The Birmingham Post from Birmingham, West Midlands, England • 4

UNDER CANVAS THE BIRMINGHAM POST, FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 1966 MARSH HAS HOPES OF SHELSLEY TONY MARSH, at present are now reaching. it has been leading the R.A.C. Hill necessary to resurface the brak- Climb Championship, is ex- ing area from the finishing line pected to consolidate his onwards. The meeting starts at position at the 77th National 12 noon. Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb on Sunday.

the 12th round of Eight of the largest and most the current championship. powerful sports racing cars in He faces opposition from the country, including the Lola Bryan Eccles (Brabham Olds- of Sid Taylor of Tipton, which mobile). Mike Hawley (Brabham has won the TT and broken B.T. 16). and Tony Griffiths circuit records.

are among the but is expected to 20 entries for the first post-war finish in the lead at Shelsley 100-mile sports car race at if the weather holds out. Castle Combe tomorrow. The finishing straight has become one of the most spectacu- Favourite lar sections of this hill. and because of the speed competitors Taylor's car is rated as favourite. but opposition will come from Hugh Dibley in a similar car.

John Berry, John Dean and Gerald Ashmore in Lotus 40's. and David Prophet of King's Norton in a McLaren Elva. Ron Fry and Peter Clark have entered Ferraris, and Martin Hone is down to drive a Porsche 904. The present record for the circuit is held by Tony Lanfranchi in Taylor's Lola at 102.54 m.p.h. The meeting is organised by the Hagley and District Light Car Club.

There are six events. Record entry The North Western Centre of the British Automobile Racing Club is organising a race meeting at Oulton Park, Cheshire. tomorrow. The programme of six races includes events for saloon cars. sports cars, Grand Touring, Formula 111 and Formula Libre racing cars.

A record entry of 68 has been received for the three-wheeler Gold Cup race at Mallory Park on Sunday. There are 67 conventional sidecar outfits and the three-wheeler of Owen Greenwood, a mini-engined special. Greenwood should be fighting with Chris Vincent (8.5. for the lead. Also entered are Pip Harris.

Bill Boddice and Peter Russell. Bank Holiday promises a good list of motor sport events. There is the Guards Championship meeting at Mallory Park on Bank Holiday Monday, the Guards International meeting at Brands Hatch, a Hagley Autocross meeting at Inkberrow and a similar event by the Owen Motoring Olub at Aldridge on the same day. Shenstone is holding an autocross at Weeford on Sunday, August 28. CLUTCHLESS LORRIES The one character that comes through as sharply on a second hearing as on the first is the loyal, Jealous, mocking secretary, the alcoholic spinster," as she calls herself, whom Constance Cummings presents with a grand attack that clearly won the house to her.

John Gregson is solidly right in a very trying part THREE CHOIRS FESTIVAL WORCESTER September Principal Performances: Monday sth: Mass in Minor Bach. Tuesday Bth: Bt. Nicolas Britten, Grande Mesas Des Mons, Berlioz Wednesday 7th: The Lark Ascending. Vaughan Williams. A Child of our Time.

Tippett. Thursday Bth: Te Deum, Bruckner. Symphony No. 7, Beethoven, Cantata Changes (new work), Gordon Crosse. Friday 9th: Cello Concerto.

Eiger. ftym- 4110 phony No. 4. Schumann. The Dream of Gerontlus.

Elgar. PROSPECTUS FROM FESTIVAL. OFFICE. 9. Copenhagen Street, Worcester.

EGWHTAUSTIN CARSCOMMERC I A ASH I IMMEDIATE AND PROVMEPHTICLES GARAGE DELIVERY AUSTIN AGENTS LTDI9O COVENTRY ROAD B'HAM 10 4591 Under BOGEY or below PAR For the best of two worlds PL UG4 THE PALACE Stretford Road, Shirley Man-sized steaks TORQUAY 4 convivial bars with its comfort. cuisine and Open till midnight 9 hole short golf course, makes test orders 11.30 pm an admirable objective. mom Write Miss A. Welcome for brochure. ll 22271.

ARTS REVIEW and Confidential' at the Duke of York's, London By J. C. TBEWIN Birmingham Post Drama Critic lIBELIEVE still that this and we have, too, the play, direct from the clarity of Peter Copley as a decidedly unpleasant Malvern Festival, would be Journalist, the anger of lan better as a novel. On Wed- McCulloch, one of the more nesday night it seemed to be tiresome young men, and, I shakier than at Malvern; am glad to say, the certainly it is not, I am audibility as well as the truth of Wendy Varnals afraid, a piece to be seen performance much twice within a month. strengthened.

The narrative, it may be Yes, the acting is there. Is remembered, concerns a the play there Rather, I Cabinet Minister, the think, the notes for an President of the Board of exceptional novel. Trade, who is quick to pursue possible corruption Thta notice appeared in our in what are known as high later editions yesterday. Government circles. But there is immediate retribution when, upon the death of his wife, fierce rumour links him with a young and sympathetic "pop" singer.

We know what happened, but Mr. Levy has found it unexpectedly hard to develop his plot, to explain the dilemma, and to analyse his politician's conscience within the allotted three acts. Good scenes occur, wise lines now and then, witty lines also. But, generally, it Is without the excitement we expect. Water colours at the Art Federation Galleries, Suffolk Street, By RICHARD SEDDON Birmingham Post Art Critic Until September 2, weekdays 10 a.m.

to 5 p.m.; Saturdays 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission free. (Closed August 27 29 LEYLAND has banished number of years, but the the clutch pedal on all its semi-automatic gearbox on heavy-duty trucks. On the buses was not suitable for latest models there will only truck operation because it be a brake and accelerator.

was. limited to five ratios. Now it has been developed This follows experiments with a "split" transmisiien during the last two years in giving 10 forward speeds, and which the merits of the providing the multi-gear system have been examined ratios which a modern truck I- tropical and arctic cordi- requires. Lions. Le land two-pedal trucks laden up to 32 tots.

Gear selection is by a have been operating in finger-tip control, located cn Middle East, Africa and small pedestal alongside Canada. the driver. To change gear the driver merely moves a The truck two-pedal system small control knob through a is based on that which his miniature gate." No other been used in buses for a action is required. Work as ROADWORKS REPORT HE RA today issued this list of main roadworks in: Worcestershire and Warwickshire where motorists and other road users are likely to encounter you go delays. In most cases singleline traffic is operating either continuously or L-- LUXURY car that con- mittently at peak periods.

verts into an elaborately equipped office has WORCESTERSHIRE been designed by Chrysler on A.4o36.—Widening and reconrn experimental basis. struction at Lye River dual car- The Imperial Mobile Executive fulfills the basic essentials for office work. It has a riageway at Junction with fclding table with worklamp, A. 456. typewriter, telephone, dictat- A.44.—Re-alignment of Motoring-recording machine and a way Link Road at Whittingtelevision set ton.

As conceived by the Chrysler designers, the work-as-he- WARWICKSHIRE rides executive could send a A.439.—Roadworks at Cranhill, report, drawing or picture to one mile north-east of Bidone or several offices strata- ford. Closure of Dale End taneously while the car Is between Chapel Street, and moving. Within six minutes Masshouse Circus. of being placed in the tray of A.47 new canal a special transmitter an item bridge in Nuneaton. could be reproduced at all points on the circuit.

Mes- A.4s.—Building Swan Undersages could also be received Pass at Yardley. Coventry 0 sough the mobile set. Road closed a Preston and Church Road. The transmission of fac- A.34.—lmprovementte at Tidsimile illustrations is techni- mington Bridge, one mile tally feasible, say the de- south of Shlpston-on-Stour. signers.

and would depend upon the clearance of a radio There are no major roadchannel with local communi- works in either Staffordshire cations authorities. or Shropshire this weekend. inclusive.) THIS show is a chance for the best amateurs to show their water colours alongside those done by professionals like Adrian Bury, Egerton Cooper and Norman Willdnson. The Midland artists make a fair showing and the claims of the landscape subjects in the West Midlands do not, in the event, steal the thunder from street scenes in Birmingham and other less obvious attractions to the artists. Osmund Bissell.

of Kidderminster, shows several attractive impressionist studies: York Station and a study in soft greys and the Storm, Spring Snow on the Clent Hills. The Haybales, by Joyce Perry, of Redmarley. Gloucestershire, is a lively and very competent work with skilled use of greens over bright yellow paper giving a sun-drenched effect. Harold Bennett, of Rugeley. Staffordshire.

shows Lymington and Rain and Sunshine; and Irene Welburn, of Birmingham. shows some sensitive pencil and colour wash street scenes, directly in the English water colour traditionnotably Waterloo Street, Birmingham and Dale End, Birmingham. Harold Bennett's virtuoso sky effect in Storm Cloud gives a masterly lead to the adjoining Grassington, Yorkshire by Irene Sinclair, of Stafford. which has a good sky that suffers a little In comparision. In Maytime, Dorothy Lockwood.

of King's Heath, Birmingham. shows a free. complex and sensitive work surpassing her clever but less sensitive seashore view, Thurlestone, Devon. A Darby and Joan of the fairground WHEN I go to a funfair, I always end up wondering why. The big wheel paralyses me with horror; my dodgem car always wants to go round the wrong way and backwards: every lucky duck magically abandons its pretence of good fortune the moment I persuade my hesitant curtain ring over its plastic neck; and if there is candyfloss being eaten anywhere on the fairground without due care and attention, you can be sure that it will be drawn to me as if I were exercising some gravitational pull.

I realise. of course, that it is all my fault. I do not claim for a moment that I am the only one in step. I accept that all the fun of the fair and Yours Truly must be for ever uneasy neighbours. But I do think it is all a bit because fairs unfailingly fascinate me.

They fascinate Jim Stokes too: well, there has to be some explanation for the fact that fairs have been his life since the dawn of the at the age of 85. Jim Stokes cannot think of a better one. Home on wheels I found him and his 83- year-old wife. Lydia, in their four-wheeled home at Stratford-upon-Avon, where Jim has been challenging the locals all the week to depose row of tin cans in three shots. at a stall that is a clangorous cousin to the coconut shy.

"We call it the Can-can. We change our stalls about a bit. If one don't suit. we put something else in. like perhaps balloon-busting.

Just so long as it keeps them coming to have a go." White eyebrows, a snowy thatch, a flannel shirt without benefit of collar. Jim Stokes, irrefutably a man at son in Bilston. Shady in Leominster The thing that Jim Stokes regrets above all in the souped-up world of the 20th century fair is the passing of the old fairground org an. These days. it is all what he calls tin-can music "We miss the horses, too.

We had better times with the horses than we do with the motors. You could pull on to the grass verge and let the horses have half hours' rest. There was no traffic and there was no hurry" His once had to jump from a runaway wagon near Bromyard, in a nostalgic word for the traction engine. Pretty as a picture they were, she says. But, for the get-up-and-go wor Id of today's travelling showmen, they are too slow.

Too slow to ensure that the next town on the road is not kept waiting for the chance to play bingo in a matey. canvas-topped circle beneath the coloured bulbs: too slow for the brassy, bouncy world of Waltzers. Aeroplanes and exotic Twists. The newcomers There were. as Jim Stokes points out.

none of your flashy hoop-la stalls in the old days. None of your strangers, either. But these days. wherever you go. you meet the newcomers to the business--the strangers who are perhaps the unheeding inheritors of a proud and tough tradition.

Jim and Lydia Stokes accept this as inevitable. The show. they say. has got to go on. even though so many of the folk they call the good old 'uns can no longer help it along.

WITTY WITH IT HENRY FIELDING, the Mercian of the Sun newspaper I may borrow his own elegant new nosh shop," spea ts approvingly of the rather swinging" wit of the menu. There, the message is carried: Arrangements have been made with the banks: they do not serve coffee and we do not accept cheques." A public house of my acquaintance was making the same about beer, of course several years ago, when these notices used to be something of a fashion. The wit varied considerably, but two of my favourites were: "If you can keep your head in this confusion, you just don't understand the situation," and "Please do not operate mouth until brain is engaged." UNSEATED A GENTLE flow of water from two stone dolphins has deprived Dudley punters of a favourite summer seat when reading whether their favourite horse has won. The dolphins are incorpor. ated in what is perhaps Dudley's most ornate piece of 30ft.

high fountain which dominates the market place. For many years the fountain ran dry and for several summers bedding plants decorated its trough. A few months ago. however, the fountain was renovated and water started to flow again from the dolphins' mouths. The fountain proper in the centre was also made to work.

Now neither the punters nor any other citizens sit round the fountain. because if they do they are splashed by the water. On windy days people using the Zebra crossing close to the fountain are physically reminded that it the water then blows over them in a gentle spray. Mr. and Mrs.

Jim Stokes, veterans of the world of travelling showmen, still challenge all-corners when the fair comes to town. ease in the surroundings he loves, declared. It's a healthy life. It has got too much for us nowadays. but we like to be in company, like.

You know what I mean A flattie A lot of people die before their time because they retire at 85 and sit up the house corner. If they would knock about more. I think they would live longer." Jim Stokes's people were travelling showmen before him, having gravitated from a coal and fruit business by way of a spot of horse-dealing. But his wife will tell you she was a Battle who was not born into the show business. "It's a daft word.

I canna bear it myself." Blue eyes twinkled among the etchings of time: Lydia Stokes seemed to be suffering cheerfully. Married these 65 years. Jim and Lydia Stokes have been followed into show business by six of their eight children and by more grandchildren than they can readily recall. "Mostly, the kids have got just two names: it was just Shady that copped for the lot. He is Horace Thomas Middleton Shadrach Stokes Regrets He got the Middleton," Jim Stokes explained, after a chap whose yard he was born in at Leominster, and the Shadrach after another chap there.

"We have had children born all over the place. A daughter in South Wales, a OH, FOR A WORDSWORTH ODE! TT is as final as a butcher's -a- cleaver going through a joint of meat: the acceptance. I mean, against one's will of Biblical middle age indicated by the purchase of one's first pair of woolly underpa It happened lost winter to a man I know and he would not recommend the experience. For several winters before that he had bravely suffered iced-up kneecaps while he hung on to the illusion that long woollies were the business of old men. have long been the resort of the last bankrupt comic.

You know the set up. Man runs for bus: trousers fall, to reveal long woollies. Collapse of stout party. What they needed, early on. was a weighty Milton tribute or a Wordsworth ode to free them from unearned ridicule.

So if, next winter, you will be halfway towards three score and ten, my friend's advice would be not to go about as mutton-dressed-up- wearing the things you see on ageless Adonises in the adverts. But last winter's first cold snap broke his resolution and he travelled 30 miles in the first flush of Biblical middle age to buy his first pair. He slipped into the shop like a hunted thing, burbled out his request for them, and noticed the Bicker of a smile on the young assistant's face as she wrapped mocking by youth of weak middleage. Get yourself, he urges, a real pair of underpants. NEW RECTOR AN architect will be the next rector of Clifford Chambers.

near Stratfordupon-Avon. The Rev. D. H. Leonard-Williams.

of Yelden Rectory. near Bedford, is an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and practiced until ordained in 1955. Aft a curacy at Tavistock. he moved to Yelden and about two years For history, you know, has been moat unkind to these comforters of ice-cold middleaged kneecaps. Farce is impossible without them.

They Walsall impressed him DESPITE Government freezes and financial squeezes one visitor to Walsall is greatly impressed by the present prosperity in the town. whom he had never seen before. His sister, Mrs. W. Ohapman, of Orlando Close, Walsall, was a young married woman with two babies when he last saw her.

Now she has six children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Mr. Irelander, who lives near San Francisco, will be returning to America on September 10 with pleasant memories of all but one thing. He is deeply disappointed with the English weather. He said: "It is far too cold to live here." For when Mr.

William Irelander, aged 70, left Walsall in 1923 to go to America, it was a time of industrial depression and poverty and he had been unemployed for more than a year. Making his first return visit to his home town this week, Mr. Irelander has been busy meeting relatives, many of ago became Rural Dean of Riseley. He will be inducted at Clifford on September 10. Although very close to Stratford.

Clifford Is in the diocese of Gloucester. Mr. Leonard-Williams will succeed Canon F. G. Patterson, who has retired.

TV and Radio programmes BBC-1 11.0 am. Play School: for children at home. 12.30 p.m. Cricket: England v. West Indies.

1.35 News. 2.10 Cricket: England v. The West Indies. 4.45 Jackanory: stories. 5.1: Hey Rolf: Rolf Harris and guests.

5.45 Junior Points of Vied. 5.55 News. 6.5 Cricket: England v. West Indies. 6.35 Midlands Today: a magazine programme of news and views.

Weather. 7.0 The the story of a London family adapting to life in a country town. 7.30 P. G. Wodehouse's The World of Wooster.

Jeeves Exerts the Old Cerebellum." 8.0 Green Acres: comedy film series. 8.25 Da Kildare: American hospital drama series. 8.50 News. 9.0 Dr. Kildare (continued).

9.25 Andy Williams Show. 10.15 Twenty-four Hours: topical feature. 10.50 Trials of O'Brien: the escapades of a New York lawyer. 11.40 Weather. Cricket scores.

7.31 Movietime. 8.0 Many a Slip: panel game. 8.30 News. Weather 8.40 Music Night. 10.0 Over the Alps and Far Away: recordings.

10.30 News. Snorts Results. 10.35 Music Through Midnight. 1.0 am. (Saturday) It's One O'Olock.

2.0 News. Weather. Third (464 90.5 Music Programme 7. 0 a.m. News.

Weather. 7.4 Overture. 8.0 News. Weather. 8.4 Morning Concert.

9.0 News. Weather. 9.4 Haydn: records. 9.45 "Fidello records. 10.30 Music Making: Janice Williams (piano) and English String Quartet.

Test Match Special 11.75 a.m. to 6.35 p.m. England v. West Indies. Study Session 635 p.m.

Music Questions. 7.5 The English Revolution: The Growth of London. Third Programme 7.35 p.m. Waahington and Whitehall: talk. 7.55 Choirs of King's College and St.

John's College. Cambridge. 8.40 Death of Hero: the anthropology of the Churchill funeral. 9.10 After the Pyre." by August Strindberg. 10.25 Heger: Siegfried Palm (cello) and Margaret Kitchin (piano) 11.0 News.

11.15 Market Trends. BBC-2 11.0 a.m. Play School: for children at home. 4.45 p.m. Cricket: England v.

West Indies. 7.30 p.m. Outlook: The Making of America. 8.0 Out of the Unknown: science fiction series: Some Lapse of Time," by John Brunner. 9.0 The Extravagant Story of the Motor Car.

9.25 The Virginian: Western. 10.35 Newsroom. Weather. Review. 10.55 Line-up BBC WALES: 10.45 a.m.

Or Un Mam: for the younger viewers. 6.35 pen. Wales Today. 6.50 Newyddion. 8.0 Week In, Week Out: current affairs in Wales.

Home (276 92.7mc/s.) 6.35 a.m. Farming Today. 6.50 Ten to Seven. 6.55 Weather. 7.0 News.

7.10 Regional News. 7.15 Today: 7.35 Regional Extra. 7.45 Today's Papers. 7.50 Ten to Eight. 7.55 Weather.

8.0 News. 8.10 Regional News. 8.15 Today. 8.30 Regional Extra. 8.40 Today's Papers.

8.45 "David Copperfield The Final Phase. 9.0 News. 9.5 Parents and Children. 9.30 Holiday Books. 10.0 Rudyard Kipling: poetry reading.

10.15 Religious Service. 10.30 The Guardians," by Leslie 1. 11.0 Country Dancing. 11.30 Crossroads. 12.0 noon Announcments.

12.10 p.m. Pick of the Week. 12.55 Regional News. Weather. 1.

0 The World at One. 1.30 The Archers. 1.45 Listen with Mother. 2.0 Woman's Hour. 3.0 The Time of My Life.

William Hardcastie. 3.50 Brahms; Frankfurt Radio Symphcny Orchestra. 4.45 Home This Afternoon. 5.25 The Amateur Gentleman," by Jefferey Farnol- Part 4. 5.55 Weather.

(1,500 88.3 G. 0 News. 6.10 Regional News. 6.15 The Naturalist in His News every hour on the half Countryside. 6.32 Stock hour except 9.30 p.m.

Market. 6.35 Anglers' Corner. 6.40 Midland Beat. 7.0 5.30 a.m. Weather.

News. Music. Hannah Jones (violin), 8.30 News. Weather. 8.34 George Miles piano Housewives' Choice.

9.55 Juana Fromageot (piano). Five to Ten. 10.0 Heather 7.30 Promenade Concert: Mixture. 10.31 Music While Janet Baker (contralto) You Work. 11.0 Story.

11.15 Moscow Radio Orchestra- The Dales. 11.31 BB Part 1. 8.21 Girl in Fleet Midland Light Orchestra. Street. 8.41 Promenade 12.15 p.m.

International Concert Part 2. 945 Ellen Spin. Terry: from BBC Sound 1.0 Joe Loss Show. 1.50 Cricket Archives. 10.0 News.

News- Scoreboard. 2.0 Swing Into stand. 10.45 The Other Summer. 4.15 The Dales. Side of the By-line: Wendy 4.31 Racing Results.

4.35 Cooper. 10.59 Weather. 11.0 Records. 5.31 Roundabout. News.

11.2 "Old Mali and the Boy "-last instalment. 6.33 Sports Review. 645 The 11.15 Jazz at Night. 11.45 Archers. 7.0 News and Forecast for coastal Waters.

Radio Newsreel. 7.25 Sport; Welsh (341 8.15 a.m. Magazine. 10.15 Welsh Service. 12.25 p.m.

Young people's discussion. Light MIDLAND (A TV) 1.0 p.m. Show Jumping from Hickatead. 4.45 Tingha and Tucker Club. 5.0 Five o'Clock Club.

5.25 Robin Hood. 5.55 Newa. 6.5 Regional News. 6.15 ATV Today: lan Holm talks about acting in the Shakespeare triology at Stratford this weekend. 6.30 Crossroads: drama series set in a motel.

7.0 Ready, Steady, Go. 7.30 10. 8.0 The Fugitive: suspense series. 8.55 News. 9.10 Cinema.

9.40 Yon Can't Win: "The Stream of Life" 10.38 News. 10.38 Stagecoach West: Western. 11.35 Talking About! Jimmy Hill, manager of Coventry City, on Soccer in the Sixties." 11.50 Dateline. Weather. The Epilogue.

ITV VARIATIONS FROM MIDLAND. North: 525 p.m. The Magic Boomerang. 6.5 Weavers Green. 610 Father of the Bride.

7.0 Criss Cross Quiz. 8.0 Seaway. 10.35 What the Papers Say. 10.45 Scene. 11.30 Alfred Hitchcock Presents.

Wales and West: 4.35 p.m. Crossroads. 5.25 Stingray. 6.30 Douglas Fairbanks Presents: "The Wedding Dress." 7.0 Mr. and Mrs.

10.35 Claim to Fame. 11.7 Dateline Westminster. 11.20 What the Papers Say. Teledu Cymru: 5.25 p.m. Gwyllt.

6.5 Dydd. 6.20 My Mother the Car. 6.50 News of Wales. 9.10 Clwb Llenor. London: 4.45 p.m.

Small Time. 5.25 The Jetsons. 8.7 Weavers Green. 8.0 Public Dye. 9.40 "That Midnight Kiss," film starring Mario Lanza and Kathryn Grayson.

11.28 What the Papers Say, 11.43 Dateline. 11.53 Faith and the Word. BIRMINGHAM HOSPITALS BROADCASTING ASSOCIATION 6.35 a.m. BBC Rome Service 6.32 p.m. Personally Yours.

7.0 Jet 66. 8.0 to 6.30 Weekend Special. 200 YEARS AGO Yesterday Morning a Duel was fought In Marybone Fields by two men of Fashion to some political opinions. in which the Challenger Pittite. received a Thrust In the Sword Arm which put an Immediate end to the contest.

Birmingham Gazette. 1766. 100 YEARS AGO 50 YEARS AGO The Emperor of France paid In an assault case before the Ashby-de-la-Zouch magia visit yesterday to the Em- trate on Saturday. Mr. 'P press of Mexico at the Grand Musson.

solicitor, said the Hotel. He was cheered by defendant told the complainant that he wanted the crowd on his return to Casementing What does St. Cloud. His majesty after- that mean asked the Chairwards walked on foot in the man. Mr, Musson: I suppose It is a new term for hanging.

Bols de Birmingham Daily Post, ham Daily Post, 1866. 1916. WANTED MAN THE time has come round again for picking a new sheriff at No medieval pageantry though, only a straightforward appointment on which the Chief Constable of Worcestershire need consult no-one. Insp. Arthur Timmis.

traditionally known as the sheriff from his position as chief police officer in the borough, retires next month and must be replaced. The joke began in wartime when Sgt. John Percy Heath, a Bewdley character of long standing and still in happy retirement in the district, was promoted inspector without being posted from the town. The first day he appeared wearing stars instead of stripes he was dubbed "Sheriff and the title passed to his successors. Not that Bewdley thinks of itself as a one-horse town on the Midlands' western frontier.

But it does like to be that little bit different. And every other town has police inspectors. HOW'S ZAT? my best to keep up with a rite about which I know nothing. I dialled LIMP last night far the Test Match score. I was charmed to find that I was brought up to date by a feminine an Irish one at that.

Today's Events Today's Events is open to ail organisations throughout the Midlands. Any Information for Inclusion should he addressed to Martin Hedges, Editor. The Birmingham Post, Colmore Circus, Birmingham. 4. Postcards may he sent if preferred.

For organisations with regular meetings (Rotary Clubs. Round Tables. etc.) supplies of forms are available which will be sent to secretaries on request. There is no charge for Inclusion In this feature. BIRMINGHAM tkhndt City Youth Holiday Club for 7 to 11-veapolOs: St.

30 Pm John's Church Hell. Harboroe. 9.30 a.m. Esh.toon: The Clty's Pictures." Coy to 12 noon and 2 o.m. to 4 o.ae.

(until Multeum and AN Gallery. 10 a.te. to Atonal 203 3 30 ty.ra 11.1.•111INGTOPI West Midland Rent Adieument Panel: Meeting to discuas housesin Birmingham rna-fair: shrobiasil Ground. 8 postal dietriet and Watley. 123.

Bath Pm. Row. 11 a.m. and 2.15 on. LISICSIBTILIt Solo Club: Dance and social.

Macbeth! Erhibition: "Iloot-Reagnes through the Omen Community Centre. 7.30 p.m. (until Ages." CitY st 10 a a.m. bp 7 peg. Augu Birminaham Arms Folk Song Club: Sir.

rningham Arms. Moat Row. II o.m. Festival Theatre: False ebtlidSlolll. Museum and Art Gallery.

OM- Pierre de Mittman. 8 Om mere Street. 10 ern. to 6 p.m. Gallery 11: 18th Century Water Colours.

drawngs from permanent collection. Coin Gallery Hotel Postal Markings and Stamp Display." (until Aumat 241 Midlands Art Centre for VOISIII Peoolt. Cannon Hill Park: Ii for Young People." 10 a mto p.m. (until September Ai. Paintings and In Peter Colouitt (until Aimust 2111 RRS A Galleries.

hin. New Street. Paintings by members of Gallery 135. 11.30 to 7 p.m. (until August 701 Ikon Gallery St Martin's House.

Bull Rini. Painting. try Flemish. 11 to 8 pm. (until August 7111 Reference Exhibition In the Almon of Trade Unionism.

0 to 0 lentil Amnia 271. Army Fehihition, Ring Centre. 8 a.m. to II co m. (until August 271.

Tlemenss: Akmndra. John RrigM Street "Lord Sayik'a Crime" Auagst 2 7 1. 7 .15 P.M Smethirlck Photoiraohtc Society. At Hnme." St Mary's Church ROOM, Dearwood. par Fcte a haft F.

45 STR A VON Exhibition Ponta its at Four Poets." Hall. Croft. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. merit Augur ZS) Roi le p.m attester, Theatre: "Hamlet." Theatre summer Saud: Henri Iniit and Hamlet." Doctor John Rumen a.m.

"Shakespeare aull the Eau I lab IMatua Ir." Prof Randolph Quirk. conferees' hal, 11.30 a.m. SUTTON COLDVIIILD Mayfair Club. Sutton Buffet dance. Penns Mall Hotel.

930 9.m. erhOnOo: Modern Goonchea artd Watercolours. Art Gallery, all day luso! Auaust TUTIBIJE rof Moral Art. TM Priory Church or Si. Mary.

9.30 cm Neill Augur! 21). lielsTa4e Thome: "Sailor 7.30 Herbert Gallery Cm entry Pittnorraoltx Soolety's exhioiton. io to 6 p.m. august 2111. DERBY WALSALL English Chain An Gallery, Central Library.

Lichfield Street. 10 a.m. to 7 ran. (continuing to ieptenseer Society of Wild Ltfe Arts. Art Gallery.

Library Lichfield Street. 10 a 7 0 1114 DUDLEY Derby PISAIXISt 7.30 Rte. of Ventttait 112.0 An Denny. I St latets's Road. in a.m.

to 6 Rm. Ulllll Atlfaill 311 Gratin Tlwatrsi "Four in Hand." 8 o.sl. CATHEDRAL SERVICES Severn ion Minstergrortb a.m. end II le In a tn. good.

p.m very good. Add In tar Stosettencle. Gloucester Little Tbeatre: lenses eirviriaan: 7.30 Mattes. II a el. Holy ColamaLcs, 6.13 9.93 EYensoor IL Charm 7 a.m..

12.55 ond 6.30 o.ns Maros 7 9.15 am. Matins. 11 noon Loney Of 4 ons. Evensong Owns: 10 a.m. a.m Holy p.ns Evensong.

Glouresser: 8 own Holy Communion. 9.45 ain Mimeo and a Om. hetsons HarelOrd I a.m. Holy Cotawastos. 9.30 a.m.

May9l Lttany. 3.13 9 a. Ewe- Intilaid: a en. Holy CbsemantOn. 10 Morales Prayer and Litany.

3.10 Prayer. Viagammiar: 745 a.m. Holy 830 Matins. 3.15 ora. Garden open to the public IHE Womoourse.

of Wolverhamplos (Mum Stigar-Hellierl. Hon 2-'3O Ada 21 Large garden: gertameous; good Integra fades. Teag. BUT ON TOP OF THE WORLD THREE weeks on the Cote A d'Azur for five people: total cost £l5O, or ZlO a person a week. And this includes crossing the Channel, petrol to and from the South of France.

food and While it is free and easy some care is necessary. It foolish to think that you can go to Prance, camp anywhere and enjoy yourself. Some of the camping sites in France are well below standard: it is essential to have the Michelin Camping Guide and to follow the listing of camps. Nor was this in the happy days before the war. It was during the last month, when Mr.

Wilson's credit squeeze made it look as if holidays in the sun in foreign lands had started to drift beyond recall. Package holidays, where you travel in a group organised by a travel agent, will continue to offer inexpensive holidays. But if you don't like group travel prefer to be on your own and prefer to own transport, then camping or caravanning is still the cheapest, and I think the best, for an hiexpensive family holiday. People shudder when I say we have been camping in the South of France. Their mental image of Hay changes.

We used it to select the excellent camping site at Vence, in the foothills just north of Cannes and Nice. Here accommodation for five of us for two weeks coat 1615. For this we had a site in a pine forest, looking straight into the woods, shaded from the heat, but with open spots where sunbathing could be enjoyed. The distance is but not beyond a r.ormal car. Often one hears of British drivers being put off by the long distance to the South of France just under 800 miles from Calais.

Travelling time But a holiday under canvas in the South of France does not mean roughing it on top of a lonely mountain, rubbing twigs together in the vain hope of starting a camp fire. crowding into a ridge tent and spending all your time banging tent pegs into the ground. We like to MSS over by Townsend Ferries on an evening ferry. which gives time to travel down from Birmingham. We do not pitch the teat on the first night (which may horrify other campers, MU we feel at we can use the t.me better in travel).

The French have revolutionised camping. They don't regard it as a weekend pasttime for boys and girls, but as a comfortable, well organised holiday in the open air. This year, on the evening that we crossed, we went to a small hotel in Beauvais for the night. The next day, starting early, we were south of Grenoble by evening (some 425 miles travel without strain), and on the third day we were in camp. On she return journey it was virtually the same story: we covered 435 miles the first day, and reached Beauvais on the second, having spent some time at Versailles.

We could have made an evening boat, but preferred to spend the final night in Frank, and then travel back to Birmingham by daylight on the third day. Driving was no strain, and I feel that with modifications virtually the same timetable could be kept by anyone in a modern car you might not travel so far in one day, but cover more miles on another. In effect from Birmingham to the South of France can be covered comfortably in three days. It sounds a lot. But some friends coming back from Devon spent 23 hours on the road and did not enjoy it: we spent some 30 hours in actual travel, and enjoyed practically every minute of it.

Organised Sites Throughout Europe, there are splendidly organised sites with ample facilities. restaurants, often swimming pools, and playgrounds for children. But you do not need to be an extrovert to enjoy a camp site. One of the greatest advantages of camping in France is that inevitably your neighbours" are friendly and co-operative, but if you want to keep to yourself they will be content with a friendly word. Equipment used by many of the Continental campers is lavish frame tents, foam rubber beds, luxury kitchens, and sometimes television sets.

The cost of these is high, but it is not necessary to embark on extensive expenditure unless you are convinced that camping is for you; far better to hire equipment for the first year and see how you make out. Even a credit restriction does not cripple a camper's budget. London art contest MIDLAND artists who have painted in London should note that entries are invited for the Lord Mayor of London's Art fourth contest. Its purpose Is to encourage painters to record the tradition, the established beauty and the new developments in the City of London." Awards totalling £5OO are offered for paintings depicting the life or landscape within the square mile of the City of London. Further information may be obtained from the Lord Mayor's Art Award, The Art Exhibitions Bureau.

6 1 2 Suffolk Street. Pall Mall East. London. S.W.I. COUNTY 1.

1 1 i i i. 0 II 6 ASO is 'l Nr NP I 0 11.11w' i' I I MO Kai 1 I 1 1 1 WM 11111 1 IN NEI MY 1 lilk ENGLAND SWEDEN LINE 1.0. W. ON I.MM WPM HULL GOTHENBURG Motoring and Motor Sport By JACK HAY.