Bulletin 08.05.26. | Bowler Dessert

08.05.26.

2026 UK Convention

Just about got my breath back after a wonderful weekend with around 150 conventioneers at the 44th UK Convention at the Mercure Hotel in Norwich.

I would like to say a big thank you to everyone that donated and bid on items for our charity auction in aid of British Heart Foundation (in memory of my Rita ) and Darmkrebs Erkennen , a German Cancer Charity (in memory of our good friend Harry Hoppe ). At the moment the figure is around £1700.00 but I’m sure more money will come in, in the next few weeks.

A big thank you to my team. Without them we could not have put on a convention of this magnitude. I would also like to congratulate the whole team at the hotel who were absolutely brilliant.

Lastly a big thank you to everyone who came along and helped make it the success that it was. I can now relax and look to the convention next year in Chester.

Many thanks.

Ray Dempsey on Facebook

Well it's all over now but what a fantastic weekend. I loved and enjoyed every second of it. My Sons of the Desert family are the best bunch and of course I couldn't have done it without my team of monkeys helping me - the Saps at Sea did a fine job this year.

Next year we "sail" to Chester. Love you all and thanks for all your love and support over the weekend.

Emma (Thelma) on Facebook

2027 UK Convention

The video which was shown at Norwich, proposing to hold next year’s convention in Chester, can be seen at

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1295118965369259.

It worked a treat and already all places have been booked and eight people are on the reserve list. Julia Barlow says, "Great to have so much interest, but we don't want to disappoint anyone, so we're working on persuading the hotel to give us more rooms!"

Fred’s a star

At the Convention in Norwich, one of our number was able to render valuable service, Fred Terris.

A small group of Sons were waiting by the large outdoor market area, for a few stragglers to catch up. A lady, who was walking along a pedestrian street, tripped and fell full-length, hitting her face on the stone flags. Fred was standing close by and immediately stepped in to help, reassuring the lady, checking her for other injuries and securing her possessions. He was able to get her seated, the location being outside a coffee shop, with the assistance of a couple of passers-by.

He made sure she was safe, got her a glass of water from the shop, helped control the bleeding from a cut mouth.

The lady was eventually able to contact a relative by phone and arrange to be collected from the shop. She was very grateful and thanked Fred profusely for his speedy intervention.

Fred's first aid training and knowledge, as a mountain bike race marshal, was certainly put to good use.

Perhaps it's just as well the lady wasn't on her way to buy a grandfather clock at auction.

Dave Williamson

Intra-Tent Journal

The Intra-Tent Journal has reached issue number 200, and includes a resumé of its origins. A superb achievement!

For many years Marc de Coninck wrote a fine regular column covering European matters, for which we gratefully thank Mark. The role of European editor has now been taken up by Mike Jones, who has made a brave start with three full pages and a lengthy article on Laurel and Hardy’s stay at the Grand Hotel in North Shields in 1932.