Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: Spleen Cringe
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 04:00 AM

Did the 'best of' cassette that Bob Merritt mentioned at the start of this thread ever materialise? If it did, it would be great to put it up at Lost Folk Tapes along with a few people's reminscences about Tanners. That's the sort of thing we're there for, you know...

Please email [e-mail] if you're interested or know someone who might be...

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: My guru always said
Date: 08 Sep 11 - 03:39 AM

There'll be singing at Tanners this weekend.....

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: Max Johnson
Date: 08 Aug 11 - 11:37 AM

Hi Bonnie - Yes, Mary Fookes, on loan from Heritage, sang with myself, Dave and Norman Western for a while in the short-lived a cappella group Threadbare. We did a month-long tour of Germany together. Mary is an excellent harmony singer and squeezebox player.

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: Splott Man
Date: 02 Aug 11 - 11:58 AM

I haven't stayed there for a few years, but I think the hostel now has electrickery (the YHA insisted a few years back), and the warden now lives on-site (after a fashion).
I'm still very much in touch with the old crowd (60s onwards).
Mary did indeed sing with Heritage.

I received a "Good God, are you still at it?" missive from Guernsey Pete in February this year.
He's still in London, playing with a barn dance band and doing the odd floor spot.
As regards Carol he says "We were able to give her a good send-off; a packed
chapel and 16 past and present members of the Sacred Harp group to sing her favourite
hymn in 4-part unaccompanied harmony. And people jumping up and down to give
testimonies to her. That was three years ago this July."

I owe a lot to Tanners, and am pleased to say that my kids have formed lasting friendships as a result of going there when they were small.

Splott Man

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 01 Aug 11 - 04:02 PM

...and the answer iiiiiiiiiiiiis:

Deteriorating brain cells [round of applause]

> It is a very old building (about 500 years) which still has gas lighting and an open log fire

D'OH!

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 01 Aug 11 - 03:54 PM

PS: Am I right in thinking that - at one time, at least - the hostel had no electricity? I seem to remember playing my harp solely by firelight and cooking in the kitchen by gaslight - piped in through decidedly Victorian-looking overhead fittings. I recall how blue-ish the atmosphere was. Is this fact or deteriorating brain cells? (Or both...?)

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 01 Aug 11 - 03:00 PM

Guernsey Pete popped his head up in this thead (another nostalgia fest for folkies of A Certain Age):

Folk Clubs London 1960s & 70s

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=36295#2856244

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 01 Aug 11 - 02:54 PM

Easty Beastie!! Wow, hi... long time no see. Guernsey Pete posted in a Mudcat discussion not too long ago (last year sometime?) so is clearly still around and sounded fine. If I can find the thread I'll dig it out and post a link. I'm so sorry to hear about Carol - I was staying at Tanner's Hatch one time when she was there also, and the two of us played for some dancers, me on recorder. Didn't Mary Fookes also sing with Heritage at one time? If so, I have some great memories of doing some pub-harmonies with her in an afternoon singaround during one of my Tanner's stays (possibly the same time as when Carol was there).

Actually, I thought I'd posted to this thread already. I used to love Tanner's, and, funnily enough, discovered it through a non-folkie. One of the weekends they had a fantastic costume event, and the entire Graham Petty family showed up rigged out in Medieval gear - even the dog, who sported a fine blue silk cape (I was quite jealous). What a great thread this is. What great memories.

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: GUEST,Dave East
Date: 01 Aug 11 - 02:34 PM

Heavens above- I too remember Guernsey Pete- whatever happened to him, married??? I sang with Mary Fookes in Threadbare [1977-8]; A Carol Gardner I knew- fiddle player and sacred harp singer- died of MS several years back, and was cremated at Golders Green crem..

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: Mo the caller
Date: 27 Mar 11 - 11:47 AM

3-tier bunks (saw my mistake just as it posted!)

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: Mo the caller
Date: 27 Mar 11 - 11:46 AM

Wow.
When a school friend and I stayed at Tanners Hatch in 1959 (?ish) we had the place to ourselves. The warden (female if I remember right) lived somewhere else in the wood.
We really enjoyed the open fire. But had second thoughts when all our clothes smelled of stale woodsmoke for the rest of the week.

Does it still have 2 tier bunks?

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: GUEST,Mark Bossanyi - Boz
Date: 22 Feb 11 - 04:26 PM

Great to see Tanner's Hatch is still going strong. I used to go to regularly in the 1970s, and made a terrible name for myself by playing the two most hated instruments in the world - the banjo and the accordion.

Great to see that lots of the people I met there are still going - I remember Tony Harbour, Carol Gardener, Andy Ive, Geoff Chapman, Tim Dowd, Sean, Babs, Anna, Jenny(Tits), Guernsey Pete, Steve Spurling, Carol Tomlyn, Heritage... and Graham Peddie of course. I remember the New Year's eve barbecue out the back the night that the UK joined the Common Market, and a fertility rite organised by Tony Harbour using a coca cola tin for percussion...

If I wasn't currently at the opposite corner of Europe, I'd come and visit at the drop of a hat. If you guys are there, it would be great to see or hear from you again...

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: GUEST,Frank Crowley
Date: 16 Oct 10 - 09:58 AM

I used to go to Tanners Hatch every month with my dad Frank for the folk nights back in the late 70s to mid 80s I used to be known as Francis back then. I remember my 1st visit telling the warden Graham that the light was gone so he he sent me to a shed to turn on the generator was gone for ages in the dark. I also remember the tents and the sing songs till the early hours. Graham was a great warden even if he did nick your breakfast, my dad got round it by making him a breakfast. My dad has passed away now but his memories were as fond as mine

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: GUEST,Barbara
Date: 21 Sep 10 - 03:20 PM

I have such good memories of Tanners Hatch: Graham, a cup of tea, "Good morning sunhine", the low kitchen ceiling, the sounds and the smell of the woods, friendly open minded people, bon fires, sunshine, the peaceful early mornings hours outside on the bench, many many interesting talks, happy times.

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: Splott Man
Date: 26 Aug 10 - 03:53 AM

You can keep up with folk goings on at and around Tanner Hatch here: http://www.tannersmusic.co.uk/

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: GUEST,pants
Date: 25 Aug 10 - 02:40 PM

Hey all,
Great to see this site. Sweet memories of Tanners. It would be great to see you all back. Maybe some day.
Dutch Jenny

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: pants
Date: 25 Aug 10 - 09:27 AM

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: GUEST,Big Ed
Date: 11 Aug 10 - 06:45 AM

Eh up is that Barbara Allen out there?

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: GUEST,Barbara
Date: 27 Jul 10 - 07:48 AM

I remember Tanners Hatch as a place where I always got a friendly welcome and a tea. My friends and I used to visit it during the 80's and 90's quite regularly and we became so fond of the place, it's peaceful settings and all the interesting and nice people we met. For us it was a "secret treasure" and Graham was it's king :-)

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: GUEST,Big Ed
Date: 22 Jul 10 - 05:23 AM

I've just come across this wonderful "Web"site with it's wonderful silken threads and memories. I certainly remember Bob Merrett, Blind Dave, Rent a crowd, etc, etc. I was certainly very sorry to read of Bob's passing away, I will make a pilgrimage to the cemetary and try to find the family grave and offer my belated respects.

I also remember those crazy Treasure Hunts organised in the middle of winter that usually kicked off at mid-night and started and ended at the Hatch. I also remember the afternoons spent at the Ranmore Inn on Sunday afternoons after Tanners Folk imbibing like there was no tomorrow!

As my good friend Trev mentioned in another link to this site we recently popped down to Tanners for a nostalgic evening, my how the place has changed - it's clean for one thing, Peddies counter has gone (along with all the memorabilia associated with it)!

Tanners should be declared a national monument, long live the Hatch.

Ed Owen

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: KEVINOAF
Date: 30 Oct 08 - 04:55 AM

dave needed a sense of humor,he certainly taxed mine.... if you have the peddies address do P-M me, does he still follow the same diet?i. e. eating anything that fails to eat him first?

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: Splott Man
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 11:46 AM

It sounds cruel, but Dave can take a joke...

A couple of years ago at Tanners Festival, while he was singing a song, a load of kazoos were quietly passed around the gathered throng, and on a given signal we all joined in with his chorus.

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: Richard Atkins
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 09:29 AM

I recall giving Dave a lift home from The Ram Club.We eventualy arrived with his directions !

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: Splott Man
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 04:40 AM

Graham Peddie will be 70 on 14 November, we members of that loose community called rentacrowd are planning on sending him personal greetings with a short message telling him what we're up to now.

If anyone would like his address, I'd be happy to PM it.

Splott Man

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: My guru always said
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 04:29 PM

Blind Dave still potters around Leatherhead quite happily. As I don't get to local clubs much I haven't noticed Dave's 'musical' behaviour!

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: Zen
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 10:55 AM

The very same Blind Dave indeed and I remember the verbal interjections very well which made compering quite interesting. When he missed or couldn't afford his taxi I ended up many times giving him a lift back to Leatherhead from Dorking.

Zen

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: Surreysinger
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 10:22 AM

Would that be the same Blind Dave that used to turn up regularly at the Ram Club in Claygate every week ? Lived in Leatherhead, always came late and left early by taxi, and managed to get a front row seat every time from where he joined in the guest's act by making verbal interjections ??

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: davyr
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 10:19 AM

That's good to know - I wonder if he still has the knack of shaving a different part of his face every day so that he has a permanent (but partial) 3 days growth on? :-)

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: My guru always said
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 09:59 AM

Graham Peddie is still going strong but no longer warden at Tanners. He's very active looking after a local charity & drop-in centre and much respected locally!

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: davyr
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 06:22 AM

Wow, that has brought back memories (I missed the thread first time around). Graham, the warden when I was last there in the mid-70s (anyone know what happened to him?), would never turn away a booking, even when the hostel was full. I remember spending a very chilly night on an old sofa in the woodshed, with owls hooting on the roof all night. The other joy was trying to sleep in a "Tanners Tent" (an old army blanket that you were expected to string up between two trees).

I sang the Coppers song "Wop she 'ad it i o" at one folk weekend, and unbeknown to me, the guest performer (whose name I forget) also had it on his set list but was out of the room when I sang.

My version of the chorus was slightly different to the Coppers (which he sang "as known") and he was a bit disconcerted when everyone joined in with "my" version when he performed it later on in the evening...

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: KEVINOAF
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 05:40 AM

can't agree with that ,he usaualy played blue grass stuff, and i have no knowledge of that material 'oakie from muscogie' was particularly *********!

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: Zen
Date: 27 Oct 08 - 07:10 AM

I remember Tanner's Hatch and also "Blind Dave" who was a regular at the Chanticleer Folk Club in Dorking when I was a regular there back in the late 1980s. I do remember he had an encyclopaedic knowledge of folk music and of composers.

Zen

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: Mr Happy
Date: 27 Oct 08 - 06:03 AM

http://www.tannersmusic.co.uk/

Subject: RE: Tanners Hatch - Finding old friends
From: KEVINOAF
Date: 27 Oct 08 - 05:53 AM

anyone remeber 'blind dave @ who's cacophony on an out of tune autoharp nearly terminated folk at tanners?

Subject: RE: Tanners Harch - Finding old friends
From: KEVINOAF
Date: 14 Feb 08 - 05:08 AM

I remember with nostalgia the entry in the Tanners visitor"s book
'wild-life seen at Tanner's'
Ferret-girl's dormatory (annexe)

Subject: RE: Tanners Harch - Finding old friends
From: My guru always said
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 03:02 PM

Aha, another Hilary! Please pass on our Best to Sylvia when you see her next, we usually see her at the Tanners weekend each year since she moved up North.
Hilay Ward & Richard Atkins

Subject: RE: Tanners Harch - Finding old friends
From: Lady Nancy
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 12:58 PM

I never visit Mudcat often enough - no time! But it was really great to come across this today. I regret not having found it sooner - and the associated link. I knew Bob from the days of Rentacrowd/Heritage/Squire and I now work with Sylvia occasionally who helps me run and administrate folk events in Yorkshire.

I'm still occasionally in touch with others from that time (1974-9 ish) and have some wonderful photos of when we were all that much younger. Did we really change that much? Sylvia and I had a photo and reminisence session a couple of years ago when it suddenly dawned on us that we had known each other back then.

Ah! Such wonderful memories!

Hilary (still singing....)

Subject: RE: Tanners Harch - Finding old friends
From: KEVINOAF
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 04:53 AM

no, I'm no longer local I now live in the pyrenees I bought my own tanners hatch with olive trees, caribs and almonds instead of oaks & pines

Subject: RE: Tanners Harch - Finding old friends
From: My guru always said
Date: 13 Feb 08 - 03:44 AM

We were there on Saturday & had another fabulous evening! Like you Snuffy I didn't know Bob had been a MudCatter. Good to see this thread, thanks Kevinoaf! You still local? We're in Leatherhead.

Subject: RE: Tanners Harch - Finding old friends
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 06:54 PM

I just tried Snuffy's link, and it worked for me.... and this has all reminded me that some friends and I went youth hostelling about 40 years ago and stayed at Tanners Hatch.

Kitty

Subject: RE: Tanners Harch - Finding old friends
From: Splott Man
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 10:58 AM

Sorry, that should be "shiver".

Oh, Snuffy, I can't get your link to work.

Subject: RE: Tanners Harch - Finding old friends
From: Splott Man
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 10:57 AM

I got a shoiver when I read the first post on this thread, it felt like a ghost had tapped me on the shoulder.

I've been a regular at Tanners since the end of the 60s, although my attendance has dropped off lately, but I'm still in regular contact with most of the old crowd.

Bob (Polesden/Gloomy Bob) passed on a few years ago as has already been mentioned. Others from his list have since left us too; Carole Gardner and Roy.

I've many happy memories from this magical place, and have fond memories of some of Bob's hilarious antics.

Thank you for reviving this thread, Kevinoaf.

Splott Man

Subject: RE: Tanners Harch - Finding old friends
From: Snuffy
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 10:08 AM

I never knew that Bob Merret (who started this thread) was actually a Mudcatter, although he did always have lots of printouts of songs from the DT with him wherever he went.

Unfortunately, he died just under 5 years ago - see this thread Obit: Farewell to Bob Merrett. for the tributes to him. It would be nice to think that there are now two owls keeping watch at Tanner's Hatch

Subject: RE: Tanners Harch - Finding old friends
From: KEVINOAF
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 08:25 AM

the story of the tanners owl owes its origin to one of the old regulars Ted Terry (better known as "stagnant stan" - now long deceased )   who invented the story of a wich metamorphing into an owl during the rebuilding program   of the original conversion of the cottages into the present youth hostel, This transfigurement was reputed to be witnessed by a number of the working party he admitted this to me in the Royal oak in Bookham over a copious libation

Subject: RE: Tanners Harch - Finding old friends
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 22 Nov 99 - 11:51 AM

Hello Bob, the Carol Gardener I knew was living in Nottingham area early seventies. I know that she moved to London and worked for Routledge, Kegan, Paul. Same person?

Subject: RE: Tanners Harch - Finding old friends
From: polesden
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 02:10 PM

The Carol Gardner that I know is about 50ish now.She played fiddle at Tanners Hatch in the seventies, but in her mid twenties she got MS and was never seen since. I have recently heard that her MS is not as bad as it was.I have also heard that she married the owner of a publishing company where she had been working for many years some time after his wife died. If this strikes any bells and is the same person I would love to know

Cheers Bob Merrett

Subject: RE: Tanners Harch - Finding old friends
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 08:09 AM

is the Carol Gardner mentioned the same C.G. who used to play fiddle at the old NTMC in the seventies? She guested on the original Notts Alliance album.

Subject: RE: Tanners Harch - Finding old friends
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 21 Nov 99 - 08:04 AM

is the Carol Gardner mentioned the same C.G. who used to play fiddle at the old NTMC in the seventies? She guested on the original Notts Alliance album.

Subject: RE: Tanners Harch - Finding old friends
From: polesden
Date: 12 Nov 99 - 01:52 PM

The thought of a mudcat meeting at Tanners Hatch sounds a great idea.Let me give it some thought over the weekend and I will get back to you.

Cheers Bob Merrett

Subject: RE: Tanners Harch - Finding old friends
From: Llanfair
Date: 09 Nov 99 - 04:59 PM

This sounds an ideal place for a Mudcat UK gathering next year. We could all book in for a weekend, out of season, and have a whale of a time!!!! Hwyl, Bron.