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“The Cumberland Ex-servicemen´s Club” (Ex Sports & Social Club) is situated in the Cumberland Bar Benidorm and is a skit on the working men´s clubs in the north of England in the good old days. I play the part of the Concert Chairman, which is loosely based on the character played by Colin Crompton in the series “Wheeltappers & Shunters Social Club” in the 70´s.

It is a karaoke bar run by Nigel and Yvonne, and the singers are introduced on to the stage as if club acts. The Chairman wastes no time in undermining what confidence they had with a series of ill advised remarks, petty criticisms and constant bickering which basically mirrors what I experienced myself on the club circuit some 20 years ago – I still see it now!

With his miserable gob, know it all attitude and total disregard for everything – except his pigeons, I have to say he´s a wonderful character to play, especially as he now seems to have acquired a drink problem. He enjoys, reading the paper, doing the crossword, playing cards and re adjusting his underwear – in fact anything except sitting quietly whilst the singers are performing, - and his eating habits are simply atrocious.

We have a proper notice board, memberships (currently just over 500), dogs, a white coated sea food seller, raffles and a reunion back in England, we´ve got some real characters too, and it is these who are the real life blood of the “Club”. People like “Mozzer” littlemore – “The Dwarf Fairy From Runcorn”, “Dozey Dave” from Pontefract, “Rocking Bob”, Barbara and her monologues, the barking mad “Colonel” from Macclesfield, Popeye The Fisherman “Let Em Hang” Hilda, Arthur “TwinkleToes” Mort, “Big Babs” from Blackpool, Vinny “The Sloshed Magician” and many, many more!