Biography, Autobiography, Old Steve of Scarborough, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom

1. I have never particularly liked Christmas as it always seemed to stimulate childhood memories and although I have always tried my best to work at it and overcome that, mainly for the benefit of others, it always seemed that much easier when we were in the pub because there we were working and making money out of it and yet at the same time had the opportunity, within acceptable limits, of enjoying it and joining in with other peoples celebrations.

2. Boxing Day in Scarborough is unique and therefore a little background is necessary for everyone not familiar with it. When and how it all started no one, that I ever met, was quite sure but it goes something like this; on Xmas eve everyone is out, that can get out, and a good time is had by all. Xmas Day is for the family with only those few living on their own or without young children, going out and going into Pubs, hence most would be closed. The only full day of the year that the law allowed you to close, if you wanted, otherwise two hours at lunch time and any other two hour period after eight o'clock in the evening, although it has altered slightly since. Now Boxing Day had to be experienced to be believed. I think every female that could stand up and many that could not, draped themselves in tinsel and took to the streets. The banging would start, on the front door, at around nine in the morning and it was to hell with the law, the girls were out. Once inside the pub it was drinks all round while the place was stripped of all tinsel decorations for personal adornment and then it was off down town to end up, if the legs would still carry them, on the sea front. There the whole town would turn out for the spectacle and some of the things they got up to and, believe me, any healthy male took his life in his hands and anything else, if he got in among them. All day long there would be a continuous stream of them passing through and then later on, in the afternoon, they would pass through again, going in the reverse direction, as they made their way back home or to where ever. During the evening, those who had survived, might come out again, as would all those who hadn't been out all day and from there it would turn into party time. It was, as I have said, a truly unique day and was only, very sadly, spoiled and much of it's original magic and sparkle destroyed when a local Radio Station opened up and started publicising it over a wide area and did so weeks beforehand. This brought in coach loads of youths and healthy males and not all single, who came with the impression given that every girl was out on the streets for one thing and when they found out this was not so, then no end of trouble and violence erupted and of recent years it has lost much of its edge and now there are as many males as females, often to look after them, taking to the streets and the inevitable problems still arise when strangers try to get in on the act.

3. Boxing Day, in Scarborough, always sees the Parade, Mile of Pennies, Raft Race and Comic Football Match and all organised by 'The Fisherman and Fireman's Charity Fund.'

4. The Fisherman and Fireman's Charity should read Fishermen and their Firemen, as it was started when Fishing Trawlers were steam powered and the firemen, for the boilers, were an essential part of the crew. What prompted its formation followed the loss of a home based trawler and the rest of the fishing fraternities concern for the families of those lost and their desire to do something about it. Having little money themselves, they organised a Football Match with local Fishermen verses Boiler Firemen and took a collection from the crowd. Following the success of that match, where they were able to give each family two shillings and six pence, (12 1/2 new pence and where there are currently 100 pence to the pound and a pint of beer costs just less than two pounds). From then on it has continued and has been repeated every year on Boxing Day and along with several other organised and popular events, also held on Boxing day, and others throughout the rest of the year, several thousand pounds are raised annually for distribution, in the form of vouchers, to the elderly of the town.

5. The Boxing Day Parade consists of all the 'Football Players' and a Comic Band, assembling in the town centre at 'Boots, the chemists, Corner,' which has been a bank for many years or as some call it, 'Cooplands, the bakers, Corner,' on the opposite side, which has been a frozen food shop for years and years. The players, having beforehand visited several establishments and private homes on the way up through town, make a lot of noise, while the Band leisurely assemble in the nearest pub. Suitably 'tanked up' they all march down the main street, amid a large assembled crowd who are encouraged to start the days collection by putting their coppers in the collecting buckets, of the collectors, who will later ply the town and sea front, all day long, and do a marvellous job. The Band leads the players onto the beach where the Mayor will 'kick off' and then leave two teams to battle it out for the tattiest Tin Cup you have ever seen and the most treasured thing that you can ever be allowed to drink out of. There are no rules except those made up by the referee as he goes along and he is always a 'Fisherman,' as the first one was, although he is never biased and will demonstrate that by kicking the ball, himself, to the benefit of either team or by ordering players to play for the opposite side or by sending players off, who are allowed to return, when they manage to scramble back out of the sea, having been thrown there by the opposing team. There is no fixed number in either side and the only qualification to play, is to turn up on the day, be associated with the sea front and be known by the majority and to be wearing either a white, well as near white as you can get it, or a black Top Hat. That is for the identification of the teams and to show that all players are 'Gentlemen.' But then all that can become a shambles as players are made to swap sides, to either balance out the numbers or to ensure the final score is very close. Who finally wins and gets to drink out of the Tin Cup first? Well that all depends on a number of things but a lot has to do with who won last year. The referee must not be seen to be biased so will usually apply the principal that it is not about winning, it is about playing and getting drunk afterwards, so why not take it in turns. Half time can be hilarious when both teams and all their supporters cram into the pub, on the opposite side of the road, and where everyone, wearing a top hat receives a free drink.

While all this is going on a local DJ, often ably assisted, for many years in the past, by Sir Jimmy Saville, will play music, very loudly, from the open front of the Lifeboat House, while the Comic Band tours through the town, collecting and playing less and less as they get drunk. As soon as the Football Match ends the crowds move on to watch the Raft Race that traditionally takes place round the harbour. This is the speciality of the local Sub-aqua Club who makes the rules and organise the event. Basically any group or organisation can submit an entry. It must be original in design and constructed from materials not normally associated with the sea and be hand propelled. Anything else is disqualified before it even gets in the water. At the start they have to line the craft up and at the 'off' the crews have to board those that do not immediately sink and propel then round the harbour. The fastest and often the shortest circuit produces a winner with or without the whole crew still on board. Later trophies, held for a year, will be presented at an annual dinner but on the day it is usually a dunking and the winning craft smashed up by the opposition. During the race it is acceptable to use any means to thwart the opposition but the line is drawn at delivering direct blows to other crew-members. It is acceptable to grab and to pull them off their craft or beat their craft to pieces but no physical violence. Divers, in the water, look after the majority that end up in there, while the cold, dirty harbour turns into a gooey mass from the bags of unsaleable and dirty flour, given for the purpose and sold to spectators for them to throw at their favourite team. The Lifeboat Crew, with their hose, can also add to the agony.

6. Meanwhile the Comic Band continue to go from pub to pub getting drunker and drunker, while their dedicated band of collectors look after the serious side of the day. Also starting right at the beginning and going on throughout the whole day, a Mile of Pennies is started at the Lifeboat House and goes along the promenade, as it builds up, towards the Spa and until outsiders started coming into town, not one penny piece was ever taken from the line. Now all silver has to be removed as it disappears as fast as it is laid down. Sad, sad days.

The Annual Dinner and Prize Giving was always quite an affair and everyone who attended paid their way in order to maximise the charity coffers.

7. How do I know all this, and I am glad that you asked?

When we were in the Guest House, all those years ago, the Charity Committee used the pub opposite, as their meeting place, and I got to know many of them and one day they were telling me how their Treasurer had died and that what few records they had managed to get hold of, from his aging widow, were in a hell of a mess and what they were wanting was someone, independent of the charity, who would sort it out and get it all back on an even keel for them. Two pints later, they having bought the beer, arrangements had been made as to how and where they would bring what they had. Weeks later I went to their meeting and presented my findings. I was thanked profusely and told that I had done such a good job that they felt that no one, but me, could be expected to keep them in such good order and therefore two more pints and the unanimous decision was that I should keep all the accounts and become the Treasurer and that there was no get out clause as they simply refused to take back the books. That and it would cost me vast volumes of beer to back down. What they didn't realise was that this was something beyond my wildest dreams for this Charity had run for years and years, was the oldest charity in the town, and had always been run by Scarborians for Scarborians, something they were very proud of, and I was an outsider, a Wessie, and there were plenty of other locals who could have done a good job for them, but they had asked me without having any idea of what that meant to me. For nine years I kept their records and for nine consecutive Boxing Days played, if played is the right word, the big Bass Drum in the Comic Band. Also for nine wonderful years I played that same drum, at one stage with a very large hole in it, after having fallen and rolled forwards over it and down a full flight of steps one Boxing Day, in the Annual Summer Carnival Parade, with the same Comic Band and where we always got a great cheer and a wonderful reception from the town's people. But falling down a flight of stairs, over a big bass drum, is nothing when compared to one of our players, who played symbols; played; smashed two damned great, metal symbols together in time with no one else, whilst wearing one of his wife's dresses and who could neither get up or go down any stairs without an accident, due to his Roller Skates. Ever seen a bearded, drunk man, in a dress and fish net stockings, and on roller skates, unable to grab anything for support before having to let fly two large symbols on a staircase? I have and so have many others, who donated a lot of money to the charity for the privilege, and he now runs, having matured a little, as many of us have, a Fish Restaurant on Scarborough sea front. I only, very reluctantly, relinquished the two privileges, the Band and the Treasurers position, when we moved into the pub, although the Committee followed me and held meetings there, until a new Chairman decided to move, so I was still able to continue on the committee for many years after that. A rather special part of my life that I shall never forget! Although my mother would probably have wished that I would, as they were hardly aristocracy. They were better than that, for they were all good people with their hearts in the right place. I wish the current group well and hope that they can go on forever. They did a Wessie very proud. (Scarborian now, for I have done well in excess of the required 25 years to qualify for residency and my grandchildren were born there).

8. Boxing Days, in the pub, were good but never quite the same, as outsiders, encouraged to come in by the local Radio Stations, often thought it funny and amusing to set fire to the trimmings and Christmas Tree and to throw things about and in general to do untold damage and sadly let the whole thing down badly. However most things, undesirable though they may have been, had to be tolerated for 'Christmas,' good will and all that, but one year I just had to draw the line at a girl, laid on the Pool Table, and either having this bloke or he having her, in full view of a busy pub. I hope I am not a kill joy but don't care if I was for them on that day? Special presents should still be put in the right place but if it is a stocking, it should be one that is not being worn.

FAVOURITES.