February Meeting 2026 February 13, 2026

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Our next film show is next week on Wednesday February 18th 7.30pm till 10.30pm at the usual venue, THE BARGE INN, at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH. We are up on the upper deck.

All are welcome – entry is still free.

This month we’ll be celebrating the 120th university of the birth of Anita Francis Garvin, born February 11th 1906. She appeared in 11 Laurel & Hardy films….7 silents, 2 talkie-shorts, and 2 features. We plan to show 2 of these and a nod of the Derbie hat to a third. (NB This total excludes the foreign versions but Anita did appeared in all 3 versions of the film “Blotto” …English, Spanish & French).

We will start the evening with the silent “From Soup to Nuts (1928)” where Anita plays the gracious and funny Mrs Culpepper, who hires the Boys to serve at a swanky dinner party. This film will be shown from the US 1928 year3 restorations boxset in full HD with randy Skredvedt’s commentary. This will be followed by the talkie feature “A Chump At Oxford (1940)”, which includes a reworking of the silent film, with Anita reprising her role, but this time as Mrs Vandevere! Maybe she got divorced and remarried! This would be Anita’s last film with Laurel & Hardy. After the break, we will show a slideshow of film stills that reconstructs the Boys film, “Hats-Off(1927)”, which is now sadly lost. The Boys are door-to-door washing machine salesmen. Anita is a potential buyer but she lives right on “top of the stoop” of a long flight of steps….plot sounds familiar? Yes, “Hats Off”was later reworked as “The Music Box” in 1932.

I’ve also selected two talkie shorts we haven’t seen in quite a while. The first is the rather politically scandalous film , “Chickens Come Home (1931)”, which is quite topical at the moment in the news. The second film is “They Go Boom (1929)” – this is the last talkie short to show that hasn’t been seen since the pandemic.

I’ll also be showing yet Another Fine L&H based cartoon in the intermission – this will be “Truancy or Consequences” from the Larry Harmon series of “Laurel & Hardy Show” cartoons created by Hanna Barbera in 1967. In this cartoon, the Boys discover the importance of a good education which links nicely with their Oxford education in our feature film.

There will be the usual raffle and toasts.

One key announcement – I’ve booked the Bull inn (Bottesford) for a Laurel & Hardy film show on Saturday June 13th, 1pm to 6pm. I’m not sure exactly what we’re doing as yet…but yes, we will certainly be going out to Barkston in the morning to pay our respects to Arthur jefferson Sr.

Finally, I like to hear your thoughts on potentially moving our meeting time from say 7pm to 10pm? I know this might help with some of you with the distances you have to travel and having to make early starts the next morning….but it might make things more difficult for others if the meeting starts earlier. Let me know, we can discuss it more on Wednesday.

Our March film show will be on the usual 3rd Wednesday, March 18th.

So, we hope to see you this Wednesday. Please bring along your friends and family – all are very welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

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January Meeting 2026 January 16, 2026

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Happy belated New Year to you all.

Our next film show is next week on Wednesday January 21st 7.30pm till 10.30pm at the usual venue, THE BARGE INN, at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH. We are up on the upper deck.

All are welcome – entry is still free.

This month is Oliver Norvell Hardy’s birthday, born 18th Jan 1892. So, we’ll be celebrating the 134th university of his birth…now 134 years ago! So, as the tradition, we have prepared a strong programme of Hal Roach Studio short film subjects which are all very Ollie-eccentric.

You may be aware that this year marks the beginnings of Laurel & Hardy at the Hal Roach studio 100 years ago. In reality, though Stan & Ollie were starting to work together in 1925 and in 1926 in various roles, it wasn’t until 1927 when they were becoming “Laurel and Hardy” as we know them. As I mentioned at the Christmas meeting, this year I want to track through what was happening at the studios exactly 100 years ago and then next year to start showing the Laurel & Hardy silents, in date order, to the month that they were released exactly 100 years ago. It’s wonderful that we now have ALL the extant silents in a restored state and on Blu-ray HD. Laurel & Hardy’s first film where they appear in the same film at the Hal Roach studio was “45 minutes from Hollywood”. This was released December 26th 1926…so we will show this in January 2027…then we will show all the 1926/7 films in 2027, all 1928 films in 2028 and so forth. Indeed it’s great to have a long term plan, though I’m not sure I’ll be still here to show the 1951 Atoll K in 2051!! We have seen many of the 1927/8 silents in the last couple of years with the release of the restorations on Blu-ray. So, this year we will concentrate on the 1929 silents which have recently been restored and issued on Blu-ray. One of these silents is the brilliant sky-scraper thrills film “Liberty (1929)” We will still however aim to show just one but at most two silents per show!

Exactly 100 years ago, at the start of 1926 both Stan & Babe were at the Roach studios…Babe was acting in front of the camera but due to contractural issues, Stan was writing comedy and behind the camera directing short comedy films. This month, as it’s Babe’s birthday, I’m taking the opportunity to show a Babe Hardy solo silent film entitled “Wandering Papas (1926)”. Stan is directing. Though the lead is Clyde Cook, he exhibits many traits that are similar to Stan’s acting and if Stan wasn’t prevented from acting, this film could well have been the first Laurel & Hardy film. This film is taken from yet another fine US HD Blu-ray boxset entitled “Laurel or Hardy”. This boxset was released just a few years ago with restored material.

I’ve selected three talkie shorts we haven’t seen in quite a while…“Another Fine Mess (1930)”, “Busy Bodies (1933)” and “Me and My Pal(1933)”. I’m pleased to also announce that this will be our 2nd meeting where all of the films have been recently restored and will be shown in HD.

I’ll also be showing yet more Another Fine L&H based cartoons in the intermission – this will be “Goofer upper golfers” (Ollie loved his golf) and “Skyscraper scape” (based on the film Liberty) from the Larry Harmon series of “Laurel & Hardy Show” cartoons created by Hanna Barbera in 1967. Also, if time permits I have a short 10 min documentary on the Big Business and Liberty film locations in Culver City and Los Angeles.

There will be the usual raffle – any unwanted Christmas presents would be gratefully accepted as we had a pretty good clear-out at the Christmas show.

A couple of announcements…First, the Lucky Dog theatre company are again back at the Leicester comedy festival on Saturday February 7th at the great Hall in The old Guildhall. They are putting on two shows “Laurel & Hardy Cabaret” at 2pm and “Hats Off to Laurel & Hardy” at 4pm. Tickets are £11.50 each per show with concessions available. Both shows are brilliant…I’ve seen them quite a few times now. I will be going, and I now wish had shares in them!! See more at https://www.comedy-festival.co.uk

(search on Laurel Hardy)

Second, Neil Brand is on tour with a new Laurel & Hardy show celebrating 100 years of Laurel & Hardy. I note various venues close to us…Loughborough Town Hall (21/4/26), Newark Palace theatre (16/4/26) and Lichfield The Hub St Mary’s (9/5/26)…tickets are approx £25. Again, this is a highly recommended show and I will be going again to see this, his new show at Loughborough. See more at

https://www.laurelandhardypresentedbyneilbrand.co.uk

So, we hope to see you this Wednesday to celebrate Babe’s 133rd birthday and the start of the 100 years of L&H celebration Please bring along your friends and family – all are very welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

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December Meeting 2025 December 11, 2025

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Our Christmas film show is on Wednesday December 17th, 7.30pm till 10.30pm at THE BARGE INN, at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH on the upper deck.

All are welcome – entry is free.

Yes, it’s our Christmas film show……and as expected we will be screening the Boys in some of their best talkie shorts reflective of the Christmas festive season – and of course, our annual screening of the Boys selling Christmas trees in “Big Business (1929)”!

This year, 3 of the films we will be able to show in full HD including “Big Business“. This is because I’ve only just received an early Christmas gift…two blu-rays from the USA with the latest silent and talkie short restorations. These are “Laurel & Hardy Year Three – The newly restored 1929 Silents” and “Laurel & Hardy – The Definitive restorations Vol2”. So, we are now capable of showing HD restorations of all the L&H silent films, and something like 25 of the L&H talkie shorts (ie just over half of them) and 3 of the L&H feature films. There are a number bonus extras on these Blurays which we will also be able to show next year. So the future is looking good.

This month we will also showing another fine animated cartoon featuring Stan and Ollie – this time its episode no 55 from Larry Harmon’s “The Laurel & Hardy Show” entitled “Beanstalk Boobs”! It sounds all a bit risqué – but no, it’s actually based on the Jack and the Beanstalk fairie ale/panto where the Boys have to deal with a giant…that is a giant dog! I’m also hoping to fit in a L&H raritiy or two.

We will have some nibbles and mince pies….as we did last year.

We also intend to run the usual raffle with some great prizes just for Christmas – of course all donations are gratefully accepted. Indeed, many thanks for your support of the raffle this year.

All are welcome…so please feel free to invite your other halves, family and friends.

So, hopefully, we’ll see you next Wednesday. If not, we wish you a Laurel Christmas and a Hardy New Year. Our first meeting of the new year will be at the Barge Inn on the usual third Wednesday, January 21st 2026, 7.30pm, when we will be celebrating Ollie’s 134th Birthday.

Fraternally Yours,

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

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November Meeting 2025 November 15, 2025

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Our next film show is on Wednesday Nowonder 19th, 7.30pm till 10.30pm at THE BARGE INN, at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH. As per usual – we are on the upper deck.

All are welcome – entry is free.

This month we’re planning to show two more Laurel & Hardy films that we haven’t seen since the dreaded covid shutdown.

The first film is the Hal Roach feature film “The Bohemian Girl (1936)” , their third comedy operetta based on the 1843 opera by Michael W. Balfe. This was one of a number of a favourites with the Boys and is supported by James Finlayson, Mae Busch, Thelma Todd, a very young Darla Hood (from Our Gang) and yes…poor old Laughing Gravy. Sadly, the film is now mostly remembered for being Thelma Todd’s last ever film as she sadly died in suspicious circumstances just before it was released. It’s a good Laurel & Hardy film and although it does have a few musical interludes, the comedy in-between is 1st class L&H. It was certainly a big hit at the box office.

The other film is the silent short “Early to Bed (1928)”. This has recently been restored and it will be shown from the new US HD Blu-ray boxset of 1928 silent restored films accompanied by a commentary by top L&H expert Richard Bann.

This month we will also be celebrating the university of the birth of Dorothy Granger, born November 21st 1912. She appeared in 4 Laurel & Hardy films and is best remembered as Mrs Hardy’s maid in the talkie short “Hog Wild (1930)”. This will be screened in full HD from the Definitive restorations blu-ray. We also plan to show a short slideshow of stills from this film and its phonetic versions in the break.

Finally, we plan to show the jail-break talkie short “The Hoose-Gow (1929)” as a tongue in cheek tribute to our justice system!

There will be a related L&H cartoon, the usual raffle and of course the toasts in accordance with the Sons of the Desert constitution.

Our Christmas film show will be on the usual third Wednesday in the month..December 17th. We plan to show the usual Christmas L&H short films served with plenty of mince pies and various table snacks.

Before then, hopefully, we’ll see you on Wednesday. Please bring friends and family – all are very welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T
(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

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October Meeting 2025 October 12, 2025

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Our next film show is on Wednesday Octember 15th, 7.30pm till 10.30pm at THE BARGE INN, at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH. As per usual – we are on the upper deck.

All are welcome – entry is free.

As it’s Octember our next Laurel & hardy film show will be quite a spooktacular…with ghosts, ghouls and pianos that go clangerty-de-bump down various steps! We intend to show no less than 5 film shorts from the Hal roach lot including the 3-reelers, “The Laurel-Hardy Murder Case (1930)” and “The Music Box (1932)”, which we couldn’t show last month.

This month we will also be celebrating the university of the birth of Arthur “hiccup” Housman …born 10th octember 1889 (136 years ago). Arthur was the eternal drunk both on and off the screen and appeared in no less than 5 Laurel & Hardy films. In tribute, we plan to show “The Live ghost (1934)” where Housman plays a key role… the drunken live ghost.

We will also show the macabre silent comedy “Habeas Corpus (1928)” set in a graveyard. This film was restored only just last year with its original 1928 Vitaphone soundtrack with synchronised music/sound effects. This has been released on the recent US HD Blu-ray boxset of 1928 silent restored films. So, rather than playing a scholarly overtone, this month, I’ll be screening this film, in all its majesty, as it was originally seen in the sound enabled film theatres back in 1928.

There will be a related spooky L&H cartoon, the usual raffle and of course the toasts in accordance with the Sons of the Desert constitution.

Our Nowonder film show will be on the usual third Wednesday in the month..November 19th with a plan to show “The Bohemian Girl (1936)”.

Before then, hopefully, we’ll see you on Wednesday. Please bring friends and family – all are very welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

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September Meeting 2025 September 12, 2025

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Our next film show is on Wednesday September 17th, 7.30pm till 10.30pm at THE BARGE INN, at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH. As per usual – we are on the upper deck.

All are welcome – entry is free.

Well, after pushing the boat (barge) out the last few months with a showing of a number of films we haven’t seen for quite a while, this month, I’ve decided it was time to get back showing some of the Boys’ more familiar films.

So after a 2 1/2 year absence…we are going to show the Boys most splendid feature film “Way Out West (1937)“…indeed yes with Dinah the mule! This will be shown in glorious High Definition from the 2010 US “Definitive restorations” Bluray boxset.

This month we will also be celebrating the university of the birth of Billy Gilbert.. …born 12th Septober 1893 (132 years ago). Billy Gilbert appeared in 11 Laurel & Hardy films and we plan to show 2 of them…as Dr Gilbert in “County Hospital (1932)” and as Professor Theodore Schwarzenoffen MD, AD, DDS, FLF, F,F,F and F in “The Music Box (1932). Again, these will be shown in brilliant HD from the same US “Definitive restorations” boxset.

We will also be showing the exceptionally funny L&H silent short “Two Tars (1928)“…indeed, painfully funny if you’re a Model T owner (sorry John) as the boys write off many many Model T’s. Scholarly overtones will be provided by professor Randy Skredvedt in his commentary on the recently issued US HD Blu-ray boxset of 1928 silent restored films .

In fact, this month will mark a tent first, as ALL of our films will be recent restorations and ALL are being screened in full High Definition. Wow…we’ce come along way from ropey 8mm and VHS!

There will be a related L&H Wild West cartoon, the usual raffle and of course the toasts in accordance with the Sons of the Desert constitution.

Our Octember Halloween film show will be on the usual third Wednesday in the month..October 15th which should be a scream !

Before then, hopefully, we’ll see you on Wednesday. Please bring friends and family – all are very welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

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August Meeting 2025 August 16, 2025

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Our next film show will be on Wednesday August 20th, 7.30pm till 10.30pm at THE BARGE INN, at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH. As per usual – we are on the upper deck.

All are welcome – entry is free.

This month we will be celebrating Jimmy Finlayson’s birthday…born 27th August 1887 (138 years ago). James Henderson Finlayson appeared in no less than 33 Laurel & Hardy films and we plan to show at least 3 of them where he plays a significant role. Our main feature is “Fra Diavolo (1933)” aka “The Devils brother” or “Bogus Bandits”. The Boys play the bogus bandits Stanlio and Ollio for Fra Diavolo (played by Coventry born opera singer Denis King). Fin plays the wealthy Lord Rocburg and Thelma Todd plays his young wife, Lady Pamela. They become the target of Fra Diavolo. It is in this film that Stan introduces us to kneesie, earsey, and nosey!! Fra Diavolo was a film that both Stan & Ollie considered to be one of their favourite films.

We will also be showing the early L&H silent short “Sugar Daddies (1927)” with Fin taking the lead role of millionaire Cyrus Brittle – a film which is more of an all stars comedy than a Laurel & Hardy film. This I will show from the latest HD Blu-ray set of restored films ….along with Randy Skredvedts brilliant commentary.

We will end our show with “Thicker Than Water (1935)” with Fin the auctioneer…”he gave it to you and you gave it to him and who gave into what. Why you’re all nuts!”

There will be a related L&H Robin Hood cartoon, the usual raffle and of course the toasts in accordance with the Sons of the Desert constitution.

The annual Laurel & Harday is again in Wigan on Saturday September 6th with all the usual activities including the “kneesie, earsey, nosey” world championships – see below. I recommend it as it’s always a good day out. Sadly, I won’t be going this year due to a double booking…but I know that Martin & Danny will be going and will be representing the tent in the championships.

Our September film show will be on the usual third Wednesday in the month..September 17th when we will be celebrating Billy Gilbert’s birthday and a long overdue showing of “Way Out West (1937)”

Before then, hopefully, we’ll see you on Wednesday. Please bring friends and family – all are very welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

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July Meeting 2025 July 8, 2025

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Our next film show will be on Wednesday July 16th, 7.30pm till 10.30pm at THE BARGE INN, at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH. As per usual – we are on the upper deck.

All are welcome – entry is free.

Continuing on with our 25th year celebrations, we will be showing a number of short film favourites that we just didn’t have the time to show at the Bull Inn…these are the selections of all your shreiks and viziers, both past and present. As it’s “Their Purple Moment” we will also be showing this 1928 L&H silent short, yet another fine film we haven’t seen in a while. This I will show from the latest HD set of restored films from across the pond….along with Randy Skredvedts brilliant commentary.

We will also be paying a small tribute to the beautiful Thelma Todd, her birthday is on July 29th. She was a major star on the Hal Roach studio lot and although she only made 6 films with the Boys…they were all very memorable. Accordingly, we will be showing one of her finest films, the 3 reeler “Another Fine Mess (1930)” where she plays Lady Plumtree.

So, I’m targeting to show no less than 6 laurel & Hardy film shorts..one silent, five talkies….and yes Paul, one will be in color!!

There will be a related L&H cartoon, the usual raffle and of course the toasts in accordance with the Sons of the Desert constitution.

As you may have already seen, thanks to Mark Elvin, pictures from the Bull Inn have been loaded up on our tent website http://www.laurelandhardynottingham.uk

I have also included a little write up on the sons of the Desert – Bowler Dessert website

https://www.bowlerdessert.com

Our August film show will be on the usual third Wednesday in the month..August 20th when we will be celebrating Jimmy Finn’s birthday with a showing of Fra Diavolo..with Fin as Lord Rocburg and Thelma Todd as his young wife, Lady Pamela.

Before then, hopefully, we’ll see you a week on Wednesday. Please bring friends and family – all are very welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

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Boys at the Bull 2025 June 11, 2025

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

This is just a quick email to remind you that we have two Laurel & Hardy film shows this month. Both are FREE and all are welcome to join in the fun.

FIRSTLY..This Saturday (June 14th)….we are at the Bull Inn in Bottesford celebrating our 25th year university. Our film show starts at the usual time at 1pm and will conclude at 6pm. The programme has been set based on your requests. There will be an observational quiz based on the showing of “Beau Hunks“, a raffle and the usual long round of toasts!

Also some great news…if all goes well…John is hoping to bring his wonderous Ford Model T motor car with Laurel & Hardy. So don’t forget your camera. As space is limited can I please ask you to avoid parking in the car park.

For the more adventurous, we’ll again be visiting the Plough Inn and Arthur Jeffersons grave in the morning. All are very welcome. For this meet at the Stag Inn in Barkston at 10.30am – but if you are late you can easily catch up and take your time to look round. I have a hand-out that’ll guide you around. Unfortunately, I do have to leave by 11.45am so I can get back to the Bull Inn to set up…but you can stay longer if you like.

SECONDLY..the following Wednesday, June 18th, we will be back at the Barge Inn in Long Eaton, 7.30pm to 10.30pm to celebrate Stan’s 135th birthday! As been the tradition over the years, I’m going to take the opportunity to show a few films that we don’t get to see too often. Following a request, I’m going to show the 1940s MGM film “Nothing But Trouble“. The 1940s films don’t get the best of press amongst L&H officials but there are many good L&H scenes/routines which are always worth viewing. I’m also going to show the one reel Stan Laurel solo film “A Man About Town” from 1923 that includes Jimmy Finlayson. We will also be supporting this with a showing of “Come Clean“, in a tip of the Derby, to Mae Busch (the film we had to drop off at our Mae meeting), and any one (of the many) requested films we just couldn’t squeeze in on Saturday.

So, hopefully, we’ll see you on Saturday and the following Wednesday. Please bring friends and family – all are very welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

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May Meeting 2025 May 15, 2025

Hello Laurel & Hardy friends,

Just a quick reminder that our next film show will be next Wednesday, May 21st, 7.30pm till 10.30pm at our new venue of THE BARGE INN at 177 Tamworth Rd, Long Eaton, Nottingham NG10 1DH. We are on the upper deck.

All are welcome – entry is free.

In accordance with our tradition, this month is our “Nothing but Mae” film show in tribute to the eternally ever-popular Mae Busch. Though her birthday is next month (June 18th), it’s always over-shadowed by Stan’s birthday just two days before. So, the month of May is dedicated to our Maisie. So, I intend to show nothing but a series of Laurel & Hardy films in which the eternally ever-popular Mae Busch provides a supporting, and in fact in one film, she’s credited as taking the top starring role! Mae actually appeared in 13 films with the Boys…I’m hoping to show 5 of them!

As this meeting will conclude our first 25 years as an official Laurel & Hardy tent of the sons of the Desert, I’m also taking the opportunity to show one of the Boys finest, if not their finest, feature films…”Sons of the Desert” from 1933, where Mae appears as Mrs Hardy. In a first for our tent, I intend to project this in HD from the US based 2020 Definitive restorations Blu-ray. indeed, we’ve come a long way from ropey 8mm and Virgin VHS tape projections 25 years ago! Two of our other projections will be in HD…including our silent “Love Em and Weep” from 1927. By your consent, we may show this with Randy Skredvedt’s backing commentary….it’s very good.

We will also continue our history of L&H cartoons with another Larry Harmon L&H cartoon from 1967 with a plot connection to our main feature. There’ll be the usual raffle – all donations gratefully accepted….and of course the loyal toasts.

Our June film show will be on the usual third Wednesday in the month..June 18th when we will be celebrating Stan’s 135th birthday when I will take the opportunity to show films we haven’t seen in a while …possibly another Fox or MGM studio feature film from the 1940s. I’ve not decided yet….but any suggestions welcome.

BUT before that….

Our afternoon Laurel & Hardy film show at the Bull Inn, Bottesford has been booked for Saturday 14th June. We will be celebrating our Silver Jubilee… our 25th anniversary as an official tent of the Sons of the Desert. Our film show will cover a few relevant films…including “Beau Hunks” but as its your party celebration…where I’m just the GS with no authority whatsoever, in accordance with the constitution…you get a chance to view your favourite short film. As I need to set a programme, please can you let me know your favourites at next weeks meeting or by the Spring bank holiday, May 26th, at the very latest. Depending on the response, I will try and cram in everyone’s favourite, but of those that are selected, you will be fully credited in the programme.

Yes, we will be having a raffle, quiz and the usual (long winded) round of toasts…including the eternally ever-popular Mae Busch. The quiz will be an observational quiz on our Beau Hunks film with a few multiple choice curve ball questions thrown in…just to give everyone a chance of winning our quiz trophy.

For those that have not visited the Bull Inn before…this was the pub that Stan’s sister Beatrice Olga Healey ran in the 1950s with her husband Bill Healey. Stan & Ollie visited the pub on a number of occasions whilst on a variety tour of the UK…most notably Christmas 1953 whilst performing at the Nottingham Empire. they even served behind the bar on Christmas Day 1953….and there are photos in the pub that proves it along with other momentos in the pub lounge. The film show will start at 1pm and finish at 6pm. Come and go as you please. The event is free to all and it will be great to see you.

For the more adventurous (early birds…how early?)…in the morning, we will also be visiting the village of Barkston (4 miles north of Grantham). This is where Stan Laurel’s father (Arthur Jefferson) has been laid to rest in the village’s very small cemetery and there is the Plough Inn where he lived with Beatrice Olga and Bill on West Street during the 1940s. The Plough Inn was visited by the Boys in March 1947 during their first variety tour of the UK…infact they were playing at the London Palladium. I will be conducting the usual walking tour of these sites starting from the Stag Inn in the centre of this very small village at 10.30am. Again all are very welcome to join me.

There will be visitors from other tents. I’ve had word that Mark & Theresa Hammond from Brighton will be joining us from the Helpmates tent. Mark was a regular writer for the Laurel & Hardy magazine and has an absolutely superb collection of L&H memorabilia including autographs, original photographs, posters and programmes . Hopefully he might bring up a few of these items to show. Also, we will be joined by members of the Sunderland “Beau Chumps” tent including GS Mike Jones. Mike is well known amongst the Sons and has recently written a brilliant book on his take on the L&H films called “‘Twas Ever Thus”. This is good value at £10…and fully recommended. He will be with us selling his book. Incidentally…our film, was universally released as Beau Hunks. However, in the UK it was released and re-released under the title of “Beau Chumps” in the UK. But, all our UK based VHS/DVDs has taken the “Beau Hunks” title. It might have been more apt for us to have taken the “Beau Chumps” title 25 years ago…but unfortunately Sunderland beat us to it! They’ve just celebrated their 40th anniversary! Whatever…we share the same film.

I’ll write again to remind/finalise everything nearer the time.

Before then, hopefully, we’ll see you next Wednesday. Please bring friends and family – all are very welcome.

Fraternally Yours,

Dave T

(Grand Sheikh – Nottingham Beau Hunks tent)

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The Beau Hunks Tent of The Sons of the Desert

The Nottingham branch of the Laurel and Hardy appreciation society

February Meeting 2026 February 13, 2026

January Meeting 2026 January 16, 2026

December Meeting 2025 December 11, 2025

November Meeting 2025 November 15, 2025

October Meeting 2025 October 12, 2025

September Meeting 2025 September 12, 2025

August Meeting 2025 August 16, 2025

July Meeting 2025 July 8, 2025

Boys at the Bull 2025 June 11, 2025

May Meeting 2025 May 15, 2025

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