Yes the end of an era for the Railway Folk Club after more than 40 years. The origin of the club is hazy in the mists of time (help would be appreciated!). Graham Plater opened the club at the Railway Hotel, fratton, on Monday nights in 1965 following the demise of Ted Wenham's club (started in October 1961?) Which had run on Tuesday nights at the Cobden Arms in Arundel Street (not called the Railway? - anyone remember the name?). The railway is one of the few clubs in the country to have maintained a policy of a guest night every week. Sooty's predecessors running the club: Graham Plater (not Platter); John Bristow ; John Harvey, and Dave Keast, finally it was taken over by Sooty Broughton who has been running it since 1968.

The Railway has been a launch pad into folk music for many people over the years. Sooty Broughton has become synonymous with the club and both are well respected by artistes and attendees through-out Britain and he always made new faces very welcome, giving all a personal "thank you" at the door at the end of the night - it was part of the style of the club. At Folk Clubs and Festivals around the country I've (Ed) been amazed at just how prevalent is the knowledge of the club and Sooty.

Come along for the last night and help make it a party. We're hoping to see some once familiar faces return for a final call. If you know of any one who used to attend and/or perform please make sure that they know it is the last night of the club.

We've had various venues around the island:

The Railway Hotel, Fratton (the first 20 years) --- The King's Hotel, Albert Road --- The Horshoe, King's Road (all bars as it was progressively refurbished) --- The Festing Hotel, Festing Road --- The Hornpipe Theatre, Kingston Road --- The Rail Social Club (just 'round the corner from the Railway Hotel) --- The Alma Arms, Highland Road.

If we've forgotten one then please let us know.....and click here and we'll update the web site.

And we've been rattling our brains to recall all the names of artistes that have appeared at the Railway over the years....again, if you recall one we've forgotten then let us know by clicking here and we'll update the web site

This is our list:

MIKE HARDING --- BILLY CONNOLLY --- JASPER CARROT --- ISLA ST CLAIR --- MARTIN CARTHY --- JAKE THACKRAY --- BILLY MITCHEL (LINDISFARNE) --- WATERFALL --- FRED WEDLOCK --- NOEL MURPHY --- SHEP WOOLLEY --- MADDY PRIOR --- JUNE TABOR --- CATHY LE SURF --- JOHN KIRKPATRICK --- MICK ELLIOT --- RICHARD DIGANCE --- SHOW OF HANDS --- PAUL DOWNES & PHIL BEER --- JON ISHERWOOD --- PAT NELSON --- VIN GARBUTT --- OYSTER BAND --- JEREMY TAYLOR --- MAXI & MITCH --- CILLA FISHER & ARTIE TRESIZE --- BILL WHALEY & DAVE FLETCHER --- DOUGIE MACLEAN --- JEZ LOWE --- ROY BAILEY --- EMILY SLADE --- DAVEY ARTHUR --- IAN BRUCE --- DEREK BRIMSTONE --- ROSIE HARDMAN --- MARTIN SIMPSON --- PETE & CHRIS COE --- TONY ROSE --- NIC JONES --- THE WILSON'S --- GARY & VERA ASPEY --- STRAWHEAD --- CHRIS NEWMAN & MAIRE NI CHATHASAIGH --- EDDIE WALKER --- MARTYN WYNDHAM-READ --- DIZ DISLEY --- COSMOTHEKA --- KIERON HALPIN --- HIGH LEVEL RANTERS --- MUNDY TURNER --- CHRIS WHILE --- JULIE MATHEWS --- MIKE SILVER --- LEE COLLINSON --- DANGEROUS CURVES --- BILL JONES --- RON TRUEMAN BORDER --- YING TONG JOHN --- ENGLISH TAPESTRY --- JOHN JAMES --- HARVEY ANDREWS --- LES BARKER --- ROBIN DRANSFIELD --- ARTISAN --- ANDY IRVINE --- TIM VAN EYKEN --- MICK RYAN --- PETE HARRIS --- DAVE WEBBER & ANNI FENTIMAN --- HUGHIE JONES --- JOHNNY COLLINS --- GILLY DERBY --- STEVE ASHLEY & CHRIS LESLEY --- TOM McCONVILLE --- TONY WILSON & MICK DOONAN --- BOB FOX --- SIMON NICOL --- KEVIN DEMPSEY --- McCALMANS --- RALPH JORDEN --- CARL HOGSDEN & JANE THRELFULL --- RORY MCLEOD --- HOT TAMALES --- KATHRYN ROBERTS & SEAN LAKEMAN --- HEN PARTY --- EILEEN MCGANN --- PETER BELLAMY --- ALLAN TAYLOR --- BILL CADDICK --- CHRIS WOOD --- ANDY CUTTING --- JIMMY CROWLEY --- PETA WEBB & KEN HALL --- BRIAN PETERS --- GERRY LOCKRAN --- DAVE PASKET --- SONGWAINERS --- ISCA FAIR --- ROBIN WILLIAMSON --- SARA GREY --- ELLIE ELLIS --- SARAH MORGAN & MARY EAGLE --- BREAD & ROSES --- STEVE JORDAN --- CHRIS WOOD & ANDY CUTTING --- TOM LEWIS --- BILL ZORN --- PINT & DALE --- TOM AND BARBARA BROWN --- JACK HUDSON --- STEVE TILSTON --- KEITH KENDRICK & LYNNE HERAUD --- BLUE SKY DIVERS --- ROBIN GARSIDE --- MIKE WEST --- STEVE MAY & TIM BROADBENT --- CHRIS FOSTER --- JON BRINDLEY --- KEN STEPHENS --- PORTSMOUTH SHANTYMEN --- THE BOARDING PARTY --- BERMUDA QUADRANGLE --- RAMSKYTE --- MIKE NICHOLSON --- PARISIEN SWING --- REET, PETITE & GONE --- PETE COLLINS --- GEOFF HIGGINBOTTOM --- ROD PATTERSON --- PETE QUINN --- COCKERSDALE --- THE HOT TAMALES --- BAND OF TWO --- HILARY SPENCER --- CHERRINGTON AND WARD --- LEGACY --- TANIA OPLAND & MIKE FREEMAN --- JOHN CONNELLY & PETE SUMNER --- BOB WALSER & JULIE YOUNG --- ROD SHEARMAN --- JOHN TOWNSEND --- DEREK GIFFORD --- TALL STORIES --- WORKERS PLAYTIME --- JUDY COOK --- JIM COUZA --- THE HARD TIMES STRING BAND --- AN SEISIUN --- DEBBY McCLATCHY --- BRAM TAYLOR --- MARKERR --- PETE HARRIS AND MARK HOUGHTON --- STEVE MAY --- JOHNNY SILVO --- APICELLA --- TIM LAYCOCK --- ROB JOHNSTON --- FATHER JACK --- GEORGE WILSON --- BRIAN HOOPER --- WILDEST WISH --- JULIAN LONGDEN --- JOHNNY COLLINS --- STRAWHEAD --- ROGER WILSON --- THE CARLA HENDRICKS BAND --- "KING" ROLLO --- ARLEN --- JIM BAINBRIDGE --- RUBBER CHICKEN --- BENNY GRAHAM --- ANDREW PERRY --- BELASHAZZAR'S FEAST --- LYNNE HERAUD & PAT TURNER --- CHRISTINE ETTERMAN --- PARIS KERN --- BERNIE PARRY --- CANTORIS --- STEVE JORDAN --- DOGHOUSE --- DOUBLE TAKE --- LALLAN --- TIM LAYCOCK --- MARIE LITTLE --- GRAHAM MOORE --- SARAH MORGAN --- MIKE O'CONNOR --- STRING WHISTLE --- THREE'S COMPANY --- ROGER WATSON --- PAULINE CATO --- JOHNNY COPPIN --- BOBBY EAGLESHAM --- MAGPIE --- SIMON MAYOR & HILARY JAMES --- "SHANTY JACK" --- JOE STEAD --- BERNARD WRIGLEY --- CHUCKLEFOOT --- BEGGAR'S VELVET --- IAN BRUCE --- DAVE BURLAND --- ALIANZA --- ANNE LISTER --- GRAHAM O'CALLAGHAN --- MARGARET WALTERS & JOHN WARNER --- STAN ARNOLD --- FIONA SIMPSON --- LONG FELT WANT --- MARIA BARTON --- JON BURGE --- GRAHAM MOORE --- FASTEST BAT --- GERRY HALLOM --- PAUL METSERS --- MECHANICAL HORSE TROUGH --- STEVE TURNER --- JOHN FITZGERALD --- BOOTLEG --- CURATE'S EGG --- MIKE NICHOLSON --- QUICKSILVER --- ANDREW PERRY --- BRIAN HOOPER --- TONY FRY --- JEFF HENRY --- KEN STEPHENS --- RAGGED BOYS --- THE KITCHEN BAND --- SPREADTHICK --- SUSSEX BARN BAND --- BRIAN DEWHURST --- DON SHEPARD --- JOHNNY COPPIN --- TUNDRA --- CLIFF AUNGIER --- BRIGHTON TAVERNERS --- BERNARD POTTER --- MILES WOOTON --- SILAS --- LEON ROSSELSON --- TIM LAYCOCK --- HARVEY ANDREWS --- ALISTAIR ANDERSON --- CRIS ROHMAN --- CHRISTINE ETERMAN --- MALCOLM STENT --- BILL & BENNS --- CAROLINA SHOUT --- RICHARD DIGANCE --- PETER BELLAMY --- DOUGIE MACLEAN --- ALIANZA --- KIERAN HALPIN --- THE BOARDING PARTY --- BERMUDA TRIANGLE --- JOHN THE FISH --- DAVE PASKET --- CHUCKLEFOOT --- THE OLD PULL & PUSH --- BUGGSY MORRIS BAND --- MIKE WEST --- MUNDY-TURNER --- BELASHAZZAR'S FEAST --- DENISE MARIE --- QUICKSILVER --- ARCHIE FISHER --- HEN PARTY --- JIM BAINBRIDGE --- RAMSKYTE --- PAT RYAN --- COSMOTHEKA --- DAVE SEALY --- TIM BROADBENT --- KATHRYN ROBERTS & SEAN LAKEMAN --- RUBBER CHICKEN --- FATHER JACK --- BENNY GRAHAM --- PETE WATKINSON --- CARLA HENDRICKS BAND --- GEOFF HIGGINBOTTOM --- JULIAN LONGDEN --- ANDY IRVINE --- BOSUN'S CALL --- BILL WHALEY & DAVE FLETCHER --- PETA WEBB & KEN HALL --- JACK HUDSON --- ROB JOHNSTON --- HUGHIE JONES --- GEORGE WILSON --- BAND OF TWO --- BILLY MITCHELL --- ROGER WILSON --- LEGACY --- PETE QUINN --- PORTSMOUTH SHANTYMEN --- "KING" ROLLO --- ARLEN --- THE HARD TIMES STRING BAND --- STEVE TILSTON ---DEREK GIFFORD --- TALL STORIES --- WORKERS PLAYTIME --- JUDY COOK ---- JIM COUZA --- AN SEISIUN --- LUSCOMBE & JONES --- DEBBY McCLATCHY --- BRAM TAYLOR --- JEREMY TAYLOR --- BILL ZORN --- PAUL DOWNES --- EDDIE MURPHY --- EILEEN McGANN --- ROBIN GARSIDE --- BLUE SKY DIVERS --- STEVE MAY & TIM BROADBENT --- CHRIS FOSTER --- JON BRINDLEY --- WYNDWITCH --- PETE LUSCOMBE & BRIAN INGHAM --- BILL JONES --- BOB FOX --- PETE COLLINS --- ROD PATTERSON --- COCKERSDALE --- HILARY SPENCER --- CHERRINGTON AND WARD --- ALLAN TAYLOR --- TANIA OPLAND & MIKE FREEMAN --- JOHN CONNELLY & PETE SUMNER --- BOB WALSER & JULIE YOUNG --- ROD SHEARMAN --- John Townsend ---

Brian Hooper recalls: --- CUMBERLAND ECHOES --- ROY HARPER --- MALCOLM PRICE ---

Paul Hawkins adds:- --- MACHINE WITHOUT HORSES ---

Andrea points out: --- DAVE MOSES --- NEW MODERN IDIOT GRUNT BAND --- PIGSTY HILL LIGHT ORCHESTRA --- RALPH MCTELL --- JON BETMEAD --- DAVE AND TONI ARTHUR --- MIKE BALLENTYNE --- YETTIES --- MIKE ABSOLOM --- WHEATSTRAW --- THE LEESIDERS --- BARRY SKINNER --- SHEILA McDONALD ---

Keith Kendrick points out: MUCKRAM WAKES --- THE WATERSONS --- OAK --- 3 MEN IN A BOAT --- ALEX CAMPBELL --- CYRIL TAWNEY --- STEVE BENBOW --- GRAHAME AND EILEEN PRATT --- REGAL SLIP --- COOPE --- BOYES AND SIMPSON --- SWAN ARCADE --- ROY HARRIS --- RED SULLIVAN --- MARTIN WINDSOR --- THE YOUNG TRADITION --- BARRY DRANSFIELD --- ALUN TAYLOR --- SHIRLEY COLLINS --- KEITH KENDRICK (SOLO) --- FRANKIE ARMSTRONG --- ALISTAIR ANDERSON --- JOHNNY HANDLE --- THE AMAZING MR SMITH --- ANNE BRIGGS ---

Nick Gough adds: --- CROWS --- ASHLEY HUTCHINGS --- DAVE SWARBRICK --- JIM MAGEEAN --- ANNE LENNOX-MARTIN ---

Dave Jordan adds: --- JERRY'S BEAVER HAT --- SONJA CHRISTINA (with thingy the drummer from POLICE - STEWART COPELAND or the other bloke who wasn't Sting!) --- KATE RUSBY ---

lord gnome adds: --- Mike West appeared with MYSHKIN ---

Ken Hobbs writes: --- RIC SAUNDERS --- GORDON GILTRAP ---

Dusty adds: --- GRAEME KNIGHTS --- CAPELLA

Pete Robinson adds: --- PETE ROBINSON --- KEITH EMERY --- RICHARD & LINDA THOMPSON ---

Craig Morris (MC at the time) recalls refusing PAUL SIMON a floor spot many years ago.

when JON BENNS was just starting out doing comedy in folk clubs his first booking at the Railway had NOEL MURPHY dropping in for a suprise floor spot!!

KEITH KENDRICK (solo), MATIN SIMPSON and REET, PETITE & GONE each were given their first bookings here at the Railway F.C.

It was Diz Disley failure to turn up that led us to ask two of our very competent floor spot guitarists to do an extended spot as a stand-in for him ...they later formed PARISIEN SWING.

JULIA FORDHAM, who later backed Mari Wilson and then launched her own career, appeared as part of BOOTLEG in the '80's



Andrea recalls: "One that does stand out more than the rest was of course the Cinderella pantomime with the PIGSTY HILL LIGHT ORCHESTRA when JON ISHERWOOD was Cinderella wearing one of Patsie's long dresses and his 'pit boots'!!! If I remember correctly COLIN HAZARD was Buttons. No rehearsal allowed just straight from the script and Marilyn read the 'links'. I think Sooty had/has a sound recording of this on which I am told my laughter is quite prominent?"

In 1982 on the night the fleet sailed from Portsmouth, we had the music of olden time and great favourites of the Civil war re-enactment societies, STRAWHEAD who were changing the lyrics of those old jingoistic songs on the fly to reflect the Falkland Island situation.

Marilyn Campbell writes: "One of the most memorable nights at Portsmouth has to be the night that the the fleet, with Sooty on board "Hermes", sailed for the Falklands and STRAWHEAD were the guests. Their performance of Nelson's Victory had the same effect on everyone there I recall. Tapes of the night (and I believe also the Rosie Hardman night) were sent to the ship."

ARTISAN recall: Sooty gave them their first ever 'outside Yorkshire' folk club gig (April 1987 when the club was held at the Festing Hotel) after seeing them at Bracknell Festival in 1986 . Their ".....first real foreign tour"!

GERRY LOCKRAN stepped in to do a night that ENGLISH TAPESTRY had to cancel. We only got the cancellation message ~ 6 p.m. Gerry had only that afternoon returned from working in mainland Europe but said yes to stepping in, hopped in the car and drove down from London. We used all the floor-artists in the first half of the night and Gerry, arriving at 9:30 pm, did the rest. Such is the respect for the club among artists over the years.

PAUL DOWNES & PHIL BEER selected part of night at the Railway, along with some of the other venues on the tour, to be part of their double vynyl album "Live in Concept". You can hear both Sooty's distinctive laugh and the reference to BOBBY EAGLESHAM who was the following week's guest at the Railway.

George Wilson writes: "I've also put out a note for anyone who has PAUL SIMON's e-mail address to tell him if he turns up we'll guarantee him a spot!!"

Do you remember any special nights? If so then please let us know.....and click here and we'll update the web site.

We've had various MC's over the years:

Paul Warren --- Shep Woolley --- Craig Morris --- Helen Tudor --- Pete Watkinson --- Chas & Dave --- Roger Courtney --- John Smith --- Dan Ogus --- Bev Kew --- John Fitzgerald --- George Wilson --- Jason Hill --- Dave Jordan --- Jon Sharp --- Tim Walker