When we woke up at home on the morning of WASH it was to the news of the Great October Hurricane that had swept across from the West Country to the Wash leaving a trail of damaged buildings, felled power lines and fallen trees in it’s wake. Up in Yorkshire it had just been a bit of a windy night, but breakfast TV was showing all these scenes of destruction and we were a bit concerned about what we would find when we got to Hunstanton. When we got there though the only signs of the bad weather were a few puddles in the grass between the caravans – and they drained away quickly in the sandy soil. We went down into Kings Lynn on the Saturday Morning and there were a couple of closed roads where bits of chimneys and roofs had been blown down into the street, but Hunstanton and Searles had escaped any damage at all.
What the Committee said…
WINDY WASH
ITS FAIR TO SAY THAT THE SELL-OUT 4th WASH WEEKEND PROVED TO BE A SEVERE TEST OF THE ORGANISING COMMITTEE’S NERVES. With less than 36 hours to go, the main Saturday night band decided that they would not be appearing, and then on the eve of the event the great October Hurricane struck ! However, the committee (and caravans) stood firm. Edwin Starr was booked to fill in the Saturday night gap, the gale eased and WASH’87 was on its way. Thankfully, the weekend itself went without a hitch, with Edwin Starr, sixties band Marmalade and top comedian Lennie Windsor providing the highlights. As in previous years, great emphasis was placed on variety of choice. The ‘new’ event of WASH ’87 was the booking of the Princess Theatre Cinema in Hunstanton town centre for the exclusive use of those attending the weekend. Believe me, a cinema packed with nothing but 18 Plussers makes Saturday morning matinees seem like a pensioners’ outing !
A note for your diaries – WASH ’88 will take place14th – 16th October 1988.
THE ISRAELITE, WASH’87 Chairman (Plus News February 1988)
What they said…
W.A.S.H. 87
Wash, the three day intensive mega-sesh weekend attended by some twenty Wharfedale members got off to a flyer for some members as they forged ahead battling their way through hurricane debris to set up base camp in Hunstanton. Thornbush arrived in the evening with much needed red cross supplies (food and blankets) towed in his market barrow. The evenings activities soon got underway as the Roland Vincent Roadshow started spinning the discs and the clubhouse opened its doors for the opening nights sesh.
The Git was in fine form throwing many an ale down his and other peoples necks. The southern gits soon got a pasting from his tongue as he proceeded to stand on the tables imitating a drunken town cryer in full swing. Steve Wright arrived very late on Friday evening after picking up his Danish mistress Marette from the airport, leaving his other mistress Hilary out on a limb. Fortunately Hilary was rescued by the debonair and valiant Greedo Myers who provided some scorching lead solos on the guitar along with Fil Bettis and Steve Wad, Wharfedales other guitar maestro’s. They stole the show on Friday night even surpassing the brilliant performance put in by the band “Five Card Trick”.
Saturday morning got off to a flyer, or should I say Granny Andrews got off to a flyer when she was chucked yet again (this time by a horse) and didn’t we all know she’d come off. Whinge, whinge ! I’m sure it was the old windbag who’d caused the hurricane the previous day. Keep your mouth closed next time Granny ! The lunchtime entertainment was provided by mega TV star Lenny Windsor “The Insulter”. Though some Wharfedale members mistook Lenny for our own insulter – Zippy Hebditch. Meanwhile the sportier members invaded the nearby sports centre for a game of squash and a free swim in the magnificent pool complete with water slide.
Thornbush set the spirit (and drank most of it) for the evening by organising an exclusive fondle party (or was it fondue…) where much homemade Gluwiehn was consumed. The highlight of the evening and probably the whole weekend was the storming performance put in by the great showman ‘Edwin Starr’. A packed dance floor gave a rapturous reception to this superb entertainer and everyone certainly went away H-A-P-P-Y.Crocodile Dundee, the first WASH film show
Sunday started for some with a refreshing early morning sauna, while the drunken gits were still re-arranging their brains and balance systems from the previous night sesh. The Git meanwhile had decided to install some air conditioning into one of the vans and proceeded to walk through a glass door. Upon hitting a wall of fresh air he realised this was detrimental to sustaining a stewed head and general feeling of blatheredness, thus a gaping hole was soon replaced by a manly wooden door. Sunday afternoon was a packed programme of entertainment with Marmalade that ancient super group putting in a fine performance and many encores. The sportier members were limbering themselves up for the free showing of Crocodile Dundee by thrashing it out on the squash courts. Zippy made a tit of herself (or was it showed ?) by playing without a bra. The final evenings entertainment was provided by The Glitter Band who dazzled everyone with the volume of their jackets. A fine weekend (weak-end may have been more appropriate by the amount of sin-ing that went on) was rounded off in style with a drinking and strip party. Daley took first prize in the strip competition parading his wares about the van after a ceremonious shredding of his manly
Y-fronts.
What a weekend, roll on WASH ’88Richard the Git, (Wharfedale Group Magazine “The Session !”, Spring 1988)
Five Card Trick : ably supported by Austin in full Freddie Mercury costume on vocals with Greedo Myers & Steve Wad on inflatable guitars.
(note: the lead singer is wearing the same outfit as he did in 1986 ! – he did have a new jacket for 1988 !)
Back in the days before computers and desk top publishing software we got a hand drawn ticket for the Oasis Centre from the WASH committee.
What they said…
One of the best 18 Plus weekends away this year took place last week at Hunstanton, Norfolk, where more than 500 plussers gathered from all over the country for WASH (Weekend Away In Sunny Hunstanton). First-class accomodation in luxury caravans, superb on-site facilities including saunas, jacuzzi and solarium, and exciting nightlife made this a weekend to remember. Nearly 20 Wharfedale Members attended this event which is fast becoming one of the most popular in the 18 Plus calendar.
Wharfedale Group press release
Edwin ‘H-A-P-P-Y’ Starr entertained on Saturday night
Marmalade for lunch on Sunday
The Glitter Band, sequined jackets and star shaped guitars
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