SOUTH BENFLEET 1, ESSEX 1978
Each Pikehand had recieved an invitation. Here is a transcript of the opening paragraph:-
You may recall that about this time last year your president was delighted to inform you that you had been invited to, PIKEHAND 1977. Now, one year older and consequently wiser, I am in a position (yes, honestly) to say that I am far from delighted to invite you to, PIKEHAND 1978.
Venue was at Ray's house beginning on the Friday evening. In attendance were:- Alan, Bob, Bryan, Graham and Nick.C. Ray and Dave were organisers. Pre-tasks were included in the invitation. Our full programme was also included so here is an edited precis:- Friday general drinking, chatting and discussing activities. Saturday Cultural Pursuits, ie. we made a film. Later went ten pin bowling. Even later had our banquet. Later still inaurguration of PADS. Sunday conference Bryan to read the Bury minutes. Well we spent some time in the local pub on Friday evening then some more liquid refreshment with bread and cheese back at the digs including PADS rehearsals.
After breakfast we got dressed up in our costumes and out to the recording area. For our film Bob and Alan were dressed as stocking masked Victorian grave robbers. In normal dress after he had, supposedly, drawn cash Nick was abducted by Bob and Alan. Our get away was by car. Graham dressed as Superman and Bryan dressed as Robin were in hot pursuit. Ray dressed in drag was the main camera man. (recall a crash helmet but can someone fill in how Dave was dressed. Was he one of the pursuers?) The camera was alternately in the boot of the get away car or the front passenger seat of the chase car. The chase was renacted in several locations. Observant well meaning citizens must have alerted police because from each location we could see them milling around where we had been a little earlier. On our return journey to the digs Bob and Alan still in their outfits with Nick in the back stopped at a junction immediately behind a police car. Its driver looked at them in his mirror and quickly drove off. He must have felt threatened because he went, "Hell for Leather." They chased behind until reaching their junction they turned off.
Eventually the get away car ends up at Ray's house where we filmed exiting from the rear passenger door. All of the Pikes, one at a time, continuing the chase through the car in Keystone Cops style. Bob directed a removal driver around the car. Suddenly, remembering he was still dressed in full costume, he said to the driver, "We're filming mate!" The driver shrugged and drove off. In the house we kicked a model head down the passage and Ray's frightened dog wet on the floor. Believe Dave still has the film. If we can put it on video we could show it here if it does not take up too much web space.
After we'd eaten we journeyed into Southend and played, "Ten Pin Bowling." Bob had not played before and had some difficulty delivering the balls. We were not allowed to go onto the lanes wearing our normal footwear but we were each issued with shoes that were OK. Great fun with lots of banter. Later back at the digs we freshened up ready for our evening venture.
Our annual banquet was at a restaurant Named Bouzy Rouge. We were picked up from our digs by taxi and delivered to Southend High Street where the Restaurant was located. The menu was extensive, something most of us had not experienced before. We did not have to wait long for each course to arrive but we did have time for beer. Nick at that time was a cider drinker so his cider here was OK. Over several years different organisers got in the cheapest Spa cider for him at the digs whilst the rest of us had real ale. With the passage of time Nick did migrate to our normal brew. The food was superb so each of us was well pleased and bloated. Then it was taxi back to the digs where we our honed PADS plays were performed.
Other plays were produced as Pikes had been pre-tasked to come with their creation and perform it for all the rest of us. Each playwright was given his title and knew that he was one of five other members in the cast. The other four cast members were provided by our organisers. the plays were titled:- "Mr Stone's Diary --- by Alan," "Man at the Top Shop --- by Graham," "What's the Score --- by Nick --- See his example Play in Events/PreTasks from the Pike archive," "Where There's Muck There's Brass --- by Bob" and "Genesis --- by Bryan." We had a lot of fun along with beer, bread and cheese before finally retiring.
After breakfast on Sunday morning we had our second annual conference. Eagerly we anticipated reminders of what had taken place at Bury. In vain we waited as Bryan said he had forgotten the bring them. So we continued with our discussions. Finally all our names were put into a hat and two drawn out to be our organisers for Pikehand 1979. Ray and Graham were the lucky ones??? We then packed up our belongings and said our goodbyes before departure for home.