Chumps to gather at Stan’s statue for grateful giggles
With so many things to get depressed about, do find solace in the activities of the Beau Chumps tent of Sons of the Desert who meet monthly in the Ashbrooke Sports Club in Sunderland.
“The who of WHAT?” you might cry.
Well, those in the know will tell you that Sons of the Desert is the international Laurel and Hardy society, dedicated to keeping the genius of the great comedy double act alive and taking its name from the 1933 film of that name.
Rather than branches, the society has tents – although it’s unlikely any of them meet under canvas (although I wouldn’t bet on it).
To add yet more colour to the proceedings, each tent is presided over by a Grand Sheik who, in the Beau Chumps’ case, is Mike Jones.
On Sunday, February 23, the Chumps will be hosting a gathering of Laurel and Hardy fans at the statue of Stan in North Shields where the thin one (Oliver Hardy was the more amply proportioned one) lived with his family from 1895 to 1905.
The statue, by sculptor Bob Olley from across the water in South Shields, was installed in Laurel Park, Dockwray Square, in 1992.
The Chumps plan to chat, share stories and take pictures, as well, no doubt, as scratching the tops of their heads in memory of Stan’s famous defining gesture. And they’ll welcome a special guest, Keith Woods, from Blyth, who is Stan’s great nephew.
They are looking forward to “a special and poignant day”.
Why so?
Because this was the day Stan died back in 1965, aged 74 (Ollie predeceased him, having shuffled off this mortal coil in 1957, aged 65, leaving Stan and many millions of others bereft).
That was also the year Sons of the Desert was founded.
Any other Laurel & Hardy fans are welcome to join them. There’s no charge – just turn up, pay homage and remember a great man and his great friend and comedy accomplice.
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Incidentally, in the film Sons of the Desert, Stan and Ollie are members of a masonic-style lodge of that name and are called to attend a meeting in California.
Their wives disapprove so they take typically cack-handed steps to shake them off the scent.
It’s said that the fictional Sons of the Desert was modelled on a real-life American masonic society called the Shiners – now Shiners International – whose official headgear is a red fez.
It was founded in New York in 1872 and was originally called the Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine (its history is long, convoluted and a bit daft).
You can see how Laurel and Hardy might have been tickled by the comic potential and now, ironically, Sons of the Desert is as real as the society it parodied and with members in many more countries.
It’s a case of life imitating art imitating life and it all goes to show the unifying power of laughter. Something to hold onto in the days ahead.
Thanks for this nice writeup David and we hope that there will be a good few folk joining us on the 23rd.
Please note though, the Beau Chumps tent of Sons of the Desert actually meet monthly in the Alexandra Steakhouse and function rooms in Sunderland.
https://beauchumps.wordpress.com/beau-chumps-tent-meetings/
Mike Jones