The original Beau Chumps tent of Sunderland was foundered in 1984 with Steven Gibson as Grand Sheik and Ian Self as Vice Sheik. Robert Greenwood was in charge of films etc and the late, inimitable and much missed Robbie Crawford had a hand in er, entertainment! Mike Jones remembers:



We used to meet monthly in the Royalty Pub (Now the Stumble Inn) on Chester Road in the town and regularly had 40+ attendees. The tent was well represented at the international convention in Ulverston that year, and sent about 15 to both Blackpool in 1986 and to Glasgow in 1987 for the UK conventions.
Ian moved out of the area around this time, and I found myself stepping up from the ranks of the great unwashed to the lofty heights of Vice Sheik. Darren White held the position of Grand Vizier at that time, and was responsible for loads of memorabilia which took great ingenuity in devising and sourcing. He also designed all of the logos etc used by the tent, and printed everything for our convention.

The Beau Chumps hosted the 1988 convention at the Seaburn Hotel (more recently the Marriott) which was a great success and was attended by well over 100 Sons who enjoyed a visit to the Empire Theatre where Stan and Ollie played full weeks in March 1952 and February 1954. A a parade through Bishop Auckland was held where Stan lived and was schooled for a time.

This Way Out West themed parade included Ronnie Dunn as Stan, the late Peter Woods as Ollie, local girl Heather Smith as Rosina Lawrence and Sidney the mule who stood in for Dinah. Many shops etc were decorated for the occasion (even M&S and Boots!) with Laurel and Hardy themed windows and had Stan and Ollie memorabilia for sale.
Local historian, the late John Land was instrumental in organising, making the Bishop Auckland event both run seamlessly and be highly enjoyable. Attendees at the Convention included representatives from fourteen UK Tents plus three from overseas: George Cook, from California, Leo Brooks of Pennsylvania and Wolfgang Guenther from Germany) as well as Stan’s Cousin Nancy Wardell, Bill Cubin and a special letter from Exhausted Ruler, John McCabe. Please see the separate article elsewhere on the website for fuller details of the 1988 Sunderland convention.

About eight of us went to Manchester for the 1989 convention but then work and family commitments began to press and the Chumps folded in 1991, but not before we were heavily involved in getting the statue of Stan erected in Dockwray square, North Shields. This was the site of the Jefferson residence from 1897 to 1901/2 – depending on your source..

In 1989 we were involved with Bill Cubin, Robbie Crawford and several others in the siting of the statue right in the middle of the square which is now a public park – Laurel Park. A plaque was also unveiled on the property (6-7 Dockwray Square) which now stands on the site of Stan’s former home. This was at the same ceremony, but is credited as being on 1 January 1990 (but I can confirm as being on 29 March 1992). The steps down to the fish quay that are rumoured to have given Stan the idea for Hats Off and of course the Oscar winning Music Box are just across the road.

I am still regularly in touch with the first Vice Sheik of the Original Beau Chumps tent, Ian Self, who now resides in Worcester but occasionally returns to Gods country; Well, who wouldn’t! Anyway, Ian and I have a mutual love of football, though he is of the black and white persuasion, where you all know of my red and white affliction. Strange bedfellows I know, but Ian went to the Sunderland Vs Ipswich match with me at the Stadium of Light in February 2019 – Sunderland won, and that just capped off what was a splendid afternoon together. I noted Ian’s polite applause when we scored the winner which must have been difficult for him, especially as the goal also cost him in our fantasy league! To celebrate, I persuaded him to don more appropriate regalia as left!
It has long been my intention to re-establish the Chumps, and as I am now essentially retired, I am able to put my shoulder to the wheel, take the bull by the horns and get the tent into the digital age with DVDs, websites, emails and other tools of convenience. No humping a projector and screen around these days, he says…

Click on any of the images below to open a gallery of each picture.
Robbie, Ian, Nick and Edwin at Carlisle Castle Mike, Stephen Nick, Ian and Robert at the Royalty Chumps at the Royalty Mike with a genuine Stan Laurel Derby in Argyll St Mike and Stephen – Fancy Dress ’88 Convention Nick on stage ’88 Convention Going Bye-Bye ’88 Convention ’88 Convention Peter Woods and Bill Cubin ’88 Convention ’88 Convention Press, Blackpool ’86 Convention Press, Blackpool ’86 Convention Press, Blackpool ’86 Convention Carlisle 1985 Carlisle Castle 1985 Mike and Frank Hall, Blackpool ’86 Chumps, Blackpool ’86 Chumps, Blackpool ’86 Bill Cubin and Mike Blackpool ’86 Chumps Blackpool ’86 Stans Day Bishop ’85 Ulverston Carnival 1985 Ulverston Carnival 1985 Nick and Mike Ulverston Carnival 1985 Ulverston Carnival 1985 Carlisle Castle Carlisle Nov ’86 Carlisle Nov ’86 Carlisle Nov ’86