Interesting Facts

Got any interesting facts about Dorking?


My list is as follows:


Birthplace of Lawrence Olivier


Oliver Reed used to drink in Dorking.  He would often be seen with his wife Josephine Burge in the bar at the White Horse Hotel.  Rumour has it he was banned from every pub in town, most notably the Bull's Head where he climbed the chimney naked shouting "Ho! Ho! Ho! I'm Santa Claus!"


Picture of Oliver Reed, Broome Hall, Coldharbour Lane, Dorking

Famous residents in and around Dorking include: 
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Daniel Defoe
Emma Holland (Musician)
Jane Slaughter (Tracy the barmaid from Eastenders)
Christian O'Connell (DJ)
Prunella Scales


Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart of the band 10cc opened a studio, Strawberry Studio's,  in a former cinema in Dorking at the end of South Street in 1976 following the departure of Kevin Godley and Lol Creme. Songs recorded here include 'The things we do for love' and 'Good morning judge'. Songs recorded here by other artists include 'Ebony and Ivory' by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. The building was later demolished, the site used as a builders yard for a time and a housing development now occupies the site
Their first album as a 3 piece was 'Deceptive Bends' named after a sign on the A24 Michleham Bends. Other groups recorded there including the song Ebony and Ivory, with McCartney and Stevie Wonder.

Strawberry South Studio, Dorking (note strawberry logo on wall)

10cc's Eric Stewart at work in 1975/6 on converting the old cinema in Dorkingg

• Charles Dickens wrote most "Pickwick Papers" whilst staying at the White Horse Hotel.
• Denbies is the largest Vineyard in England
• St Martins Church spire is the second tallest spire in England after Salisbury Cathedral

Got any other interesting facts about Dorking?  Please post a comment

Cavendish wants fans on Zig Zag

Mark Cavendish who recently won stages in the Tour de France and is set for the 2012 Olympics, wants the public to have unlimited access to the Zig Zag road on Box Hill on Sunday 14th Aug.  Currently there is access for only 3,400 fans on the Zig Zag's who have been given special wristbands to attend.

More news on this in the Advertiser

Best Pub in Dorking ?

Lets face it - we are not short of pubs in Dorking with at least 19 in the town, but which are the best? My vote goes to the Cricketers in South Street, followed by the Star.  My view on some of the Dorking pubs:

Cricketers - well kept beer, friendly.
Falkland Arms - under new ownership for a couple of years - Big improvement from the bad old days
Spotted Dog - Fairly boisterous at the weekend but often dead during the week.
Star - Small but popular especially with the Dorking boho's
Old House - used to be the only pub in Dorking guaranteed to have free seats on a Friday night.  Now it's turned into a self styled 'wetherspoons' with large screens and late night disco at the weekend

Kings Arms - Used to be my favourite pub in the 90's but now popular with the young crowd (perhaps I'm just getting old...)
Pilgrim - old fashioned and in need of a makeover - has a trusted following however
White Hart - has a reputation of 'local's only'
Reds Bar - under new management in the last couple of years and light years away from the old 'Jolly Butcher' as it once was.  In the Jolly Butcher day's you were guaranteed to get your head kicked in, but nowadays more likely to pull a middle age mum on a night out...
Surrey Yeoman - Used to be a quiet pub, but nowadays more of a wetherspoons type bar.
Watermill - Chef and Brewer pub - good place to go for food and a change from the town centre
Lincoln Arms - popular as a cheap bed & breakfast outfit - worth a look when bands play at weekends
Dorking Wine Bar - A change from the pub !
White Horse Hotel - Good for a quiet pint
The Queens Head - Any comments?
The Bush - Any comments?
Bulls Head - Any comments?
The Prince of Wales - Forgot this one even existed !
The Malt House - Closed for business - enough said !!

What are your thoughts ?

Dorking - Olympic Cycling

It's been a long time since Fullers started selling bikes, but next year Dorking will be part of the 2012 Olympics and form part of a 9.6 mile cycling circuit.  But how easy will it be to view the race ? I'm one of many not lucky enough to "win" an Olympic ticket this June, so was hoping to see the race from my doorstep -so to speak.  Does anyone have information on how the organisers plan to restrict access ? 

Welcome to the new Dorking Blog !

Hi

It's been a couple of years since the excellent Dorking Blog by the Cockerel last hit our screens, and I have decided to start a new blog to cover issues, news and possible controversy in good old Dorking town.


Please email me with topics and info that you may want covered !


Regards
The Dorking Blogger