Birmingham Evening Mail from Birmingham, West Midlands, England • 6

j-i--1- 1 EM mtmwmr WMM Mail SATURDAY JULY 21 1984 Vl Dub Jol John 11 VICTORIA McKEE joins the lunchtimefdiscoTchiidren spending the most tortuous two-and-a-half hours of his life: After the first dance he sat on the Sidelines obviously wishing the earth would swallow him up Over the beefburger -he confessed to me (he did not talk to a single girl or they to him) that he wished there were more boys there "Oh that's sweet I made the tapes myself there's sometimes 'a little jump but it carries on-dont worry Sv-I want to see you all doing really groovy disco" '-0r Funny I thought the word groovy had gone out with the twist but Val also had them dancing to Twist amf Shout? "What's your name darling? Caroline OK Caroline you and Tania will do side together hug side together and bounce The arrived in their best -party frocks with red liquorice-flavoured lipstick and lavender leather disco bags slung nonchalantly across their hips The time was noon on Saturday the place Snobs discotheque in the area of Birmingham for some strange reason known as Paradise The 14 little girls and one boy aged five to 11 came holding their mothers' hands and were left In the experienced ones of Vat-Dub the children's entertainer professional party-giver and Worcester mother-of-two who VV4 1A I A about following strangers down the steps to the basement Shakes Bar By the way menus promising "CbcktaiLB far the sophisticated" were still on the tables with names like "Virgin's Promise" and "Between the sheets" Tm going to give a sweet to the really best disco dancer" said VaL beefburger -with no trimmings and a glass of orange squash but the children did not seem to mind They were a fascinating blend of sophistication and naivete and Val Dub made the most of it -having them dancing to a strident disco beat one moment curling up to "look like a tiny little mouse" the next The darkened disco with Its flashing lights seemed a strange setting for some of the childish dress-up games but the children showed no shyness Bounce Apology Why not call her madam? The all-Labour policy committee of West Midlands County Council has decided to stop using the titles "chairman" and "vice-chairman" in favour of the non-sexist non-offensive non-elitist plain simple and downright barmy "chair" The news was announced this week by a spokesman or rather a spoke and will doubtless be welcomed by liberal right-thinking persons of either or both sexes everywhere Certainly Birmingham City Council is impressed and looks like following the county's genderless lead But why stop at "chair?" Why not de-sex the rest of local government? Let our refuse-collection vehicles be-staffed not by dustmen but by dusts let our fire appliances be crewed by fires The rent will be collected by rents Ignore the gas bill long enough and eventually behold the gas cometh The quest for non-sexism in the corridors of power could lead to confusion Not all would welcome the moves How would our school-dinner lady react to being branded dinners? What would our postmen and postwomen feel about being tagged posts? Nonsense These are tricky questions for our committees and their "chairs" to ponder But if this week is anything to go by neutered Newspeak will soon be with us in all its sanitised silliness Unless of course some of our elected members make a stand and declare that this nonsense has gone far enough If the council believes that sex discrimination is being practised by all means let it be stamped out It is what men and women do and what -they are allowed to do that matters not what they are called It would be intolerable if a woman councillor in Birmingham say were denied the opportunity to serve as Lord Mayor (or to be able to rejoice in that title) because of her sex But it would be non-- sense to argue that the title was either a cause or a proof of discrimination against women This sort of pettiness brings the campaign for equal opportunities into ridicule By 12JM the atmosphere had warmed i Several children knew each: other from Har-borne Junior School and St uiuugnt it wuuiu ue luu iu introduce hinchtime kiddies' discos to the city centre i i Birthday Caroline Noakes aged eight of Aldrldge was celebrating her birthday at the disco and so was nine-year-old Rachel Smith of Edgbaston Val organised a special birthday dance for them "I dont care that' there are no boys here" Caroline confided "Especially the ones from our school they're Bent aged 11 of Moseley breathed that it was "brilliant" adding: "This is the first disco I've ever been to" Her friends Michelle Boyce and Rebecca Johnson also 11 and from Moseley agreed that they would like to come back to another one of Val's parties "There's a good girl oh jolly good darling" Val encouraged her charges Squash It was all good clean fun and parents need not worry that Val's discos are meant to develop Lolitas or Pretty Babies' There were no stretch denims or sunglasses hr sight Val exhorted the children to come back and bring their friends She hopes that the parties might' burgeon to every week instead of just the first Saturday of each month If you would like further details contact Val Dub 'on Worcester (0905) 27498 Tickets can be obtained on the door from Snobs where the next disco will be held on Saturday August 4'-' Martin's Moseley' A few others had been brought by a friend f- of Val to get the party going Val apologised for the low 1 attendance I hope it will catch on" she said' We could handle about 100 children and the more the srf merrier Still even McDonalds 'JKhad to start in a small way" ic The 14 pre-teen girls said they were having a great time and would like to come back Ten-year-old Kevin O'Shea of Moseley looked as If he was The idea is that grateful mums and dads leave their junior disco dancers with Val -from noon to 2J0 while they are free to shop or enjoy a quiet lunch The price of this piece of peace is £150 per child which includes lunch and a donation to the NSPCC The lunch was a spartan Kevin CShta: Sitting it out llGJPt twist let bigots religion Weekend Voice Many of you I expect saw a recent TV film about an Olympics for handicapped children One little boy to whom winning a gold medal meant as much a it does to Sebastian Coe and who had put in months of effort In training had a chance of winning his "race It happened when another handicapped child running near him had a painful fall The boy stopped to help his rival losing all chance of an award That was sportsmanship Sport and sportsman ship have always meant a lot to me yet though it can bring so much happiness' sport can be twisted and spoilt by bad temper spltefulness and the professional foul These bad things dont mean that sport Itself Is bad They tut remind us that something good can There Is more of the spirit of Jesus In an agnostic humbly and sincerely seeking truth than In advocates of such a caricature of' the Father that Jesus makes known to us We dont let the spite-fulness of some so-called "sportsmen" put us off sport Itself We have to distinguish the real thing in religion too As Jesus said: "By their fruits you shall know them" He didnt think' much of i people who were always shouting "Lord Lord" but had little Interest In sharing God's love and compassion Think of the people Jesus loved and helped the Soman CenturLan the Nobleman of Caaa the blind beggar how many of the had any particular dogmatic belief about him? Jesus shows us what God Is like THAT after all really IS the basic Christian belief by NORMAN POWER Vicar of Ladywood one fetter has endorsed such a crude idea I do hope that this column over the years has helped to- get rid of the idea that God is responsible i for everything that happens No God's wUl Is done i when people who long to share God's love say: "Thy will be done" meaning "And well do Thy wUI be done" an imperative not a sigh of resignation' York Minster is an inspiration to millions suaa Is very dear to thousands Devoted craftsmen have given their lives to making It beautiful for God's glory All these people are God's dear children be spoilt This Is equally true of religion: It can be twisted by spitefulness and made ugly by bigotry It is true also of science govern-' ment and all human' activity rv It iM especially sad In the case of religion which at Its best can mean so much In our lives As you've guessed many readers like Mr of Hamstead ask what I think of the suggestion that the fire at York Minster was due to God disapproving of the views of the new Bishop of Durham Professor David Jenkins who was consecrated Bishop there I'm delighted that not date was from Mrs Wheeler of Two Gates Tamworth She will receive the £5 prize The Repertory Theatre built to replace 1 the original "Old Rep" in Station Street has boon open for 13 years The architect was Graham Wlnteringham of Walker and Partners whose design wen the RIBA Architecture Award for the West Pressure on space has prevented publication of another Where is it? puzzle this week but the competition will bo resumed as soon as possible Last week's picture brought a largo entry ond nearly everyone recognised the windows of Birmingham Repertory Thoatro in Brood Street The first correct entry to bo pulled out of the hat after the closing I Midlands Region in 1912.