Dan Shears Press Pack by Nick Weetch

DAN SHEARS PRESS PACK October Tour 2012 CONTENTS: • Preview editorial

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Proving his worth T

HE success of acts such as JLS, G4, Olly Murs and One Direction have proved that you don’t need to win The X Factor to establish a career for yourself.

And one-time hopeful Aiden Grimshaw has proved that even if you don’t make it into the final three, you can still establish a music career. Despite leaving the 2010 series of The X Factor in week six – finishing below the likes of Wagner, Mary Byrne, Cher Lloyd, One Direction and eventual winner Matt Cardle in what was a very strong year – the singer came back last month with a debut album, Misty Eye, home to the top 40 single Is This Love. “I was gutted when I was knocked out of The X Factor,” he admits over the phone. “I was only 18 – it was a bit of a mental thing. I remember thinking that night that I was stood on a piano [singing Rocket Man] – I didn’t know what was going on. “Looking back it was one of the best things I had ever done. I was an amazing platform. For anyone who goes on there it’s an opportunity.” He believes The X Factor gave him the push he needed to move on. “Before, I was coming home with £7.50 in my pocket thinking I was Rockefeller,” he laughs. “The most important thing in the process is that if you want to do what I want to do, you have to see it as a way of making people listen. There is no point going round a year later and complaining – they don’t owe you anything. It’s up to you, it’s your own future.” Grimshaw was signed to RCA Records after leaving The X Factor, moved from his Blackpool hometown to London and spent the next two years putting together material and ideas for his debut album. The first challenge was finding someone to work with. “I was working with lots of different people but I needed to meet someone who got me and where I was coming from,” he says. That person turned out to be producer Jarrad Rogers, who has worked with the likes of Lana Del Rey and Tinchy Stryder. “I knew from the moment we did the first

Download Of The Week

Want more music by local artists? Visit theargus.co.uk/downloads NAME: Dan Shears And The Velveteen Orkestra FROM: Brighton and London INFLUENCES: Muse, Pink Floyd, Squeeze, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, The Smiths, and European and US folk PROFILE: It was an English presentation on music of the 1970s culminating in a performance of a Black Sabbath song that began Bromley schoolboy Dan Shears’s career in live music. The south London-born singer was invited to join a covers band as vocalist and began learning how to play the guitar using borrowed instruments.

AIDEN GRIMSHAW Concorde 2, Madeira Drive, Brighton, Monday, September 24 tune together that he was the person to do the album,” says Grimshaw. “He just got me. “I find it hard to say things musically that make sense – people would take my ideas and make their own versions of them. When I had an idea for a lyric or song, he would back it up with a big beat or piano lick. It was just two lads in a shed making music. It was actually a studio at the bottom of his garden but it sounds cooler to say a shed!” The album came together over the course of four or five weeks, although Grimshaw had been writing for several months before. “We took the best bits of everything. There are a few songs on the album that I had already written and the rest came from being sat in the studio.” Last time Grimshaw was on the road it was part of the X Factor tour, so he’s looking forward to playing a full tour in support of his own music. “We have a new band and it’s a whole different vibe – there’s no Wagner there!” he says. “The album has a big sound and I think it surprised a few people. The live show should be an expansion of the album. All the boys who get dragged along by their girlfriends might end up saying, ‘That was pretty good.’” He may have just released his debut but he is already collating ideas for a follow-up. “I spend my days making voice notes on my phone,” he says. “Last night I had an idea that kept me up until 5am making noises on my phone that I don’t understand today. “I’ve been sat on my bum for two years so it’s nice to be doing something.” Support from Seye.

Duncan Hall

essential info Starts 7.30pm, £11.50. Call 01273 673311

He was bought his own guitar at the age of 16 and formed his first band, Coma – named after his battle with the serious illness meningococcal meningitis as a toddler. When the band split in 2007, he started out on his own, while also studying for a music degree at the University of Sussex. Initially performing as Petruchka – and taking lyrical influences from the likes of Angela Carter, Franz Kafka and the films of Stanley Kubrick and Tim Burton – he eventually created the sound of Dan Shears And The Velveteen Orkestra, based around the idea of an orchestra from the street, using working-class musicians, adding a touch of venom to the rich orchestrations. The resulting EP, The Eternal Mystery Of The Human Heart, was released in 2010. He embarked on his first tour in February, supporting Charlene Soraia, while putting together material for his second EP, Against A Sea Of Troubles, which is set for release on his own Strawbychka Recordings on Monday. TRACK: London By Lamplight WEBSITE: danshearsmusic.com MYSPACE: myspace.com/danshearsmusic FACEBOOK: facebook.com/danshearsmusic SOUNDCLOUD: soundcloud.com/danshearsmusic EMAIL: sue@whitehousemanagement.com NEXT GIG: Dan Shears plays a free show at The Fishbowl, in East Street, Brighton, on Wednesday, September 26, and The Prince Albert, in Trafalgar Street, Brighton, on Tuesday, October 9, tickets cost £4/£3.

clubs Dave Clarke

Concorde 2, Madeira Drive, Brighton, Friday, September 21 THE DJ dubbed the Baron Of Techno by the late, great John Peel plays an anarchic set, backed by Tony Montana, Chris Crossley, Taylortronic, Sketchy Steve and Jiminy Clackett. 11pm to 4am, £8. Call 01273 673311.

Reverb Bistro

Sticky Mike’s Frog Bar, Middle Street, Brighton, Friday, September 21 THE bass and dub residency returns featuring Dubconscious Orchestra, Falla, Original Pearls, Relapse and headliner Jester from the Satta Soundclash. 11pm to 3.30am, free. Call 01273 749465.

Audio’s Eighth Birthday

Audio, Marine Parade, Brighton, Friday, September 21 NOW one of Brighton’s longest-serving clubs, Audio breaks out the birthday cake across two floors, with Oneman, Boddika, Tru Thoughts’ Robert Luis and the Dead Rose Music Company. From 6pm, £10/£12. Call 01273 606906.

Supercharged

Digital, King’s Road Arches, Brighton, Saturday, September 22 JACK BEATS, made up of former Scratch Pervert Plus One and Mixologist Beni G, headline the night of bass-driven house, backed by Dub Phizix and Strategy. From 11pm, £11. Call 01273 227767.

Donky Pitch and Convex Collective Green Door Store, Trafalgar Street Arches, Brighton, Monday, September 24 NEW YORK producer Howse and Time Wharp join Sussex producers Max Buzuk, Manaca and Miles Courtney, backed by visuals from WhiskasFX. From 7.30pm, £5. Call 01273 606312.

MAKE GOOD YOUR ESCAPE The Haunt, Pool Valley, Brighton, Saturday, September 22 FIVE years on from calling a hiatus on their musical dreams, four-piece Make Good Your Escape have reformed for a one-off show. The band’s debut record, Never Look Back Here Again (released in 2006), was described by the NME on its release as “an album to make other bands jealous” – a compliment if ever there was one. But sadly, proving the rag is no longer kingmaker, the group never quite furthered their promise – despite supporting Maxïmo Park, The Fall, The Maccabees, The Spinto Band and getting a track onto a Playstation game (Beautiful Skin was used on Burnout). With their classic indie rock line-up of lead vocals and guitar, Mike Yates, lead guitar, Tim Fleet, bass, Tim Foreman, and drums, Steve Wattis, Make Good Your Escape were played on Radio 1, XFM and BBC 6 Music. A few singles on Fierce Panda followed the album, as did a triumphant sold-out show at Concorde 2 in 2007. Before this show, the quartet were back in the studio and there is new material, with The Rescue available on Soundcloud. Support from The Deal Was For The Diamond and Holland. Doors 7pm, tickets £5 in advance. Call 01273 606312

Musical celebration FESTIVAL OF MUSIC St Nicholas Church, Dyke Road, Brighton, Thursday, September 27, to Sunday, September 30 A NIGHT of traditional English garden music from the Neil Jenkins Chorale launches St Nicholas Church’s four-day celebration of music. Also on the bill this year are the Sussex Jazz Orchestra on Friday night, a gala opera evening on Saturday evening, before closing with a Festival Choral Evensong from 6.30pm on Sunday. Playing daytime concerts are guitar duo William Browne and James David Smith, A Bunch Of Daphs and St Nicholas Youth Choir, and harp and flute duo Amara. Tickets from £3 daytime, £10 evening. Call 01273 709709

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Dan Shears Interview Like

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Insisting he is a songwriter who sings, as opposed to a “singer/songwriter”, Dan Shears successfully merges the sounds of European Folk and Guitar-Based Indie Stylings to create an intoxicating hybrid of rich romanticism and brutal intensity. On the back of an EP release, Gigs & Festivals caught up with the talented musician to see what he had in store for fans in the not-so-distant future.

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Hello! How are you today? I’m good thanks. I just had a long train journey back from Norwich because I played there last night, which went very

well. the night before that I played in Stockport and that was cool, as well. So you’ve been busy then? Sounds tiring! Yes, yes. Very busy and there’s been a lot of travelling, so I am shattered now. What was it initially that made you want to get into music?

My Dad and my Brothers were all in bands and stuff, so it was just what I grew up around. I think I always, in some way, had an intention of playing in bands and stuff because I learned to play the guitar. For somebody who’s never heard your songs, how would you describe your sound? To people who ask me, I normally just say “acoustic, folk music” but if I was being pedantic and particular about it I’d probably describe it as dark folk or folk noir, that’s what i’m trying to push it as.

Who have been your musical inspirations? Initially, probably Radiohead and Jeff Buckley. Also Morrisey and the Doves. I take quite a lot of influence from Eastern European folk music also and American folk music. A bit of a mix then? Yeah, there’s quite a mixture. There’s very subtle bits from all of those things, I think.

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Back in 2010 you sent copies of your first EP off to a handful of well-known independent record shops around the UK and it sold out really quickly. That must have been encouraging for you? Yeah, it was good. It was mainly my own telling people about it, really. I just contacted various shops in different areas and then let people I knew in those areas spread the word. It got to the point where they sold out, which was good because I hadn’t done any touring. All it was was word of mouth! Then in February of this year you went on your first support tour. How did you find that?

It was great. I think I probably got treated a lot better than most support acts do. I was supporting Charlene Soraia, who is a very good friend of mine and we had loads of fun! You’ve just released a new EP, how have people received that? It seems to have been received really well! We seem to be getting some really good reviews for it and some really good comments, so people seem to be really liking it. I’m nervous because I’m still waiting for the first person to really slag it off.

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Did you write specifically for the EP or did you have a big collection of songs to choose from? 2,455 people like Gigs and Festivals.

After we made the first EP, we just set out to record a bank of songs and write a portfolio. Kind of like plate spinning, we do a load of work on three or four songs and get them how we want them to be and then move onto the next set. When putting tracks together for this EP, I suppose we tried to find a running theme for the portfolio. There’s quite a dark Russian-influenced folk song in there, a bluegrass-Johnny Cash type song and also a 60!s love ballad track on there. It’s all under this sort of dark gothic umbrella, so that running theme ties them all together.

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The EP is called “Against A Sea Of Troubles”. Is there any particular message behind the name choice? The idea was for the album to be called “Take Up Arms”. “Against A Sea Of Troubles” is taken from the same soliloquy, which features in Hamlet. Kitty

Oh, so a Shakespeare reference? That’s cool.

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Yeah, the idea was to tie in the titles so there was a running theme in that respect. Do you have any tour plans coming up? At the moment I’m touring to try and push the record “Against A Sea Of Troubles”, as it came out last week. I have the weekend off but i’m playing in Brighton, Woking, Basingtoke, Bolton; anywhere that will have me, really! I have quite a few London dates still to play also.

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Have you started writing for the next EP? Yeah, we’ve started putting things together! Not really sure what’s going on it yet because there’s a lot of songs to choose from. Finally if you had to give our readers a reason to download your music, what would it be? A USP? A reason to buy me? I guess because I’m very honest and we’re not really doing anything to try and fit in with a scene. If anything, we’re trying to repel that if possible. Something unique? That’s always good! I want to thank you for taking the time out of your day to speak with us. I hope the rest of your tour goes well!

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Thank you very much. It was really nice chatting to you.

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Meet Dan Shears & The Velveteen Orchestra Follow Us

by Karlyn King / September 15th 2012 / No Comment

Dan Shears and his Velveteen Orchestra started out as just Dan, who, after realising that if he didnʼt have music he didnʼt have anything, formed his own label, Strawbychka Recordings and assembled a live band of mandolins, ukeleles and accordians to realise his art. Having been compared vocally to Museʼs Matt Bellamy and the darker side of Nick Cave, I was intrigued to find out more about one of Londonʼs more unique artists outwith the indie zeitgeist.

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Your music has been described as “Folk-Noir”. What does that mean to you? I wanted to make music that accessed the visual style of writing and planted images in the head of the listener. Iʼm a big fan of the darker side of pop music; Radiohead, Doves, Nick Cave and any British invasion bands of the 1960s. I used to listen to Franki Valli and loved the vocal harmonies. I love film scores and music to the moving image.

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Traditional pop songs dont have these visual points. It could be described as a little self indulgent but I think itʼs interesting. I love the layers and textures of Morricone and Elfman. Why did you choose to start your own label? Itʼs very difficult to get attention in the music industry if you donʼt fit into whatʼs hip. I wanted to create a loud sound to shout over the top of the “indie zeitgeist”. I had just come out of a horrible abusive relationship and had no home or job. I used my dole money to make this record. I thought if I donʼt have this, I donʼt have anything. What makes up the Velveteen Orchestra? Well, initially it was just me playing everything on the record but then I got musicians to play live with. We have accordian, cello, violin, piano, trumpet, mandolin, ukelele, guitars, and a mash up of a ukelele and mandolin called a ʻmando-ukeʼ with nylon strings. I love stringed instruments and I loved how Johnny Marr made his guitar sound like an orchestra weaving in and out, creating an atmosphere on every Smithʼs song. After supporting Charlene Soraia, who would you like to be supporting next? I have a list of things that I would like to do in my career. Sharing a stage with the Doves is definitely one of them. We share similar interests; we both like The Smiths and trying to make music interesting. Itʼs about so much more than just writing a good song that crops up on Capitol Radio 40 years later. What is next for Dan Shears? My debut EP is released on the 24th September then weʼll be doing some UK shows. Iʼm currently rehearsing with the full band which is strange because Iʼve been playing myself for the last year. I hope to write an album next year. Id like to play more gigs up north and Iʼve never been to Ireland. Iʼd also love to go back to Switzerland to play and to Russia as I think they would get the Russian folk references that I use a lot. The main track on the EP is called “In The Shadows Of Better Men” and thatʼs been the most fun to play as a full band so far. “Against A Sea Of Troubles” by Dan Shears is available on 24th September 2012.

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12 October 2012

LIVE MUSIC

LISTINGS CONCERT REVIEWS TOUR NEWS

Lakeman to light up G Live

Seth Lakeman.

FOLKINSPIRED, multi-award winning singer/songwriter, Seth Lakeman will be bringing his band and his unique blend of foot-stomping music to G Live on Wednesday October 17 at 8pm. Having re-released his album Tales from the Barrell House in April to meet demand after the original limited edition release sold out before Christmas, Seth Lakeman is on a roll and will be using his trademark soaring vocals to make sure Surrey audiences have a great night out. 2012 has already seen Seth perform at the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and with the BBC Concert Orchestra in March as part of the Music Nation weekend. He toured Europe and Australia in

April and May, before having a packed summer of festival appearances, including the Cambridge Folk Festival. Celebrated folk singer-songwriter and virtuoso fiddler Seth Lakeman could not have dug deeper into his Devon roots for his 6th album, Tales from the Barrel House. He even descended into a disused West Country copper mine to record one track. His usual bow-shredding violin riffs will be there, as are his driving tenor guitar rhythms, but it’s the new primitive sounds he’s conjured up that will give this gig an atmospheric vibe. These include loads of what Seth calls ‘dirty viola’, banjo, bouzouki, a booming bass heartbeat from an old Salvation

Army drum rescued from a junkshop, and a jangling array of percussion made up from bits of old iron or discarded tools found down the mine and around the Morwellham workshops. Seth said of the tour: “I want listeners to feel they are down that mine, or in the barrel house, immersed in this living history while hearing the stories of the people who inhabit the songs. “I’d like fans to literally feel the atmosphere in which the album was recorded.” Tickets for the show cost £19 and can booked by calling the G Live box office on 0844 7701 797 (10am-6pm, Monday to Saturday) or online at the website GLive.co.uk.

Return of star to night of jamming OCTOBER means Oxjam and the return of the Lovely Music Night at The Crown in Horsell on Tuesday 16 when collections will be made on behalf of the charity. This month Dan Shears, just back from a national tour supporting Charlene Soraira and festival dates all over Europe will be celebrating the release of his new

EP Against a Sea of Troubles. With powerful enigmatic songs sung with the voice of an angel and asides from the mind of a cross dressing docker it’s always an entertaining and musically amazing evening where ever Dan plays. Also playing will be local singer songwriter Anna Neale who has released her CD Riverman and Phoenix Chroi

trying out some new songs, sounds and old jokes. There is open mic from 8pm to 9pm where anyone can pitch up and play and as always the evening ends with a hooley where all can join in on house tambourines, kazoos, ukeleles and drums, all for a truly love night. Email phoenixculturalcentre@yahoo. co.uk or call 07763 833807.

Dan Shears.

What’s On

what’son

Solo gig from talented Jo THE folk club, at the Guildford Institute, Ward Street, welcomes back singer and multi-instrumentalist Jo Freya as its guest on Friday October19. Jo has been booked in many guises over the years, as a member of the ceilidh bands Blowzabella and Old Swan Band, in the acapella sextet with Coope, Boyes and Simpson and with Michael Morpurgo at Surrey University. However, it is as a solo performer that she excels. Tickets at 01483 444789 or www.electrictheatre.co.uk.

Energetic music mix KIDS In Glass Houses headline at University of Surrey Students Union in Guildford on Thursday October 13 at 7pm. Expect an energetic mix of rock, punk and tinges of indie plus bonafide alternative hits. Having been championed by Radio 1, Kerrang, NME and a fountain of other musical dignitaries, they are sure to be one of the highlights of the calendar. In support will be Hildamay, Midgar and Dials. Admittance is 16+. Tickets cost £9 in advance from http://tinyurl.com/ KidsInGuildford or £13 on the door.

Husband and wife band’s eclectic performance for charity A GREAT match of multi-instrumentalists and singers, Hampshire based folk band Baby Face Nelson and The Contra Band will be playing at St Paul’s Church Hall, Crawley Ridge, Camberley on Saturday October 13 as part of a double bill of entertainment organised as a fund raiser for charity Connect Christian Counselling Service. The band consists of husband and

wife, Dave and Barbara Hyde, alongside John Russell and Bekah Duncalfe. They came together over a common desire to play acoustic music using the variety of interesting instruments that they had gathered, forming a very ‘song’ driven outfit with a big emphasis on vocals. Dave sings, plays banjo, acoustic guitar, resonator guitar and piano. Babs sings and plays the bodhran, an Irish

drum. Occasionally, she also plays the whistle. John has had a long career in the music business. Occasional lead guitarist for rock band, After The Fire and John sings, plays mandocello, mandolin and acoustic guitar for the band and runs a small recording studio and helps to look after a village church where he lives. Bekah has a degree in music and

THINGS TO DO O GUILDFORD Book Festival will see the town’s venues hosting a myriad of events from Thursday October 18 to Saturday October 27. Highlights this week include the workshop The Art of the Short Story by Wendy Perriam, at the Electric Theatre, on October 18, A celebration in poetry and song with Alwyn Marriage and Peter Terry at St Mary's Church on October 19 and Reader’s Day, a mini festival all in one day on October 20. Details on 01483 444789 or at www. guildfordbookfestival.co.uk O THE Weald & Downland Open Air Museum, Singleton will hold its Autumn Countryside Show on Saturday and Sunday October 13 and 14. Attractions include a falconry display a horse-drawn wagon ride and hurdle and spar making competitions by the National Society of Master Thatchers. Details on 01243

811363 or at www.wealddown.co.uk O THE Lightbox gallery and museum in Woking holding The Ingram Collection: Still Point by Suki Chan until Sunday November 4. Details and bookings on 01483 737800 and at www.thelightbox. org.uk. O HORSLEY and Clandon Society of Arts will be holding its annual exhibition of members’ work at the East Horsley Village Hall on Saturday October 13 from 10 am to 4pm. It will feature paintings framed and unframed in various mediums and a ceramics table. Entry is free. Refreshments and ample parking. All work is for sale. Details from Robyn Cormack (Secretary) on 0l483 224063. O THE Millmead Centre, Guildford is holding the book launch and signing of The Lost Blade of Zerigor by local author KK Sutton on Saturday October 13, from

works as a music therapist as well as teaching. She sings, plays fiddle, accordion and glockenspiel. The musical style of the band is eclectic, having elements of roots, folk, americana and bluegrass. 2012 has seen the band ramp up its gigging, mostly in the south of England. They are at their happiest when they are playing live but have also embarked on

ACTIVITY IDEAS

8pm. Entry by free ticket only. Details and tickets from the Millmead Centre on 01483 575008. O UNIVERSITY of Surrey, Guildford is holding, the Guildford Book Festival Exhibition House of Horrors, 99 Dead Snowmen and Other Wicked Cartoons by Tony Saulles, illustrator of the Horrible Science series until Thursday October 25. The university will be the venue for the festival’s celebration of science with It's Not Rocket Science by Ben Miller on Friday October 19. Details at www.surrey.ac.uk O CLAREMONT Landscape Garden, the National Trust Property in Esher is holding Tai Chi in the garden on Wednesdays until October 17. The venue will open early on Saturday October 13 for visitors to enjoy the sunrise. Details on 01372 467806

DAYS OUT

O ONSLOW Village Garden Club meets at Onslow Village Hall. On October 17, Mr J Negus will present Twelve Months of Colour. Details on 01483 577035. O FARNHAM Maltings is holding the annual exhibition and fair of the Aldershot Militaria Society featuring medals, uniforms, badges, books, weapons, equipment and militaria on Sunday October 14, from 10.15am. O GUILDFORD Travel Club meets at Onslow Village Hall, at 8pm. On October 16, Richard Snailham will present Down Bolivian Rivers in Reed boats. Membership is £28 and visitors pay £5. For further information on membership email gtc@shinbone.org.uk or visit www. guildfordtravelclub.org.uk. O WALTON on Thames Bowling Club is staging a race night at the Hersham Village Hall on Saturday October 13 at

recording their original songs, some of which are available as a preview. www. baby-face-nelson-and-the-contra-band. co.uk. The gig will be preceded by the charity’s version of Call My Bluff with their own panel of judges at 7.30pm. Tickets are £10 and can be obtained by calling 01276 24210 between 9.30am and 5.30pm Monday to Friday.

what’son 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10 and include a two-course supper. More details and tickets from Michael on 01932 844066. O RHS Wisley is holding the Taste of Autumn Festival from Wednesday to Sunday October 17 to 21. Taste more than 20 different varieties of apples, enjoy cookery demonstrations, and get advice on growing your own. Details and bookings at www.rhs.org.uk/wisley O GUILDFORD Cathedral is holding an exhibition and sale of original paintings by three local artists until Tuesday October 24, from 9.30am to 4.30pm. Admission is free. O THE Fountain Gallery, Hampton Court is holding an exhibition of new paintings by Andrew Blyth until Sunday October 21. Opening times: Tuesday to Sunday from 11.30am to 5.30pm. Details at http://www.fountaingallery.co.uk/

Walks O GODALMING and Haslemere Ramblers Group meet on Sunday October 14 for a five-mile walk outside/near the Village Hall, The Street, Compton (B3000), at 1.15pm. Details: Damian 01483 422137/07790 164274. On Wednesday October 17, they meet for a 10-mile walk at Puttenham Common, Middle car park, at 10am. Details: Rose and Don 01483 810028. They also meet for an 8.5-mile walk from Shere Recreation Ground car park at 10am. Details: Peter S 01483 565506/07901 384111. On Thursday October 18, they meet for a five-mile walk at Winkworth Arboretum, National Trust upper car park, at 10.15am. Details: Anna 01483 414767.

O WOKING and District Ramblers meet on Saturday October 13 for a 12-mile walk at Hydon’s Ball car park, at 10am. Details: Erica 01483 770484. On Wednesday October 17, they will meet for a 4.75mile walk at Trinity Crescent, Sunningdale Village (on west side of Holy Trinity Church), at 10am. Details: Brian 01483 480651 O SURREY Walks Club meets on Sunday October 14 for a 10-mile walk around Cranleigh and Rudgwick. Details: Phil 020 8979 7104. They also meet for a 5.5mile walk around Leith Hill. Details: Roy and Marion 01932 222113. On Thursday October 18 there’s a four-mile walk around Godstone and Tilburstowhill.

Details: Peter and Ruth 01932 840821. O GUILDFORD Ramblers meet on Sunday October 14 for an eight-mile walk at the car park on RHS after 1.5-miles at West Hanger Woods, at 10.30am. Details: Janice 01483 223604/07765 091260. On Wednesday October 17, they will meet for a fivemile walk starting at Newlands Corner car park, off A25, at 10.30am. Details: Terry 01252 322292/07745 905916 or www.guildfordramblers.org.uk. O GUILDFORD Rambling Club is meeting on Sunday October 14 for a nine-mile circular walk starting at Wood Street Village Green, at 10am. Details: Mark 01483 571341.

Woking News & Mail – Preview – 12th October