Letter: My Special Memories of the Gin Mill Club

Published on: 4 Oct, 2014
Updated on: 4 Oct, 2014

Press ad for the Gin Mill Club as reproduced in Nigel Enever’s book Guildford The Rock ‘n’ Roll Years.

From David Rogers

I have only just found this site. Reading the comments under the article Do You Recall Days Of Godalming’s Gin Mill Club? brings back wonderful memories of those teenage Sunday nights.

I lived in Haslemere and went to the Royal Grammar School in Guildford, so the train journey was covered by my season ticket (thanks Surrey CC).

I remember seeing the vast majority of bands listed above; in particular I share Barry, Mike, and Andy’s recollections of being part of the ‘Bright Lights, Big City’ recording (still have the vinyl album); Mike’s opinion about the merits of Free; Andy’s memory of Fleetwood Mac’s ‘Orange’ speakers (was it the night ‘Albatross’ went to number one, although of course they’d been booked long before…?); and John’s description of summer 1969, being in the garden for the moon landing.

Then there was the night Genesis played, and either over-ran or played encores. The result was that I missed that last train home. Some time later, walking in the dark trying to hitch a lift, a car stopped (my memory tells me it was on Milford Common, but I’m not sure of that detail).

The kindly couple turned out to be Mr and Mrs Rutherford, who had been watching their son. So years later, and indeed ever since, ‘In the living years’ has always meant a great deal to me.

P.S. re original article: I was a friend of JJ Burnel at the RGS, and remember once or twice going home with him after school – so visiting his parent’s restaurant, and also Muscott’s(?) stamp dealers, nearby.

Responses to Letter: My Special Memories of the Gin Mill Club

Sally Rogers Reply

December 9, 2016 at 6:39 pm

I have also just discovered this site! David, I think it’s my Duster Bennett album!

Never had a record player, so as far as I know you’ve got my British blues, Jimi Hendrix and Duster Bennett. Never saw Genesis, though – too young!
Hugh O’Donovan Reply

April 13, 2018 at 11:50 pm

You still around Haslemere, David?

Remember you very well. I’ve lost contact with most of our Royal Grammar School contempories from those teenage years.

Remember JJ Burnel well of course (played a lot of rugby with him).

Drinking in the bar of the Guildford Civic Hall (how uncool was that?) with John Mayall and other Bluesbreakers of the time gigging there.

Savoy Brown even played at the RGS six-form dance!

So many greats and future greats growing up or coming to perform around Guildford and Godalming (the Angel being the best known for them of course) in those days.

We were privileged. Did we realise how privileged then?
Keith Browning Reply

September 8, 2018 at 10:58 am

Great days – went many times but was dependent on a lift from Woking with Don Kellow or Rob Denning. The Chaplin brothers were also regulars.

Remarkable that there are few if any photos or recordings. Now there would be literally tens of thousands. Just a wonderful moment in time – and introduced me to Newcastle Brown, an added attraction.