Evergreen Autumn 2013

EVERGREEN

BR

Michaelmas daisy of autumn Glowing in colour today, Vibrant and rich as the season To welcome and brighten our way.

You’re part of the floral arrangement That nature’s prepared through the year, Presenting an intricate pattern Of beautiful blooms to appear.

Summer’s display is now over, Autumn now takes pride of place; Bringing fresh views to enchant us – A portrait of seasonal grace.

N

E LY L I

TTLE GREE

NQ

UA RT E

RL Y

£4

Vol.29 No.3 AUTUMN 2013

Seasonal Grace…

AI IT

OV 'S L

ELIZABETH GOZNEY

QUARTERLY

1 Front Cover-aut131.indd 1

A Miscellany of This & That & Things Gone By AUTUMN 2013 16/08/2013 11:19

Contents

Autumn 2013

Nature Says... . . . . . . .

Audrey Keen 4 Rural Rides . . . . . . Fiona Chapman 12 Famous Names in Football . . Alan Robinson 17 Countrycall . . . . . .

G eorgina Kenyon 18 The Literary Pilgrim . . . Kathryn Brereton 22 The Past in Colour . . . . . . . . .

— 25 Music Makers . . . .

Edmund Whitehouse 26 Percy’s Postbag . . . . . Percy Bickerdyke 32 A Royal Arrival . . . . . . . . .

— 38 Gleanings . . . . . . . . Colin Allan 40 Bookworm . . . . . . .

Stephen Garnett 46 On the Air . . . . . . . Peter Worsley 48 Rib-Ticklers . . . . . . . . . . .

— 52 Hit Parade . . . . .

Bill ‘The Beat’ Baxter 54 Feast of Family Favourites . . .

Angeline Wilcox 60 Almanac . . . . . . . . . Eddie Weir 62 Hey Diddle Diddle! . . . Charles Meredith 68 Laurel and Hardy . . . . .

Simon Murdoch 72 Cinemagic . . . . .

Derek Threadgall 74 Stars of the Screen . . . . Henry Hardcastle 79 Then & Now . . . . . . Henry Spencer 80 TV Memories . . . . Edmund Whitehouse 82 Where Are You Now? . . . . . . .

— 86 Setting Sail on Britannia . . . Roger Harvey 88 From the Deputy Editor’s Desk . Angeline Wilcox 96 Clippings . . . . .

Letters to the Editor 98 Flying Like James Bond . . Dene Bebbington 108 Whatever Happened to...? . . .

Angeline Wilcox 114 Byways . . . . . . . . . Joanne Page 116 Our Christian Heritage . . . .

R.E. Heaton 122 The Evergreen Prayer . . . . Derek Dobson 125 Raise a Glass . . . . . .

Stephen Garnett 126 Scrapbook . . . . . . . . . . .

— 130 Bookshelf . . . . . . Henry Hardcastle 134 Seasonal Grace . . . . . Elizabeth Gozney 148 Front Cover: Steaming along to Aviemore on the Strathspey JON JAYES railway in the Scottish Highlands.

contents a13.indd 3

15/08/2013 16:53

2013 EVERGREEN 121

Advertisements of Yesterday

Wrigley’s Spearmint Gum began life in 1893 but was withdrawn during the Second World War, following which the firm launched a massive advertising campaign with many different-coloured posters like these from the mid-Fifties. Chewing gum was frowned upon by many, however, particularly in schools. Grey-beige in colour it had two unfortunate drawbacks: being dropped on the floor where it hardened and stuck fast, or getting stuck in children’s hair!

adverts of yesterday - wrigleys gum.indd 121

16/08/2013 10:56

18

EVERGREEN Autumn

H

e has worked in wildlife the tall sycamore and oak trees. conservation all his life and, I thought I would have to wait for now in his eighties, continues ages to see a badger but I was happily to live in the same garden as a family surprised. of badgers that has learned to trust It didn’t take long for the nightly him over many decades. I met Don ritual of badger dining to take place. in his Essex garden and talked about After just a few minutes, on hearing all things badger with Don’s voice, first him. I learnt about the Speedy the young Badgers in the badgers’ personalities badger cub quickly Garden and how important appeared from his they have been to sett: he poked up his Britain, environmentally and in long sleek snout with the wonderful literature. striped black and white markings on Stepping into Don’s garden was his face that made him look rather like having a walk-on part in The Wind fierce. in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.

Then three more beautiful, shaggy, “And now we come to a hilly and black and white badgers appeared hummocky place. This is where from the sett, ready to eat their dinner.

Mr. Badger lives”, Don told me, These iconic animals of the alluding to those famous words from English woods have very noisy eating Grahame’s book about tripping over habits! Their delight at their dinner the door-scraper in the wood outside was evident as they tucked into the the wise and kind Mr. Badger’s house. sandwiches and peanuts, and the So I watched out for the boot- forest was filled with the sounds of scraper to the Badger sett. munching.

Don then advised me to be quiet Meanwhile, other badgers started and patient as I settled with my friend to arrive from the bottom of Don’s David into the hide in the garden garden on the edge of the wood. while Don stood just outside under Honey, an older female badger who

countrycall badgers.indd 18

16/08/2013 09:22

2013 EVERGREEN 19

Don has the badgers feeding out of his hand — literally!

could smell the sandwiches and peanuts Don was offering to her family, came running up to us.

After disappearing down the first opening of the sett about 20 yards away from us, a few moments later she reappeared at another entrance, just a few yards away. Badger setts often have a number of openings, so these mammals can easily dive into the safety of their home when danger is around.

countrycall badgers.indd 19

Although many conservationists warn against feeding wild animals because it makes them too tame, others acknowledge that to study a family for any length of time you need to gain their trust. I was pleased to see that this group of badgers was well looked after. Don is also careful not to over-feed them.

After a good ten minutes, Don announced: “Pause for digestion, badgers!”

16/08/2013 09:22

40

“

EVERGREEN Autumn

W

ould you mind if I shared to let Alec accompany her to the a table? It’s very full.” pictures — her usual Thursday treat.

This simple request Having shared the bill — and the tip made by Dr. Alec Harvey (Trevor — they left the crowded restaurant.

Howard) to Laura Jesson (Celia JohnThe Kardomah Café was actually son) at the Kardomah Café in “Mil- a Denham studio set. However, ford” would lead to the great national one of the all-time chain of cafés which Kardomah great screen romancflourished from the Encounters es in David Lean’s 1930s until the 1960s film, Brief Encounter. held many a real-life “No, of course not,” Laura replied. romantic encounter and provided “What did you plump for?” asked meeting places for less amorous Alec. friendships. It was also a favoured “The soup and fried sole.” venue for notable literary figures and “Yes, I’ll have the same.” groups of intellectuals.

They then introduced themselves One such group was the so-called as there had been no time at their Kardomah Gang of Swansea. In the first meeting on Milford railway 1930s, local poet Dylan Thomas station platform. Suddenly, a gathered around him a coterie of musical trio struck up. They turned artists, keen to discuss art, religion and and laughed at the earnest-looking politics over a lingering coffee. They cellist, played by Irene Handl. included the broadcaster Wynford Eventually, Laura was persuaded Vaughan Thomas, composer David

Gleanings - Kardomah.indd 40

16/08/2013 09:52

2013 EVERGREEN 41

The last survivor in Portland Street, Swansea, and (below) Dylan Thomas who was a regular customer in the 1930s.

Jones and writer Charles Fisher. The Castle Street Kardomah provided the physical space whilst their minds wandered over a universe of topics.

Thomas, himself, held the café in high regard calling it “My Home Sweet Homah”. In 1949 — for a BBC broadcast — he recalled that two distinct groups patronised the café. In addition to his own set, there was also a group of down-at-heel businessmen who were always bemoaning the state of the local economy.

Unfortunately, Swansea’s original Kardomah was destroyed in a German bombing raid in 1941. Thomas was later to describe the devastation in a radio play called Return Journey Home.

Gleanings - Kardomah.indd 41

Happily, after the hostilities another Kardomah was built in Swansea, in Portland Street. Amazingly, this café still exists: the last of the oncegreat chain. Here, it is still possible to dream of being Trevor Howard or Celia Johnson. The Luftwaffe had long been defeated but local people

16/08/2013 09:52

54

EVERGREEN Autumn

Hit Parade Singers & Songs from the Sixties & Seventies

T

here are certain opening classic. The delivery of the song, guitar sounds which make a written (unusually) by the group song instantly recognisable themselves with no attempt deliband memorable. I’m thinking of erately to mimic one of the con“Satisfaction” (The Rolling Stones), temporary American stars, was “Layla” (Derek and the Dominoes), innovative for the time, while the simple line-up of lead “All Day and All of the Night” (The bass guitarJohnny Kidd and guitarist, Kinks) and “Smoke ist, drummer, and a vocalist who didn’t on the Water” (Deep the Pirates play an instrument, Purple). There are numerous others, but one of my own had a tremendous influence on other favourites predates all these familiar early-Sixties groups.

Anyone who was fortunate to see intros and leads into a track which, more than 50 years after it reached them perform live during their allthe top of the UK charts, remains too-brief heyday will also recall their one of the greatest rhythm and blues unforgettable stage act, with the band members dressed in 19th-century songs ever recorded.

“Shakin’ All Over” by Johnny Kidd pirate costumes in front of a massive and the Pirates has been described backcloth of a galleon. Fronting it all, as the second British rock and roll of course, was Johnny Kidd himself, record (after “Move It” by Cliff complete with eye-patch, cutlass, and Richard) and became an instant the habit — outrageously to some

Hit Parade - autumn.indd 54

16/08/2013 10:05

2013 EVERGREEN 55

The group onstage in 1960, demonstrating their unique style.

observers! — of dancing energetically around on stage and kicking out in time to the music.

The phenomenon that became Johnny Kidd was born Frederick Albert Heath on 23rd November 1935, at Willesden, North London, the youngest of the three children of Ernest (a builder) and Margaret Heath. During the war Fred was evacuated, first to Edelsborough in Buckinghamshire, then to Pontrhydygroes in North Wales, where he sang in the choir in the local church.

On his return to London, a city of bomb-sites and continuing austerity,

Hit Parade - autumn.indd 55

Fred attended Leopold Road School and, after passing his 11+ exam, Willesden Technical College. Life revolved around local coffee bars, hustling for money in the snooker halls and visits to the dog track.

Like many young men, he was swept up by the skiffle craze and performed with a number of constantly changing groups with names which included Bats Heath and the Vampires and the Five Nutters. They took part in several competitions, with some success.

As skiffle declined and rock and roll took over, the group evolved into the Fabulous Fred Heath Band and

16/08/2013 10:05

60

EVERGREEN

Autumn

Feast of Family Favourites

W

e love hearing the stories that you tell us about your favourite recipes and how you came by them. Now, you might think that there isn’t much of a connection between cars and cooking, but Mrs. Eileen Buckingham, from Winchester, in Hampshire, can prove otherwise. She wrote in with a delicious recipe for ginger cake, which resulted from a shared interest in motoring that led to a lasting friendship.

Eileen tells us:

who owned a green three-wheeler Morgan car. They exchanged car parts and became good friends. Over the coming years we would visit Sherborne and spend weekends with him and his wife, Beryl. She gave me a recipe for a ginger cake, which will keep for three months (if you let it!). Sadly, Beryl passed away last year, but I always think of her and all the good times we enjoyed together every time I make the cake, which is quite often.

In 1952 we owned a red BSA threewheeler car and my husband met a man in Salisbury (who lived in Sherborne) A BSA car similar to the one owned by an “Evergreen” reader and her husband.

Remember this tea from yesteryear?

Feast aut ginger.indd 60

16/08/2013 10:10

2013

EVERGREEN

61

Beryl’s Ginger Cake Ingredients: 4oz margarine 4oz soft dark brown sugar 4oz syrup 1 large beaten egg 6oz plain flour (sieved)ground ginger 1 ½ level dessertspoon spice 1 ½ level teaspoons mixed of soda ate on arb bic on spo ½ level tea ¼ pint milk Method: d line with Grease a 2lb loaf tin anuse a ready-made or r, greaseproof pape margarine, syrup loaf tin liner. Melt the ntl y. Sieve flour, and sugar in a pan ge lte d mixture. With me ginger and spice into to blood heat and beaten egg, warm milkof soda. Mix well pour onto bicarbonate ients. Stir well and and add to other ingred 0˚C for ¾ hour pour into tin. Cook at 30 (less for fan oven) and 275˚C for ½ hour cle . until tester comes out an Ginger has a wonderfully warming taste about it and this cake sounds the perfect accompaniment for your afternoon tea. Recipes for puddings and cakes have proved to be very popular so far, but do you have a favourite savoury dish, which you think other

Always a favourite ingredient.

Evergreen readers would like to try?

If so, then do send details to the address below and we’ll feature it in a future issue. Happy cooking!

ANGELINE WILCOX

Send your recipes, requests and food memories to: “Feast of Family Favourites”, Evergreen, The Lypiatts, Lansdown Road, Cheltenham, Glos. GL50 2JA. E-mail: editor@evergreenmagazine.co.uk

Feast aut ginger.indd 61

16/08/2013 10:11

72

EVERGREEN Autumn

Laurel and Hardy lookalikes with their dog Oscar.

Laurel and Hardy return to Southend

F

ans of Laurel and Hardy celebrated the comic duo at the Skylark Hotel, near Southend Airport, Essex, over the May Bank Holiday. The event was the 34th UK Laurel & Hardy Convention, which was organised by Saps at Sea (the Southend-on-Sea branch of Sons of the Desert — the Laurel and Hardy Appreciation Society). More than 150 people attended from all over the UK, Europe and even America.

On the first day early arrivals were treated to a rally of veteran, vintage and classic cars. They lined up for inspection including several vehicles

Laurel & Hardy.indd 72

from the world of film. These included two very rare early 1900 veterans: a 1904 Panhard Levassor and a 1900 New Orleans two seater.

Members of the South Eastern Vintage and Classic Vehicle Club came along with a whole array of classic cars ranging from Trotter’s Reliant Robin (from the BBC comedy Only Fools and Horses) to Rolls Royces, Austins, Morris Minors and a 1940s police car, complete with a policeman in traditional uniform.

Laurel and Hardy lookalikes were also in attendance along with their famous dog Oscar. They went on to

16/08/2013 10:16

2013 EVERGREEN 73

The veteran 1904 Panhard Levassor car.

A 1900 New Orleans two seater.

Laurel & Hardy.indd 73

inspect the damaged heritage plaque at The Palace Hotel, which commemorates the comedy legends’ visit to the resort in 1952.

The lookalikes also had chance to see some of the Southend Film Festival and visit the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch steam railway.

This was the second time the convention has been held in Southend, the first time was in SIMON MURDOCH 2002.

16/08/2013 10:16

74

EVERGREEN Autumn

C

inemagoing in the 1950s hundred patrons were inside; it also was both fun and a rite of meant that people outside had to passage: most towns had at queue until seats became available. least one cinema and, in many cases, Queuing provided extra responsibility more than one. Socially, the cinema for the cinema commissionaire, who managers of the major circuits, was generally an ex-serviceman with Odeon, ABC and Granada, were on a a parade-ground voice supported by par with local bank managers. Going an impressive uniform on which to the “flicks” was the were displayed his chief entertainment service medals. Few for millions of British Fun at the Flicks would argue with a people of all ages. commissionaire, he It was cheap and was the manager’s good value for around three hours’ minder and guard dog; he, and he entertainment, the majority of which alone, decided who would leave the was provided by the Hollywood queue to get inside and who would studios. not.

Many people today mistakenly I was lucky! My local Odeon combelieve that wartime rationing in missionaire’s daughter was an ushBritain finished at the end of the erette in the cinema and my current Second World War in 1945. It didn’t! girlfriend, so I was on his VIP list to Rationing ended completely nine be first out the queue when a seat beyears later, in July 1954, so cheap came available. I was always shown entertainment in cinemas continued to a reserved seat in the back row of to flourish; for a few unhappy souls, the stalls to await my girl. An Odeon the cinema provided a form of therapy, rule at the time proscribed usherettes from sitting with their boyfriends (in although it wasn’t called that.

A “House Full” notice outside most the back row) until the feature was major cinemas meant that several screened for the last time that day —

fun at flicks.indd 74

16/08/2013 10:18

2013 EVERGREEN 75

but that still gave us a feature length of togetherness (around 95 minutes).

UK film classification in the 1950s was simple: a U-rated film allowed entry by any age group above five years old, an A restricted public entry to adults and children accompanied by an adult (an adult was anyone attaining the age of 21, but was redefined as 18 in 1969). From 1933, H for horror prohibited persons under 16 years old. In 1951, a growing emphasis on sex in films, especially those imported from Europe, in particular France, Italy and Sweden (who could forget Brigitte Bardot exploding on our screens?) changed the classification H to X to include both horror and sex.

An unfair anomaly to this classification system was when exhibitors played a U-rated supporting film with an A-rated main feature; this, of course, meant that youngsters had to be accompanied by an adult to get in.

This led to youngsters, including myself, being found huddled in a group outside the cinema and taking turns to accost a lady entering the cinema who we assumed was over 21, to “accompany� us inside. On one notable occasion when it was my turn to ask, I persuaded a lady (always a lady whose mothering instinct we played upon),

fun at flicks.indd 75

The Electric Palace cinema, in Harwich, Essex, opened in 1911.

RON GREGORY

to take in me and six of my friends.

Admittedly, she didn’t look old enough to have one child, let alone seven, an observation recognised by the cinema manager, who wisely

20/08/2013 15:18

108

EVERGREEN

Autumn

FLYING LIKE JAMES BOND

J

ames Bond flew one in the 1967 film You Only Live Twice. On a warm July day it was my turn to take to the skies in a gyrocopter, but unlike Mr. Bond I didn’t have helicopters in pursuit trying to shoot me down.

The first gyrocopter — known as an autogyro — resembled a small plane with the addition of an overhead rotor. Invented by Spaniard Juan de la Cierva in response to a design competition for a bomber, it flew 200 yards on its maiden flight in 1923. His earlier versions suffered from various problems, one of which was a tendency for the fixed rotor blades to produce a gyroscopic effect that tilted the aircraft.

Gyrocopter.indd 108

By the mid-1930s the successful development of a helicopter superseded the autogyro as a useful aircraft. Helicopters could do the same things as an autogyro, and, crucially, have the ability to hover.

Cierva, who was the main person behind autogyro research at the time, died in a plane crash in 1936 aged 41.

Thankfully the autogyro didn’t die with him.

A modern gyrocopter resembles a narrow open-cockpit helicopter, though some models are enclosed and at first blush seem to be a small version of their rotary cousin. The tail section looks more like that of a plane than a helicopter. Most models have a propeller at the rear

16/08/2013 10:51

2013

EVERGREEN

109 Opposite page: The view from the passenger seat in an open two-seater gyrocopter and (below) the author after his flight and aircraft at Old Sarum airfield.

to provide thrust, while the rotor provides lift and is turned by air movement. Both singleseat and two-seater (in a tandem layout) models are available.

I arrived a little nervous at Old Sarum airfield near Salisbury, but was soon excited by the buzz of light aircraft and the sight of a nostalgic biplane. After a few preliminaries and a safety talk I donned a flying jacket — this is needed because even on a warm day there’s a wind effect when flying. Next was a briefing about the gyrocopter, its controls and the helmet with an intercom. I sat in the

Gyrocopter.indd 109

rear seat, the instructor in the front.

Just like the aeroplanes, we had to taxi to the end of the runway — a stretch of trimmed grass — and takeoff followed a short spurt along the ground. In no time we were climbing high into the air and enjoying views that birds take for granted.

As the wind rustled my flying

16/08/2013 10:51

116

EVERGREEN Autumn

T

he humble allotment is use for allotments is owned by local far more than just a place authorities. However, you will often to grow fruit, flowers and see allotments near churches and that vegetables. Although seemingly is because some of the land is owned benign, the history of allotments has by the Church of England who rent always mirrored the social situation of it out. this country and their origins can be Another common place to see altraced back hundreds lotments is alongside of years. With the railway lines. This happened as a result recent health scares, Room to Grow of blockades, which the interest in organic caused food shortages and environmental issues, and high food prices, allotments during the Great War. Obviously, the demand for home-grown food and alare much in demand again.

Allotment owners, like other types lotments increased immediately. To of gardener, are as varied a bunch solve the problem, land, which could as it is possible to meet. They find not be otherwise used for large-scale themselves part of a community agricultural production, had to be with a common cause. There are found. The strips of land owned by not many other pastimes when the railway companies were ideal and such diverse backgrounds can come they allotted them to their employees. together and share their knowledge Even though the demand for land on which to build has increased you can and understanding.

There is no standard size for an still see these parcels of land in use toallotment, but most are based on the day all over England.

Only a few years later in the ancient measurement of ten rods which is the equivalent to 302 square Second World War, the story was the yards, or to use metric 253 square same again and the Dig for Victory metres. The majority of the land in campaign was started. Even parks

allotment.indd 116

16/08/2013 10:54

2013 EVERGREEN 117

A recreation of a Second World War allotment at Medstead and Four Marks, Hampshire.

STEVE BRYANT

allotment.indd 117

16/08/2013 10:54

EVERGREEN

BR

Michaelmas daisy of autumn Glowing in colour today, Vibrant and rich as the season To welcome and brighten our way.

You’re part of the floral arrangement That nature’s prepared through the year, Presenting an intricate pattern Of beautiful blooms to appear.

Summer’s display is now over, Autumn now takes pride of place; Bringing fresh views to enchant us – A portrait of seasonal grace.

N

E LY L I

TTLE GREE

NQ

UA RT E

RL Y

£4

Vol.29 No.3 AUTUMN 2013

Seasonal Grace…

AI IT

OV 'S L

ELIZABETH GOZNEY

QUARTERLY

1 Front Cover-aut131.indd 1

A Miscellany of This & That & Things Gone By AUTUMN 2013 16/08/2013 11:19