06.06.25.
Greetings conventioneers and almost conventioneers
I hope you are all fully recovered from the Harrogate Convention and can look back with fond memories of the weekend we shared. The Yorkshire Committee of John Jnr, Mark, Bev and myself had a lot of fun putting the weekend together, as well as suffering with the usual stresses and strains of organising a Sons of the Desert Convention. Thank you for your thankyous - I think you all seemed to have a good time!
A big thank you to Gary and Fred for sharing their photos and videos and for anyone else who has shared pics on Facebook, WhatsApp or any other of these modern ways of communicating. If anyone has any good pics or videos of Dr Jazz from Saturday night, he has asked if you are happy to share them with him either via WhatsApp (07775615151) or email (mrswing1969@gmail.com).
Also, John Bradd from Big Media Co, who provided the PA both in the hotel and outside in the park, has said that they can cover the length and breadth of the country, so if anyone has any PA requirements, you can contact John at mail@bigmedia.co.uk. Mention the Sons of the Desert and I'm sure he'll treat you well!
The hotel has thanked us for being a great bunch of guests and making them laugh over the weekend, and Karen was genuinely touched by the thankyous she received. We sent a bunch of flowers and donated £200 for the staff to share a drink or 2 as a thank you from the Sons of the Desert.
Finally, thanks to the generosity of the raffle ticket buying conventioneers, and those who donated money to the collection pots and buckets around the hotel and down by the bandstand. We managed to raise an impressive £808.25 for Marie Curie, and I was able to present a 'Big Cheque' to Rebecca Bramley, Community Fundraiser for Marie Curie Yorkshire last weekend.
Good luck to Emma, Ray and the rest of the Saps with organising next year's Convention in Norwich. I'm looking forward to it already!
Dave Ballard
Brats
I'd seen AI baby comedy clips doing the rounds, so obviously I had to have a go!
The first one (Their First Mistake) clip was an experiment. I posted it on the Sons facebook page. It went viral.
Enjoy!
Gary Winstanley
Bobbleheads
Just released, the official Laurel and Hardy collectible dual bobblehead! This collectible stands 8" in height and is made of heavy resin material. This pre-order item is from the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Ships in early September!
https://store.bobbleheadhall.com/collections/bobbleheads/products/laurelandhardy?aff=11andfbclid=IwY2xjawKlSzFleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBjVXZoTng0MldhOUkzSk1BAR4p9wFfQw-oF1Nwi_F_70DvnnTqPRhost6DJpsbF_4N-vBUeFvLexJeZAI6Jw_aem_1gP3qBrV1-LarEJJ7tJFHw
Beau Chumps Tent website
I’ve made a change on the website based on feedback. I think the ‘Images of the week’ have run their course and instead I have started sharing the weekly bulletins in what is now called the ‘Bulletins and Blogs’ page.
As a starter, I’ve uploaded all of May 2025’s entries and in case you don’t know, these are not just about the Chumps. We do feature of course, but I get shedloads of LandH material sent to me to share and I uncover quite a bit of rare info myself.
Click here to check it out: https://beauchumps.wordpress.com/blog/
Mike Jones
On the radio
I normally listen to Radio 3. This morning, Friday 30th, at about 07.15 I was suprised to hear some familiar 'strains'. A selection of original Leroy Shield, LandH film music.
The presenter gave some details, and I looked up the pianist. Here is a link to YouTube, where his LandH work can be heard:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=51GhyiRH9DIandlist=OLAK5uy_n4cuwlj_U8VEUb7L1nmJtD6tzFtHh-aGoandpp=8AUB
Dave Williamson
Men o' War Tent of Colchester
Below Zero Tent of Battle
Just a big thank you to everyone who came along to create pretty much a full house on Saturday for our latest Below Zero film show.
It was great to welcome some family of our much missed late Grand Sheik Chris O’Brien, including nephew David and his noble rendition of “Dance of the Cuckoos” on the legendary ocarina.
Thanks to Ken for providing the films and the projector to show them.
A massive thanks to the super talented Mike Hatched for improvising on piano to create a one off soundtrack for “10 Minute Egg”. An incredible achievement considering the piano was so out of tune it could have been delivered by Stan and Ollie.
Not only a lovely afternoon had by all, we are chuffed to announce that with all your donations and profits from the bar we raised £175, which has been donated to Chris’s nominated charity, The Battle Bonfire Boyes. Thanks Everyone.
Mick Hoad
REMINDER: Sons Spiff Up
Come and join the Sons of the Desert for an afternoon / evening of supping!
Saturday 14th June in Wigan town centre. We'll be out and about from around 2pm.
Gary Winstanley
If only...
Steve Barlow has created some arresting posters.
Tit for Tat Tent of Spalding
How kilt is worn
I am a regular 'viewer' of a well respected website, The Great War Forum. A mine of useful info, and very good for researching WW1 soldiers and battlefields.
This item was a request for info as to why Scottish regiments, who wore the kilt, used the kaki canvas covers, over them.
https://www.greatwarforum.org/topic/317916-kilt-covers-worn-by-scottish-regiments/
The item includes a fine clip of Laurel and Hardy in Bonnie Scotland.
Dave Williamson
and finally...
