Laurel and Hardy and the Sons of the Desert are at the heart of Bowler Dessert magazine and Bowler Dessert Online

Bulletin 30.09.09.

Key Trouble Joshua (Mitchell-Waite) came home from school one day and said that one of his library books featured Stan and Ollie. Intended for children of primary school age, the book is Key Trouble by Roderick Hunt and Alex Brychta, (Oxford Reading Tree, ISBN 978-0-19-846633-8). It is available from Amazon for £4.95, and tells the story of a boy who is transported into a black and white film world, where the Boys are moving a piano! They appear on 7 pages out of the 32. Ant and Jo Mitchell-Waite Curry with Brats The Brats Annual Curry Night held at the Zeenat Restaurant in Sheffield was a great success. Thirty Brats were in attendance and with mouth-watering food in abundance a great time was had by all. It was a nice surprise to see Grand Sheik Gary Winstanley and Julie Smith of the Dirty Work Tent, who were the first visitors from another tent to join us on a Curry Night. To celebrate, both were made honorary Brats. Gary had read about the event on Bowler Dessert Online! Some of the food was quite hot - so it was necessary to have an extended loyal toast (to cool down), followed by the "Sons Anthem", where members of staff happily joined in. After yet another successful night, I am already looking forward to the next Curry Night! John Burton Did you see? On Weakest  Link (BBC1, 23.09.09.) Ann Robinson asked, "In film the international fan club known as Sons of the Desert is dedicated to enthusiasts of Laurel and  who?" The contestant answered correctly, "Hardy". She could hardly get it wrong, could she, as most of the answer was in the question? John Bogie Vic Reeves was on This Morning (ITV1, 24.09.09.) and was asked who made him laugh. He said, "Laurel and Hardy". I said, "I wish you were as funny as them, Vic, which you'll never be." Nick Rich Bargain Spotted in a WH Smith shop were Universal's DVDs of Way Out West and A Chump at Oxford for only £2.00 each. At Geoff Green's request Dad's funeral went very well. He had his bowler on top of the coffin and at the end of the service the Cuckoo Song was played. Dad had asked that, at this point, we should reenact the scene from Perfect Day (when the Boys are trying to depart for a picnic) and so a chorus of "Bye!", "G'bye!", "Bye-bye!" rang out with bowlers being waved. It was fitting and made people smile. At our meeting on 24th September we had a special barrel of real ale brewed by Beartown Brewery and called "Grand Loco" after our dad's "tent name". Needless to say we drank the lot! The profits were donated to Macmillan Nurses (Oldham Branch). It was a very nice brew and we hope to have more at the next meeting. Stuart Green Help wanted by Wolfgang I recently heard from fellow Son, Wolfgang Gunther, Grand Sheik of Two Tars Tent of Germany, and the owner (along with his wonderful wife, Vera) of The Laurel and Hardy Musuem in Solingen, Germany.  I had the honor of visiting the museum last year and it is such an amazing place for any Son to see - with many thousands of L&H memorabilia items - a fantastic place to visit: I didn't want to leave!  Recently, the museum suffered a problem with severe dampness in one wall (which is now fixed) that destroyed a small number of items (photos) in the museum for which Wolfgang is now trying to find replacements.  He is asking that if any Son has any of the following, would you please contact him about helping him out: Hal Roach portrait at older age. Dana Andrews and Charlton Heston giving Stan his screen actors award. Stan and Ollie arriving in Paris and being greeted by people holding a banner "bievenue..." Wolgang mentioned that he would pay for any expenses to get copies of these.  He can be reached by email at laurel.hardy.museum@t-online.de.  Please pass on this request to fellow Sons.  Gino Dercola Paul's address It is time for a reminder that the address of Paul Allen, Grand Sheik of the Saps at Sea Tent, is 6 Blackmoor Avenue, Canvey Island, Essex, SS8 0AS.