February 2024. Raynes Park. Wimbledon.
Two (2) nights in London. Two nights of culture and the walking that you miss when you’re “looking after” parents (shopping and chat mainly).
But three new GBG ticks on the same line west from Clapham Junction was too good to miss. I may never again complete the Guide, no-one needs to climb Everest twice, but the book still takes you to the most exciting of places.
Like Raynes Park (pop. 9,738).
No, it isn’t really. Wiki says “Raynes Park is a residential suburb, railway station and local centre near Wimbledon” which hardly tells me WHAT it is. Can you buy “I ❤️ Raynes Park” T-shirts ?
“In 2015, Raynes Park High Street was a finalist in the Great British High Street competition’s London category.[8] The competition title was eventually won by Ealing‘s Pitshanger Lane“. Can this be true ?
Here’s your house price data for 2022-23;
I just don’t see what you get for your £1m terraced house, apart from a fast train line. Oh yeah.
The most famous son of Raynes Park was born here in 1938 and died, in unpleasant but spectacular manner, in Malta.
No idea what pubs Oliver Reed left behind, but the new GBG entry is, well, better than I hoped feared.
The Cavern is true to its name,
more realistic a homage to the Fab 4 than anything on Mathew Street.
I really liked it, and for the Old Boys round the room it might be the most pubby place in town (if indeed Raynes Park is a town), more like that bar in Stourport than the Krakatoa (nothing is that exciting).
The signage outside advertises Bud, Bodd and Holsten Pils. Reader Alan whose headline I just nicked promised Sea Fury, but instead we get two “local” beers.
Mrs RM looked forlornly for some craft keg to accompany my pint of Copper Leaf before resignedly having a half (it won’t last) of “C’mon England“. I never thought I’d find myself married to someone who actually asked for a “C’mon England“, which sounds suspiciously like a rugby beer.
Decent enough, well conditioned, as it should be at £8.45 for a pint and a half.
The pictures on the wall (not Echo & the Bunnymen) say ’60s, the actual soundtrack is ’70s soul,
and I can live with that.
Sorry Alan, can’t see any AC/DC cover bands on the WHAT’S ON, but Big Jason should see you alright on Thursday night.
retiredmartin 
I think the full list of cover bands i have seen there is as follows
AC/DC (Bad Boy Boogie and they`re back next month)
Tom Petty
Rainbow
Free/Bad Company
Steely Dan
Wessex Pistols (hillbilly punk covers)
Rory Gallagher
Best original band the Groundhogs with one founder member the drummer I think
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Which is the easiest artist to cover. I would have thought AC/DC, with Barry White the hardest.
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Alan, I saw a couple of gigs by the Groundhogs, at Folkestone’s Leas Cliff Hall. Must have been early 70’s, when I was still at school.
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Had their album “Thank Christ For The Bomb” or suchlike – not the sunniest of compilations…
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Paul,
During the early 1970s in Wolverhampton I saw Cy Grant, the first black person to appear regularly on British television.
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If I’m honest Etu, I wasn’t a huge fan, but only went along for the ride, so to speak. Going to see a band, was more of a social thing than anything else, but we did see some class acts, aside from the Groundhogs.
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Yes, it was probably about identity. We perhaps each wanted to be Someone Who Went To See Bands, and also who had a collection of LPs
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Peter Bruntnell! Very likeable singer-songwriter. Got several of his albums.
I’ve seen him live twice, and neither time intentionally! Once as a support act for another band at the Borderline and once when he did a set at The Compasses in Gomshall one evening when we just happened to be in.
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