Boys at the Bull – part 2 July 27, 2022

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends ,

Just a quick reminder to let everyone know that our film show at the Bull Inn, Bottesford  (NG13 0BW) is this Saturday, July 30th, 1pm-6pm.  It’s entitled “Twice Two – Part deux” in recognition of the tent reaching it’s 22nd year in the year 2022…and in my 2nd attempt at arranging this meeting this year!!! .  We will be showing many L&H films including one of boys best feature films “Sons of the Desert”.  There will be an observational quiz on this film where the winner(s) will be awarded with  the ‘”Mae Busch Wax Apple Bowl” quiz trophy.   The highlight of the day will be a premiere screening of a complete and restored version of the silent short “The Second hundred Years”  by film historian, archivist and ex-projectionist tent member, Robin Cook.   John Palmer will also be bringing his amazing Model T.

We will also have a number of special guests with us from all around the UK…..Antony and Jo Mitchell-Waite (from the Stoke Midnight Patrol Tent ) with books and memorabilia to sell;  Mark Hammond (from Brighton) who is a well-known Laurel & Hardy autograph, memorabilia and playbill poster collector/expert;  Rob Lewis (Exhausted Grand Shiek of the UK Helpmates Tent and recent editor of the Laurel & Hardy Magazine) and his family will be joining us from Kent.  As many of you know, Rob has been a major ambassador for Laurel & Hardy not just in the UK but internationally through the UK Helpmates tent, Helpmates conventions and the L&H magazine which he has been doing for over 40 years.  He doesn’t usually travel to other tent events, so it is an honour for us to have him with us again .   He has also been selling L&H merchandise for many many years….and will have a few items to sell at our meeting.  Rob was an on-set consultant on the Stan & Ollie film and will be bringing up some of the actual props from this film.  I’ve also been informed that we will have representatives from a few other tents…including the Brats from Sheffield. We will also be having with us, Dave Wyatt  (internationally renowned L&H and silent film comedy expert  and book author),  Russ Babidge (the new L&H magazine editor and book author) and  Patrick Vasey (of the online L&H blog and future book author). So, plenty of experts available if you want to ask questions and buy books and memorabilia.

There will be the usual raffle and we have a silent auction, where one of the items available is a rare and large Laurel & Hardy statue by Philippine artist Jun Asilo from 1997.  The statue is 75cm high, the pedestal is 49cm wide and 25cm deep.  It is made of fibreglass resin and is hand painted.  The statue is reminiscent of the final scene of “You’re Darn Tootin”   The item was donated to the tent by a local resident, Tom Mackie and its sale will go to club funds.  Its rare but has been selling for over £100 on Ebay, so, I will start the auction at £30 – but although I’ve enjoyed it for the last 2 years I don’t really want to take it home!!  So please bid on the silent auction form on the day.  An image of the item was attached in an earlier memo i sent.

The event is FREE and all are very welcome.

Can I please ask for everyone to park on the streets  and not in the pub’s car park as we will need this space for John’s trailer and Model T, my car and also for Rob Lewis’s car as he will be selling from his car-boot.  There may be a need to set up other tables outside for sale items – weather of course dependent.  There is plenty of free and un-restrictive street parking in the village

In the morning (of July 30th),  we will again be visiting The Plough Inn in Barkston (4 miles north of Grantham) where Stan’s father, AJ,  and his sister, Beatrice Olga, once lived and ran the small pub during the 1940s – and where of course Stan & Ollie made at least one visit during their 1947 theatre tour.   We will also be visiting AJs grave in the village and paying our due respects to this very special father.    Those interested in this pre-event …please meet at the Stag Inn at the centre of this small village (NG32 2NB) at 10.00 am.   For late comers, I expect to be at the Barkston & Syston cemetery at 10.15am and the Plough Inn (22 West Street) at 10.45am.  I will be leaving Barkston at 11.15am so I can get back to set up.

Food is not sold at the pub, so bring sandwiches or you can buy food in the village at the bakery, Co-op,  the  cafe or at the local chippy.

All are welcome to Bottesford & Barkston, and it should be a fun day out.

Hopefully, we’ll see you on Saturday….

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T