Oldswinford Townswomen's Guild

On May 17, chairman Pauline Roberts opened the monthly meeting welcoming members. There were eight apologies and one new member, Helen Greenaway, who signed the membership book. The chairman had rung The Granary to thank them for the annual lunch meal they had provided in April, as members had been pleased with the food.

Pat Porter has been co-opted on the committee for twelve months. COmpliments were made to Betty Butler for the varied programme she had devised for the next twelve months. Members were reminded they would need to pay in advance for the beetle drive and fish and chip supper in July (£3).

Margaret Fennell reported on the financial situation of the group. Eileen Manning provided the plant for the committee table this evening and was duly thanks. The social studies event, of a trip to Charlecote Park followed by a short stay in Stratford will go ahead, thanks to invited guests, the list is now almost full.

The speaker for the evening was Mike Sampson whose topic was Norman Wisdom. Born into poverty, his father drank heavily and was aggressive; his mother left home, leaving Norman and his brother with their father.

They slept in same bed and had one pair of shoes between them.

At the age of 14 Norman began taking groceries out for money. Christmas 1929 he was living in a boy's hostel on his own.

In 1939 he attempted to join the army but was too small.

He joined the army cadets and began boxing and won as a fly weight.

It was here he began entertaining. In the war years he operated a switch board in Winston Churchill's office. Norman eventually got called up. After the war, he began doing small bits of entertaining until 1947 he was asked to join a touring group.

The first pantomime he was in was Robinson in Brighton. He joined the Charity Water Rats, raising money for charity. Val Parnell moved him to London, becoming a tv act in 1948, 1949 saw a London West End show with Tommy Cooper.

At Coventry Hippodrome he met Julie Andrews. His career took off and he became a popular tv performer. He wrote "Don't laugh at me because I'm a fool" which became his signature tune. In 1993/4 he developed vascular dementia and in 2000 was knighted. Films he made were distributed across Europe. Albanian's loved him and on his death in 2010 aged 95, they had a day of mourning for him.

The competition for the evening was a humorous fridge magnet and was won by Dorothy Edwards. Raffle prizes were won by Dorothy Trice, Margaret Fennell and Anita Gibbs.