29th UK Convention 2nd till 5th May, 2008 Hosted in Wigan by the Bacon Grabbers Tent

Registration on arrival at the Quality Hotel meant collection of "baddy bags" and from the programme it was obvious that screening of Laurel and Hardy film rarities was to be a major part of this convention. We were ordered to assemble and march behind our tent banners and Grand Sheik Norman led a dishevelled mass from the hotel, along a street and back to the hotel. Fez Patrols were on the lookout for attendees who were not wearing a fez or suitably adapted headgear and penalties were threatened. There followed a banquet, toasts, singing and rare film of previous Sons events. Saturday morning had the Laurel and Hardy Cinema screening, amongst other pleasures, a spectrum of Our Gang films, which were made all the more enjoyable by comments from the convention's guest Jean Darling, who starred in the very films she was watching on the screen and about which she talked freely and answered questions. We adjourned for the afternoon to the nearby current venue of the host tent's Laurel and HarDay, where many of the features of this annual event were resurrected - Kneesie-Earsie-Nosey, scholarly words from author John de Santo, artist Lucy Southward and cartoon researcher supremo Antony Mitchell-Waite. Back at the hotel the banquet, toasts and anthem etc followed. When caches of water pistols were discovered under tables, this was a cue for levity - and Soak the Sons madness spread rapidly. Rare film was augmented by Sons Entertain (with the Saps at Sea Tent offering Three Tenners and a Nine Pound Note). The Fancy Dress Parade as usual mixed stirring humour with stunning creativity. A late-night musical quiz, hosted by Paul Allen, saw Paul's own Saps team victorious. The Sunday morning Games slot saw dormant elephants and flying chickens. A break from the Laurel and Hardy Cinema and the sales stalls was the Stan Hooton Memorial Quiz. The winning hybrid team was Chris Coffey (Bacon Grabbers Tent) and Gordon Davie (Blockheads Tent). After dinner, the Sons exhibited a diversity of talent when Paul Allen set up his karaoke. And that went on into the early hours of Monday. Before departure on Monday morning, at an open meeting Marion Grave urged us to go to Grange-over-Sands and Ulverston for next year's UK Convention, to be hosted jointly by the Berth Marks Tent and the Chickens Come Home Tent. Grand Sheik Dave Thackray spoke of his County Hospital Tent's desire to host the 2010 UK Convention in Bradford and his proposal was welcomed. Then it was time to go home. Chris, Norman, Jean, Simon and the rest of the Bacon Grabbers Tent had scored a hit with a "back to basics" formula for their convention and abundant congratulations and profuse thanks go to them for the joy they brought that merry weekend in Wigan. Willie McIntyre FOR A PAGE OF CONVENTION PHOTOS Organisers Chris Coffey and Norman Leigh had said, "Our mission was to host a cheap and cheerful convention." With the cost down to £149 and an abundance of good cheer, the organisers certainly succeeded. The absence of day trips and hired entertainment gave the convention a free and easy slant and the Sons loved it. FOR A PAGE OF CONVENTION PHOTOS Overseas tents present came from Germany and the USA.   Jean Darling wrote a piece titled A Trip to Roach's specially for the convention and this was on sale in booklet form.   A jigsaw puzzle was bravely tackled by conventioneers and (a surprise ending!) it was eventually discovered that there was no missing piece.