Our esteemed editor in Chief was honoured to be invited to Albert Goldthorpe Memorial Dinner Awards at Headingley last week- this is his report to me of part of the proceedings, he reported this through a cloudy vision of the best Champagne.
“Our own Hunslet Honorary member and present Rugby League President David Oxley C.B.E made a presentation for the “Albert Goldthorpe Achievement Award- and he recalled that the recipient was serving in Italy during the war in the British Army when Italy surrendered, he and his Army colleague found themselves pretty close to the Island of Capri, knowing that prior to the war Gracie Fields the famous English Star of Song, Stage and Films had married an Italian called Monty Banks & owned a villa their. Gracie had entertained the troops during the war and helped raise millions performing in America for the war effort. So with his freind they got some leave and went to try and find out where Gracie lived on Capri.
After much searching they found where Gracie once lived, being ever inquisitive they knocked on the villa door! much to their surprise Gracie herself answered the door-
She invited these speechless army veterans in for a cup of tea and sandwiches- informing them that Her husband had insisted that as soon as the war ended she would return to Capri.
The recipient of this award was the one and only Harry Jepson O.B.E who obviously is and was a Gracie Fields fan! He was invited to stay the night which he accepted with speed!
His pal decided not to take up that invitation but went sightseeing instead around Capri
So Harry spent the night at Gracie Fields Villa. and David told the audience with a glint in his eyes that Gracie’s husband Monty was away at the time.
We must quiz Harry about this after all one of Gracie’s favourite songs was
“The Biggest Aspidistra in the World”
(I wonder who or what was the inspiration for this song?)
Congratulations on Harry on Your award- what more secrets are to be revealed?
Other Hunslet RL ex Parkside Players watching Harry receive this prestigious award included Ken Eyre, Ray Abbey and Frank Watson”
Thanks Peter,well done!
Please see Keith Rowson’s pictures and cuttings in the Archive three page.
Have a nice weekend
Old Mother Benson
Update
By Coincidence it was on this day in 1979 that Gracie Fields died aged 81.
Like dear old Harry, a man far more distinguished than myself, my wife and I also visited Capri in 1973 and 80, but never saw Gracie, who on our first visit was still alive. After husband Monty died she did I believe marry her then chauffeur, with whom she remained until her death. As for me, I was too busy trying to cover my gap-toothed mouth after chewing on a hard apple and breaking my dental plate while being rowed around the Blue Grotto. Also visiting Pompeii for the third time, my first being as cabin boy on a merchant ship in 1944, while Vesuvius was erupting. Remarkably, although rugby league supporters are everywhere, I met a chap named Harrison, from the East End Park district, who told me he supported Hunslet, and pleaded with me,on my return, to call on his family in the Charlton’s and tell them he was fine. Visiting Pompeii for the third time, my first as a cabin boy in the merchant navy in 1944 while Vesuvius was erupting, there were many colorful murals and statues in that fascinating place, but none which, so far as I could see, had much to do with the oval ball. Although there were plenty of others that would raise a few eyebrows if they were put on show in Leeds, which nevertheless were being photographed with gusto by women of the American forces. Wonder if Harry saw them ? One of them would make even Gracie’s aspidistra pale into insignificance in comparison. There is or rather was, a connection with Italy and Rugby League insofar as an old friend Bill Lawrenson, one time Leeds Estate agent was injured in or around Naples in the last war, and Lieutenant Oliver Morris , the Leeds half-back, formerly of Hunslet RL was killed around that area. I remember him lodging in a house on Cotton Mill Row, not far from the Prossie, and was told by those in the know that had he lived, with his potential he would have become a Rugby League great. Like many others he was a sad loss to the game, as were the best years others lost to the war.