Page 27 - October 24

Our most recent speaker – Mike Storr – gave us an hour recalling the old Masters of Mirth on
th
Monday 16 September. Mike started with some home-made Christmas Cracker jokes. He asked us
to rate them for humour and suitability. “Is there another word for Synonym?” “Do infants enjoy
infantry as much as adults enjoy adultery?” A bit risqué that one we thought. He then described how
Music Halls began – firstly in pubs. They became successful because working folk could enjoy a night
out cheaply, and have a good laugh. By 1852 there were some 300 in London alone. Of course, liquor
was available as well, much to the dismay of the Temperance Socie�es. Music Halls quickly became
popular around the country, and this helped comedians and storytellers because they could use and
re-use their material on their travels without fearing audience fa�gue. Some of the old performers
who started in the halls became quite famous in other ways, o�en on the radio. Sandy Powell – “Can
you hear Me Mother?” George Formby – “Turned Out Nice Again” Robb Wilton – known for his
monologue “The Day War Broke Out”. Mike read it aloud, all about the Home Guard. Sir George
Robey – a middle-class Cambridge graduate. Marriot Edgar – a scriptwriter who composed
monologues for the likes of Stanley Holloway, in par�cular the Albert series, as well as “The Ba�le
of Has�ngs” and “The Recumbent Posture”. But his “Albert and the Lion” was probably his most well-
remembered. Gerard Hoffnung was a German Raconteur who composed “The Bricklayer’s Lament”.
The list goes on, from Athur Askey – “I Thank You!” and Bernard Miles to the more recent Pam
Ayres. A most amusing a�ernoon.
st
Our October speaker (21 October) is Chris�ne Gregory, who will speak to us about how
Remembrance Day is marked in other countries. Then in November, Tony Brinkworth will give us
prac�cal history of Go-Karts.
Roger Waring : Probus Club Speakers Secretary

Ques�on - There’s a sudden sprou�ng of speed cameras growing
out of various verges up and down the High Street and Meriden Road
in Humpton in Arden. Unlike tradi�onal speed cameras that flash when
a driver is caught above the speed limit, these new hi-tech traffic
cameras use infrared low-light technology and no longer flash at
speeding drivers. They do not require painted lines on the road and will
capture vehicles in both lanes - speeding drivers can also be caught for
other offences such as the use of mobile phones or not wearing a
seatbelt. The Chronicle has asked the Parish Council for informa�on on
when they will go live and the whether the speed will remain at
30mph. Perhaps an update might be possible?

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