13.07.25.
Sons Day
Sons of the Desert gathered in Ulverston on 5th July for their annual Sons Day. A few of them are shown here.
There is a fine video of the event from Dirty Work Pictures at
https://www.facebook.com/watch?v=23959902920341597
In Solingen, Germany
There was a reunion on 29th June at the museum in Solingen. We all had a swell time and it was great to see Harry and Christel who are both feeling well.
Michael Schmitz
See also Roger Robinson’s report
2026 calendar
For the last three years, Paul Mitchell coloured and designed some splendid Laurel and Hardy calendars for Bowler Dessert. For 2026 we wanted our calendar to mark fifty years since Bowler Dessert magazine was launched. So Paul has provided 12 suitably enhanced photos, but this time in glorious black and white as the magazine was always in black and white.
Brand new documentary film
Premieres Saturday 6th September at the 33rd annual Laurel & HarDay in Wigan.
At the Panopticon
Fun in Spalding
Bowlers on sale
Seen by Dave Williamson at Cheshire Steam Rally on 12 July on a 'jumble' stall were 3 genuine bowler hats, all in very good condition, £28 - £35.
Twice Two meet sailors
We had a fantastic impromptu meeting with the 'Why Girls Love Sailors' Tent' in Brighton. Vice Sheik Hal, and Grand Sheik Charlie Sunda and their respective daughters joined in the fun.
We enjoyed the remastered 'Battle Of The Century.’ Apparently the lost footage was only a few still photographs.
We also watched 'The Hoose Gow' and 'Beau Hunks'.
Joanne Johnson (Twice Two Tent)
Them Thar Hills Tent, Carlisle
Photo from their July meeting
Blockheads Tent of Edinburgh
Meeting dates for Autumn 2025:
Sunday 14th September
Sunday 5th October
No meeting in November due to Remembrance events and Autumn rugby fixtures
Sunday 14th December
On the radio
This morning (4th July) another Radio 3 mention of "the great Laurel and Hardy" (the presenter’s description) after playing a track by the Beau Hunks, a group of Dutch musicians. I vaguely remember a mention of them at one of the Rolduc gatherings.
It seems that Radio 3 is the place to hear L&H related music.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beau_Hunks#:~:text=The%20most%20popular%20of%20the,and%20Hardy%20comedy%20Our%20Relations.
Dave Williamson
Peter Sellers and Stan
I've just listened to a 2010 Radio 4 Extra programme, Archive on 4. Presented by Glen Mitchell, it covers much of Sellers’s audio work and includes lots of 'off air' recordings and interviews.
Sellers says he was heavily influenced by L&H when putting much of the comedy in the Pink Panther films. He goes on to praise them, claiming they were the greatest comedy pairing in history. He's quite glowing in his admiration for the boys.
Towards the end of the programme there is an obscure recording of Sellers playing Stan, where he uses his amazing mimicry to copy Stan’s voice, even introducing himself as Stan.
Glen Mitchell goes on to point out that in the film 'Being There' (one of my all time favourite films, and one that Sellers wanted to make, for years), he plays the dead pan character Chance, the gardener, with a voice styled on Stan Laurel. Sellers freely admits this was his intention.
Sellers had wanted to make this film for years, but couldn't get finance because it was so far removed from his comedy character in the Pink Panther series.
In the end it turned out to be his last film, although one was released after his death, made up from various out takes, just to cash in on his death.
If you get a chance just listen to the last 10 / 15 minutes.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b00t32rs
Dave Williamson
Gary Winstanley's image of the San Diago convention
...and finally
From Stephen Barlow
