Dinky's Page

DINKY REMEMBERS...

The first song I ever sang of Ralph’s was called Another You. I had to dress as a girl and be made up with a black face. It was a Holborn Rover Show and .1 have fond memories of trips to Oxford and Newhaven.

In memory of those legendary body of men who proudly wore their black & white scarf as we do our red one and have their time to see that youngsters like us they didn’t need more than two matches to fire us with their enthusiasm for scouting.

Four Little Fellas was the first song we urchins from the 4th Holborn were allowed to sing, actually there were five of us, Johnny & Teddy Edward, Sid Palmer, myself and Dirnmock Smith. Dimmock never sang a word, just stood on the end and made a nuisance of himself.

RALPH’S HYMN

‘Now as I start upon my chosen way’, I can see Len Snelling and then dear Jackie Orpwood taking that promise in that magnificent investiture scene in the Albert Hall - a wonderful moment.

ITS SO LOVELY. A song I was give the privilege to sing in ‘Great Days’, sitting on a bench with a girl, the bench was in a trough and it rained. The first night the bench was put directly under the water and I gargled and spluttered all the way through the song and got very wet.

IN MY DREAMS I’M GOING BACK TO GILWELL I was very privileged to be asked to play the part of Charlie, the old Scout, it was a wonderful show full of great songs and in singing ‘Gilwell’ I always remember with deep affection our beloved Rover mate and very dear friend Jim Ridley - he was, along with Ralph, a great scouter and a wonderful product of that training ground.

STROLLING

First sung with Don Worts and Sid Palmer and during that show Max Bygraves joined us one night. It has closed many Royal Command performances, and it ended the 60th Anniversay Gang Show celebrations at the Wimbledon Theatre, it was lovely to share the stage again with, Sid Palmer, Phil Davies, Ernie Emerick, Johnny Groves, Harry Eltham and Jim Figg, may they keep ‘strolling’ for many more years to come.

DINKY REW’S AFTER DINNER SPEECH AT THE LGSF REUNION 1999

Mr Chairman, Members of the Gang Show Fellowship and your Guests, and I’m tempted to say, with ‘Tecs’ permission, the Caretaker of Chenies Street Drill Hall.

Wondering what I could say when I remembered Fred Hurll walking on to the stage at the end of a Show. He looked at Ralph and said “You’re smashing”, he turned to the Gang and said “You’re smashing”, he turned to the audience and said “You’re smashing” - then he walked off. So he said it all in six words - but I expect you want a bit more.

It is a tremendous honour and privilege to be asked to propose this toast to Ralph and The London Gang Show Fellowship, but what can I say that has not already been said about this great man - and you.

We all remember with great affection our first meeting with Ralph - I go back to 1930 when to be gay was to be happy and Jack Beet had hair.

I was taken as a Cub to meet him at the Central YMCA. Going into the building there were a few steps and standing on the top step was Ralph and I looked up to him for the first time and I’ve been looking up to him ever since.

That night I heard my first ‘Hi ya Son’ and received my first smack on the back of the neck - you don’t forget them do you? The Central YMCA was of course the headquarters of those legendary Holborn Rovers and before Gang Shows began, their shows were rehearsed and put on in that building. I was lucky enough to be in one of those shows and recall my first song ‘Another You’ and having to put on black make up and dress as a girl - not a pretty sight.

Yes, in Holborn it started with The Holborn Rover Shows, Scouting was alive and kicking and ready for this great man to add his tremendous contribution.

To Sid and I, Cubs as we were then, he was someone to look up to - in uniform or wearing his camel coat, plus fours and two-tone shoes - driving around in his Chrysler open top car with the initials R.R. on each door - if we got a ride around in it and saw someone we knew, we delighted in giving the Royal Salute - happy days.

In rehearsals watching Ralph mould raw talent was an education in itself. Discipline was strict and you were expected to perform in a professional manner. A false movement or missed cue and you had to do it all again - but to be part of the Gang Show atmosphere, the thrill it gave you and the audience we have experienced and never forgotten. Even tonight Sid and I came in feeling like a couple of junior geriatrics but an hour or so in this wonderful Gang Show and Scouting atmosphere and we were looking around for our Cub caps, and we thank you for that.

We owe so much to Ralph - a little of him is in each and everyone of us and we proudly carry that for life.

The best Gang Show years were the ones you were in and don’t let anyone (particularly us old beggars) tell you any different. We were all blessed and privileged in the London Shows because we had Ralph as our, Skipper, Producer, Leader and Friend and I am sure we can all feel his very presence in this room, tonight, as we can of so many of our Troop, who we read from time to time in our copies of These Are The Times’ - have as its said ‘Gone Home’. It saddens us, but then you have to say to yourself that there must be one hell of a Jamboree going on up there.

It is a night for memories and we’ve shared many - those early days at the Scala - the dress rehearsals attended not only by our families, but many sitting in the dress circle were professional friends of Ralph’s, coming to support him and us. The nights of the shows with Royalty, stage and screen stars, and sporting personalities coming round to say a few words with us after the final curtain.

The thrill of seeing our Chief Scout and Chief Guide in the Royal Box. That beautiful smile on the Chief Guides face - two little Holbom Cubs fell in love with her - but I don’t think the Chief Scout got to know about it.

Those finales with Ralph saying ‘You’re the best looking audience we’ve had this week’ and warning them it was snowing and indicating with his hand that it was three feet deep. The last night with the traditional ending, the singing of Auld Lang Syne - audience and Gang linking up - it was a moment to cherish, we had all been given a taste of the theatre, the greasepaint and the bright lights and now Ralph’s message to us was, ‘Now go back to your Troops and remember you’re Scouts first and foremost’.

You have to feel sony for those who never met Ralph, never saw the genius at work, never felt his enthusiasm for Scouting or saw on stage the gifts of his songs, sketches and production that he had in abundance and feel even sorrier for those who knowing this, still criticised, said and did things that hurt and no doubt prevented him receiving the honours that WE know he richly deserved.

But he had greater riches, for as he told us on many an occasion ‘He wouldn’t change for a man with a million for he had a million blessings more’, and we were all privileged to be a few of that million, and how good that feels - not only tonight but on many occasions we think of times shared with him.

What a legacy he left us in his songs alone and what vision in some of his phrases ‘When the years have rolled away we shall dream of the times we had’ - we’re doing that tonight. ‘Where boys voices ring - where youth is king’ - to Ralph the boy was all important, and WE were HIS boys - and later there were HIS girls.

I have to confess whenever I have my hours of nostalgia playing Gang Show records -some of them on wax - I sing Gilwell’ with a slightly different ending - which I hope he would have approved of- I sing ‘and from near and far - I’ll see R.R. who never will be far from there’.

So now we are all here tonight 67 years after it all began, proud to be part of a London Gang Show Fellowship, and I would like to pay tribute to those of the Fellowship who have worked tirelessly to make sure that Ralphs name lives on, that the standard he set is maintained and that his Trust Fund is used in the manner he would have wanted. To wish you all success in your outreach to other Gang Members wherever they may be and to thank you on behalf of us all.

So all our memories are a tribute to this wonderful man, who not only shared in this game of Scouting that we play, but gave us the greater privilege of sharing with him all his tremendous talents and contribution to this game - and like Scouting ‘He WILL live forever’.

In a conversation I had with him once, he told me of the greatest compliment that could be paid to him, and I offer it up to you as a tribute to the man we all loved and in his memory.

	*DINK'S PAGE!*


	DINKY REMEMBERS... The first song I ever sang of Ralph’s was called Another You. I had to dress as a girl and be made up with a black face. It was a Holborn Rover Show and .1 have fond memories of trips to Oxford and Newhaven. In memory of those legendary body of men who proudly wore their black & white scarf as we do our red one and have their time to see that youngsters like us they didn’t need more than two matches to fire us with their enthusiasm for scouting. Four Little Fellas was the first song we urchins from the 4th Holborn were allowed to sing, actually there were five of us, Johnny & Teddy Edward, Sid Palmer, myself and Dirnmock Smith. Dimmock never sang a word, just stood on the end and made a nuisance of himself. RALPH’S HYMN ‘Now as I start upon my chosen way’, I can see Len Snelling and then dear Jackie Orpwood taking that promise in that magnificent investiture scene in the Albert Hall - a wonderful moment. ITS SO LOVELY. A song I was give the privilege to sing in ‘Great Days’, sitting on a bench with a girl, the bench was in a trough and it rained. The first night the bench was put directly under the water and I gargled and spluttered all the way through the song and got very wet. IN MY DREAMS I’M GOING BACK TO GILWELL I was very privileged to be asked to play the part of Charlie, the old Scout, it was a wonderful show full of great songs and in singing ‘Gilwell’ I always remember with deep affection our beloved Rover mate and very dear friend Jim Ridley - he was, along with Ralph, a great scouter and a wonderful product of that training ground. STROLLING First sung with Don Worts and Sid Palmer and during that show Max Bygraves joined us one night. It has closed many Royal Command performances, and it ended the 60th Anniversay Gang Show celebrations at the Wimbledon Theatre, it was lovely to share the stage again with, Sid Palmer, Phil Davies, Ernie Emerick, Johnny Groves, Harry Eltham and Jim Figg, may they keep ‘strolling’ for many more years to come. DINKY REW’S AFTER DINNER SPEECH AT THE LGSF REUNION 1999 Mr Chairman, Members of the Gang Show Fellowship and your Guests, and I’m tempted to say, with ‘Tecs’ permission, the Caretaker of Chenies Street Drill Hall. Wondering what I could say when I remembered Fred Hurll walking on to the stage at the end of a Show. He looked at Ralph and said “You’re smashing”, he turned to the Gang and said “You’re smashing”, he turned to the audience and said “You’re smashing” - then he walked off. So he said it all in six words - but I expect you want a bit more. It is a tremendous honour and privilege to be asked to propose this toast to Ralph and The London Gang Show Fellowship, but what can I say that has not already been said about this great man - and you. We all remember with great affection our first meeting with Ralph - I go back to 1930 when to be gay was to be happy and Jack Beet had hair. I was taken as a Cub to meet him at the Central YMCA. Going into the building there were a few steps and standing on the top step was Ralph and I looked up to him for the first time and I’ve been looking up to him ever since. That night I heard my first ‘Hi ya Son’ and received my first smack on the back of the neck - you don’t forget them do you? The Central YMCA was of course the headquarters of those legendary Holborn Rovers and before Gang Shows began, their shows were rehearsed and put on in that building. I was lucky enough to be in one of those shows and recall my first song ‘Another You’ and having to put on black make up and dress as a girl - not a pretty sight. Yes, in Holborn it started with The Holborn Rover Shows, Scouting was alive and kicking and ready for this great man to add his tremendous contribution. To Sid and I, Cubs as we were then, he was someone to look up to - in uniform or wearing his camel coat, plus fours and two-tone shoes - driving around in his Chrysler open top car with the initials R.R. on each door - if we got a ride around in it and saw someone we knew, we delighted in giving the Royal Salute - happy days. In rehearsals watching Ralph mould raw talent was an education in itself. Discipline was strict and you were expected to perform in a professional manner. A false movement or missed cue and you had to do it all again - but to be part of the Gang Show atmosphere, the thrill it gave you and the audience we have experienced and never forgotten. Even tonight Sid and I came in feeling like a couple of junior geriatrics but an hour or so in this wonderful Gang Show and Scouting atmosphere and we were looking around for our Cub caps, and we thank you for that. We owe so much to Ralph - a little of him is in each and everyone of us and we proudly carry that for life. The best Gang Show years were the ones you were in and don’t let anyone (particularly us old beggars) tell you any different. We were all blessed and privileged in the London Shows because we had Ralph as our, Skipper, Producer, Leader and Friend and I am sure we can all feel his very presence in this room, tonight, as we can of so many of our Troop, who we read from time to time in our copies of These Are The Times’ - have as its said ‘Gone Home’. It saddens us, but then you have to say to yourself that there must be one hell of a Jamboree going on up there. It is a night for memories and we’ve shared many - those early days at the Scala - the dress rehearsals attended not only by our families, but many sitting in the dress circle were professional friends of Ralph’s, coming to support him and us. The nights of the shows with Royalty, stage and screen stars, and sporting personalities coming round to say a few words with us after the final curtain. The thrill of seeing our Chief Scout and Chief Guide in the Royal Box. That beautiful smile on the Chief Guides face - two little Holbom Cubs fell in love with her - but I don’t think the Chief Scout got to know about it. Those finales with Ralph saying ‘You’re the best looking audience we’ve had this week’ and warning them it was snowing and indicating with his hand that it was three feet deep. The last night with the traditional ending, the singing of Auld Lang Syne - audience and Gang linking up - it was a moment to cherish, we had all been given a taste of the theatre, the greasepaint and the bright lights and now Ralph’s message to us was, ‘Now go back to your Troops and remember you’re Scouts first and foremost’. You have to feel sony for those who never met Ralph, never saw the genius at work, never felt his enthusiasm for Scouting or saw on stage the gifts of his songs, sketches and production that he had in abundance and feel even sorrier for those who knowing this, still criticised, said and did things that hurt and no doubt prevented him receiving the honours that WE know he richly deserved. But he had greater riches, for as he told us on many an occasion ‘He wouldn’t change for a man with a million for he had a million blessings more’, and we were all privileged to be a few of that million, and how good that feels - not only tonight but on many occasions we think of times shared with him. What a legacy he left us in his songs alone and what vision in some of his phrases ‘When the years have rolled away we shall dream of the times we had’ - we’re doing that tonight. ‘Where boys voices ring - where youth is king’ - to Ralph the boy was all important, and WE were HIS boys - and later there were HIS girls. I have to confess whenever I have my hours of nostalgia playing Gang Show records -some of them on wax - I sing Gilwell’ with a slightly different ending - which I hope he would have approved of- I sing ‘and from near and far - I’ll see R.R. who never will be far from there’. So now we are all here tonight 67 years after it all began, proud to be part of a London Gang Show Fellowship, and I would like to pay tribute to those of the Fellowship who have worked tirelessly to make sure that Ralphs name lives on, that the standard he set is maintained and that his Trust Fund is used in the manner he would have wanted. To wish you all success in your outreach to other Gang Members wherever they may be and to thank you on behalf of us all. So all our memories are a tribute to this wonderful man, who not only shared in this game of Scouting that we play, but gave us the greater privilege of sharing with him all his tremendous talents and contribution to this game - and like Scouting ‘He WILL live forever’. In a conversation I had with him once, he told me of the greatest compliment that could be paid to him, and I offer it up to you as a tribute to the man we all loved and in his memory. So will you please be upstanding and join me in the toast *TO RALPH - SCOUTER - AND THE LONDON GANG SHOW FELLOWSHIP!*




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