[Slowhand] Chiddingfold Club

[John Mills]

http://www.surreyad.co.uk/news/2019/2019450/sad_note_as_claptons_club_prepares_to_downsize
Sad note as 'Clapton's club' prepares to downsize
A Chiddingfold venue long associated with famous rock stars and new musical
talents is set to close in the spring.

In its glory days, the Chiddingfold Club in Woodside Road had 3,000 members
and hosted concerts by Eric Clapton and Genesis.

Membership has dwindled to around 300, however, and the cash-strapped club
committee has reluctantly agreed drastic action must be taken to secure its
long-term future.

Plans are being drawn up to demolish the building and to build new homes and
a smaller club on the site. Because of the close proximity of the proposed
housing and the smaller scale of the building, it will no longer be possible
to put on live bands.

Club members originally hoped to raise enough money to retain and refurbish
the existing large building by building new homes in the adjoining field it
owns, but they got a frosty response from Waverley planning officers and
dropped the idea.

"I've been associated with the club for more than 30 years and it's a great
shame," said the president, Jerry Coombes, "but we are only just about
breaking even.

"We will have a new smaller hall to cater for the village groups that also
use the club. We have had some fantastic nights at the club. Eric Clapton
has played here several times. It used to have a disco with Radio One DJs."

Local music promoters Tony Smith and Howard Williams are both devastated.

"The Evening Standard did a big feature once saying forget Wembley, the best
live gigs are at Chiddingfold," Mr Smith said. "I've been putting gigs on
there for 15 years and this is really sad as the club has such a big hall."

Mr Williams, involved with the club for the  10 years, will be staging three
special gigs in 2008 as a celebration of all the fantastic music played
there.

"We are having a really big show this weekend with Dunsfold rock star Gary
Brooker," Mr Coombes said.

"He does one every year for charity and you never know which famous friends
will be coming along with him to play.

First printed in: Surrey Advertiser