Laurel and Hardy and the Sons of the Desert are at the heart of Bowler Dessert magazine and Bowler Dessert Online
Ray's collection
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On 11th September, the evening before the Twice Two event in Southend-on-Sea, Roger Robinson and Paul Allen took me to see Ray Dempsey's collection of Laurel and Hardy memorabilia. I was amazed at what I saw.  Ray is rightly very proud of his collection, but he is also very modest about it. He did agree that his collection is the biggest in the UK. He even agrees that it is one of the biggest in the world. When I asked him how many items he had, he said, "I have no idea." He was able to give a more positive answer when I asked him if he had a favourite item. Ray and his wife Rita have become close personal friends of Sir Norman Wisdom, whom they have visited on numerous occasions. Norman even paid an unexpected visit to Ray a few years ago. It is not surprising therefore that on one of Ray's visits. The four Saps took me for a meal that evening and we chatted about the Sons and all sorts of things so I was left in no doubt that the Saps, in spite of their change in Sheikdom, are on a firm footing for the future. What happened in the next couple of days assured me of that! To steal a line from Oliver Hardy, I think that, if I were to relocate to England, I would move to Southend to be near my friends there. Willie McIntyre |
Ray with Norman this summer Ray and Rita visited Norman at his residence on the Isle of Man as recently as 2nd August. They took some photos of 95-year-old Norman (he doesn't encourage being called "Sir Norman") savouring a copy of Bowler Dessert. That pleased me greatly. Among Rita's many functions in the Saps at Sea Tent, she takes charge of distributing Bowler Dessert. |
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Ray with a costume which was worn
by Norman Wisdom 
