9.11.25.
Address change
Grand Sheik Mike Jones has a new home address:
32 Priory Grove
St Gabriels
Sunderland
SR4 7SU
Christmas cards
I still have a few packs of this year's Chumps Christmas Cards. They are of great quality, are large - 8x6 inches - and come with white envelopes.
I can post these anywhere in the UK where six will be £5.00 and ten, £7.50, p&p included. All proceeds as usual are for the benefit of the tent and our Charity, the Sunderland Community Soup Kitchen.
Mike Jones
Contact beauchumpssunderland@gmail.com
Great Scot
Tony Bagley sent us a postcard with this super photo of our favourite Scotsman, James Finlayson.
Centenary show
I saw that the Gaiety Theatre in Ayr has a show – 100 Years celebration of Laurel & Hardy – on 12 May 2026.
https://thegaiety.co.uk/events/100-years-celebration-of-laurel-hardy/
Peter Jaconelli
The show will, in fact, be touring the country. Go to https://www.laurelandhardypresentedbyneilbrand.co.uk/tour-dates/
Neil Brand invites you to celebrate the centenary of Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, the unlikely Anglo/American comedy duo would become global icons in over 130 countries around the world. In this brand new show from Neil Brand, the foremost exponent of silent film and improvised piano accompaniment, Neil shares his expertise and unique insight into Laurel & Hardy and the birth of the cinema industry. Thanks to new restorations of their silent films, and the rediscovery of some of Laurel and Hardy’s lesser-known comedies, Neil will uncover gems of hilarity from the team whose comedy never ages, and bring them to jaw-dropping life with the demanding live piano improvisations for which Neil is so famous. Neil’s engaging, easy-going style, along with his Q&A at the end of the show answering all the questions from the audience, makes for a highly entertaining evening.
Music Box steps
We went over to see the steps and graves. Amazing how built up it is now. At least their graves are well looked after.
Grant Macleod
Rich
I've been reading a biography of Richard Burton (Rich, by Melvyn Bragg)
Chapter 16 is entitled Laurel & Hardy:
During the late sixties Burton & Taylor (who were then married for the first time) made a number of films together.
A frustrated Burton, who may have been jealous of Taylor’s first Oscar, is quoted as saying, "Christ, must we always make films together? We'll end up like Laurel & Hardy."
To which Elizabeth Taylor replied, "What’s wrong with Laurel & Hardy. Everyone loved them."
Dave Williamson
Nice mess
From You Don't Believe Me - latest book by Mike Jones. Contact beauchumpssunderland@gmail.com
...and finally