Familiar territory
We moved from Wakefield to Richmond, North Yorkshire, in 1988. With Catterick Garrison only a few miles away, Forces entertainment soon became a regular part of our work — first under our earlier business name, Spectacular Events, and later as Jolly Good Productions.
My own military background has always helped. I understand the terminology, the rank structure and the way military life works, so walking into a barracks or Mess has always felt like familiar territory.
Over the years we have worked at the main barracks around Catterick Garrison, including Alma, Cambrai, Bourlon, Vimy and Gaza, as well as Marne Barracks, Strensall and Imphal Barracks near York. RAF bookings have taken us to stations including Leeming, Boulmer and Waddington.
Family days, Christmas parties and Mess nights
Most of our Forces bookings have been for families: summer family days and barbecues, Christmas parties and other events where serving personnel could relax with their partners and children. Between us we have provided Punch & Judy, children's magic, face painting, circus skills, balloon modelling and, in earlier years, children's discos.
Adult Mess functions were different again. We have provided Race Nights and, in the past, casino nights, while Hazel's Line Dancing has been a natural fit when an Officers' or Sergeants' Mess has chosen a Country & Western theme.
Forces children's events can sometimes require a firmer hand than other family events. Hazel and I know what to expect, and years of experience have taught us how to establish the boundaries while keeping everyone involved and having fun.
From agents to the internet
When we first started, this was before the internet and a great deal of Forces work came through specialist entertainment agencies such as Forces Entertainment. An officer or senior NCO given the job of arranging a function could use an agency to find the entertainment.
The internet changed the entertainment business enormously. Gradually, organisers were able to find acts themselves and book direct. These days we rarely deal with agents: customers normally find us online and speak directly to the people who will actually provide their entertainment.
Back to school at RAF Leeming
One of my favourite military bookings was a Punch & Judy show in the Officers' Mess at RAF Leeming. The officers were having a school-themed evening and everyone was dressed in school uniform.
The Commanding Officer was the headteacher, complete with cloak, mortar board and cane. When it was time for Punch & Judy, all the officers sat on the floor in rows in front of my theatre like a class of schoolchildren — and joined in very enthusiastically.
Performing Punch & Judy to a room full of RAF officers behaving like excited schoolchildren was priceless.
Christmas with Forces families
Christmas parties have been a particularly regular part of our Forces work. They are family occasions, usually centred on the children, and over the years our Christmas entertainment has included puppets, magic, games, dancing, face painting and balloons.
Even clowns have to obey the speed limit…
Years ago, when I was still performing as Chuckle the Clown, I was driving through Richmond on my way to entertain at an Army family's party in Catterick Garrison. The council had recently introduced a 20mph limit in town — and I'd forgotten about it.
A traffic officer stopped me near Mercury Bridge as I crossed the Swale on my way to the Garrison. He asked me to get out of the car and come over to speak to him.
So there I stood, receiving a roadside dressing-down in full clown motley.
Fortunately, he let me off. I've always suspected the story of the clown he stopped for speeding was retold rather more often than the usual traffic stop!
Still part of our story
We don't undertake as many Forces events as we once did, but they remain a very enjoyable part of our long history in entertainment. From a huge outdoor family day to a children's Christmas party or an evening in the Mess, every event is different.
For us, working with the Forces has always meant something extra: familiar surroundings, a shared understanding of military life and, above all, the chance to entertain service families and help make their occasions special.