Fellow Familiar Winner and Thanks

First, things first is the Christmas fundraiser “Light a star over Bethlehem” You lot were bloody marvellous and the sky was ablaze with 87 stars meaning a total of £174 was raised for the kid’s charities. Every star counted whether you lit one or several (and some were extremely generous) Whilst I am thrilled with all our participating fellows, just think what we could have raised if everyone who had given their backing to the fellowship had taken part!

The Fellow Familiars competition was won by Richards familiar” “Baggins Bumfuddle” with Yoshi coming a close second. So well done all and Baggins, your prize is on its way very soon. Thanks to all who sent photos in of their own little beauties. The Fellowship account can be seen after this section.

Thanks also to Sue and Graham for their stories and input, it all made great reading and hopefully the topics will continue – BUT ONLY if we get people writing in for it. You all must have funny or interesting stories or interests you would like to highlight. So, if you want the newsletters to carry on, we need your contributions so we can not only fill it, but make it inclusive, interesting and something people will look forward to reading. Again, Graham has been busy doing just that and he is the first in our “May I introduce you to….” Section. This can be about anything – hobbies, places, historical things, spooky things, charities – anything that you feel you would like to tell us about.

Send to carodaw56@gmail.com

Check out the “Merry Meet Up” in July page

THERE IS A FURTHER £295 (FROM THE SALE OF T SHIRTS) OUTSTANDING TO ADD TO THIS TOTAL, BUT I AM HAVING DIFFICULTY RETRIEVING IT! SO, WHEN I DO EVENTUALLY RECEIVE IT, WE WILL HAVE THE GRAND TOTAL OF………

£718.48 (now £756.50 for new memberships)

This is a fantastic effort by everyone taking part in the fund raising – THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Let’s get it to our first £1000 charity donation on behalf of the whole Catweazle cast and our super supportive Fellows. You are doing Kip, Geoffrey, Robin, Moray and Elspet proud. Keep up the good work by joining in with our new fundraiser!

This month Carol (and Debbie, below left) is telling us her story of 'The Great Kemp Town Pram Race! Or Why didn’t Someone Stop Me!'

Roger and Wilko
formerly known as Debbie and Carol

Back in the day, when I was young, daring, no make that stupid and didn’t know what I was letting myself in for, I was asked by my mates and the local pub landlord if I and my friend would represent the pub in the annual “Great Kemp Town Pram race!” Why was it, I wondered, why it was always me that was the first to be volunteered by someone else!!!

Well, it was for charity, and everyone said what fun it was and all the townsfolk come out and line the streets and cheer you on! Of course, as was always my downfall, I said “ok” before finding out what this annual extravaganza entailed. Even then it didn’t sound too bad in the telling. Well, you get your pram from somewhere and decorate it. You all gather in the car park of the main Brighton hospital. You register and the prams get judged for “best pram” before the race starts. Ok so far. You then follow the course which you can’t really miss because of all the people are shouting at you! Then you will arrive at a pub on the course. You down (or spill) the pint awaiting on a table outside the pub and off you go again to the next one. Simple!

Well at the time, I thought I was quite fit as I was playing several sports at the time, so I started the preparations. First the commissioning of an old pram. Looking through adverts and for sale ads, we found one that looked like it would be strong enough to hold an adult! Then “what shall we go as?” was the first question. Well, being a patriotic girl, I immediately came up with “how about The Dam Busters – except we would cross out the D and put PR. So, there we had it we were The Pram Busters! Little did I know how apt that name would be! Now some of you may know that if I do something, then I do it to the best of my ability and detail is important!

We exited the local DIY store, loaded up with hardboard, paint, screws nails and brushes! Right, I said to my mate Debbie, I will concentrate on the Spitfire, can you sort out the costume. The pram soon grew a pair of suitably camouflaged wings shaped appropriately and with the added brainwave of getting a couple of kids windmills, sprayed black with a red centre tacked on to the front of them. As the pram went forward, they whizzed around like propellers – good addition I thought to myself.

My friend appeared with her fathers old RAF jump suits – perfect! They were far too big but who cares!! To add a touch of brilliance, she had cut up an old leather jacket and her mum had sewn them together and made them into fantastic flying helmets. A couple of safety masks from work, finished of the communications look and we wrote “The Pros” on the back of the suits - remember the advert “Join the Professionals” Then as a last-minute adjustment I had “Chocs” on mine and Debbie had “Away” on hers. Somethings missing, I said. Of course!! The bouncing bomb! The Dam busters had to have a bouncing bomb! So, an old football was sprayed black with the word “BOMB” written in red on it, a string was attached and tied underneath the pram. One last piece of genius (or so I thought) was to get a small tape recorder and record the Dambusters March On a loop playing over and over again. This was attached to the prams handle. A union flag was draped across the seat and we were ready for the big day!

Getting the bloody thing there was something we hadn’t thought about! We had to do a bit of dismantling to get it in the car and then reassembled at our destination. This possibly weakened it a bit!

Now we get to the nitty gritty of what REALLY happens in a pram race! The police had blocked off all the roads that would be used, and all cars parked elsewhere, so no hiding behind any cars and of course we were on open roads at the mercy of the crowds!! At this point however, we were glowing in the many compliments that our pram and attire were coming our way – AND we hadn’t even turned the tape on yet!!!

A couple of thoughts washed over me as we strode purposefully toward the car park, “why was someone holding a hosepipe in their front garden, they didn’t have any flowers?” and why did it look like one or two people had bought their shopping out on the streets?” Curious, I thought, but didn’t give it another thought

There were LOADS of competitors waiting for the off, however, many hadn’t bothered with a pram they had pinched shopping trollies! I was under the impression that this was not within the rules, but it seemed anything goes!

It was at this point that I saw an egg fly through the air across the car park and hit a bearded man wearing a nappy and a bib smack in the eye! Laughter arose, although not from the man baby, who had an eyeful of yellow yolk and albumen and a small cut above his eyebrow! That’s a bit dangerous I thought, what the hell is someone playing at! Oh, the innocence of a novice pram race participant!

We were overlooked for “the best pram” competition, due to the numbers, but no matter. It was time to get to the start line. My friend said you get in and I will push. Oh, ok I replied thinking I had the easy bit, but SHE had seen it all before and as we went to start some wag planted what could only be described as an uncooked plate of pastry on the seat just as I sat down! Lovely! 3 paces forward and something hit me on the head followed by guffaws of laughter from the assembled audience (more like a baying mob, I thought) It was as we were whizzing gamely down the long street that I realised what the hose was for!! Have a guess! Yes, that’s right, some little charmer had pulled their garden hose all through the house, turned it on and was playing splat the moving target as they ran past their house! The shopping consisted of more weapons, that is to say, egg grenades and flour bombs! We hadn’t even got to the first pub yet!!! Well, we were British pilots don’t ya know, fighting in the Battle of Britain, we kept a stiff upper and by now flour coated soggy lip and carried on into the maelstrom! As we approached the first pub, Debbie was trying to break the land speed record and took the corner to fast.

I was thrown from the pram, the bomb bounced after me and as I sat there slightly dazed, one of the pram wheels nonchalantly rolled past me down the gutter! Well, I got up retrieved the wheel, shoved it back on, retied the bomb and got to the pub, where I rushed from the pram, grabbed the pint and downed it – well most of it went all over my face and down my front, mingling nicely with the egg, flour, water and whatever else had been hurled in our direction! It was about the fourth pub, when I started to feel a bit sick. It wasn’t the fact that the ale on offer tasted like warm dregs, but that I found out that we were supposed to be taking it in turns to down the drinks! Cheers Debbie!! By this time my face was really sore from the ale running down it. Not only that, I was knackered. The wheel came off at regular intervals, which although really annoyed me because sod’s law meant it tipped the pram over usually when I was in it.

About three quarters of the way around, the gloriously victorious Dambusters March was getting on my nerves and I wanted to smash the bloody machine on the floor. The wheel careered of one last time, I stood there, exasperated, the crowd laughing as usual, I shouted “Where’s that bloody Messerschmitt” which made them laugh even more, then they started singing “three wheels on my wagon!” With that the wheel was abandoned and we walked through what remained of the race.

I walked into the pub, wet, stinking of beer, sore, bruised and battered (literally) covered in flour, egg, pastry in fact I think I could have made a decent cake with what was plastered all over me! My colleagues were laughing still in the pub when I went into the loo to wash and get changed and to get a proper drink. That’s when I saw it. Remember I said something hit me on the head right at the start? Well, now in the loo’s mirror I saw a paper plate full of crazy foam had been planted on my head at a jaunty angle and there it stayed for the entire race. Why someone hadn’t shouted out “nice hat, is it ladies day at Ascot” I’ll never know!

Strange though it may seem, on reflection and after a wash, change of clothing and drink, it seemed like everyone had a fun day and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. I must admit we had many laughs over it later on. Most important was the fact that a lot of money was raised for charity.

Unbelievably I was asked by the pub “please do it again for us next year?” So, against my better judgment, Big Ears turned up with Noddy and his little yellow car and took part in the following years Great Kemp Town Pram Race. Followed the year after by The National Elf Service. Now I couldn’t get in the pram let alone run with it!

NODDY and BIG EARS

Before the start. Clean costume and fluffy immaculate cottonwool beard!

Whereas after - covered in flour, egg, beer, and God knows what else! And now with a beard sopping wet with beer, looking more like a phallus!!

I wondered why people were sniggering as I walked back!

The National Elf Service
well, we were looking a bit green!

• Fairy wands straightened
• Nectar Transfusions
• Rose Hips replaced
• Fairy Dust recharged
• Anti Goblin cream available
• Titania’s Nettle Rash soother

(witches and warlocks by special appointment and back door of tree only)

What’s your story?
Send it to us

COLLECTING IN MY CHILDHOOD YEARS
by Doug Young

Most of you reading this have probably collected something at some point in your lives......for many years I've been trying to obtain all the toys, games, books, comics etc that kept me amused throughout my childhood in the 1960's and early 1970's, although I doubt I'll ever manage to find some items as they come under the "hen's teeth" category.

I do count myself fortunate in that I still have one or two of the original items that might be responsible for kickstarting my collecting habit at an early age.

A couple of hundred yards away from the entrance to my primary school (which I attended from 1965 to 1971) was a corner shop in which a youngster could quite easily spend all their limited pocket money on a wide array of sweets and ice creams. I'm sure it probably sold a lot of other less tempting items but none of them have stuck in my memory.

The run of wonderful television series created by Gerry Anderson prompted all manner of licenced sweeties to appear on the shop's counter housed in colourful display boxes that made their contents impossible to resist - these ranged from the packets of sweet cigarettes which included a collectors card from whatever series was currently on the "box", to ice lollies such as FAB and ZOOM !.

It was however the yellow and red slightly waxed paper packets containing black and white photo cards from Thunderbirds that set me on my first ever collecting journey in 1966....each packet cost 2d (a bit less than 1p) and contained two cards and a piece of dubiously flavoured and oddly smelling bubble gum. I was never allowed to sample this gum as my mother forbade me from doing so as she told me it was both bad for my teeth and decidedly unhygienic.....so the cards stayed in my hand and the wrapper and gum went in the nearest bin ! It's worth pointing out at this point that these days a single original Thunderbirds gum wrapper on its own can fetch over £25 ! The thousands of pounds worth of wrappers that must have gone in the bin outside that shop is enough to make you weep !...but the very fact that's where there all ended up is why they command such a high premium today.

There were a total of 72 cards to collect and I think that with the aid of the frequent half-a-crowns (12 1/2p) my grandma used to give me along with a couple of bob (10p) from my mum if I'd been good that I amassed most of them. Almost inevitably, over the years, the pile of cards went AWOL but by some miracle two of those original cards have survived the years. Photos of these two cards accompany this piece. Also shown are images of the front and back of the wrapper and the shop display box that I would love to say I had in my collection but this photo only came from the internet.

If you had the whole set, you could use the reverse of the cards as a kind of jigsaw puzzle to make a picture of an early TV21 Century 7" vinyl EP and details of how to get a copy at a discounted price. An image of this is also shown here. I had a good number of this series of EPs but that is story for another time.

In recent years I have acquired a complete set of these cards which I enjoy going through every now and then and transport myself back to simpler times.

Aside from my childhood obsessions with all things Thunderbirds and Daleks my other main interest was football.

In 1968 it became a craze at school to collect printed photo "stamps" of First Division (now the Premiership) footballers and to stick them (if you so desired) in a specially produced album with some extremely cheap glue that was sold specifically for that purpose...in the hands of young kids this of course went everywhere!

There was a very lively swapping market of duplicate stamps at lunchtimes in the playground and outside the corner shop where they were sold.The stamps came in packets of seven and cost 6d....that's two and a half pence in new money.

A couple of years later in the build up to the 1970 World Cup Finals in Mexico a new range of stamps showing all the players of the competing nations was issued. I can clearly remember buying my first five packets of these and being surrounded by already hardened collectors as I eagerly ripped open the packets to see what lay within.

I'm quite sure that the manufacturers of these cards deliberately printed a good many of the players stamps in far less numerous quantities than some others to keep you buying more packs to acquire these elusive gentleman.

As it turned out I had in my hand a very hard to get England player and one of the onlookers immediately offered to trade me his entire set of Czechoslovakian players. Knowing no better and thinking this was a great offer I readily accepted only to be told shortly after by one of my friends how hard to get was the card I had just traded. But luck was obviously smiling on me as the last of the five packets I opened when not under close observation contained another of the rare cards I'd swapped but a few minutes earlier!

My 1968/69 season football league album survives intact and complete, although my original World Cup one disappeared at some point. A few years ago I sourced another one which I was delighted to add to my collection.

Photos of the albums, the packets the stamps came in and a few of the pages showing the stamps are attached and you will undoubtedly notice the somewhat unflattering and massively over-coloured images used of some of the players!!

I hope you have enjoyed reading about these few early bits of collecting and perhaps might like to share some of your own earliest memories of pursuing items for no other reason than the thrill of the chase !

Cheers for now

Doug

And there’s more…..

Childhood memories

by Graham Card

My childhood memories growing up in the sixties just prior to Catweazle, as we age our past and childhood fade into a distant memory, to my delight a few weeks back I was having a sort out in the attic, you know the one! everything gets thrown up there because out of sight and often out of mind.

So in the corner under a pile of other odds and ends was my box containing my old car collection, mainly Corgi and Dinky models, which now incidentally are quite collectable, not mine as a boy I played with them, bashing and scraping them the tattier the better, I never thought my cars would become valuable, you know the one's The white volvo of The Saint, if you come across a real life volvo driven by the saint it is very rare and valuable. The Man from Uncle car the blue sedan with that wonderful button on top when pressed out popped a man with a gun, excellent for a car chase, who remembers the gold Aston Martin driven by James Bond, what a car packed with an array of special agents gadgets such as an injector seat, the bullet proof rear windshield, and the forward machine guns, you could watch the film and interact with your own car, I still have mine be it a bit sad for wares, but as I've said they were toys to explore your imagination, then there was the trusty Batmobile no toy collection was complete without one, if my memory serves me well it had back fireing rockets and as it went along a flame came out the back, not a real one obviously, health and safety was yet to be born, my favourite was the old blue Austin that had the red wheel on top, it was like driving ,you could actually steer the front wheels, I remember I must have been about seven or eight we were aloud to take a toy to school on a Friday, perfect we had a long wall at the end of the playground so during break time all the boys would be running their car's along it, how is it such a small thing like this sticks in our memories? I was not content just having car's, I had a car transporter which lowered and detached from the cab, then I had a coach I used to be mesmerised by the two sets of steering wheels at the front, I think if you leaned on one side as you were pushing it along the wheels actually turned, maybe that's why I took my PCV test later in life and did some part

time coach driving, sadly I no longer drive a coach as I'm now retired.

The memories I had growing up are special, no internet, no mobile phones, not much of anything really, but they were great times, I'm sure you have some memories to share so go on we are all waiting to hear them.

Yes, we want to hear your stories!

I will change the direction slightly and describe part of my childhood memories by way of a poem I wrote a little while ago.

HALCYON DAYS

By Carol Barnes

I yearn for the days of my youth

When you camped out with stars for a roof.

Where time was not measured by a gong

But as soon as the street lights came on.

There was laughter and freedom not fear

No perverts or muggers lurked near

No money, no drugs, and no knives

To blight and destroy our young lives

The flowers, the birds, and the trees

The Swallows with nests in the eaves

If a river or pond wasn’t far

We’d all grab our net and a jar

For some tadpoles or minnows you’d spy

As the Dragonfly beauties dart by.

And maybe, just maybe with luck,

You’d see sticklebacks dodging the ducks

Spiders weaved magic in front of your eyes

While you listened to Skylarks soar high in the skies

They sang till their lungs nearly burst

Then fell silent as they plunged back to earth

Imagination was encouraged and all make-believe

Meant we really saw fairies and elves in the trees

Each season would bring us assorted new thrills

Days they got colder, but were still easy to fill.

Rain was no barrier we’d collect sticks for a den

Pretending we’re outlaws till the sun shone again.

Or maybe tell stories as we laid under cover,

Probably ghost ones, to scare one another

Your friends were your mates and we didn’t fight

And we shared what we had when we stopped for a bite.

Nature and parks played such a big part

In the memories and laughter, I hold in my heart.

It’s sad that it seems that the youngsters today

Don’t seem to know just what it means how to play.

For nature’s been ripped from their world and their sight

Computer games seems their only delight.

What have we done to our “bored” young kids

Now countryside idyls no longer exist

No making of camps like we did in our leisure

Where birds eggs and beetles were our kind of treasure

Where names of wild flowers were commonly known

And the love of all nature was nurtured and grown.

I thank God I was born to parents who knew

Because they were brought up the same way too.

My wonderful father who taught me so much

Passed on to me nature’s incredible touch

And God in his wisdom, picked a date for my birth

When common sense clearly was ruling the earth

And no mobile phones were constantly dialled

AND A CHILD WAS ALLOWED – WELL… TO JUST BE A CHILD.

Do you remember….

Retro Dance - “The Hustle” in fact we can also include the wonderful music that really came first as a chart hit.

The Dance

It first originated in the early '70s in the South Bronx as a 'frequeria', or a dirty dance, popular among Puerto Rican teenagers. The hustle peaked in popularity in the mid-seventies, particularly following the release of the film, Saturday Night Fever. It can be danced with a partner or in a line formation, or on your own. A number of variations exist in style and steps.

One version is described below.

– Start with your feet in closed position,
– Step back with your right foot. Count of three then clap,
– Repeat stepping forward and clap,
– Spin right and round count of 3 and clap,
– Spin left and around to your orIginal position and clap,
– Do the finger point (Travolta style) up and down diagonal to count of 8,
– Step to the left doing arm rolls,
– Step to the right doing arm rolls,
– Turn and face left and repeat the above…

The Music

The Hustle is a disco song by the song writer/arranger Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony and it is iconic of the summer of 1975, For me personally it has another very big association.

Let me explain. I am a huge fan of Vincent Price, but when I was younger it was more like an obsession. My bedroom walls were covered ceiling to floor in pictures from his personal life and of course acting career. The bedroom ceiling was covered in his film posters I wish I had kept them because they are worth a fortune now!) I never in a million years thought I would EVER meet him.

One day when I was training (I was very sporty in those days) my trainer said “I suppose you will be going to Brighton Theatre Royal? Why would I? I said. “Because Vincent Price is appearing in a play there in the summer!” “Pull the other one” I said. “It’s true” he said. Well, I won’t go into all the details of my euphoria and disbelief all in one, but I booked tickets for the Monday Wednesday and Saturday all in the front row!!! I was so excited meeting him after that I came out in a rash!! I saw him again in London. He was so nice and he sent me a photo as well as signing my book of Vincent to which he took one look and said “Oh My God” then “What’s your name” in that lovely transatlantic drawl of his. I got my name out eventually, after much stammering and stuttering, and he sign the compilation 'For Carol, Love Vincent Price'.

Any way what I wanted to say was that Van McCoy’s The Hustle was on the radio all day and every day that summer and on each day, I went to see The Merchant of Menace in “Ardele” and every time I hear it, my mind immediately goes back to that hot and special summer for me of June 1975 and it always will.

At the stage door with Vincent Price

Do you remember….
Retro food – Artic Roll

An arctic roll is a British ice cream cake made of vanilla ice cream wrapped in a thin layer of sponge cake to form a roll, with a layer of raspberry flavoured sauce between the sponge and the ice cream

But

Did you know that the Arctic Roll was invented by a Czechoslovakian immigrant called Ernest Velden in the 1950s. He went on to set up a factory in Eastbourne producing Arctic Roll in 1958.

Due to its popularity, Birds Eye began manufacturing the Artic Roll and it made an entrance to supermarket shelves in 1970. Where later more than 25 miles of Arctic Roll were sold in the UK each month!

Do you remember….

Retro plonk - Blue Nun

In the 1970s, Blue Nun was a popular, sweetish, well-balanced, and affordable wine that was advertised as "going anywhere, anytime, and with anything". It was a gold-plated icon of the era that was enjoyed by film stars and musicians. Also in the 1970s, Blue Nun sold 3.5 million bottles a year in the UK. I think for teens it was the first introduction to wine, until they moved on to more sophisticated ones!

Do you remember….

Kid’s tv – Paulus The Wood Gnome

Paulus the wood gnome was a Dutch newspaper comic strip, which ran between 1946 and 1984. Its popularity inspired a series of children's novels, a radio series, and a television puppet series.

Of course, I am referring to the tv puppet series that was shown in the uk and dubbed by Arthur Lowe (I always thought it sounded like Spike Milligan!) However, it was the usual kids’ final telly spot before the news came on. As the name implies Paulus was a kind and friendly little wood gnome who lived in a tree and had adventures or usually a crisis among his animal friends.

He was also fond of smoking his little pipe. There were owls, bears badgers crows that had weird names. Although probably quite normal to Dutch folk! Paulus had an arch enemy called Eucalypta and she was a very ugly and scary witch who was always brewing up her cauldron, ready to put Paulus in it!! She never did of course. Such was the catchy thme tune, I still sing it today, especially when I see someone o unfortunate looks when (if my brother is with me) says in mock horror “it’s Eucalypta,” “She’s out to get you, she’s out to get you, she’s out to get you beware!!”

Do you remember….

Retro sweets – Space Dust

This was not my kind of sweet, because it didn’t last long enough!

It was like nuclear-powered Rice Krispies, Space Dust intensified snap, crackle, and pop into an oral firework display. It came in small foil wraps decorated with a cartoon moon belching Saturnian rings from its face.

Space Dust was wildly popular perhaps not only because of the unique experience but because there was also a whiff of danger around the product. A persistent urban legend grew up about children who had eaten it with cola or lemonade subsequently exploding – but sadly we haven’t been able to verify any of these reports. It is still available in confectionary shops today.

Do you remember….

Retro tv and first real celebrity chef – The Fanny Cradock Shows

Fanny Cradock and her monocle wearing husband Johnnie were always on the tv or so it seemed. Cradock appeared in twenty-four television series between 1955 and 1975. As she got older, she piled on more war paint, looking even more scarier than usual! (see above) She was the only famous cook on tv at the time (that everyone knew anyway) and at Christmas her show was never missed!

She had a particular style of presenting and sometimes seemed (because she was) rather short, or curt or even aggressive sometimes towards her poor assistance. She did however try to keep her dishes economical and mentioned it on most shows. She was keen on linking her recipes to the French and she wrote articles under the name “Bon Viveur”

Her career is generally regarded as having ended after an appearance of a lady called Gwen Troake with Fanny’s on a show called “Gwen Troake’s Banquet” (1976) where her rudeness to this poor amateur chef led to the BBC terminating her contract.

Who though, can ever forget the brilliant Benny Hill doing his own impersonation of Fanny with the wonderful Bob Todd as a slightly tipsy Johnnie assisting. In fact was it he or some other wag that showed a picture of some doughnuts, with the accompanying wording underneath them saying “ I hope your doughnuts look like Fanny’s!”.

This is one of our original Catweazle Fan Club car window sticker. It was spotted about 15 years again in the window of Jonathan Ross Thunderbird V8 car as he left the BBC studios after his final show in London.

Well, he is a member of the club after all

(the pagan origins of Easter)

Just like Christmas, when Christianity came and needed to adhere in a way to the “old ways” it was remarkably similar in its interpretation.

The spring equinox or vernal equinox, was an extremely important time of year. It was the season of rebirth renewal and fertility. Light was overcoming darkness and hope sprang up with the new shoots, and the newborn.

Eostre or Ostara

was a goddess celebrated in ancient times during the month of April for the above reasons. It is from her name that we get the word for the feminine hormone estrogen. There were other goddesses even earlier like 2000 years before Christ, the Sumerians in Mesopotamia had a tradition around the Goddess Inanna, who descended into the underworld during Winter and was bought back to life once winter ended.

Symbols then are as they are now. Rabbits or Hares, Eggs, even hot cross buns! The only important addition of course is the image and symbolism of the Holy cross.

The hare or bunny

as the modern symbol of the tradition, is a nocturnal animal and therefore represents the moon and as such is associated with many lunar Goddesses such as Freyja the Norse deity. Even the date for the Christian tradition of Easter changes from year to year BECAUSE of the lunar cycle.

The Moon

Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon that follows the spring equinox.

Bunnies and eggs are also a symbol of fertility, because – well rabbits are prolific in reproduction as are chickens laying eggs. But there are MANY other traditions around the world that have different reasons for the same symbols, but there is a link to one of other of these usual traditions

Hot Cross Buns

I always assumed was to symbolise the crucifixion of Christ. But once again there are other explanations too.

For example, it may be linked again to Eostre who celebrated the four seasons with bread marked with a cross.

The Crucifixion

The ultimate sign of Easter for Christians is of course the cross on which Jesus Christ died. But after three days he rose from his tomb was resurrected and had conquered death. The dark that had engulfed the area returned to light through this event. Goodness had overcome evil.

Man had been given the opportunity to be reborn if they followed the ways of the Christ. Just by way of interest, I found this interesting old photo that is supposedly Golgotha – The place of the skull, where Jesus was crucified. Not surprisingly, the rock formation has erroded over the centuries, but is still pretty apparent.

Magical memories of The Catweazle Weekends (part 1) Hexwood

Catweazle weekends were so magical it was that feeling you only get as a child the night before Christmas, for many reading this you will be reminiscing the true magic of Hexwood, I would start the countdown as soon as Carol had the date, normally by January, the fete would be held in June, not to coincide with Tennis at Wimbledon (which some of the villagers were involved with)

Fast forward slightly unfortunately they are distant memories purely because since covid Home Farm has not been able to hold their annual summer fete which we were always kindly invited, so anyone who is reading this that is new to The Fellowship will need to close their eyes and imagine just what magical times they really were.

Our small team would travel from all points of the compass to meet at Home farm around six on the Friday prior to the fete, this was to set up the Catweazle tent and furnish it with pictures, posters, and all memorabilia, Carol would hopefully turn up before it started getting dark, bless her , she normally had to come straight from work and obviously navigate the heavy traffic, with Carol's approval and a few tweaks we were set for the big day, so it was a race back to the hotel to get a well-earned beer before the bar closed.

On one occasion we had quite a windy night so when we arrived back the next day the tent and all the memorabilia was scattered everywhere, but as in the spirit of Catweazle we set to and rebuilt. NOTHING WORKS!

Home farm was the spiritual home of Carrot, Dad and the farm help Sam, many scenes from the first series was filmed there, many shot in the barn which was always a magnet to revisit, nearly sixty years have passed but the markings can still be clearly seen where the light switch was, this is where Catweazle is first introduced to Electrickery, the magic of this place draws you in even if you have seen it a dozen times.

I remember one of our biggest events was a question and answers, where all the cast turned up, Richard Carpenter the script writer and his lovely wife Annie, Robin better known as Carrot, Moray Watson, Elspet Gray, and of course the man himself Geoffrey, We had a marquee which held well over 100 Catweazlers it was of course filmed so that special time can be relived.

The fete would always attract hundreds offering a quintessential English summer fete of splat the rat, wellie throwing, and some unsuspecting person being soaked by a wet sponge, oh nearly forgot the “Pimms” truly we had some magical times, fitting for scenes from a Midsomer Murders production.

Those few hours were so magical especially if our English weather was kind, it was a small window to catch up with like-minded Catweazle lovers and to embrace new members, one of our longest fan makes a pilgrimage every year from his home in deepest darkest Devon leaving at silly o'clock in the morning to meet up with his brothers and sisters in magic, yes it's you Doug don't be embarrassed always wearing that old Jean jacket, we could spot him in the crowd, thank you for your years of support.

All to soon it's time to pack up, one last look at the barn to recharge that memory for another year, watching the first series you inherit the compelling charm which manifests itself in Home Farm.

A sense of sadness is in the air another Hexwood over, another year to wait, what's that you say the pilgrimage to Brickenden is still to come, yes some years we would visit where the second series was filmed, but that's for a later write up.

If you have enjoyed this short trip down memory lane maybe you could send yours in, I certainly have more to tell, along with memories of visiting Brickenden.

Join me again on the Grapevine in the June newsletter.

Written by

Graham Card.

If you have a hobby, an interest or something your like to introduce people to, then this is your opportunity to do so. This new topic is called

MAY I INTRODUCE YOU TO……… and this month Graham would like to introduce you to………….

THE CINNAMON TRUST

The Cinnamon Trust was created to ensure that no one would ever have to face losing a cherished companion due to a terminal illness or age. Over the last 40 years, this compassionate vision has blossomed into a nationwide charity, providing comfort, companionship, and peace of mind to countless people and their pets.

The Trust was founded in 1985 by Mrs Averil Jarvis MBE, inspired by the heartache she witnessed when older people and terminally ill pet owners were forced to part with their beloved companions.

The Trust came to life during a deeply personal moment, as Mrs Jarvis said goodbye to her cherished corgi, Cinnamon, who passed away at 17 years old. It seemed appropriate to name The Trust in her memory. This loss deepened her commitment to supporting more owners to enjoy the special bond they have with their pets.

Cinnamon the Corgi

There are so many worthy charities out there, but The Cinnamon Trust is very close to my heart and this is why.

When I retired it was my chance to get a forever companion, no not another wife, but a dog. A faithful companion who would be at my side and my forever friend, after applying to several rehoming organisations and being very unsuccessful a friend of mine said ‘Why don't you apply to The Cinnamon Trust?’. to be honest I'd never heard of them. The Cinnamon Trust, I thought to myself, it sounds more like a bakery.

So intrigued I took to the internet to read up on the organisation, this charity is like no other, it is the only charity designed to ensure older people, hospitalised, terminally ill or sadly people who pass away are able to make prior arrangements and have peace of mind that their pet would find a new forever home, or be looked after. They welcome all pets- dogs, cats, birds, horses, or even tortoises.

I immediately applied and after a vetting process was asked if I could walk a couple of dogs for two ladies who had mobility issues, this was my start on the road to getting my own dog. I then did a short-term foster for a little terrier called Bobby who was a sheer delight whilst his owner went into hospital. I remember taking Bobby back to his owner on Wednesday and receiving a call asking if I could have Katie, a 10-year-old Border collie, whose owner had suddenly passed away.

I was beside myself, I had to pinch myself, was this really happening?! Katie was delivered two days later, on a Friday I still remember dearly.

Fast forward, she is now 14-years-old and I've had so much unconditional love from her. The lady who owned Katie knew she was dying and requested that Katie be not put down and would be found a new forever home. I know that I've made her wish come true, and given Katie the home and love she deserves.

This year, The Trust is celebrating its 40th anniversary. As part of the celebrations, they will host a national event, called The Big Walk, on Bank Holiday Monday, May 5.

This nationwide event will see supporters and volunteers go out for their sponsored walks to raise awareness about The Trust and connect with likeminded people united by they shared love for pets.

Katie and I will also be taking part (obviously), however, as she is 14, I've not set a goal for how many miles she will walk. She does regularly walk 4 to 5 miles daily in all sorts of weather, after all she is a collie!

Katie and Me

Could you find it in your hearts to sponsor Katie?
It would be so much appreciated and I thank you in advance, there are several ways that you can donate.

Call The Trust 01736 757900

And make a direct donation

Make a cheque payable to The Cinnamon Trust

and send to…..

The Cinnamon Trust

10 Market Square

Hayle

Cornwall

TR27 4HE

Charity No 1134680

Or contact me direct on 07412651313

All I can say if anyone reading this has a pet will know just how much love they give.

The QR code on the right is for anyone who might like to donate to the charity this way.

Thank you for your kindness

Graham Card.

I hope you have found this interesting. I too as a dog/pet lover was personally very interested to read all about it. What a wonderful thing to strive for, our pets are our family and to know they would be taken care of at the highest level if you fall ill or incapacitated is so reassuring for people – Thanks for sharing this with us Graham.

If anyone thinks “Hey, I have an interesting hobby or affiliation”, please do write all about it and send it to me for the next newsletter in June!