A new Chairman!Peter takes overfrom John at theAnnual Dinner.See our report

Journal of theJournal of theJournal of theJournal of theJournal of the

WWWWWAAAAATLINGTLINGTLINGTLINGTLING

STREETSTREETSTREETSTREETSTREET

CLCLCLCLCLUBUBUBUBUB

Jul/Aug 2016Jul/Aug 2016Jul/Aug 2016Jul/Aug 2016Jul/Aug 2016

VVVVVolume 9olume 9olume 9olume 9olume 9

Issue 1Issue 1Issue 1Issue 1Issue 1

SSSSS

TTTTT

RRRRR

EEEEE

EEEEE

TTTTT

WISEWISEWISEWISEWISE

SSSSS

TTTTT

RRRRR

EEEEE

EEEEE

TTTTT

WISEWISEWISEWISEWISE

Speakers & Events Diary

Any suggestions for speakers or other

activities to David Turner or John Davis.

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 Peter HORSTMAN

Chairman Elect Steve ALLEN

ImmPast Ch’mn John DAVIS

Secretary Mike CHAPPLE

Treasurer Alan BINGHAM

Fellowship John FRANCIS

Fund Raising David TURNER

Speaker prog. David TURNER

& John DAVIS

Publicity & Tony GOMERSAL

Journal Editor

Archives

Meeting place : The Old Hunters

Lodge Whipsnade

Meeting time : 19.30 for 20.00

Apologies

for absence Peter HORSTMAN

Items are accepted for publication at the

Editor’s discretion.

The Editor reserves the right to edit for clar-

ity 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.

Content is subject to copyright.

Formed 5th Nov 2008

First meeting 13th Nov 2008

First Chairman Neil MUNRO

EDITEDITEDITEDITEDITORIALORIALORIALORIALORIAL

July 01 Chairman’s Dinner and Handover

07 The California Ballroom Penny Silford

14 A Talk Norman Baker

21 BUSINESS MEETING

28 LADIES NIGHT

Secrets of a Store Detective Josie Jeffries

Aug 04 Pubs Signs Jean Yates

11 A Talk Norman Lee

18 BUSINESS MEETING

25 LADIES NIGHT

Dunstable Stories Rita Swift

Sept 01 TBA

08 A Talk Robert Doody

15 BUSINESS MEETING

22 LADIES NIGHT

Help for Heroes WingCo Steve Smith

29 TBA

Another new year in our Club’s his-

tory begins with the Handover to our

new Chairman, Peter Horstman.

The Chairman’s Dinner and Handover

took place on 1st July at the Woburn

Hotel and was most enjoyable. See

our pics in the following pages.

We have another bumper edition for

you to wade through, on which note

may I thank Sheila O’Hara for her re-

port on the Watling Walkers. Also

thanks to John Stevens for his help

once again whilst I was on holiday -

and thanks to all others who have

contributed.

TG

CHAIRMAN’SCHAIRMAN’SCHAIRMAN’SCHAIRMAN’SCHAIRMAN’S

COLUM COLUM COLUM COLUM COLUMNNNNN

The past year has flown by. I have enjoyed being the chair of our Club although

I can’t in all honestly think that I have done much other than open and close our

meetings, the hard work of keeping things moving along being undertaken by

those we all know without whose input the Club would not function.

I thought the handover went well with several members saying how much they

enjoyed the evening. I am pleased that we have a deputy chair which provides

the Club with some continuity. I wish Peter all success for the coming year and

know that members will give him the same level of support that I was able to

enjoy.

John

Another year with a new chairman.

My thanks to John for presiding over another year of great friendship and

fellowship in his own inimitable way.

I am always amazed that most of our members have known each other

for some thirty three years, meeting every week. True friendship. May it

continue in the future.

The coming year presents us with a number of challenges in respect of

fund raising as we are all getting older, finding it difficult to respond to

requests for assistance to help at various functions but I am sure we will

continue to do so.

I sincerely hope that we all,

members and their ladies,

continue to enjoy each

others company and the

activities that we are

presented with and look

forward to another

successful year.

Peter.

John Bates

Interest in Shackleton, John’s boyhood

hero, was cemented when John was

taken to see the feature film ‘Scott of the

Antarctic’ and this resulted in some

personal research.

Shackleton was born on Feb 15th in

Kilkee, County Clare and attended

Dulwich College where he excelled, and

on leaving, joined the Royal Navy where

he quickly became the youngest serving

Captain.

Aged 27 he was a member of Capt

Robert F Scott’s 1901-04 Antarctic

expedition. He sledged partway across the Ross Ice Shelf. He was however not

entirely happy with Scott’s organisation and man management skills. This

unsuccessful attempt encouraged him, upon return to the UK, to seek funding and

support from the Admiralty to mount an expedition of his own. He had little difficulty

in amassing enough volunteers to join him. They set sail in ‘Nimrod’ in January 1908.

Before winter set in a party scaled Mt. Erebus and found that it showed some

evidence of volcanic activity. That summer Shackleton began his journey to the

South Pole, pioneering a route via the Beardmore Glacier. His use of Manchurian

ponies to pull the sledges proved unsuccessful and with only 97 miles (155

Kilometres), to reach his goal, and with dwindling supplies, he was forced to return to

his ship. On March 1st the Admiralty ordered his return. He was knighted upon his

return to England.

On his next Antarctic venture (1914-1916) he planned to cross the continent from

the Weddell Sea to McMurdo Sound via the South Pole, but his ship ‘Endurance’

was crushed after drifting in pack ice for nine months. After experiencing harrowing

conditions and drifting for another 5 months, the ship had to be abandoned and the

team escaped in small boats to Elephant Island, in the South Shetland group.

Shackleton and 5 others then sailed 800 miles (1300 kilometres) in a whaleboat to

South Georgia to seek aid. He then led four relief expeditions before succeeding in

rescuing his men from Elephant Island. John very graphically described the hardship

that all experienced in this undertaking. Frost bite and the actual duration of the

attempts (294 days), and the limited diet of seal and whale meat had taken its toll.

They made their way to a Norwegian whaling station at Rivington, unshaven, dirty,

and ill clad for the conditions, were taken in and given much needed medical care.

To his credit, Shackleton took 28 men to Antarctic and brought 28 back to the UK.

He died on January 5th 1922 at Grytviken, South Georgia. 48 years of age.

John gave the vote of thanks for an interesting and passionate presentation, which

was endorsed by all present. This report by John Stevens

Earnest ShackletonEarnest ShackletonEarnest ShackletonEarnest ShackletonEarnest Shackleton2nd June

with Jackie Burke.

Jackie has been looking after hedghogs for

some time and has dealt with up to 150

every year.

Some of these have bad injuries others just

need TLC.

Jackie read from her book written by her

partner, who is also a graphic designer. The

book is about hedgehog care and is one

way that Jackie raises funds to help

defray costs and enable her to

continue with her work caring for

hedgehogs which are as a species in

serious decline.

She showed a number of objects that

were the litter thrown away by

thoughtless members of the public that

can cause great hurt to the hedghog

population. These included bottle tops,

garden netting, elastic bands etc. and

were called ‘her little box of horrors’.

Jackie had brought along one of her

‘patients’ who cuddled up in a towel as

Jackie told us all about their care and problems as she walked round

the room for our club members to inspect and admire.

Currently these little animals are mating

and their young are being born, so if

you see hedgehogs in the daytime, they

mat be in trouble as they are nocturnal

normally.

They are sometimes attacked by dogs,

or poisoned by slug pellets, so if you

see a hedgehog in distress then call

Jackie on 01525 759916 and she will

offer advice and even rescue if

necessary.

An interesting talk and presentation for

which Jackie was thanked by our

chairman John Davis.

Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs

Hedgehogs26th May

Brian McVey

Brian contained his talk to 3 artists

and to enhance this presentation,

displayed on screen examples of each

and described their particular

attributes and technique.

1, An Englishman,’ Christopher

Nevison’, trained at The Slade, and

was influenced by the ‘Futurist

Movement’ and Cubism, an area that

Picasso became famous. He was sent to

France, despite being a chronic asthmatic, as a medical orderly, and war artist, serving in the

French army lines. He suffered as a result of his condition, and was repatriated back to the UK.

He had however amassed a number of sketches of his time at the front, which enabled him to

mount an exhibition, which was highly critical of the conditions, and was subsequently criticised

and censored by the War Office and officialdom. The poster promoting this was shown. Some

examples of his work were described with particular reference to geometric shapes, sharp lines

and limited detail, enticing the viewer to draw their own conclusions. He produced highly

atmospheric pictures, one in particular, entitled ‘Angels of death’ showed a machine gunner and

loader which left nothing to the imagination. Soldiers marching, showing them leaning forward to

give the impression of urgency/speed and a sketch entitled ‘Dog Tired’ showing exhausted soldiers

at rest.

2, Another Englishman, Sir William Orpren. He too studied at The Slade. His expertise was

portraiture and he was called upon to paint a number of the senior military leaders of the day. He

spent longer in France than most war artists, but was not exposed to the front line. His painting,

entitled ‘The Spy’ was shown. This dramatic portrait, was of a young lady purporting to be a

resistance member, but it was subsequently identified that she was Yvonne Albrick his mistress.

Orpren was knighted at the war end. Bryan related a story that Orpren was able to purchase a

Rolls Royce tourer, and as was the norm at the time did not drive but employed a chauffeur. His

relationship with Yvonne lasted just 10 years when she ran off with the chauffeur. Whether she

took the car as well was not disclosed!

There are a number of examples of Orpren’s work to be seen in The Imperial War Museum.

3, An Austrian, who studied for a short time at the Vienna Academy, and was considered a

competent water colourist with a keen eye and technical ability. An example of his work entitled

‘Ruined Cloisters’ was shown. This artist, a complex individual was wounded twice, gassed, and

had subsequent sight problems which curtailed his artistic ambitions. His name, which was

disclosed at the end of the talk, was ‘Adolph Hitler’. Perhaps if he had been able to continue his

studies as a young man, he would not have been tempted to take the path he did!

Brian thanked us for our attention and said that he had reduced his talk to suit us, but had other

artists that he had researched and could talk about. I am sure David will no doubt take up his

offer.

Brian runs an art appreciation group in our local U3A, and is called upon to give talks to various

groups/organisations for which the reward is a cup of tea and perhaps a cake or biscuit. He was

quite appreciative of a two course meal. This report by John Stevens

23rd June

World War I - Art

Penny SilfordPenny SilfordPenny SilfordPenny SilfordPenny Silford

Penny is obviously too young to havebeen at the California Ballroom duringthose great days in the 1960’s, but she had put together a history of the venuebeginning with its origins when the California pool opened as a popular outdoorswimming pool in 1935. The ballroom, built by Edwin Green was situated in frontof the pool located at the bottom of Dunstable Downs and opened in 1960. Ithad two stages, one each end of the dance floor, with a bar above one of thestages. It soon became the place to go to soak up the music and see the bands/groups of the day. Ray Miller was the resident band for the first two years andthe popular local group the Barron Knights were regular performers during theearly 60’s.Edwina Green, Edwin’s daughter was heavily involved in the running of thevenue, and in later years so was Edwin’s grandson Mick Ilka. They wereresponsible for bringing some really topline groups and performers to thestages. These included the Rolling Stones in 1963, followed by many others inthe years that followed; Jimi Hendrix, P J Proby, Pink Floyd, Slade, who in 1972attracted 3500 to the venue. Bob Marley came along with Johnny Nash and TheClash appeared in 1977. Edwin Starr, Hot Chocolate and The Commodores withLionel Ritchie, who didn’t go down too well with the Cali audience who didn’tappreciate his slow ballads. James Brown also made an appearance.DJ’s at the Cali included Carl Edwardsfrom 1968-71, Paul Gray and evenTony Blackburn and Noel Edmonds didtheir bit.Sadly, facing more and morecompetition from other new localvenues such as the Queensway Hall andCeaser’s Palace, the venue eventuallyclosed in 1979 and the site re-developed as a housing estate. But,that wasn’t the end for the fans as theCali-R lives on and still runs verypopular events at local venues such asthe Leisure Centre and in marquees atthe Dunstable Rugby Club ground.Newly installed Chairman PeterHorstman thanked Penny for her verypleasant and interesting talk.

7th July

CaliforniaBallroom

1960-79

Once again John and Hazel had

planned an interesting walk for the

small but intrepid group of ‘Watling

Walkers’. Having negotiated the

narrow lanes, we arrived at the

John Bunyan Pub at Coleman

Green.The family run pub made us

very welcome and after parking our

cars , a welcome coffee and

selecting our lunch menus, we set

off. First of all along the route of

the old Roman road. This was now

just a track past beautiful ancient

trees.

Watling Walkers May 2016Watling Walkers May 2016Watling Walkers May 2016Watling Walkers May 2016Watling Walkers May 2016

John had done his research and

regaled us with lots of local

knowledge on route. He did

however let slip that this was also a

cunning ploy to collect up the

stragglers and provide a brief

respite if needed. We passed the

beautiful old Manor House which

was where John Bunyan had

stayed when preaching in the area.

The house at the time was owned

by Mr Coleman who was one of the

preachers’ supporters.

Although John and Hazel had

forgotten to order our usual

sunshine, we did not get wet, It

was great to enjoy the sights of

all the fresh new spring leaves

and flowers which lined our

route.

This report and photos by

Sheila O’Hara

The humans were accompanied by

our four legged friend who

thoroughly enjoyed the walk , but

appears to give a mixed reception

to the pocket history .

We walked along the banks of the River Lee.

which was which was very beautiful with banks

of yellow irises and shimmering reflections.

Shingles was delighted to go for a swim in fact

was reluctant to come back out of the water. This

stretch of the river must be one of its prettiest on

its journey from Leagrave Marsh to the Thames.

Lots more information on this really

interesting walk was provided on the

noticeboard being digested here by

some of our walkers then onwards

towards lunch at the John Bunyan.

Here we met the non walkers in the

party and a very good lunch was

enjoyed by all, including Shingles who

was welcomed into the bar as a well

behaved dog and rewarded with a dog

biscuit. Thanks once again to John and

Hazel for organizing such an enjoyable

event.

Jim Page

Our own Jim a film star?? Well not exactly, but a regular film extra,

certainly!

On this occasion Jim told of the call on his mobile, which is kept on

at all times awaiting calls to action, requesting him to attend the

production of a film called ‘Youth’. He was to arrive at the location,

Wimbledon theatre, by 9.00am and sign on at the next door building,

a working men’s club. He was required to arrive wearing a dinner

jacket, bow tie etc. as there would be no changing facilities. On

arrival he found he was amongst 450 other extras!

The gathering was served a breakfast, then asked to enter the

theatre and sit in the stalls where the director of the film would re-

arrange them into seats and explain what was expected of them.

Clearly they were effectively an invited audience and were required

to applaud at times in response to a singer or a short burst of music.

As this is the film industry, there were several ‘takes’ during the

course of the day which ended at 5.55pm. Any later and they would

have to have been paid overtime.

The next day followed a similar pattern except that this time they

started in the theatre at 1.00pm sitting in the circle where there was

also a ‘Royal’ box populated by lookalikes.

This time there was a full orchestra, a singer and ...Michael

Caine....no less, as conductor. (He got an unscripted round of

applause, of course)

Again the process of applause and re-takes until the day ended

again at 5.55pm.

Later, when the film was released, Jim and Chris went to see the

film and were delighted to see Jim in a 5 second mid-screen

sequence......fame at last!

Jim ‘s talk was both entertaining as well as informative and he was

thanked by Chairman John on behalf of the members present.

12th May

EXTRA TIMEAdventures of a film extra

LAKENHEATHOur visit to the USAF base

This was an excellent trip organised by Steve

Allen and John Davis. We were met at the

gate by this airman who escorted us for the

whole trip, introducing us to other airmen

and women as we visited various locations.

I think the highlight was to see

two squadrons of F15’s take off

and roar into the air, disappear-

ing into the clouds as they

wheeled over the sky. What a

noise!!

The fuel depot with the huge fuel tendersThe static display of historic US jets at the base

The memorial wall behind the static display

19th May

The memorial to WWII fighters

One of the F15 jets racing into the skies

We had great fun

trying on the heavy

bullet proof body

armour, gas masks and

helmets.

Thanks to the organis-

ers for a great dayout.

The radar display control room

He’s chatting up my wife ...again! Three little girls....are we..!

Mike didn’t like the first one, so he tried lots more Three little girls....are we..! Sorry Dave.

Three little girls....are we..! Haven’t we seen

you before?

Peter tries to make a break for the door, but

is trapped by Norman and Veronica.

The CHAIRMANThe CHAIRMANThe CHAIRMANThe CHAIRMANThe CHAIRMAN’s HANDOVERs HANDOVERs HANDOVERs HANDOVERs HANDOVER

DINNER at the Woburn HotelDINNER at the Woburn HotelDINNER at the Woburn HotelDINNER at the Woburn HotelDINNER at the Woburn HotelJune 2016June 2016June 2016June 2016June 2016

The CHAIRMANThe CHAIRMANThe CHAIRMANThe CHAIRMANThe CHAIRMAN’sssss

HANDOVER DINNERHANDOVER DINNERHANDOVER DINNERHANDOVER DINNERHANDOVER DINNERat theat theat theat theat the

Woburn HotelWoburn HotelWoburn HotelWoburn HotelWoburn Hotel

June 2016June 2016June 2016June 2016June 2016

Seems like a fair swap! What...no tankard! OK Peter .. Now it’s your turn..!

If you were there then we got your picture.