(18) 'THE CUP FINAL, PUB CRAWL EVENT'

[Ken]

Being the youngest of a large family like the 'Tuffs,' gave me confidence from a young age.  There was always an older sibling somewhere close by should I ever be in need and I often was,  especially when Mr.Raggett rang the bell of his yellow "Alpine Ice Cream" van!   The self belief I developed was also linked to common sense, I would never be naturally good at sports like my four big brothers but, like them, I did know how to choose good friends.  I put this down to the wisdom of my eldest brother Wally, and the influence his example had on us all.  Looking back I cannot think of any friend of any of my siblings who wasn't a good egg.  We chose our buddies well.

Mine were as good as they got and they grew up used to my ways.  I remember we would often play Monopoly and one day a good friend queried why I was always the Banker,  "Because everyone knows I won't cheat"  I replied.  They accepted it and I was always the Banker. (No Sherman Tank, J Athur Rank jokes please.)  It was a similar story when we were slightly older and there would be endless debates about what film we should see on the coming Sunday.  Some people would argue for the Odeon cinema, others would plump for the Astor. What's wrong with the Regal someone would chip in,  and so it would go on.  I have always hated the time wasted on indecision, so, after several weeks of such nonsense, I began saying what film I was going to see and at what time.   Anyone who wanted to join me would be welcome! Almost everyone chose to do so, week after week.  That was part of my personality for I could organise well and most people were pleased when I did so.

That was the way it was when I organised the F.A Cup Final get-together.  The years had flown, most of us were married, and there was a danger we would lose touch. There was no social networking sites back then and so it was by the old fashion letter post that I wrote to those whose addresses I still possessed.  I jokingly made it more of a  command than an invitation and stated we would enjoy the match at my place. They would be expected to join the group at a time that suited them.  I then wrote down a list of Pubs that went thus.......

The Seven Stars @ 10.30 am,  The Star @ 11.00 am,  The Kings Head @ 11.30 am,  The Two Brewers @ 12 Noon,  The Royal Oak @ 12.30 pm.  The Robin Hood @ 1.00 pm,  The Rats Castle @ 1.30 pm, and then the last of my meeting places, The Sandford Arms @ 2.00 pm.   I then listed another Pub, The Push Off Arms @ 7.00 pm,  which was my way of telling them when to return whence they came"

I recall that Tony Lucas joined me at the first pub and so we were two.  Martin Elliott and a very young Robin Bowbrick made it a gathering of four at The Star, and so it went on.  By the time we were at The Royal Oak there were eleven old friends together and when an unexpected Richard 'Itchie Ball' Gauley arrived there were cheers from us all!  He had come down from his home in London having received my message from a letter I had written to his Mother.  Of course all this time the Beer was flowing and by the time we arrived at my house there were fifteen well oiled friends.   Jenny had prepared a wonderful range of food for us all to enjoy and just before the Cup Final kick off she had wisely departed,  taking our ten month old daughter Kathryn with her.  The strange thing is I don't particularly enjoy watching football but I loved witnessing the fun and excitement of my long time buddies.  The hours flew as we reminisced about days gone by but when Jenny returned home at 7.15 pm she found me alone and washing up. As requested in my letter, by 7.00 pm everyone had departed to....... The Push Off Arms!
 
I sent those letters out,  stating the time I would be at selected Pubs, every year for the next decade, up until my move to Wales in 1985. It became a must do date in all our social Calendars, far more important than the Henley Regatta or Royal Ascot.  Looking back over the years I have often wonder where the confidence to organise came from,  both in my business and private life.  I'm proud people seemed to appreciate it but I do sometimes ponder on why they  accepted what I suggested so often.  Perhaps the answer lies in those long ago games of Monopoly and my insistence on being the banker.  We all knew I wouldn't cheat!  
 

[Ken]

For many years I organised a gathering of old friends every cup final day. It would never have happened without a dictate from me, the result created many special memories for all who responded.

[Ken]

This is really a very good story about organisational skills. It must really have been very lovely to see all of those old friends showing up one after the other. Lovely story. Thank you.