The Dee View Charity Event In Aid Of Wirral Autistic Society 22/8/2009 Friday night in The Dee, and things were quiet. The regulars were conspicuous by their absence. They were obviously saving themselves for tomorrow. The rain brought speculations of doom.
The Dee View Next morning however the sun graced the occasion and was fair cracking the flags. A friend called and took me and Mic down for an early seat before the place was swamped. Preparations were in full sway. Wirral Turf had already turfed the car park. Darren and Macca had the barbie up and running and the stalls for the kids sweets and face painting were already set. At leisure I took a flick through the Saturday paper soaking up the sun and wise cracking as folken arrived. An hour slid past as easy as butter on a hot knife.
The Crowd Begins To Gather The band turned up and began setting up their gear on the back of Steve’s truck. They did a quick sound check and tuned up. The lead singer knocking out some wicked licks as they did so.
The Gypsies: Dee View 22/8/2009 A flash limo appeared delivering the Mayor and his wife. A ripple of anticipation went through the regulars at the thought of him later being pelted in the stocks. Sophie, the Mayor’s daughter, and the girls brought in to help out began going around selling raffle tickets. Soon it was 2.00pm official opening time for the event. I nipped up the back and scored a lovely fresh fish and chips. As I tucked into the food of gods M.C.J.J. took the stage and officially opened the event. Before he had finished giving a run down of scheduled events the Wirral Mayor approached the stage in order to give the Mayoral Seal Of Approval. “Oh look here’s fat arse. Get away you, I haven’t finished yet.”
M.C.J.J. Adresses The Mayor
M.C.J.J. Adresses The Mayor
The Mayor And M.C.J.J. The assembled roared laughing. I nearly inhaled a piece of fish. The Mayor ‘opened’ the event and returned the mic to M.C.J.J. who informed us that they had forgotten to charge us £1.00 admission.
The Mayor Collects The Mayor went around with a box to collect. A suitable job for a politician some might think, but I couldn’t help wondering where Alan The Tax was. I’d have loved to get a picture of that.
Regulars Tuck In To Fish & Chips
The Mayors Wife Relaxes
The 'Rays': Dee View 22/8/2009 First up for entertainment were a three piece, something Ray something. Billy Ray ? To be fair the name was a little misleading. After some country style songs of their own the ‘Rays’ started knocking out some Eddie Cochran and Chuck Berry numbers which were warmly received by those assembled. Folken were starting to get loose and sing a long.
Dee View 22/8/2009
Dee View 22/8/2009
RTL, Joe, Brian Murphy, Geez, Dee View 22/8/2009
Sean & Son: Dee View 22/8/2009
Griff & Stevie's Bro : Dee View 22/8/2009 I went and took a stroll around the corner to see what shots I could get from up top. Darren and Macca were busy at the barbie. Even from up here those fish looked good. An invasion force from the pub up the hill arrived and settled themselves in on the hay bails for a couple of hours, and from up here it looked like just about every kid in the place had face paint on. The ‘Ray’s’ finished and a short time later The Gypsies played their first set. They’re a very good covers band that play other peoples songs in their own style. You should hear their version of ‘Bad Moon Rising ‘ to the tune of T-Rex. They throw in some Led Zep and other ‘Rockin’ classics and certainly had the crowd pleased.
The Gypsies: Dee View 22/8/2009
Heather & Netty
The Gypsies: Dee View 22/8/2009
Roy, Geez, Dave Smith, Peter, Brian Murphy; Dee View 22/8/2009
The Gypsies: Dee View 22/8/2009
The Gypsies: Dee View 22/8/2009
The Gypsies: Dee View 22/8/2009
The Regulars
The Regulars
The Regulars During the interval the stocks were brought forward. Now this is an olde tradition I heartily approve of reviving on a national scale. Right now many a politician would do well to follow suit and be fool for a day for the entertainment of those they allegedly represent. Much ill feeling could be resolved with such public humility and I for one can’t think of a more suitable body of persons for the public to target. Fair play where it’s due, pub regular and Wirral Mayor gave the public their chance to get their own back on local politics. For that he is to be commended. However, I still believe the best place for a Tory politician was were we had him. Locked in the stocks. What a shame Ben Chapman couldn’t follow suit. I wonder why he’s so shy in public these days ? I wonder if it has anything to do with, allegedly, ripping us all off to the tune of £15,000.00. The guy can’t even take a joke cracked about him in a local play ‘Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels’. Someone should have shamed him into taking part. We could have made a quick trip down the hill to collect the spoils from Kylie’s fruit and veg shop to chuck at him instead of soaked sponges. I’d have thrown women and children to the dogs to get that picture.
Pub Regular And Wirral Mayor Andy Hodson Helped Into The Stocks By Landlady Andrea & Andy Hodson Jr
First Shot
Ready ...
Aim .........
Fire !
Bulls Eye !
Wallop !
Stevie Approaches ....
Jean's Shot
Jay Empties The Bucket Back at the stocks themselves and the Mayor was getting properly pasted. A queue of aqua assassins made a long line to the throwing spot. The Mayors nemesis Stevie came up for a throw. The Mayor bucked, and the stocks fell apart. Once firmly back in place, and the stocks repaired, the Mayor got thourghly barraged. As he got out and thought it was all over Jay bounded up and pitched the entire bucket of water over him. Then came a surprise. The Mayoress took over where her husband had left off, and did it all with a smile. I thought this was rather more than just sporting of her and showed a lot of spirit. How many politician’s wives would follow their husband into the stocks ? I can’t think of one that would have the balls to volunteer for such a public humiliation, but I could list candidates from now until Guy Fawkes night. Well done that lady.
Smiling In The Face Of Adversity
Wallop !
Wallop !
Wallop ! A short time later The Gypsies started their second set. The lead guitarist having a go at playing with his teeth. Not bad, but nowhere near as good as The Damned’s Captain Sensible. Mind you, the Captain has had thirty years of practice.
The Gypsies & The Dee View Backing Singers: Dee View 22/8/2009 The Gypsies second set had the place rockin’. The Dee View backing singers took to the stage along with a swarm of kids and the whole place was bouncing.
Mayor, M.C.J.J., Mr & Mrs Shakeshaft
Regulars And Revellers My phone rang, but there was no way I could hear who it was. I tried calling back but got no answer so gave it up and reclined in my seat gazing idly about. My eye lighted upon a familiar frame. It was my masseur with three of her friends. I bound over to say hello just as Stevie and the Mayor began to circle like hawks at feeding time and brokered some introductions. Maria had decided to come see what the party was like and had brought her friends who were visiting from South Africa.
Maria And Freinds
Maria And Freinds
Maria And Freinds
Maria And Freinds
The Mayor And The Masseur What they made of it all can only be guessed at. Maria and the ladies whisked me away for an hour or so’s chat and when they left me all seemed to be in the best of high spirits. What a delightful sample of traditional English life they’ll take home to talk about.
The Regulars Party Down
The Regulars Party Down
The Regulars Party Down
The Regulars Party Down
The Regulars Party Down
The Regulars Party Down
Andrew
Sue, Stevie, & Jo
Sue & Jo
Sue & Jo
The Regulars Party Down
Alan The Tax
Sean, The Mayor, Griff
Richard & The Mayor
Landlord & Head Chef Darren, Sean, Viper - Just After The Cider Ran Out
Jay With Backward Feet
At The Bar By the time I got back things had largely begun to be centred around the karaoke inside. During the murder of each song folken danced away regardless with free abandon amid copious libation. One high point was Andrew’s ‘Can Can’ dance to the strippers theme tune. By the time M.C. J.J. gave us a song there wasn’t a sober body in the place. Then the cider ran out, closely followed by the karaoke ending, last orders being called, and the bar closing at midnight. It had been a wonderful day and a fair bit of money had been collected for the Autistic Society too. A lot of folken worked very hard for our enjoyment, thank you one and all. Now, when are we having the next one ? Viper 24/8/2009 __________________________________________________________________ First Published 27/8/2009 by Viperslair.co.uk All images & text, except where stated, ©Viperslair.co.uk 2009 All rights reserved. Any un-authorized publication of texts, parts of texts, or images, will result in legal action. Publishing permission in writing, on paper, can be obtained from the Viperslair.co.uk Editor. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Home
/ Links / The
Ital Bar / Editor |
