Quite a few years ago, Scrobs Senior, in his engineering job in hop-growing, was visiting a German city with great brewing credentials. He flew to somewhere there, probably Munich, with the MD, to assess some business deal or other - I don't really know what it was about, but he often went round Yerrrup to find better ways to grow hops for Guinness.
The MD was a retired soldier (JB) with impeccable credentials, and although I'd like to mention his name - which is chronicled in several books and stories, I feel that I won't this time, but will just mention that despite his illuminating and courageous career, he finished up with a wooden leg from his wartime injuries. He and Dad were very good friends as well.
When they were boarding the aeroplane, Dad was following his boss up the steps, where JB had to 'dot and carry' with a barely recognisable, but stumbling gait which he hated, but it was a necessary manner he employed to move forward. They reached the plane's aisle, and in the melee of air travelling, JB stumbled and gently pushed into the person in front of him. That particular person turned, and instead of wondering, and understanding why he'd been interrupted in his search for his seat, chose to shriek and swear at JB in uncouth terms.
Dad immediately surged forward and belted him, and had to be restrained by JB. "Leave him Phil, just let him go", was the restrained gentlemanly response from JB.
So Mr E. Burden, your copybook was well blotted that day, and I'll never forget what a little git you were then, and probably are still.
12 comments:
Great story, Scrobs. 'Specially in the light of my latest and EK's pond tragedy. Well done Phil Senior Scrobs, who didn't just look at his shoes then grumble that someone should have done something.
Incidentally, was JB's name Smith?
Well a certain Mr E Burden was a lead singer in The Animals pop group, but despite the old saying of 'behaving like an animal' I doubt it was he with whom your illustrious pater had the altercation..
However, if I am mistaken, I hope your dad asked for his autograph!
Travelling by air went down the pan civility and comfort-wise when the cheapie fares to places like Malaga and Barcelona became popular and affordable some 40 years ago and allowed every chav north of the Isle of Wight to explore the world. Regrettably, it has never recovered, and, speaking as a frequent flier, even in Business Class poor standards of passengerial (I just made that word up) behaviour may sometimes be observed. Etiquette and decorum, or what used to be known simply as 'standards' have gorn orf and seem unlikely to ever return.
[Exits stage left humming the House of the Rising Sun]
Thanks Pips, over the years, Dad admitted to actually clouting him, whereas when I was much younger, he'just threatened' him...
JB were his initials Pips, not Smith.
Yes, I saw yours and Elecs' posts. I didn't realise that I was in the sub-conscious mode, and carrying on the theme...!
It was him Reevers. The rest of the band were well behaved, and of course, everyone likes Alan Price don't they!
I think 'Passengerial' is going to be voted the Word of the Post'!
Gosh what a coincidence!!
Yup, I agree about Alan Price and have long been a fan of his. Somewhere in the attic is a cassette tape of his which includes, amongst others, the Jarrow Song, probably his best solo. I still occasionally find myself humming it. I have a very vague memory that it was also used in a film to which he provided that background music, but as senility comes on, I cannot for the life of me recall its title.
Ah, I remember. It was "O Lucky Man". Took a while but then it just jumped out at me when I was doing something completely different. Senility is postponed another 24 hours!
Congratulations to Scrobs senior.
Is that 'Geordie Boy' Reevers?
In which case, you and I are probably in humming mode at the same time!
'I put a spell on you' was/is a huuuuuuge favourite wich me, and I'm now going to Youtube it.
It was also the only 45rpm record a lovely old girlfrind ever owned, and she used to sing like Billie Holliday - and she could incredibly well, especially in the Regent Hotel Jazz club in Hastings...
Happy days...
Thanks Thud; I hoped you'd understand...!
You could well be correct Scrobs - but "where angels fear to tread" applies equally to my attic, so the mystery will have to remain unsolved.
The chap sounds more like Moon (Keith) than Sun (Rising.)
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