JESTERS C.C.

FORMED 1961

VIX ABERRO TIBIA FRUCTUM

(JUST MISSING LEG FRUIT)

The 1994 season brought the traditional southern tour to Henley-on-Thames. The usual accommodation, the Two Brewers was booked. Although not any longer open at the time this establishment was a public house with 3 upstairs bedrooms into which the whole Jesters touring squad packed in for 4 nights B&B. Over the years numerous land-lords had been & gone, all happy to take our money & a big killing for a short stay.

This particular year things were going ok for 2 days then on the Wednesday night after finishing the cricket match & enjoying a late drink at the Two Brewers our jolly host answered the pub telephone & slowly went white. He then proceeded to tell us that the caller had been the health inspector & that they were visiting the premises the next morning to check all health & safety matters & that that we all had to pack up & move out immediately; it was approx 11pm at this time! The Jesters, sobering up quickly were convinced that this had been a prank call from our opponents that day, Kidmore End C.C. , a great bunch who were well aware of all tour pranks & wind ups. Our host was not however convinced & very frightened of losing his license was insistent that we go. After an hour or so of ever increasingly desperate debate it was agreed that the Jesters would stay the night (what else could we do?) , arise early (7am) & vacate the premises, along with all evidence of our existence including camp beds & move our cars into town for the morning just in case the threat was real.

Come the early hour the Jesters wearily uprooted into Henley (one of the most affluent areas of the UK) to find a cafe to wait in. Most just ordered tea or coffee but our wet behind the ears future New Zealand international Carl Bulfin ordered beans-on-toast & proceeded to look amazed as he received a dozen beans on half a slice of bread for his £5.50, great value!

After a couple hours of aimless wandering a scout was sent back to the Two Brewers for a reconnoiter. On his return he informed us that the phone call had indeed been genuine & the inspectors had been & the Two Brewers had just passed its tests but with strong recommendations of improvements for its maximum 7 residents!

The Jesters promptly moved back in & finished the tour successfully. Before we left we did manage to advance book again for the following year at the same venue!