GENERAL MEETING 2018
January 2018: TONY HORTON – THE REAL GLENN MILLER STORY Once again we enjoyed a session with Tony, this time on a perennial favourite, the Big Band leader, Glenn Miller. Tony dispelled some of the myths about Glenn that were put into the 1954 hit film “The Glenn Miller Story”, starring James Stewart and June Allyson. The film was principally about the courtship and marriage of Glenn and Helen Miller.
The facts we heard were that Miller was born in Iowa in 1904, the son of a railway worker father and farmer mother. He earned pocket money from milking cows and firstly spent some on a mandolin, before giving it up for a trombone. He formed a small band from class mates and at university ended up going on gigs, rather than attending to his studies and exams. Whilst a very good trombone player, he was not outstanding, but his forte was making musical arrangements and was in demand for this particular skill.
Joining Ben Pollacks Band, which included other musicians who went on to make their mark in the music industry, Miller eventually moved to New York, where, driven by his wife Helen, he formed a jazz band, without any success. Miller played as a jobbing trombonist for several bands before teaming up with the British Dance Band leader, Ray Noble.
Because of the Union restrictions on entertainers in America and Britain, Noble was not permitted to take his own musicians, so engaged Miller to recruit musicians for him. However, there was a big difference between the two men as Miller preferred jazz music and his arrangements were in that genre, whereas Noble was a ballad man, so this difference led to a parting of the ways. It was during this time that Miller had the basis for Moonlight Serenade in his head. The film, Tony reminded us, had Miller developing this overnight for the opening of a venue. In reality, the arrangement was changed over several years before he came up with what became a coast to coast and international hit.
Before this, Miller struggled to break into the big-time. His small, 10-man jazz band had little success with the records they made as they sounded too similar to all the other bands, so by 1937 Miller was broke and the band broke up.
All the time though, the arrangement for Moonlight Serenade was in his head and he changed the lead instrument from the trumpet to a clarinet. He re-formed the band in 1938 and secured some funding from a business man, Cy Shribman. For the new band he needed the best possible musicians and managed to secure the services of some of the best. These included Willy Schwartz a saxophonist, but Miller had him play as the lead clarinettist. Also added to the band were young vocalists Ray Eberle and Marion Hutton, both of whom were just 17. As a minor, Hutton was not allowed into night clubs, so to get around this, Miller “adopted” her.
In 1938 the band were engaged to play at the Glenn Island Casino at New Rochelle in New York state. The performances were broadcast and they opened in 1939 with Little Brown Jug as the opening number. If you were thinking back to the film then you would be confused! This number was played then as a “new” piece released in 1944, just after Miller disappeared. The power of film!
Opening night at the casino had 1800 mainly young people in the audience and they were an instant hit. Whilst there, they also recorded In The Mood, but not before they recorded Moonlight Serenade, back-to-back with Sunlight Serenade. Also, they were appearing on radio shows promoted by Chesterfield cigarettes. This must have been a big advantage to Miller as he was a chain smoker. For the radio show they had an audience of some 15 million listeners, three times weekly, coast to coast. Another recording that became a standard swing band number was Pennsylvania 6-5000.
Marion Hutton left the band in 1940 and Miller engaged a group called the Modernaires, who eventually added Paula Kelly to their ranks. They sang alongside Ray Eberle and band member Tex Beneke and others. They featured on recordings with Miller on the likes of Perfidia, Chattanooga Choo Choo, Kalamazoo, Serenade In Blue, I Know Why, and Elmer’s Song.
In 1941, appearing as the Phil Corey Band, The Glenn Miller Orchestra starred in the film, Sun Valley Serenade. This featured Chattanooga Choo Choo and In The Mood, with one of the stars being Sonja Henie, the Olympic Ice Skater. Tony described this film as a “stinker” as it was really only renowned for its music.
A positive thing for the film was that Chattanooga Choo Choo became a million seller and Miller was awarded a Gold Record. But a sour note was created by the inexplicable substitution of Paula Kelly on the soundtrack version of Chattanooga Choo Choo for Paula Frieday, with Lynne Bari appearing performing a lip sync.
A year later, they followed up with Orchestra Wives, again the best that could be said was that it had many popular tunes in it!
By now, with America in the War, following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour, Miller had request shows for troops in the services. Miller volunteered his services to the US Navy as he was too old to be drafted, but they rejected him. Approaching the Army, he was eventually allowed to join as a Captain in 1942. The Glenn Miller Orchestra’s last appearance was on 27 September that year, and many members of his band enlisted too.
Although Miller’s suggestions for modernising some of the traditional Army band music was a step too far for some of the Top Brass, Miller was eventually allowed to form what became the Army Air Force band. Shortly before this, the Millers decided to adopt two children, Steven and Jonnie. The AAF toured the country, before being sent to the UK, providing a much-needed boost to morale.
The band made over 800 appearances during their tour of duty in the UK and were originally accommodated in a west end block of flats. Miller was concerned about the safety of his band with “Buzz Bombs” now falling on London. It was therefore arranged for the band to be stationed on an airfield. The day after the band moved, the flats were destroyed by one of the missiles. Perhaps this was the basis for the idea in the film where the band played on as a Buzz Bomb fell nearby!
In December 1944, Miller was due to fly to Paris. There was a lot of fog, but the single engine plane eventually took off. It is believed that somewhere over the English Channel the plane came down. It is not known what happened, whether it was enemy action, friendly fire or a problem with the plane itself. There have been many theories about the disappearance of Major Miller, and we may never know the exact facts.
Tony kept us nicely entertained, with just a few hiccups, with various clips of music that had many of us tapping our feet and fingers, and the occasional humming along too.
February 2018: MIKE STORR - MASTERS OF MIRTH Mike is a Lincolnshire lad, no trace of Lincoln Green though, and is a proud Rotarian, with Burton Joyce. As we all know, at our time of life we can sometimes have difficulty remembering what we are saying, so Mike explained that this was why he was using a script. He has been involved in amateur dramatics for many years but having given it up he had recently been put under pressure to return to the boards as the lead in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, but declined as he was not prepared to put the frock back on for anyone! Having grandchildren and great grandchildren, Mike has been pressed into making mottos for next Christmas’s crackers and tried a few out on us to see how they might go down; does anyone know what the synonym for synonym is?; how can a civil war be civil?; do infants enjoy infancy as much as adults enjoy adultery?; why does sour cream have an expiry date?, but in the end we didn’t give him the encouragement he had hoped for, so keep trying Mike! Music halls had their origins in the mid-19th century, when the Industrial Revolution resulted in a massive expansion in the size and population of towns and cities, with the resulting need for taverns for the workers to enjoy their earnings. This led to the development of the music hall, originally where customers could carouse to their hearts content.
These developed rapidly into the purpose-built Music Hall for professional entertainers with customers being drawn in by the appeal of liquor. Temperance Societies tried to counter with their own versions but failed. They were places where patriotism was drummed up, but also, if it was looked for, there was the satire too. The period we heard about was broadly covering from the end of WWI to the 1950’s and a little later. To test our memories, we heard a few catch phrases, with mixed results and at least some present were able to recognise Sandy Powell’s “Can you hear me mother?” or George Formby’s “Turned out nice again”, then “I thang you” from Arthur Askey and Max Miller, the Cheeky Chappie’s “Now there’s a funny thing”. But Mike went into some detail about one of his many favourites, Robb Wilton and his Home Guard monologue and “The day war broke out…”. Both Ken Dodd and the late Les Dawson acknowledge the debt they owed to Wilton for their own careers. George Robey, “The Prime Minister of Mirth”, came next and we heard how university educated Robey was apparently discovered after he was brought up on stage during an act by a hypnotist who was taken by his abilities. As he grew in popularity, it was not unknown for Robey to be appearing at more than one venue each night, which was accomplished by having his own carriage transport. Mike then gave us a rendition of “It’s the Fist Time I’ve Ever Done That” to our amusement. Few of us, I suspect, had ever heard of Marriott Edgar, who was principally a scriptwriter, who teamed up with Stanley Holloway. We heard Edgar’s take on “The Battle of Hastings”, done with many football allusions. This was followed by “The Recumbent Posture”, another “Albert” tale. This was well received by all. The mistaken belief that the instruction for dosing the ailing Albert with medicine to be taken in a “Recumbent Posture”, with the interpretation being made that it was a device of some kind, and the attempts to obtain one were very funny. Gerald Hoffnung a refugee from Germany, was multi-talented and a great success at the Oxford Union. Mike gave us his rendition of Hoffnungs experience in repairing a roof with the accompanying disaster that befell the unfortunate bricklayer. Despite believing that he was managing this project carefully, he ended up with a series of disasters, causing injury and destruction! One who was a little more modern that Mike admires is Pam Ayres. Leaving school without qualifications, she joined the civil service, then enlisted as a WAAF, where she took her ‘O’ Levels, before turning to the entertainment business. Donning a bead necklace to “get into character”, Mike then gave us “Clive The Fearless Airman” and “Embarrassing Experiences With A Parrot”, which again, we all enjoyed. On then to Bernard Miles, who has the distinction of not only being only the second actor to receive a knighthood followed by a peerage, but also opened The Mermaid Theatre, the first to be opened since the 17th century. Mike gave us Miles’s “One Of The Old School”. We then had, made famous by Stanley Holloway but written by Marriott Edgar, “Albert And The Lion”, one that most of us recall, and the fateful encounter of that hapless boy! Finally, donning the Pam Ayres beads again, we heard her “They Should Have Asked My Husband”, which Mike said, his wife feels describes him! By the reaction of many of the ladies in the audience, they would agree with Mike’s wife, about their own partner, as expressed in this amusing little ditty!
March 2018: VINCE EAGER – YOU’RE NEVER TOO OLD TO ROCK’n’ROLL, part 2 We once again welcomed Vince Eager to continue with his life story that he started at our meeting in June last year. He first reminded us that the BBC had guaranteed him a place in the heats for the 1960 Eurovision Song Contest after his unfortunate altercation with Charley Drake and thus it was that he was one of several contenders. His Manager, Larry Parnell, was keen to maximise the publicity opportunities and decided that Vince should appear in a sharp and expensive Italian suit, despite the requirement that contestants should be in evening dress. He also insisted on a coiffure that Vince took exception to and ruined before the show. Vince gained nil points (sympathetic aahs from the audience) and the winners of the heats, Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson went on to win the contest with Sing Little Birdy.
Whilst this was going on Vince was still touring with other British rock and roll stars including his great friend Joe Brown, another Lincolnshire lad with whom he enjoyed playing practical jokes on the cast, such as dusting the dancer’s clothes with itching powder! Vince and his band The Quiet Three soon found themselves touring Britain with two pioneers of the American Rock & Roll scene, Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent and Vince formed a strong friendship with Eddie. The tour was a great success but was made infamous by a riot at Caird Hall Dundee, which Vince claims was not about the music but started by locals who wished to settle a personal score with him. After this eventful gig Vince had to fulfil some previously booked engagements which prevented him from accompanying Eddie and Gene to do some shows in Bristol. On their return they were all to fly to America to make some recordings together, but Eddie and Gene, choosing to return to London by taxi were involved in a serious crash at Chippenham which Eddie did not survive. This was of course a major news story and Vince’s manager Larry Parnes tried to make the most of it for publicity purposes. This was too much for Vince who immediately parted company with him. An interesting side note is that a local police officer at the site of the crash salvaged Eddies Gretsch guitar from the wreckage and eventually returned it, He later went on to make his own fame as Dave Dee (with Dozy Beaky, Mick and Titch) Vince had a varied career after this and told us tales of meeting various celebrities such as a very inebriated Jayne Mansfield and extensive overseas trips entertaining the British Forces. He then spent a lot of time touring in Zambia, Rhodesia and South Africa, and he later toured the world for five years starring in the stage show Elvis the Musical. Still in good health despite recent reports in Wikipedia of his demise, he continues to entertain with reminiscences of his colourful career.
April 2018: DON SHARPE – HEARING DOGS SAVE LIVES Our guest speaker for April was Don Sharp who is an ambassador for the charity Hearing Dogs for Deaf People and who has had the company of his own Hearing Dog for many years, Sadly, his companion dog died recently and he is now in the process of being matched with a suitable partner. Don pointed out that one in six of the adult UK population suffer from some form of hearing loss, and this is expected to rise to one in five by 2050. Hearing Dogs for Deaf People can support some of these people by training assistant dogs that offer independence, confidence, and most importantly, companionship. There is a very strong bond between owner and the hearing dog that listens out for them, so the matching of dog to client is very important.
Training of puppies is supported by sponsorship, and sponsors are shown the progress of “their” puppy as it proceeds through the 18 month training process. Breeds of dog found to be most effective are Labradors, English Cocker Spaniels, Miniature Poodles and Cockapoos, (Poodle cross Cocker Spaniel). Candidate puppies stay with their mother at the volunteer breeders’ premises for the first eight weeks of life, At eight weeks puppies start their training, living in the households of voluntary puppy socialisers. Progress is measured against a series of milestones during the puppies’ familiarisation with traffic, public transport, and shops among other aspects of normal daily life. Training is reward based, ignoring poor behaviour and rewarding good with praise, treats or a game with a favourite toy. Dogs are trained to alert their owners when they hear specific signals, - door bell, fire alarm, microwave timer etc -, or to “find” particular items or people, and then lead the owner back to the source. When out in public hearing dogs wear a burgundy coat to make an invisible disability visible. There is a rigorous process of matching trained dogs to their new owners, the requirements and temperament of both client and dog are all considered in making a good match and groups of volunteers deal with the applications, allocations and matching of dogs to candidates at residential training centres where the interactions of dog and client can be monitored in a home-like environment. Don was keen to mention the hard work that goes into the necessary fund raising to support this charity. We thanked him for the interesting talk and wished him well in his hopes for a new dog.
May 2018: NOTTINGHAM UKULELE ORCHESTRA The entertainment at last month’s general meeting was supplied by the Nottingham Ukulele Orchestra. Led by Neil Marriatt, this colourful group of musicians sang and strummed their way through a very wide range of music - from singalong favourites, through classic rock & roll, to songs from the shows. Several members of the band took solo spots during the proceedings. The show was much enjoyed by all.
June 2018: STEVE LOVELL – BRITAIN’S GARDEN BIRDS The speaker at June’s general meeting was Steve Lovell, whose subject was Garden Birds. Steve’s background is in landscape gardening and design but he also has a strong interest in the birds that visit his gardens, the planting and design being important in attracting birds’ although geographical location also determines the list of species that will visit. His talk listed all the birds that we might to expect to find in a suitable garden and here are some of the comments that he made. Robin - This is regarded as Britain’s favourite bird, gardens may contain both resident and winter visitors from Eastern Europe. Blackbird - This is now very common occurring in 97% of sites surveyed in the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch. Redwing - Resident in Eastern Finland but from October onwards these are winter visitors, and were common this year. Song Thrush -a resident identifiable by broken spots on the body, they choose an exposed site to sing. Mistle Thrush (Throstle) - These breed early in the year, and are very partial to yew berries, spreading the seeds widely in their droppings. Starling - This is unfortunately in steep decline (74% in 28 years). Large flocks of roosting starlings, known as Murmurations are a wonderful sight as they gather in the evenings. In the Somerset Levels flocks estimated at 1.1 million individuals can still be seen. House Sparrow - This is also in sharp decline (75% in 25 years) probably due to changes in gardening practice; more insecticides are in use and more areas are paved over. Most garden birds need an abundant supply of live insects and grubs to successfully rear a brood, since this the only source of water for their nestlings. It is estimated that a pair of Blue Tits need to find up to 15,000 insect larvae to raise a brood. Modern building methods also deny them their customary nesting sites with less holes in eaves and between roof tiles. Nesting boxes encourage them, a 32mm hole being suitable for Sparrows, and 28mm for Tits. Dunnocks or Hedge Sparrows are often confused with the House Sparrow, but are a different family. Several other members of the Tit family are common visitors and Long-tailed Tits are becoming increasingly so, attracted by the offer of fat balls and fat cakes at the bird table. Finches are also common and also have their diet preferences, Bullfinches are partial to dried-up bramble heads, Goldfinches to Dandelion seed heads, so it pays to leave a portion of the garden to become a little wild and untidy (like mine!), Greenfinches are also common visitors to feeding tables but are very susceptible to the fatal disease Trichomoniasis, which prevents them from feeding. Good hygiene of the bird table can help prevent this, keeping it clean and removing old and potentially moldy material at all times. Chaffinch and Brambling mix in flocks as winter visitors. Wrens are common in gardens but can be difficult to spot as they sing in deep cover. The male proclaims his territory after making 5 or 6 nests after which one will be chosen by the female. If you have mature trees in the garden you may see a Tree Creeper working its way up the bark of the tree, or a Nuthatch working its way down. It is suggested that the white breast of the Tree Creeper helps illuminate the bark to aid in prey detection. The Greater Spotted Woodpecker may also be a visitor to a wooded area, but could be breaking into other species’ nesting holes. Pied Wagtails like to nest in the gaps in walls , and in a suitable urban situation can form big roosts. Rare visitors include the Garden Warbler which prefers wild thickets, and the Black Cap, noticeable for its melodic song, some may overwinter here. A very rare visitor in the 1960’s, the Collared Dove, is now common here and it will nest in any season of mild weather. The Wood Pigeon is also fairly ubiquitous and is particularly attracted to the wheat in most cheap bird feed mixes. Steve moved on to explain how we can make our gardens more attractive and healthy environments for wild birds. He re-emphasized hygiene at the bird table and recommended mixtures with a wide variety of seed and less wheat. Similarly peanuts and fat balls are ideal for some species but he strongly recommended removing the nets around the latter since these can trap birds. Garden planting should be considered as a means of enticing garden birds, for instance Rowans can attract the Waxwing as a winter visitor Other shrubs to be considered include Pyrocantha, Buddlea, Crab Apple and Elder, berries of which can be frozen and then put out for the birds at any time of the year. Also it helps to leave seed heads on weeds such as dock, thistles and dandelions.
On the whole a very interesting and fact-packed talk from an obvious enthusiast.
July 2018: AGM Those of you who attended the AGM will have seen this “rogues” parade on stage of our new Executive Committee. On your behalf I would like to say a big thank you to all twelve newly elected members and for those past executive committee members who have now stood down. Under our present constitution, members can only be on the committee for a three year period unless they then go on to be one of the officers for a further three years. Inevitably this means that we are always looking for new members to put themselves forward for election. If you would like to know more about what is involved in being a committee member I would be pleased to talk to you. Tom Grainger
August 2018: Display Table by the Bonsai group
August 2018: JOHN WHITFIELD – THE KENNEDYS The speaker for at our August General Meeting was John Whitfield, a local man with an interest in 20th Century history and politics. His subject for the day was "The Kennedys", a dominant family in America since the early part of the 20th Century whose story is a mix of great prominence and tragedy.
The great potato blight of 1846 which caused severe hardship in Ireland triggered the mass migration of many Irish families to America which was still expanding and welcoming to new immigrants. New York and Boston were their principal ports of entry, and being practically destitute, many families chose to travel no further and settled in these busy cities. Patrick Kennedy who arrived in Boston in 1847 was more prosperous and ambitious than most and aimed to make his fortune in the new world. This was the beginning of the Kennedy clan who became influential in Boston by meeting and settling new immigrants into accommodation and employment, thereby building up a loyalty with which they could influence local politics. A son, Joe Kennedy was born in 1888 by which time the family were established and wealthy. Joe grew to become very ambitious for his family and ruthless in his actions. He was a very successful investor in banking and stocks and he made a fortune in this booming and unregulated market, even escaping the Wall Street Crash unscathed. He then invested heavily in property in Chicago before moving the family to New York in 1927. By then he had diversified, managing Naval Shipyards in Baltimore during WWI, thus gaining influence with Franklin D Roosevelt, the then Navy Secretary, and also buying into Hollywood at the dawn of the talkies, acquiring RKO Studios. In 1938 he was asked by President Roosevelt to become the Ambassador to Great Britain. He was not an ideal diplomat, being a firm isolationist and vocal in his conviction that Britain should not go to war with Germany, and that the US should not become involved in any way. Becoming very unpopular, he resigned his post in 1941 and returned to America, where he abandoned any attempt at the presidency himself and concentrated on the future of his family. His oldest, Joe Jnr. born 1915, was groomed for greatness and was suitable for this being athletic and handsome and widely admired. Joining the Navy Air Corps during the war he flew Liberator bombers on Atlantic patrol. He volunteered for dangerous missions including the one in which he was killed, a hazardous bombing raid on the VI flying bomb launch sites in Northern France. His younger brother, John F., born in 1917 was raised in the same way as his older brother, but was not as healthy, suffering from several debilitating conditions during his youth. In the war he joined Navy and was involved in the Pacific, commanding a Motor Torpedo boat. This was famously wrecked in an action from which Kennedy made a heroic rescue and for which he was decorated for Valour. His failing health led to him being invalided out of the war in 1944. He now followed the path to the presidency in a country dissatisfied with elderly statesman. He became Senator for Massachusetts, and married Jackie Bouvier, a rich socialite. Standing in the 1960 Presidential elections, running against Richard Nixon he won by a very small margin. At 43 he was the youngest ever president and His first son John Jnr. was born during his election year. During his short presidency he showed his liberal inclinations as did his brothers in their turn, and warned that America should not become further involved in Vietnam. The most alarming event during his presidency, the Cuban Missile Crisis was resolved peacefully contrary to the wishes of his military advisors. He was assassinated in Dallas on 22nd November 1963, an event which shocked the world and is still debated by conspiracy theorists. There were daughters in the family, Rosemary born in 1918, and Kathleen in 1922. Rosemary was mentally handicapped, in 1941 she was subjected to a lobotomy in the hope of her cure, which was a failure. After this she was institutionalised for the rest of her life. Kathleen was a rebellious and lively tomboy and was sent to a convent as a child. During the war she came to the UK, where she married William Hartington (the eldest son of the Duke of Devonshire) against the wishes of her parents since he was a protestant. In 1944 William was killed in combat and the title reverted to a younger brother. Now widowed, Kathleen was later in a relationship with Earl Peter Fitzwilliam, a rakish character, but in 1948 they were both killed in a plane crash. Eunice, born in 1921 was very intelligent, married a Democratic politician and involved herself in charities for the handicapped, Pat, born in 1924, was another rebellious daughter, she tried and failed to become a Hollywood producer. Her sister Jean, born in 1928, became President Clinton's ambassador to Ireland and was involved in the peace process. Bobby Kennedy, born in 1925, became a hardworking, conscientious and shrewd lawyer. He was active in promoting and supporting his brothers' careers and in the 1960's ran for President, displaying a very liberal stance in his politics. In 1968 he was assassinated at a large democratic convention. His Brother Teddy, born in 1932 was a successful politician, who would have run for the presidency were it not for the 1969 Chappaquiddick incident where he was culpable in not reporting a road accident in which his young female passenger had died. He had also been involved in a plane crash which he survived. John Jnr., son of JFK had become a successful lawyer was also lost in a plane crash. The whole story is an astonishing catalogue of successes and disasters through which the matriarch of the family, Joe's wife Rose endured all and lived to be 105, dying in 1995. Thank you John for a very interesting talk.
SEPTEMBER 2018: SCHOOL REUNION We were all invited to the ‘50s / ‘60s style Richard Herrod High School Reunion and Prize-giving Party. Former staff were on hand to give stirring and inspirational speeches, and a prize for outstanding lifetime achievement was awarded to a former pupil. Tea, coffee and cakes were in abundant supply and musical entertainment was supplied by the re-formed school band, Bobby and the A3U’s. By the end of the meeting the joint was jumping!
Cast of Richard Herrod High School Reunion Miss Gladys Grainger Sue Fairweather Miss Sowerberry Maggie Martinez Elizabeth Farquharson Pat Downing The Most Reverend Excellency Bishop William Bagshott Ian Robey The Bishop’s Wife Gwynneth Robey Bobby Richard Downing Tasmin Trugold Shirley Ellis Polli Jayne Pauline Ransom Mary Bella Mary Bella Raquel Schackerknacker Carolyn Broadhurst Diane Sheila Munks Valerie Deirdre Williams Press photographer Mike Pointon Director Terri Beale
The A3U’s Bass guitar “Bobby” Downing Lead guitar Mel Munks Rhythm guitar Tom Grainger Percussion Allan Woolley Vocals Nick Clark
October 2018: WILLIAM FRENCH – A BUTLER TO ROYALTY Our speaker for the October meeting was William French who spoke entertainingly about his life as “a butler to Royalty and the Stars” He recalled his career in the Royal Navy, training as a Chef but then deciding to become a steward. He was disappointingly posted to HMS Warrior, a NATO land base at Northwood, near Watford, working for Sandy Woodward the Admiral of the Fleet. When the Falklands War broke out in 1982 the 17½ year old William was sent for gunnery crew and first aid training before his ship HMS Battleaxe, a Type 22 Frigate, set off for the South Atlantic. Pausing for resupply at Ascension Island they came under heavy fire on reaching the Falklands. As the shadow ship for Sir Galahad she was heavily involved in the rescue operation when Sir Galahad was hit. William was among the 23 crew who were airlifted onto Sir Galahad to rescue and give first aid to the casualties. William was to see more action both onboard and on land during the attack on Port Stanley. The whole campaign took 6½ weeks but HMS Battleaxe stayed on station for a further 3 months, making a total of 188 days at sea. William is proud of his South Atlantic medal which he wears to honour all his former colleagues. After 6 months back at Northwood he was invited to an interview on HMS Britannia, and was successful, joining the crew of Britannia as the Royal Steward in the Drawing/Sitting room and also the Royal Glass Steward. His first royal trip on Britannia was to Shanghai, stopping off at Singapore where William was able to celebrate his 18th birthday in style. The royal party joined the ship at Shanghai, and this was William’s first close contact with the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh, which he slightly marred by accidentally poking Prince Phillip with an umbrella! He soon settled into his duties and found the Queen a charming and amusing employer. He was fortunate enough to be included in the ten man escort party during this tour and was able to visit the Great Wall and the Terracotta Army among other sights. Further tours included a trip to Brunei by the Prince and Princess of Wales as well as many annual visits to The Isle of Wight for Cowes Week and Western Isles of Scotland for the Queen's Holiday, where all members of the royal family were accustomed to visit. In 1985 there was a refit of the ship after which she set out to Australia to meet the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on a tour. Whilst on route she was diverted to rescue civilians from a military coup in Aden. They made beach landings with the barges and rescued 1,068 people, the Britannia having assumed her alternate role as a hospital ship. They then resumed the tour of Australia and New Zealand, followed by South Africa where he was privileged to meet Nelson Mandela. After two further years’ service, William, by now a married man, left the navy to find employment for his skills in the civilian world, He had numerous tales to tell of the rich and famous that he had worked for including the Rothschild family, The Royal Family at Buckingham Palace, Lord Rothermere, Lord Brocket, the Saudi Royal Family, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise, He now works for Columbia pictures, looking after visiting film, stars who have included Hugh Jackman, Robert Redford, Daniel Craig, and Sean Connery. At the end of his talk William invited all to inspect the collection of photographs and mementos that he had brought with him to illustrate his notable career. Nick Clark
November 2018: GRAHAM KEAL: TERRY WOGAN'S HAIR WEAVE & OTHER STORIES Graham Keal’s talk had the intriguing title of “Terry Wogan’s hair weave and other stories” His long experience as a show-business journalist has led to him making contact with many stars of stage and screen, and left him with a wealth of entertaining stories about his encounters. In the course of the following hour or so we heard how Eric Morecambe could still make jokes about Des O’Connor’s audiences from his hospital bed, and that Ernie Wise considered that Eric had worked too hard after his recovery (and that you really couldn’t see the join!). Terry Wogan was another interviewee, and it became obvious to Graham that Terry benefited from a hair weave. However he was such a popular and likeable character that no-one ever mentioned it. So we won’t here!
Graham has interviewed principal actors in all the popular soaps despite having no interest in following them, apart from Coronation Street of which he had been a fan since childhood, and so he was delighted with the opportunity to interview Pat Phoenix. As a nine year-old he had briefly met her at an event in his home town of Lincoln and made her laugh, Twenty-five years later he was at a press launch for a new series starring Pat and was able to remind her of the event. It was a memorable interview and Graham remembers how gracious she was to her fans even though her health was already failing. A true star. And then of course there was Crossroads! The production company was always generous with its promotional events and was accordingly popular with the local press. Graham had a story to tell of his disaster strewn attendance at one of these weekends in Birmingham where everything that possibly could go wrong - did go wrong! A very entertaining collection of tales from an accomplished raconteur. Nick Clark
December 2018: CHRISTMAS SOCIAL At our December General Meeting we were privileged to eavesdrop on our Drama Group’s rehearsal for their forthcoming revue, and within short space of time we were treated to comedy, drama, cookery(!) and a murder mystery, not to mention a customised interpretive dance version of “The 12 days of Christmas.” What talent! - I wonder what the actual show will be like. After this the dance floor was cleared and our own talented Rock & Roll band, The A3U’s, then took the stage to knock out a medley of R&R favourites. A great time was had by all.