Coach House at Farningham (UK)

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: Kev The Clogs
Date: 11 Apr 09 - 08:43 AM

Actually, the nearest club to the Coach House is The Travellers Rest which meets at The Crown in Otford on the second Thursday of each month - it is well supported (at least fifty people the night before last). I think the reason for a sucessful club/venue, is access to transport followed by beer and friendly atmosphere. I hear that the Coach House had all of that - it is a shame that I was not a folkie in those days. I'm sure that the regular attendees of The Folk Mob, Travellers Rest, Nag's Head (Sunday's) would be keen to take part in any sort of reunion.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST,Terry
Date: 11 Apr 09 - 07:42 AM

A house extention and organising Hartley's Ring Meeting this June has kept me rather busy but I will try and find time to start getting things in motion again for next year.
Last time I went to the Coach House it was a bear shell so I would love to know what happened to all the barrels and artifacts. It was rather soul destroying but I'm sure, by the sentiments and memories expressed on this thread, that a day of pure nostalga will awaken whatever spirits lie dormant within.
Maybe even the echo of Danny's laugh, the strumming of Pete's guitar, Wiskers double bass, or the draining of barrels.
Oh, happy days!!!!
Terry

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: billybob
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 08:05 AM

Only a year and a few days to go..... is it being organised? What did Barry think?
Dilligaf, Billy and I would like a copy of the CD please. I found a dvd of Billys 50th birthday party the other week, there is about an hour of Pete,(slats) playing with Blossom and Brixton Bert, would you like a copy? It is a treasure!I will pm you.
Wendy

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 07 Apr 09 - 07:22 AM

The Coachhouse was, with catford, one of my first folk clubs. Some of us Blackheath Morris would also go to the hartley Practices there.My firstvisit was the 1st Birthday terry mentioned, his and Phil's first day of dance with Hartley, I seem to remember. Boxing day that year was snowy and cold, a few of us huddled around the fire, and fred Jordan did his spot from around the fire rather than taking the stage, and mulled our beer with the poker.Dave bryant was there that night, I remember. No one has mentioned Danny's Laugh, it was unique. Called a barn dance there in 72 with the Crayfolk, difficult to organise circle dances there, sort of extended oval instead. Jeff

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 08:47 PM

If you remember it you weren't really there.

Mulling the cider did for quite a few corpses. One frosty night a mate of mine fell asleep on the roof of someone's Rover 2000 and his acid puke took the paint right off it in places.

Then there was the night a short public bar drinker took umbrage with a (different) large friend of mine and started hitting him. How we panicked when said large friend said "I'm fed up with this, hold my guitar". Said large friend was in Special Boat and later took the unofficial world record (so he said) with 243 kills in hand-to-hand combat, so we all suddenly tried very hard to calm him down.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: vectis
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 07:00 PM

I would love to go to a reunion before I move to far flung foreign shores.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: Girl Friday
Date: 06 Apr 09 - 08:42 AM

I remember going there quite a lot in the late eighties/early nineties. A reunion would be a good idea, but will there be enough beer kegs?(to sit on)
BTW the nearest club to the Coach House is Fox And Hounds, shame it doesn't get the same level of support.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: Rafflesbear
Date: 05 Apr 09 - 06:09 PM

My two best memories of the Coach House - Swan Arcade and Martin Carthy doing a floorspot - does he still do that?

Oh - and put me down for two tickets - if everyone turns up we might need a bus station rather than a coach house :-)

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: JohnE
Date: 05 Apr 09 - 05:42 PM

Has the idea of a Coach House reunion gone dead? I'm now up in the wilds of Shropshire but still singing; Lesley and I would certainly make the effort for a visit South in 2010 if it's on. Reading this thread has brought back so many good memories it's brought a lump to my throat. For any who might remember me, JohnE is John Evans, enthusiastic singer and indifferent left handed guitarist. Love to all.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST,bobcat
Date: 23 Jan 09 - 02:31 PM

So how about a reunion to celebrate 40 years?

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: dilligafxx
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 06:17 PM

As someone who only went to Farningham once or twice when very young and to be truthful at that age not a folkie , but later heard all the tales of the goings on from Pete (slats),Why has no one mentioned the crocodile and its travels !! Pete relayed tales of its travels all over the area.
If anyone who bought the Cd (Nice Arse) that escaped for charity after Pete,s death, not noticed half the tracks from it came from a CD someone gave him of recordings from The Coach House many of which I didn,t use because the singer wasn't Pete the exception being Liverpool Lou because the idea of the Cd was it was him singing so if any one is interested contact me and I,ll burn them a copy for a small donation to Charity,Love and hugs xx
Ps Nice Arse raised over £1500 for the Anthony Nolan Appeal

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST,bobcat
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 04:40 PM

Farningham.......English Tapestry, Martyn Wynham-Read, Dave Burland, johmmy Silvo, Nick Jones,Tony Rose,Carol and Bob Pegg, Skinners Rats, Vulcan's hammer and of course the Cray folk,,,smoky apple log fire .Too many memories...... I would be up for a reunion night to celebrate 40 years.....all the way from Yorkshire where we now live.( I was audience) May 1st 2010 and this is a bank holiday weekend

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST,Dave Webb.
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 11:40 AM

Re Farningham Folk Club. Thanks Terry. 2010 will be good. Just me getting excited. Let me know if you need any assistance in organising the event. Dave.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST,Terry
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 08:49 AM

I've had the following email from Blossom:-

"I'm up in Nottingham at the moment on diving job but I will be back for the week end and will talk to Barry about it. I'm sure we could try and arrange something."

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: billybob
Date: 21 Jan 09 - 07:47 AM

In my diary for 2010.Has anyone spoken to Barry?

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 05:18 PM

Sad to hear Derek Riley has passed away - really nice chap.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 02:46 PM

Is the Hulk still alive?

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: The Doctor
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 02:05 PM

If it's 2010 I'd certainly be interested. I can't do this May as it's my wife's 60th so I'm already committed to a party, but it would make a nice celebration for her 61st.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST,Terry
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 12:24 PM

Hello Wendy and yes Dave I remember Derek Riley. I know May 2010 seems a long way off but I expect some of those who may want to come are getting booked up for this year already. Anyway 40th seems like a nice round number and ties in nicely with May 1st being a Saturday if we are to make a day of it. Another year will give all the (us) old'uns something else to hang on for as well.
A lot will depend on the availability of the Coach House and willingness of the landlord, something I didn't want to sound out until enough interest had been indicated to make it a viable proposition.
Terry

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: billybob
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 12:01 PM

Please have a reunion,what a brilliant idea.I was at the first night and have had a great time reading down this thread.At the Stephane Grapelli concert my first husband Derek and I with Geof Kewell and Angela were standing on a table with many others at the back by the big doors , underneath a stuffed crocodile!!It was impossible to get off the table to go to the bar( or the loos)and it is a miricle it did not collapse!
Too many old friends have passed away, we must try and get a reunion organised.
Wendy

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST,Dave Webb.
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 11:44 AM

So if we have a Farningham reunion are we looking at May 2010? - Its a long way off. Can't we do anything sooner?
As for the Sunbeam. Our friend Derek Riley (deceased) had an old Sunbeam Talbot that he used to drive to Farningham. Could it be his?
Derek was a 6 foot plus man with a tash, dark hair and had a very strong Dave Bryant type voice. Used to play a concertina. (Badly) - ex copper. Was a great bloke.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST,Terry
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 06:15 AM

I too remember the Finbar & Eddie 'incident' to which Vic relates. I believe it must have been about 1972 when John broke his leg. At the end of the evening we had gone into the pub to 'cash up' and probably after 'one for the road' left as Danny (Landlord) was going to bed. Before leaving the car park we looked through the side window of the Coach to see a 'cocktail' being mixed from the optics. Being late we decided not to interfere. On returning the next day we found out that non of the 'afters' were actually paid for and Danny non too pleased that his spirit bottles were empty. Rather than cause any upset during the weekend John Barker dealt with the matter in his usual unflappable manner.
John was in fact still around for some time after that as he moved away to take on a pub down near Axminster and Hartley called in to see him in July 1981. He died sometime in the 80's but I'm afraid I can't remember which year.
Terry

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST,Jackie
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 06:03 AM

Hi
Yes it was me started all this, through my friend Dave McGlade. When I borrowed the LP The Crayfolk Live at the Coach House, (from Dave Webb) I started questioning things, because the album cover contains a photo of the audience, and I was tring to date it, as it is almost certainly a photo of me in the audience. How interesting, all these memories. How about a reunion?
Jackie Santo formerly Dimes.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 05:46 AM

Seems that I started something here. Yes. Please lets have a reunion.
I was sitting in a folk club on Sunday listening to old men droning away into their guitars thinking "Oh dear whatever happened Farningham. We could teach them what a folk club really is".
By the way I have the LP's Both Sides of the Downs, True Hearts and Sound Bottoms, Skinners Rats "My Boys Can Play Anything" and Live at the Coach House.
If anybody needs a copy let me know.
Dave.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: MickT
Date: 20 Jan 09 - 05:25 AM

For the record, I can tell you when the Farningham Folk Club met "met for the very last time", it was 14 January 1996.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Jan 09 - 09:02 PM

Gastove is still around, and still universally called Gastove.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST,John Evans
Date: 19 Jan 09 - 05:26 PM

Looking at this again I've got a question - who was Gastove - or was it Gas Stove?

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: Vic Smith
Date: 19 Jan 09 - 05:16 PM

We were booked at a "Farningham Folk Festival" weekend in the Coach House many years ago. We were all young and not bothered in those days and the younger guests were expected to kip down in sleeping bags on the floor of the barn. Amongst the guests kipping there were Finbar & Eddie Furey and they had a number of undisciplined hangers-on who were also in the barn overnight.

Now, the bar, you will remember was in the Coach House barn and just about the time when people were settling down, one of the hangers-on went to the bar, took a pint glass and said, "Now then, lads, I'm going to mix you a cocktail, the like of which you have never seen before." and started filling the glass by going from optic to optic mixing whisky, brandy, gin, vodka etc. and started to pass it round. There were more than one refills of this deadly mixture as the night went on and as, you can imagine, a very noisy, wild, drunken night ensued. To his great credit, I remember that Eddie Furey went from group to group of those of us who were lying down trying to get some sleep and apologised for the racket and the behaviour, saying, "I thought they were our friends, but they have let us down."

This was the Saturday night. The arrangement was that all the artists were to be paid by the main organiser, John Barker, on the Sunday evening. I was sitting with John at a table near the front during the final set which I remember was by Bob Roberts. It was the year, not long before he died, than John had broken his leg very badly in more than one place and he was sitting at the table with his foot up on another chair; his entire leg was in plaster.

Finbar Furey came up to be paid. John greeted him and thanked him for his contribution to the weekend, took a wad of notes out of his wallet and started to count them out in a very demonstrative way on to the table next to him. He finished counting and Finbar was just about to pick up the money when John slapped his hand down over the piles of notes, then he picked them up again and said, "Oh, and the landlord will need this, for the whisky, this for the brandy, this for the gin, this for the vodka".... each time removing a note of what had been the Fureys' fee.

John then put the remaining notes back on the table and turned his attention back to Bob Roberts. Finbar did not say a word, but glared hard at John for a long, long time. During the uncomfortable time that followed, John did not once look at Finbar but gave his attention to Bob, joining in choruses, applauding etc. Eventually, Finbar scooped up the remaining notes from the table and left quickly.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 19 Jan 09 - 04:43 PM

I'd be up for that - do you think we could persuade Courage to brew some mild specially for the occasion?

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST,Terry
Date: 19 Jan 09 - 04:36 PM

I don't think Sweeps would be too much of a problem as any event at the Coach House would be a one day thing just involving those who had a connection, not a rival festival. Sweeps could also be an advantage as it means those coming from afar could make a w/e of it.
Hartley and Wadard Morris Men, who were both based there at different periods, do there own thing on Mayday morning and are not involved with Sweeps so could be around in the afternoon/evening.
I have been in contact with Blossom and although its early days yet it should well be possible for Skinners Rats to get to both events.
In view of the fact that several prominent personalities from the early days are sadly no longer with us I am mindful that this could be the last opportunity for a grand reunion.
I don't even know if the Coach House would be available but if there is enough interest I will start the ball rolling in respect of enquiries/liaison/organiation.
Terry

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 19 Jan 09 - 12:18 PM

That weekend would be a problem - it clashes with Sweeps. But I'd be up for a reunion.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST,John Evans
Date: 19 Jan 09 - 11:47 AM

I was looking for some lyrics on Mudcat and and spotted this thread by chance. Like Terry it brought back so many good memories - mostly late '70s / early '80s for me. How many clubs now could run a guest nights on Fridays and singers on Sundays? And great guests; quite a lot of whose albums I've still got in my shelves. I'm up in the wilds of Shropshire now but if anyone was organising a reunion I'd be an enthusiastic taker. Best wishes to everyone who remembers those happy days. John E.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST,Terry
Date: 19 Jan 09 - 11:04 AM

Apparently a planning application was submitted in 2006 to convert the Coach House into residantial use; this was subsequently withdrawn. I don't know if there are any further plans for the building but it would be nice to think that it could be brought back to life again.
May 1st falls on a Saturday next year and coincides will the 40th anniversay of the Folk Club opening.
Now there's a thought - what about a reunion?
Terry

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST,terry
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 03:25 PM

Yes Dave I'm certain you're right about the handpainted Sunbeam.
I'm trying hard to remember the various cars Wiskers drove but like you this brings to mind another amusing incident.
In the very early 70's some of us from the Folk Club (Wiskers, Streaky, Phil, etc. plus ladies) spent a week at Broadstairs during Folk week. We 'unofficially indoor camped' in what was the deck chair store in the car park behind the Mermaid pub. Messing about on the beach one day Wiskers broke his leg by falling into a hole dug in the sand that the incoming tide had flooded. He was plastered (which was not unusual) and we carried him from pub to pub lying on a wooden table top from the store.
Returning from Broadstairs he obviously could not drive and at the time I only had a little Fiat 500 with a sun roof. Those who remember Wiskers will recall that he never went anywhere without his double bass. For some reason it fell apon me to transport him and his instrument to and from Farningham when his leg was in plaster. The only way this could be achieved was by removing the passenger seat so John could sit on the back seat holding his double base with his leg outstretched and the neck of the instrument sticking out of the open sunroof.
As we drove along the wind whistled through the strings producing a strange drone I will never forget.
This is only but one of the very happy memories I have of those times. No doubt I will be reminded of many more by others who also shared those halcyon days.
By the way, it can now be revealed, Dave is correct in his belief that Wiskers 'oversold' tickets to see SG. Whilst it may have made him a few bob extra it did strain his relationship with Danny the landlord who was 'entertaining' his special guests, who held limited issue tickets, in the pub beforehand. Escorting them to the Coach House at the appropriate time you can imagine how they felt to be confronted by a seething mass of people, some of whom were virtually hanging from the rafters.
Oh, happy days. There was a lot more went on behind the scenes than was general knowledge but nobody got hurt and good times were had by all. If only youngsters of today could enjoy such times.
Terry

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 01:13 PM

Also remember the Stephan Grapelli evening. Amazing, you couldn't move. I think John Barker made the most of it by selling far too many tickets! But that's the way it was in those far-off pre Health & Safety days. A few people complained but most of us just enjoyed it for what it was – great entertainment.

One of the funniest moments involved the aforementioned beer crate stage. Over time and much beer spilling by performers, the crates became rather sodden. The inevitable happened one night when someone got up to sing and their foot went through one of the crates. Quick as a flash, Barry Laing, who was MC that evening, jumped up and announced, "It's OK folks, don't worry, it's just a stage he's going through". Boom-boom!

Funny story number 2, which I learnt years later from one of the surgeons at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup. Landlord Danny Sheridan-Bolton fell out with a few of his regulars and they decanted to one of the other pubs in the village. They became known locally as 'Bolton's Wanderers'.

By the way Richard, I think the Sunbeam Talbot belonged to Barry, not John Barker.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 12:02 PM

Hi Doc. Can you enquire on my behalf please?

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: The Doctor
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 11:55 AM

Like Terry I have also had problems getting on recently, but now here is a bit more info. It was my friend with the CDs, private copies he was giving to members of VH. I don't know exactly what he said then but he has no immediate plans to produce them commercially. There is a Radioactive release of it still being sold, but it is very poor quality, a needle-drop with a track missing and no notes. Definitely not worth buying, which is a pity as, though original LPs do turn up they are highly sort after, especially by the Japanese apparently, who will pay hundreds for a copy. In the Record Collector, Nov.2008, it was listed among the top 200 rarest LPs. There is obviously a market waiting to be exploited - properly, by someone who knows the worth of the recordings, and isn't just after the money.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST,Terry
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 06:46 AM

I would have joined this thread earlier but I have had difficulties getting on Mudcat recently. I have a great affinity for the Coach House having spent a minimum of three evenings a week there over a seven year period.
My first association with the Coach House was in 1969 after John Barker informed me of a new Folk venue he was working on. I met John when he, Pete Hicks and Mac McNally were hosting Dartford Folk Club at the Railway Hotel and I went along to see the Yetties.
At that time the Coach House had been cleared of accumulated rubbish and a floating floor laid. Late in the Summer of 1969 there was an impromptu folk event held there (probably over the August Bank Holiday) where I was first introduced to the Morris (but thats another story). Work continued during the winter of 1969 when the chimney was built, the last wooden barrels (used as seats) were obtained from Courage brewery, cushions made for them, and various artifats such as the ships wheel, anchor, anvil, etc obtained and installed. The bar was simply made by laying wooden planking across upended barrels and a high stalter for the beer casks. The stage was made from lots of wooden beer bottle crates closely laid on their side. In my time there was never any amplification nor the need for it.
My contribution to the work was to construct the Folk Shop adjacent to the original club entrance door at the far side. The large main doors were generally only used for festivals in the car park and the intermediate side door, latterly used as the entrance, was never opened. Adjacent to the Folk Shop was a narrow store room that Pete Choppin used as his workshop for a time.
Work on the Coach House was completed in time for it to open as a Folk Club venue at he begining of May 1970. I only have vague memories of the opening day probably as I was kept busy in the Folk Shop. I have a clearer recolection of the first birthday which was held on Saturday 1st May 1971 for which I still have the programme leaflet featuring Kenneth Loveless, Johnny Handle and of course the Hartley Morris Men who had adopted the Coach House as their spiritual home and practice venue.
As I mentioned, at first I used to run the Folk Shop on Fridays as the Dartford club, which changed venues to the Royal Victoria & Bull, still ran on Sundays and had not initially transferred to the Bull at Farningham.
I then took over the running of the bar behind which I served virtually session held in the Coach House until the end of 1977 assisted mainly by Stuart Ansell and Dave Masterson.
We generally had four casks of draught Courage beer on - Mild, Directors and two of Best each being a Kilderkin (18 gallons). We often sold most of the contents on a Friday evening (576 pints) and had to change the barrels ready for the Sunday session.
The third weekly evening I spent their was Thursday Morris practice.
I have very happy memories of my times their but for the most part lost touch with all the people I must have served over the years.
To those who may remember me, I hope you are still well and enjoying good health. Those were happy days.
In 1978 I transferred to Canterbury for a few years and so lost touch. After that time I understand that things changed slightly with amplification, the Folk Shop turned into a beer 'celler', the intermediate side door brought into use and a flagstone floor laid.
The Coach House was a shadow of it's former self when I looked in a couple of years ago, forlorn but not forgotten.
Oh and yes the Stefan Grapelli evening (Diz Disley on bass if I remember) absolutely packed to the gunnels.
Terry
p.s. Daniel Sheridan-Bolton was the landlord and it was he who changed the name of the pub from the Bull to the Pied Bull sometime in the mid seventies.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: The Doctor
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 05:04 PM

I will find out about the CD. The Stuart mentioned above was Stuart Francis, who was part of the Crayfolk for Both Sides of the Downs. Skinner's Rats also appeared on Good Folk of Kent, both of these being Eron recordings.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 04:23 PM

At the Vulcan's Hammer reunion concert last Sweeps, there was a chap who was with their permission redigitising the Vulcan's Hammer LP so it could be sold as a CD. Alas I lost his address.

I liked them best live as an unaccompanied vocal duo of Phil and Kay Burkin.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: DMcG
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 03:48 PM

Yes, Dave, it was Jackie asking. Pass on the best information so far, will you?

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: The Doctor
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 02:30 PM

Re: Dave Webb above:-
As listed on Live at the Coach House LP, 1971, Pete Hicks, his dad Tom, John Barker and Pete Chopin, also listed as Pete Chopping on a Skinner's Rats recording of 1978. This latter also had Pete (Blossom) Currie, Pete (Slats) Hicks, Ken Logan and Rick West, while Blossom was joined by Barry Laing (the fiddle player, and correct spelling) and Pete Chopping on other tracks. Their 1981 LP lists Pete Currie, Barrie Laing and Ian Petrie. Another regular group was Vulcan's Hammer, Phil Burkin, Kay Burkin, who sadly died last year, Graham Thomas, Eddy Green and Dick Fewtrell, another great fiddler. Their LP was True Hearts and Sound Bottoms. All these recordings are still around, and a reminder of just how good they all were.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 02:06 PM

Oh I remember seeing Bert Lloyd there, and Packie Byrne, and Johhny Silvo.

And that hand-painted Sunbeam Talbot 90 of John Barker's.

And the night my other mate Pete had been mulling cider with the poker from the log fire and fell asleep on top of a pubgoer's Rover 2000. He puked down the side and the acid in his stomach stripped the paint.

However, as best I remember you could not have lifted the ceiling - there wasn't one, only a roof and rafters, along the main length of the hall by the fire.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST,Dave Webb.
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 12:43 PM

Bet that was Jackie asking the question about Farningham Folk Club. 1970 seems about right. Orignally run by the Crayfolk with Pete Hicks, John Barker, Pete's dad and Chopin (?). Later line up was Barry (Bishop of Welling),Stuart and John Barker.
Skinners Rats then took over and consisted of Blossom, Pete Hicks and two other superb musicians who's name escapes me. Great fiddle player.
A later lne up of the Rats included Pete, Blossom, Barry and Ian Petrie.
Hope my facts are right here.
Friday night was guest night and Sunday was Singers Night. With the Hartley Morris men in attendance we lifted the ceiling.
I still have the LP. Live at the Coach House - and I still play it.(It was always a raffle prize)
Best folk club in the world.
Anybody remember when Stefan Grapelli appeared there? Packed to the hilt.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: GUEST,John from "Elsie`s Band"
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 10:41 AM

I have very pleasant memories from our appearances there when I was in "Four Square Circle". Crayfolk, John Barker, Pete Hicks, Mac McNally "et al" and Brands Hatch being just a stone`s throw away.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: Dave Masterson
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 08:54 AM

Ah, the Coach House at Farningham – I still cry every day…
The Doc is right – the best club and I consider it a privilege to have been around at the time and involved with it.
I first started going in late 1970 and was instantly hooked, even more so when the Sunday singers nights started.
At various times throughout the seventies I practised there with Hartley Morris (pre Wadard days Don C – good to hear from you, how are things in Scotland?), helped Terry Heaslip behind the bar – serving, not drinking I hasten to add, and being a regular floor-singer.
Regulars of the period would probably know me better as 'Little Dave'. I was foolhardy enough to do a rendition of 'Robin Head' and it became my trademark, or more rather a millstone round my neck, as that was all some people wanted to hear…
Halcyon days.

On a more general historical note, the Coach House itself was the coach house to the Bull, Farningham, a coaching inn on the London – Folkestone road. Apart from housing horse-drawn coaches and folk clubs, it was once a bus garage, housing the first bus that used to ply between Farningham and Dartford.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: The Doctor
Date: 15 Jan 09 - 04:47 AM

I have the following information from a friend who was treasurer at Farningham:-
It was May 1st 1970, guests were Packie Byrne and Bob and Ron Copper, Ron felt unwell and unreliable and so though he was there it was a youthful John Copper, fully 'laughing cavalier' haired, who sang somewhat tentatively with Bob. It was an overcrowded and noisy evening which finished with Crayfolk + Morris tunes and dances.

I didn't start going until early 1972, becoming a regular floorsinger and finally running the Sunday evening singaround. It was undoubtedly the greatest club I was lucky enough to go to.

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: The Sandman
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 06:42 PM

I had the privilege to be booked there as a guest ,It was also one of the first clubs I did a floor spot.
Skinners Rats were a great resident band.great club altogether.Dick Miles http://www.dickmiles.com

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: doncatterall
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 06:38 PM

Happy days - Wadard used to practice there and held their first couple of Ales at the Bull - Pete Hicks was squire - memorable for William Webb Ellis Morris Men - are they still around???

Don

Subject: RE: Coach House at Farningham
From: vectis
Date: 13 Jan 09 - 06:32 PM

I used to go there fairly regularly when I was a student in the early 70s. It had an L shaped room and you had to sing to the corner of the L in order for both "wings" of the barn to be able to hear you. I met Miles Wootton there and now live just up the coast from him.