it ;)


Tried cycling to Pinner today - didn't realise how much 'up' there is, but it makes HERGA very achievable :)


chris :-)

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 27 Sep 06 - 07:18 PM

Chris Newman used to point out that he grew up in an area where the only local traditional song was "We are the Ovaltinies". Though Colin Dipper (John's dad) did write a good song about poor Willie drowning in the beer in the brewery on Watford Parade (now a museum, of course).

I think it's roughly 5 miles from Harrow to Watford, so Pinner should be less, even on a bike!

Kitty

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: GUEST,HSA
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 06:22 AM

There's also a session at the Sportsman in Croxley Green on the third Sunday of the month (about 3pm-7pm ish).

It's generally very inclusive and not in a fixed idiom as far as tunes go. One of the landladies plays the fiddle and they are generally very music friendly, there are other musucal events such as Jazz each month so it's worth popping up sometime and reading their events list.

Helen

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: chrisgl
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 08:16 AM

I wish I'd been interested in the folk scene when my grandparents were alive. My Mum's Mother was Watford born and bred - and there surely must have been songs she'd have known. The only thing I managed to 'collect' is a bizarre song from Grandad that sounds like a mix of Music Hall stuff. Ah well.

Thanks for the pointer to the Sportsman, Helen. Have to count me Sundays and give it a try but I'm not musician so jams don't appeal too much - 'cept on toast.


chris :-)

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 08:59 AM

Nice one English Jon. I went to Watford once. "It was shut" There are no pubs in Watford in The Good Beer Guide. That tells you something. (Or a least there was not last time I looked)

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: The Unicorn Man
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 09:05 AM

Oh yes I can BREEZIE.

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: GUEST,HSA
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 10:59 AM

May not be in the GBG but the beer in the Sportsman is usually tip top.
Helen

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: Rasener
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 11:48 AM

What this about Graham taylor?

He was a very good manager when he was at Watford. Especially with Elton John behind him.

He was also a very good manager at Aston Villa and stupidly took the England job from there and got crucified. You have to be a turnip head to take that job on.

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: Scrump
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 12:18 PM

Ooerr, better not go into that ;-)

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: chrisgl
Date: 28 Sep 06 - 01:00 PM

My only interests in football are knowing when it's on so's not to bother going into what passes for a town aaand seeing if I can wind anyone up ;) That's two-ish I think

Now, who can I look forward to be being greeted by in Pinner next week? (Monday, 8pm, Herg's new venue)


chris :-)

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: English Jon
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 10:23 AM

"He was a very good manager when he was at Watford. Especially with Elton John behind him."

ROFLMAO!!!!!!!!!!!

Brilliant.

EJ

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: Rasener
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 10:52 AM

Glad you got the gist of that one Jon :-)

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: Moses
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 11:02 AM

chrisgl

I'll be there on Monday. Look for the one with the candles burning!

Christine

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: breezy
Date: 29 Sep 06 - 03:15 PM

Oh no you cant DENTY

'Luton going down,' erd it on 3 counties

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: Tootler
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 02:22 PM

When I lived in London locals seemed to think Watford was on the edge of the known Universe.

From the posts above, seems maybe they were right.

Mind, where I live now, Middlesbrough, was in another Universe as far as they were concerned.

I guess we can be thankful for small mercies <bg>

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: breezy
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 04:05 PM

at least you have Vin Garbut

and he is on his own planet

he is 'The guvnor' of the folk scene

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: chrisgl
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 05:28 PM

Tootler said > When I lived in London locals seemed to think Watford was on the edge of the known Universe.

Hmmm. I think you might be on to something. There's Black Holes and there's, just possibly, a new phenomena; the Watford Hole into which history and culture are sucked over a no-events horizon never to be seen again...

chris :-)
(I live there, I'm allowed to poke fun ;)

Subject: RE: What is it about Watford (UK)?
From: Rasener
Date: 30 Sep 06 - 05:40 PM

And there was me thinking that it was Luton

Is that why they say "Mind the gap" when you come into Watford