Golden days
WILLIE McINTYRE reflects on pivotal events which impacted upon him many years ago
May 1965
First meeting of the Sons of the Desert, in New York.
Christmas 1975
My wife Pat gives me a copy of John McCabe's book The Comedy World of Stan Laurel, which inspires me to found a UK tent.
Early 1976
John McCabe approves my formation of the Bonnie Scotland Tent and enthuses about it. It is not the first UK tent, but is the first to last.
3rd May 1976
The Bonnie Scotland Tent has its inaugural meeting in Shettleston in Glasgow. Included on the programme is The Music Box.
August 1976
I publish the first edition of Bowler Dessert, as a quarterly A4 magazine. It reports on four UK tents: in Glasgow, Blackpool, London and Doncaster.
November 1976
In Bowler Dessert 2, John McCabe writes, “I can’t tell you how happy I am that the Sons are now flourishing in the UK.” A new tent is reported, in Ulverston, the Berth Marks Tent.
June 1977
Bowler Dessert reports that the Be Big Tent has been founded in Ashton-under-Lyne in Greater Manchester.
February 1978
Bowler Dessert reports that a new tent has been founded in Kent. Later it is named as the Helpmates Tent.
June 1978
The first UK convention of the Sons of the Desert is held in Ulverston, hosted by Bill Cubin and his Berth Marks Tent. It precedes any International Conventions and European Conventions.
May 1981
On behalf of the Bonnie Scotland Tent, I host the fourth UK Convention in Largs.
Early 1983
Bill Crouch, of the Bonnie Scotland Tent, locates the grave of Stan Laurel’s mother, Madge Metcalfe.
Summer 1983
The Laurel and Hardy Museum in Ulverston has its official opening although it has existed for some years.
Spring 1984
Ronnie Paton, of the Bonnie Scotland Tent, “rediscovers” the Britannia Panopticon Music Hall in Glasgow. It is where Stan Laurel made his first stage appearance. The venue is visited by members of the Glasgow tent.