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WWWWWAAAAATLING STREET CLUBTLING STREET CLUBTLING STREET CLUBTLING STREET CLUBTLING STREET CLUB

January/February 2013January/February 2013January/February 2013January/February 2013January/February 2013

VVVVVolume 5 Issue 4olume 5 Issue 4olume 5 Issue 4olume 5 Issue 4olume 5 Issue 4

Chairman JohnChairman JohnChairman JohnChairman JohnChairman John

thanksthanksthanksthanksthanks

Sharon & Sharon & Sharon & Sharon & Sharon &

the Hunters Lodgethe Hunters Lodgethe Hunters Lodgethe Hunters Lodgethe Hunters Lodge

forforforforfor

looking after thelooking after thelooking after thelooking after thelooking after the

Club so wellClub so wellClub so wellClub so wellClub so well

during 2012during 2012during 2012during 2012during 2012

List of Speakers &

Events Diary

Any suggestions for speakers or

other activities to David Turner.

One member per month will be

responsible for finding a speaker -

or speak themselves.

Please Note: Please Note: Please Note: Please Note: Please Note: Unavoidable changes to

this list may occur from time to time.

Refer to the club website for the latest

updates:

www.watlingstreetclub.co.uk

Chairman John DAVIS

Chairman Elect David TURNER

ImmPast Ch’mn Norman BAKER

Secretary Mike CHAPPLE

Treasurer Alan BINGHAM

Fellowship John FRANCIS

Fund Raising Patrick WARD

Speaker prog. David TURNER

Publicity Tony GOMERSAL

Journal Editor

Archives

Meeting place : The Old Hunters

Lodge Whipsnade

Meeting time : 19.30 for 20.00

Apologies

for absence John DENT

Items are accepted for publication at the

Editor’s discretion.

The Editor reserves the right to edit for

clarity or length.

Contributors are responsible for

ensuring material submitted by them

does not breach copyright or they have

obtained permission, in writing, for its

reproduction.

Formed 5th Nov 2008

First meeting 13th Nov 2008

First Chairman Neil MUNRO

EDITEDITEDITEDITEDITORIALORIALORIALORIALORIAL

Hello everyone!

Here we go with the first edition of the

New Year and another bundle of reports

and club activities for your interest ...or

not.

The year is going by already at a tre-

mendous pace so slow down a bit and

enjoy the views on the back page.

Thanks to all contributors. I hope you

will keep them coming in this year and

help to keep our magazine as lively and

interesting as possible. TG

Feb07 Ex Boxing Professional Bob Jackson

14 No Meeting

21 BUSINESS MEETING

Feb23 QUIZ NITE CHARITY F/R EVENT

28 Medieval Wall Paintings Sue Turner

Mar07 TBA

14 John Dent

21 BUSINESS MEETING

28 TBA

LADIES NIGHT

Apr04 TBA

April 20 BRIDGE NITE CHARITY F/R EVENT

May10-11 Assoc.Past Rotarians

CONFERENCE Weekend

Lytham St Anne’s

details from Neil Munro

CHAIRMAN’SCHAIRMAN’SCHAIRMAN’SCHAIRMAN’SCHAIRMAN’S

COLUMNCOLUMNCOLUMNCOLUMNCOLUMNThe Christmas party was very much enjoyed andour thanks to John Francis, who amongst otherthings, organised the entertainment. The Ukuleleband was a great success providing us with a hostof sing along tunes. The band made no charge tothe club despite many of them having travelledconsiderable distances to get to us and only askedthat we make a donation to Cancer UK. At theclosing stages of the evening David Richards ledus into the firm favourite of the Twelve Days ofChristmas, which is always good fun involvingboth the ability to remember the allocated chorus and stand and sing it at theright time, which at times proved to be a challenge too far!The Christmas Float turned out to be a tremendous success. Although the Club’sshare of the collections have still to be finalised we can expect to receive wellover £3,000. Thanks to all members who contributed to making this such agreat success with a special thanks to Tony, Norman Baker and Norman Leewho did such sterling work this year which included hiring the vehicle, findingsecure storage, designing and helping to build the Float and arranging thecollection schedules. All this involved an enormous amount of time and effortand once again on behalf of the club, I want to say thank you.A quiz night is organised by the Fellowship Committee for the 23rd Februaryand hopefully will be well supported. Patrick is still looking for raffle prizes forthe evening. There is also a bridge night planned on the 27th of April andplease let Patrick know if you can get a table together. Again, we would appreciateraffle prizes for this event which should be given to Patrick.The Association of Past Rotarians Conference is on the 10th and 11th of May inLytham St. Annes. Neil and Kay are going and would be pleased if you couldjoin them. Please let Neil know. The Association are considering the possibilityof holding a summer event perhaps in August and it is visualised the day wouldbegin at 11am with a brief welcome, a talk or a film on some local subject, abuffet lunch then either a garden party or a bus tour of the area in the afternoon,ending with wine, tea or cakes at 5pm. The Association is trying to find outwhat support there would be for such an event and what suggestions they mighthave for such a day.John

BRIDGE NITEBRIDGE NITEBRIDGE NITEBRIDGE NITEBRIDGE NITE20TH APRIL20TH APRIL20TH APRIL20TH APRIL20TH APRIL

Please donate prizes forPlease donate prizes forPlease donate prizes forPlease donate prizes forPlease donate prizes for

the raffle.the raffle.the raffle.the raffle.the raffle.

Save the date and tellSave the date and tellSave the date and tellSave the date and tellSave the date and tell

your friendsyour friendsyour friendsyour friendsyour friends

QUIZ NITEQUIZ NITEQUIZ NITEQUIZ NITEQUIZ NITE23rd FEBRU23rd FEBRU23rd FEBRU23rd FEBRU23rd FEBRUARYARYARYARYARY

Please donate prizes forPlease donate prizes forPlease donate prizes forPlease donate prizes forPlease donate prizes for

the raffle.the raffle.the raffle.the raffle.the raffle.

Save the date and tellSave the date and tellSave the date and tellSave the date and tellSave the date and tell

your friendsyour friendsyour friendsyour friendsyour friends

10th January

The Parrot SocietyThe Parrot SocietyThe Parrot SocietyThe Parrot SocietyThe Parrot SocietyLes Range

Les is the Secretary of the Parrot Society which

was formed in 1967 in Bedford. The then Duke

of Bedford kept parrots and when he died some

locals from the Flitwick area decided to buy some

of these parrots and acquired some breeding

pairs. So from this beginning a large network of

breeders and keepers were built up.

A boost to parrot breeding was provided in 1960

when Australia banned the export of all flora and

fauna, followed later by the European Union

banning the importation of live birds. The shortfall

in availabilty was filled by a rapid expansion in

the numbers of aviaries.

Les passed copies of old issues of the Society’s monthly

magazine, a well produced document which contained

ample proof of the degree of interest that exists in the

breeding and keeping of exotic birds.

Les had brought along with him a white cockatoo named

Coco Chanel who bobbed up and down in his cage before

Les brought it out and displayed its talents. A very good

mimic, the bird was in good voice, and apart from

depositing a small souvenir on the carpet, behaved

impeccably!!.

Chairman John thanked Les for his interesting and

entertaining talk.

24th January 2013

Mike Payne

A History ofPinewood Studios

Set in Buckinghamshire at Iver Heath,

Pinewood Studios was originally a large

Victorian house built in the 1890’s –

Heatherden Hall set within 100 acres of

gardens which in recent times have been used

extensively for film work.

In the mid 1930’s the estate was acquired by

millionaires Charles Boot and Lady Yule who

together re-christened the house Pinewood (in homage to Hollywood). Joseph Arthur

Rank was brought in and the sound studios were constructed. The first film produced,

according to Mike, was ‘London Melody’ – with Anna Neagle produced by her husband

Herbert Wilcox. They made 14 films in the first year.

Mike explained how he developed the hobby of collecting autographs of film stars as a

result of his mother’s passion for films and his first collected autograph was of Barry K

Barnes.

The Army Film Photographic Unit – was set up at Pinewood during WWII to provide films

for the public.

David Lean and Alfred Hitchcock honed their directing skills during the war.

Many memorable films were made at Pinewood and shown at the Oscar Dutch Entertains

Our Nation picture houses better known as the ODEON.

‘Genevieve’ made in 1952 was shelved because JAR thought it was rubbish, but it was

rescued and became a great hit. Mike has an autographed photo of Dinah Sheridan.

Then came the ‘Doctor’ series – of about 7 films – the Norman Wisdom series and then

the ‘Carry On’ series and, of course, the James Bond legend began in 1961 with Dr No.

In 1977, the studio was in a state of

collapse, but was rescued by Superman

– with Christopher Reeve. Later again

came another saviour in the 1990’s with

Batman.

Today – The Iron Lady, Mission

Impossible, The Hobbit – have all been

made at Pinewood.

Mike had brought along lots of samples

of his autograph collection and many

memorable photos which our members

browsed through later.

John Davis thanked Mike for his very

interesting talk.

The Christmas

Partyat Old Hunters

Lodge

Agood time was had by all on 20th

December and as always the foodwas very good.

The entertainment from the sevenpiece Ukulele band was most en-

joyable and this was followed byour now traditional sing song leadby ace conductor Dave Richards.

He put us through our paces as weattempted a hearty , and athleticrendition of the Twelve Days ofChristmas.Chairman John presented Sharon

with a cheque by way of thanks forlooking after our food and serviceall year.

31st January 2013

Road Victims TrustSteve Ottaway Chief Executive

Steve’s opening remark was a sincere hope ‘that none of us would need the service, but it

was there if ever required’.

RVP provides free confidential, emotional, practical, and legal support for the bereaved and

others affected by fatal road accidents/collisions. All costs have to be met from grants,

donations, and fund raising events. Current expenditure is £200k/annum and will rise as the

areas covered are expanded. Set up in 1995 in Bedfordshire, the Trust added Hertfordshire

in 2010 and will add Cambridgeshire and Peterborough this year.

The trust currently employs 5 staff, and has 26 volunteers operating from 2 offices , Kempston

and Hitchin.

Referrals come from the police and/or the

bereaved’s GP.

What is ‘on offer’? Not ‘tea and sympathy’,

but regular weekly emotional and practical

support for individuals and families, for as

long as it is useful, to facilitate the grieving

process, and to bring some finality to the

proceedings. They help address the range

of issues and feelings that come with the

loss and horror following a fatality.

Information on investigations is maintained

between the police and the case manager,

inquest and court proceedings, and access

provided to a list of suitably qualified

lawyers, who will provide a free initial

consultation.

In the UK, nearly two thousand people die as a result of collisions. In the areas covered, in

2009/10 Bedfordshire recorded 58, in 2010/11, Hertfordshire 63, and in both counties, 2011/

12, 110. Whilst vehicles are becoming safer, speed, road conditions and driving ability are a

feature in all accidents.

The harrowing case of a young 18 year old girl, who died as the result of a large commercial

vehicle ploughing into the vehicle in which she was a passenger, brought home the issues

and the unacceptable time and the insensibility of the proceedings. The current system is not

geared to recognising the event per se, but to identify all of the technicalities upon which the

law can adjudicate. In the case quoted, it took 7/8 years for the driver of the vehicle that

caused the accident to be brought to court, and found guilty. There was no recognition of the

effect upon the parent, family and friends, in fact the accused barrister was heard to remark

‘ well there are other children in the family’.

John invited any questions, and one in particular deserved a response. The vexed question

of the ‘No win No fee’ advertising, and ambulance chasing by some so called legal practices

upon learning of a serious accident. Steve agreed that this was unacceptable and as a retired

long serving police officer, was appalled to read that people in the police service were providing

information direct, and often either the force or individuals were seeking and receiving reward.

A change in the current law is plainly required, but appears well down on the Government’s

list of priorities.

Chairman John presented a cheque and thanked Steve for his thought provoking talk.

If you would like to support the Trust they have a black tie ‘James Bond’ dinner event at

Letchworth GC in March and Steve can be contacted for tickets via the website;

www.roadvictimstrust.org.uk.

This report by John Stevens

This is Bob

(or Bert as he was known)

in his Heyday

Bob squares up to ourChairman John Davis

7th February

Bob Jackson

ProfessionalBoxerBob is a spritely 91 year old who didn’t

appear to be what he claimed - a

professional boxer!

He didn’t have a flattened nose and

cauliflower ears, but when he took his

boxers stance he still looked quite a

handful!

Bob explained how he had been an

extra in a film at Pinewood Studios

playing a boy boxer and got to meet ex

World Champion Max Baer who inspired him to take

up the sport.

So he became a schoolboy boxer then turned

professional because the money was good and was

registered as a professional at the tender age of just

16 - but told them he was 18. Shortly afterwards he

used this registration falsehood to enable him to join

the army where he was able to expand his boxing

prowess by becoming a PT instructor.

Bob boxed as Bert Jackson, at featherweight as he

weighed in at barely 9 stone, but he well remembered

the time at the end of his career when he was fighting

for the BBBC Central Area Title at The Stadium,

Liverpool. He was overweight and had to sweat it off

prior to the fight. This had a disasterous effect on

him as the fight went on. He was winning all the early

rounds then as he came out for the penultimate round

he found he couldn’t lift his arms. He later realised

his blood sugar levels had dropped alarmingly, but

the result was a KO that finished his career.

He was just 24 years old, but had fought 150 fights

from 1937 until 1951 all over Britain, and was proud

of his record and achievements of 97 wins 10 draws

and 43 lost.

John Davis thanked Bob for his very interesting and

humorous talk which the members appreciated

greatly.

If you would like to look up Bob’s record visit

boxrec.com and search for Bert Jackson,

featherweight. It makes interesting reading. Ed

I don’t know whether these quotes aboutSamantha from ‘I’m Sorry I  Haven’t aClue’ are a bit too risque for thenewsletter, but I thought  I’d share themwith you anyway.Samantha has to nip off now as she’sdoing a fashion makeover on a gentleman friend. Yesterday she saysshe helped him choose new shoes, and was delighted to bend over to tiehis laces as he tried a pair  with acrepe sole and felt upper.Samantha is a qualified croupier andoften works at an excluslive Soho club where gamblers pay top moneyto pay roulette all day and poker  allnight.Samantha is off on a dinner date witha gentleman friend from Moscow who’s brought over a variety of caviarsand an array of vodka-based apperitifs. She says he’s going to offerher delicious food in his  hotel roomand then liqour out on the balcony.Samantha tells me she has to nip offnow as her trusted aged gardener  iscoming round to identify themysterious trailing plant that’s growing in her privet. Obviously she’skeen not to miss him if there’s  achance she may have an Old Man’sBeard in her bush.Samantha is something of a keen horsewoman, and she tells me that  she’soff to see a trainer who’s offered herthe chance of a couple of  races hewants her to contest. She’s quiteexcited, as he’s prepared  to drop hisjockeys to enter her at Newmarket.Samantha says she has to nip off nowas she’s been invited to stay  with hernew gentleman friend in his Bordeauxchateau. He’s asked her  to help tastesome of his vintage clarets and she’slooking forward to  trying a robust ’86and a rather tempting ’72, beforejoining him in  the cellar to enjoy afull-bodied ’69.Kind RegardsDavixxx

Paddy and Mick are two Irishmen working atthe local sawmill. One day, Mick slips and his arm gets caughtand severed by the big bench saw. Paddyquickly puts the limb in a plastic bag andrushes it and Mick to the local hospital. Nextday, Paddy goes to the hospital and asks afterMick. The nurse says, “Oh he’s out in Rehabexercising”. Paddy couldn’t believe it, butthere’s Mick out the back exercising his nowre-attached arm. The very next day he’s backat work in the saw mill. A couple of days go by, and then Mick slipsand severs his leg on another pesky bigsaw. So Paddy puts the limb in a plastic bagand rushes it and Mick off to Hospital. Nextday he calls in to see him and asks the nursehow he is. The nurse replies, “He’s out in theRehab again exercising”. And sure enough,there’s Mick out there doing some seriouswork on the treadmill. And very soon Mickcomes back to work. But, as usual, within a couple of days he hasanother accident and severs hishead. Wearily Paddy puts the head in a plasticbag and transports it and Mick tohospital. Next day he goes in and asks thenurse how Mick is. The nurse breaks downand cries and says, “He’s dead.” Paddy isshocked, but not surprised. “I suppose the sawfinally did him in.”   ”No”, says thenurse,”Some dopey idiot put his head in a

plastic bag and he suffocated. From NormanB

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BLBLBLBLBLACK PACK PACK PACK PACK PAGE HUMOURAGE HUMOURAGE HUMOURAGE HUMOURAGE HUMOUR

and finally........

Seaside NostalgiaDo these bring back memories ofBrighton rock and fish and chips innewspaper wraps or dodgy guest housesin Cliftonville?