14.10.26.
Andy Wilson RIP
It is with great sadness that I write to inform you of the death of one of our former Tent members, Andy Wilson.
Andy attended a number of Conventions. The Conventions at Bournemouth, Stoke, Birmingham and Oldham spring immediately to mind. He was also a regular at the Blockheads Tent meetings as part of the famous “Falkirk Four” contingent.
Andy had been fighting cancer for some time so was unable to travel far but he did attend the James Finlayson celebrations in Larbert last year.
Andy loved Laurel and Hardy and loved being part of the Sons family.
Our thoughts are with his family at this sad time.
Charlie Lewis
Sons of the Desert Rotherham
Mark Butcher is the Grand Sheik of a new tent in Rotherham. The tent as yet has not been given a name.
They meet on the first Tuesday of every month at Bramley Social Club, Bramley, Rotherham. S66 2SA.
Meetings start at 7pm and finish at 9.30pm.
Tents total
Tracy Tolzmann tells us that there have been 454 tents since the Sons' founding in May of 1965. Seven of the first ten tents are still going strong!
Behind Tommy
On a YouTube prog about the huge collection of film, radio and comics, that Bob Monkhouse managed to amass, there is this short clip of Tommy Cooper appearing on 'The Bob Monkhouse Show'
Just look what's on the studio set wall, behind Tommy.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OcAYTywohUQ
Dave Williamson
The Fiddle and The Bow
I contacted the organisers of the Talking Pictures Festival of Film & TV Christmas Roadshow taking place at Hebden Bridge Picture House on December 5th and 6th to enquire about a programme of events to find out when Craig Shepherd would be performing his one-man Laurel and Hardy show, The Fiddle and The Bow, and this is what they came back with:
We don’t generally announce who’s acting on which day until the actual event as most people come both days, however on this occasion I can tell you that Craig Shepherd is performing on the Sunday at Hebden Bridge.
This seems a little strange as they offer tickets for each day individually as well as one for both days so you'd wonder why someone would commit to one day or the other if they had no idea who was going to be appearing!
Anyway, the link for booking your tickets for either or both days is:
Stan Fan
New play
A brand new play about the two comedy legends is coming soon to a theatre near you! Follow to keep updated with news, tour dates and venues:
Blockheads Tent of Edinburgh
Charlie Lewis confirms dates for meetings of his Blockheads Tent:
Sunday 18th October
No meeting in November due to Club events/functions
Sunday 20th December
Sunday 10th January 2027
Sunday 7th February 2027
Sunday 7th March 2027
Sunday 4th April 2027
Sunday 9th May 2027
Sunday 13th June 2027
Men o’ War Tent of Colchester
Our next meeting is coming up on the 24th October. As it's approaching the Halloween season, we'll be handing out a prize for 'best fancy dress', but we stress, dressing up, as usual, is optional.
Paul Harding
Beau Chumps Tent of Sunderland
The Chumps are meeting tonight (12th October). Mike Jones says, "Films will include The 1929 silent We Faw Down and the final outing for Fox, The Bullfighters which Stan partially directed and which features the famous 'I’ll skin you alive' ending which terrified a very young Grand Sheik that you might know!
"We’re also delighted to be showing Gary Winstanley’s latest ‘Hats off to‘ documentary, this time it is the turn of Arthur Housman.
Call of the Cuckoos Tent of Glasgow
...and finally