Bulletin 16.09.08.

Amsterdam Convention on NNNN The Nutty Nut News Network has a remarkable audio presentation of this year's International Convention. Log onto http://www.nuttynutnewsnetwork.com. Roving reporter Steve Wichrowski (above) interviews many of the Sons who took part in the conclave and there are a few surprises. Mike David provides the links and has done the editing. Men o' War Tent The Men o' War Tent's next meeting will be on Saturday, 20th September at the Manifest Theatre in Oxford Road, Manningtree, Essex. Doors open at 7.30pm. The programme opens with the silent Leave 'Em Laughing then it's on to sound films with Another Fine Mess and Be Big which lead to an appropiate end for the evening with Going Bye Bye. Bus launch North West Evening Mail had the following on its website, dated Saturday, 30 August 2008. . . Ulverston's favourite son is to be honoured on a celebration bus marking his life and his career as a Hollywood comedy legend. Stan Laurel's outstanding legacy has prompted Stagecoach Northwest to launch a bus celebrating his achievements. The bus will be launched at Oubas Hill in Ulverston on Thursday [4th September] at 12.30pm outside the new premises of the Laurel and Hardy Museum. On hand to officially launch the bus on to the streets of Cumbria will be Stan and Ollie themselves (aka Gary Slade and Rob Graham) who will be performing close-up magic tricks and a fork bending illusion, Ulverston Mayor Councillor Jeanette Jenkinson, museum proprietor Marion Grave and Nancy Wardell, the last remaining cousin of Stan Laurel. Mrs Wardell has fond memories of the numerous occasions that they met when Stan visited England and said: "He was a jolly fellow and so was Oliver Hardy. I remember in 1947 we smuggled Stan into my auntie's house for a family party. Everyone attended, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins. We had a fabulous time and nobody knew he was there." Mrs Wardell still regularly chats with Stan's only child, Lois, on the telephone from her home in California. Chris Bowles, managing director of Stagecoach Northwest, said: "We're delighted that Nancy can join us for the launch and we hope that the sight of this vehicle will help younger passengers discover Stan's timeless talent. And if the bus encourages people to leave the car at home and use public transport I think everyone will be happy."   Film night in Cyprus As we went to press Bill Winfield's new Atoll K Tent in Cyprus was about to have its first film night. It was scheduled for 25th September at the UK Clubhouse in Paphos. Bill said, "I have no idea how many people will attend as I have advertised locally and am about to go on the local Paphos radio to promote this film night. Hopefully this will be the start of many such evenings."   Bill's bus Dave Williamson inquired about the history of Bill Cubin's old bus and was told that it was purchased for preservation by a group of museum members about ten years ago. Since then it has changed ownership to an individual who is trying to restore an identical vehicle (LUT Guy Arab 165), and now has had one or two bits removed from it, for example the rear lower deck emergency door. "It looks like it's being used as a donor for another restoration," says Dave. The bus is in the North West Museum of Road Transport in St Helens. Job Culture Jonathan Hayward (above) has posted his Job Culture promo on YouTube. It is at http://uk.you tube.com/JFBridge. Statue Appeal We have had a great few months for cash coming into the Statue Appeal. I did a quick calculation based on the twelve years I have been keeping the accounts. As of 13th September, we need only £4,191.77p to reach the £58,500 required to complete the project.  Since 1997 we have put, on average, £84 per week into the Statue Appeal Fund. I think that is quite a remarkable figure. Just a few more jiffies and we're there!  Eric Woods