Famous Sons of Leeds

Johnny39 · Post by **Johnny39** » Sun 06 Dec, 2009 4:51 pm

I watched a programme on TV last about, I think it's safe to say this, a Leeds treasure, Alan Bennett. What an interesting and amusing man he is. When he relates a story it's like listening to a family member telling a tale from the past about someone you used to know. I think they are going to repeat his "Talking Heads" series, well worth watching. I hope this doesn't sound like bumph for the BBC, it's only my opinion!

Trojan · Post by **Trojan** » Sun 06 Dec, 2009 5:45 pm

Johnny39 wrote: I watched a programme on TV last about, I think it's safe to say this, a Leeds treasure, Alan Bennett. What an interesting and amusing man he is. When he relates a story it's like listening to a family member telling a tale from the past about someone you used to know. I think they are going to repeat his "Talking Heads" series, well worth watching. I hope this doesn't sound like bumph for the BBC, it's only my opinion! He's great. My parent's generation used to talk exactly like Bennett's characters do.My favourite line of Bennett's is in "A Private Function" they have an illegal pig in the house and it has diarrhoea, there's mess everywhere and Maggie Smith says "I was right not to want kiddies if this is what it's like"

Si · Post by Si » Mon 07 Dec, 2009 10:29 am

Or..."Yer mother and me have finally found an alcoholic drink we like. It's called bitter lemon..."

stutterdog · Post by **stutterdog** » Mon 07 Dec, 2009 11:23 am

Si wrote: Or..."Yer mother and me have finally found an alcoholic drink we like. It's called bitter lemon..." I liked the story he told about Russel Harty eating the snot in the tissue instead of the beta-blocker,hilarious!

Trojan · Post by **Trojan** » Mon 07 Dec, 2009 12:26 pm

"I said to her, if you can knit tea cosies you can knit ski hats, only I have to watch to make sure she doesn't leave a hole for the spout"

Keg · Post by **Keg** » Mon 07 Dec, 2009 3:33 pm

Ah yes, Mr Kaufman, who happily enjoyed a private education then joined the Labour Party and then tried to deny the very same advantage to others. Hypocrisy was just limited to the current lot of shysters in power.

stutterdog · Post by **stutterdog** » Mon 07 Dec, 2009 4:09 pm

Si wrote: Dobbie54 wrote: Does anyone remember the pop group The Crestas they used to back all the top groups in the 60's.I'm sure they backed the Beatles when they were at Bradford.They used to live down our back street in Bramley. Were they frothy, man?! I can vaguely remember the Crestas,but can anyone remember a group from Hunslet called The Cherokees? The lead guitar was a lad called Terry Stokes and the drummer was Jim Green.I knew them from the mid 50's.They had a minor hit in the 60's with a song called Seven Golden Daffodils. I actually bought the record.Lonny Donegan also unfortunately covered it and his version got into the top ten I think .They also appeared in a very minor film which showed them in a car speeding around one of the London landmarks.I often wonder what happened to them?

Trojan · Post by **Trojan** » Mon 07 Dec, 2009 4:15 pm

Keg wrote: Ah yes, Mr Kaufman, who happily enjoyed a private education then joined the Labour Party and then tried to deny the very same advantage to others. Hypocrisy was just limited to the current lot of shysters in power. How do you know he was happy with his private education?

Keg · Post by **Keg** » Mon 07 Dec, 2009 4:20 pm

I've never heard him complain when he was ranting on about the system. It's a bit like Gordon Brown complaining about Cameron. Harman went to a private school and so did Blair. In fact i think about half the cabinet did. The rest were either CND or communists in the 80s.

Trojan · Post by **Trojan** » Mon 07 Dec, 2009 5:16 pm

Keg wrote: I've never heard him complain when he was ranting on about the system. It's a bit like Gordon Brown complaining about Cameron. Harman went to a private school and so did Blair. In fact i think about half the cabinet did. The rest were either CND or communists in the 80s. If he was so happy in his private school, why did he join a political party that (at least in the sixties when joined) was opposed to them?Labour have never actually done anything against private education. They've used all kinds of excuses for not doing so. But in 1997 they were elected with a huge majority and did nothing. Personally I find this deplorable. But whatever else Mr Kaufman has done, abolishing private shools isn't one of them. I'll now shut up because this is way off topic.