Mill Hill Disfellowshippings (page 18)

John Blaney used to wander at will into my room before breakfast most mornings. Several of us became almost carers as the poor chap gradually lost the last of his marbles. Amazing recovery though when it was time to go to the Adam & Eve. Many a Bethel boy parted with hard earned and precious cash to help him with a pint or two. None begrudged it. What a character! He once stopped a train out of one of London's mainline stations, claiming he was an Ambassador on an important mission.. the guard obeyed! He gave his baptism date as his birthdate and wangled his way into Gilead.

He wore a mac like Columbo in Field Service, laced with WT literature. No book bag. The house holder was often stunned and he "placed" shed loads of literature. The young pioneers on our circuit were inspired by him. With no kith and kin to look after him, WT was obliged to house him, as no individual JW's could cope with his eccentricity. He was assigned to read the Newspapers and cut articles out of the National Press for use in the Publications.

I am amused by your reference to Count Dracula and can only place the desciption to Phil Rees, Bethel Factory Overseer and Heavy.. who was in fact Ozzie. As far as I am concerned that was an awful period in Bethel history. I hold back on comments on alcohol abuse as someone else made wry comment to it. Slurring your way through a presentation at Twickers is not a good way to stem gossip!... if you were around Security at the time you probably know what I am talking about.

Are we saying on this thread that there have been departures from the current Branch Team or just speculating? Can someone clarify this please?

hotspur

For Harry (hotspur) St George and England !

Ok - who invoked the hotspur?

If I get time I'll try to recall my John Blaney stories.... definitely a legend in his own lifetime!

Podobear

Has to be West Ham, the Hammers! hotspur were you around in the days of R. Brice??.. Boreham Stiff?

Chalam

Welcome PB!

He wore a mac like Columbo in Field Service, laced with WT literature. No book bag. The house holder was often stunned and he "placed" shed loads of literature.

LOL!

Blessings,

Stephen

jookbeard

Pod thanks for that, are you clearly are ex Bethel? were you there during PaP's? my late father was head of platform and pitch security for many years at Twickers, so we may have crossed paths. In my my earlier posts I made reference to Davis and Geoff Woodfield who were both at Bethel in the early 80's ring any bells? He chaired my J/C not a bad bloke really, I was in the London Wimbledon Cong up until about 1994.

hotspur

hotspur were you around in the days of R. Brice??.. Boreham Stiff?

Not in Bet-hell .... know the name though for some reason. Did he do substitute CO duties? My only time in Bet-hell was an indoctrination visit many years ago when I young and naive!

I did a lot of work on the PA systems at Twickenham, Wolverhampton and Plymouth over the years. Got to be aware of quite a few 'names' and how they made a name for themsleves! So glad to be out of it all - though there were some nice people as well. All trapped by a construct - Grrrr!

I know Peter Voisey very well though - I spoke to him only a couple of months ago. He's doing alright for himself. He just laughed whenever I mentioned Mill Hill. And one of the Mansbridge boys (Sean?) - can never remember which one went to Mill Hill.

Mill Hill Disfellowshippings

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