Hope you all enjoyed the review of last year’s convention. I received many very nice comments about the trip down memory lane.
Below is a newsletter from Chris Coffey regarding the next convention in the UK. Be sure to email him directly if you would like more information. Looks like it will be a grand time!
Bob Satterfield
Laurel and Hardywood Chairman
Hello Sons everywhere.
This is the first of a monthly series of newsletters giving information as we countdown to the 2016 International Convention. Norman and I were pleased to attend the 19th Convention in Hollywood and win the bid and receive the Pineapple.
The dates:
Date of check in is Wednesday 13th July 2016
There are then three full days from Thursday 14th July to Saturday 16th July 2016.
The date of checkout after breakfast is Sunday 17th July.
THE PRICE
Firstly I must say that the price will include the cost of staying four nights at the hotel plus four breakfasts and four evening meals. It is not yet finalised but our working target is to keep the total Convention cost below £400 ($632 dollars, €564 Euros at current rates of exchange). We are working on it and our current programme keeps it below £400 but we hope to trim costs further. To save you money for those paying in dollars or euros, to avoid exchange rate charges, an American Son is opening a dollar bank account in the USA so you pay in dollars, and a European Son is opening a Euro bank account to collect Euros.
The Convention plan is to stay at the Cumbria Grand Hotel in Grange–over-Sands, in the Lake District, which is about 15.2 miles, or a 23 minute ride, from Stan’s home town of Ulverston, home of the Laurel and Hardy Museum. Those who came over in 1984 will have stayed at the Cumbria Grand Hotel.
So, you will have four night’s bed and breakfast plus four night’s Convention Banquets in the evening. On at least one of the three full days it will also include lunch.
On all three full days it will include all the travel and activities.
One day, probably Thursday, will be a repeat of a 1984 trip, travel to Haverthwaite for a trip on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Steam Railway (wheelchair accessible), then across Lake Windermere via Windermere cruises (also wheelchair
accessible), free time in Bowness and back to the hotel by bus or coach (also wheelchair accessible).
One day, probably Friday, will be all day at the Hotel, with the Pee Wee, the Quiz, Butch Sorenson’s Music Quiz, the Fancy Dress, two Plays, and some other attractions.
One day, probably the Saturday, will be in the town of Ulverston, with a visit to the Laurel and Hardy Museum, and to the statue paid for and donated to the town by the Sons of the Desert, a trip around the Ulverston Brewery, and there is the Stan Laurel Heritage Trail, and probably a Parade, and finish with a meal at the Coronation Hall where Jeffrey Holland (see the Internet Movie Data Base) will be performing his one-man play about Stan.
The programmes may be subject to changes and shuffles…
WHEELCHAIRS
As some of you know, I am in a wheelchair and appreciate the mobility difficulties some of you face. You will be able to hire a wheelchair for the full five days, and we will make every effort to ensure you can join in.
BOOKING FORMS
They will be send out in good time with one of these newsletters.
SPECIAL GUESTS
Jean Darling is 93 and Nancy Wardell (Stan’s relative) is 89. I have chatted to both on the phone, and they hope to be there, subject to health issues….
PRE CONVENTION.
For those wanting to visit London beforehand, the Saps at Sea Tent of Southend on Sea will be hosting a four day pre-Convention beforehand, in a hotel where the Boys stayed. The centre of London is less than an hour away.
LIVERPOOL
At the Hollywood Convention bidding, I did suggest a trip to Liverpool or Bonnie Scotland may be a possibility. They can no longer be a part of the main Convention…..
SUBSCRIBE
If you know of anyone who hasn’t received this newsletter, but would like to subscribe for free, get them to email me.
More info next month. Fraternally Yours, Chris Coffey