NEWSLETTER - No: 148 SPRING http://www.lancastriansinlondon.org.uk/newsletter/ FUTURE EVENTS 2019 Sunday 12TH May Annual Service, Savoy Chapel followed by Tea at The Waldorf Hotel th Tuesday 25 June Jack the Ripper Walk–arranged by Simon Moyle (application form herewith) Monday 9th September Visit to Berry Bros, No 3 St James Street, Mayfair(limited to 15 people) Tuesday 8th October “An Evening with Wilkie Bard”,CAA 20 Bedford St, Covent Garden Tues 26th November Annual Lancastrian Quiz, The Duke, WC1 with Fish & Chips Tues 10th December Christmas Dinner at National Liberal Club City Dinner – Monday 1st April, Stationers Hall, Ave Maria Lane, London EC4M 7DD Nearly two years since the Association of Lancastrians in London celebrated their 125th Anniversary at Mansion House in the presence of Lord Mayor Andrew Parmley, we are delighted to say that Sir Andrew Parmley is now the next President of our Association. He was duly installed at our City Dinner held in the impressive, historic Stationer’s Hall by Past President Johnny Ball, and attended with his wife Lady Wendy Parmley. The evening was a great success, 96 members and guests, relished a well chosen menu. Sir Andrew regaled us with interesting and amusing stories and anecdotes, including a great joke which Peter, my husband, has repeated many times to the amusement of our friends and family. We were especially interested to hear of the major refurbishment works in Blackpool which Sir Andrew is heavily involved in. Blackpool has the highest visitor numbers than all the other seaside towns and so it is particularly fitting that it should benefit from much needed investment and leadership. With attractions like The Winter Gardens, The Tower, The Pleasure Beach and Illuminations and soon 5 star and 4 star hotels, plus a direct train link from Euston, finally Blackpool is being reinvented and hopefully will soon be attracting many more new visitors. The Committee sincerely thank Johnny for agreeing to be our President for these last 14 months. He brought to the role his many Lancastrian memories told with affection and humour. He and Di, and daughter Zoe, attended our events, bringing family warmth with them. As you will know, Johnny is never stuck for a tale to tell, he told us he had been reading historic broadsheets where it was reported that a Lancastrian gentleman, who became the Mayor of London three times, was found to be “languishing in Lancashire”. As Johnny amusingly pointed out, that was the wrong word – nobody has time to languish in Lancashire, there’s far too much to be done. A message from Johnny …… “I mostly have to thank Adrian Waddingham for persuading me to take on the role, having been suggested by his wife Angela, who knew of me, as we were members of the same golf club, though we never played around together. I think Angela will vouch for that. But of course, Peter Charlton was already an old friend who I have known since 1967 when I joined the BBC. I have much to thank him for - food and bare essentials mostly - as occasionally he hired me as a Star Turn and bought some terrible jokes from me, to drop into scripts for Playaway. Mind you, some of those jokes still ring true today - “The train now standing at Platform 3 has arrived on time. Will anyone witnessing this accident, please report it to ....... , or “A pair of old socks has been found in the end carriage on platform 4. Anyone wishing to claim them , please go to the Station Masters office, where they can have - the carriage. “ I’d like to thank Simon Moyles, but there is no such person, despite what I have been calling your Chairman for the entire year. The name is Moyle, singular - but it’s probably too late to apologise for that now, but I will happily stand him a drink any time he catches me in my local pub, as he knows. I can’t mention everyone or this note will go on and on. But the entire committee and all the members I have met and chatted with over the year, have all been wonderful, each and every one. So, thank you all once again, and I will remain a member and turn up on the odd occasion in future - that is a promise, not a threat. May I once again wish your collective selves and The Lancastrians in London Society in total, every good Lancastrian wish for the future”. With grateful thanks, Johnny Ball - Past President. Dr David Brown – our Treasurer I regret to report that our wonderful Treasurer has resigned after 10 years of the most invaluable dedication and service to the Committee and our Association. Not only has he been our Treasurer, carrying out his duties meticulously and conscientiously, but he has steered us through difficult times, been responsible for our database, Events admin, assisting the President with the City Dinner arrangements – we can all recall those impressive hand written place cards. … the list goes on. To say we will miss him is an understatement. But as we know, time marches on and all good things come to an end. Hopefully soon we will be able to announce the new Treasurer. In recognition of the Committee’s appreciation, Adrian Waddingham presented David with a DABS radio (already tuned to Radio Lancashire) and a bottle of special Berry Bros malt whisky. Past President Adrian Waddingham CBE paid this tribute to David – “I got to know David when I became President in 2016 and quickly realised how much he gave to the Association. I was lucky to have David’s support in arranging both the City Dinner on HMS Wellington in 2016, and the 125th Anniversary Dinner at the Mansion House in 2017. David’s work in managing the bookings and seating arrangements were much appreciated: he ensured that both events ran smoothly. David was ever-present at committee meetings, and his love of Lancashire and his good humour shone through in all he did.” Michael Hockney MBE – a newcomer to our Association paid this tribute – “I first met David in 1968, he was the Sub Warden of my Hall at university. We spent the next four years in each other’s company. He was the ‘oracle’ to whom everyone went with a question or a problem “Ask DB, he’ll know”. On Saturdays, when there was only a pretty mediocre lunch in Hall, David would pronounce a different Grace every week, not the sort of Grace one might expect. Always funny. An example …. ‘O Lord; bless this bunch as they crunch their lunch’ Amen. He looked very colourful in his doctoral gown (red and yellow as I recall) in Chapel on Sunday evening while the rest of us were in drab black. After university we kept in touch. For a few years I organised the annual Hall London reunion, David was always there as he is to this day. He became friends with my parents and was invariably present when they celebrated ‘big’ birthdays and wedding anniversaries. He was there too at their funeral requiems. That’s the sort of person David was and is. Behind the ‘brisk’ northern humour there is considerable intellect; he is widely read, well travelled and of deep faith. As a newcomer to the Society of Lancastrians, I have not seen much of him ‘at work’ as an official, but I know he will have done a terrific job.” David, we all raise our glasses to toast your very good health and future happiness, and to thank you for everything you have done to help our Association succeed over the years. Jenny Murray 2 Friday 12th April-Lancastrians in London Meeting up with Lancashire Cricket Club at Lords Simon Moyle writes: Approximately 10 players, coaches and physios from Lancashire Cricket Club joined some twenty odd members at the Warrington Arms, Maida Vale on Friday 12th April. The team were in a confident mood, having had a successful first day against Middlesex at Lords in the first game of the County Championship season. It would be difficult to find a more outrageously gorgeous location, A Grade 11 listed pub, embellished with mosaics, stained glass and tiles, then for refreshment, real ale, generous helpings of sandwiches, dips and of course fish and chips. Any doubts about the young members of our County Cricket Team ‘going through the motions’ of putting up with a bunch of geriatric Lancastrians were soon dispelled. To a man they were keen to join in the spirit of the occasion talking openly about life as professional sportsmen, their love of the game and their high expectations for the coming season. The success of the evening was carried forward to the remaining three days at Lords where the team completed an excellent seven wicket victory. LCCC party included - Tom Webster (Strength and Conditioning), Sam Byrne (First Team Physio),Glen Chapple (coach) Josh Bohannon, Stephen Parry, Keaton Jennings, Dane Vilas (club captain), Brooke Guest, and Paul Allott, director of cricket, who was there for a short while at the start of the evening before he went off to see Bob Willis (who is not well apparently). The Midland Hotel Manchester Another Lancashire architectural gem, built in 1903 in Accrington Brick by The Midland Railway, designed by Charles Trubshaw in a highly individualistic Edwardian Baroque style. Built on the sight of the Gentleman’s Concert Hall where the Halle orchestra first performed in 1848. A Grade 11 listed building, the hotel was described as a “Twentieth Century Palace” and had a 1000 seat, purpose built theatre and a roof terrace.