1957 2nd Convention held at Belle Vue Hotel, Cheltenham, May 11th -12th, 1957. The second annual convention held over two days in May of 1957.
Before you read the below, A.A Archives of Great Britain which is held at York university arranged for the audio to be digitised so I could listen to the full conference/conventions. It appeared to be blended as a Conference and Convention. The members of the ten-year-old fellowship discussed how A.A. in Great Britain is going and how they can get the message out.
James R (Oxford) was the chairman of proceedings for the two days. He asked, that all who speak, and who are providing reports that speakers are to be concise as possible and not to talk too quickly. A convention book was mentioned which James asked all to sign, it was revealed Lottie (who was living in Italy) was asked to provide artwork and monograms for the book, to which those in attendance gave her a round of applause. Lottie as you may know, was the first secretary of Great Britain and was acknowledged by James R.
After a long discussion, with the Q&A’s regarding aspects as to how A.A. can grow.
Padge, the secretary, read out telegrams from around the county and beyond, one was a telegram from Bill W.
To my A.A. friends in England,
On behalf of A.A.’s everywhere I send our warmest greetings and congratulation on this bright occasion of your anniversary meeting. You can have no idea how deeply affecting is the spectacle of A.A. success, in your good part of our world. There is a special regret that I cannot be on hand personally to share this happy time with you.
James R, the chairman gave speakers at least five minutes, as they had been running out of time due to discussions held throughout the day. James had the use of a Gavel, so, as the speakers’ time would come to that 5-minute mark, James would hit the gavel, making it sound very much like a parliament meeting….but with laughter and hope.
First up was: –
Arthur.
Good morning, I have a little bit of a quandary, I was at a meeting last Thursday which became an open meeting, it didn’t start as that. There was a chappie there who had a drinking problem, his drinking problem took into Australia, and he didn’t like the way we ran our meetings of A.A. We discovered in conversation that this chap said his objection to it was that you go to these meeting in Australia somebody will get up and say their name and they are an alcoholic then go onto a lot of gruesome details of what they did, he said Well, I don’t like that. It’s quite possible there may be another Australian who is also attacking a meeting. It struck me he might not like that, so I chanced up my arm and said my name is Arthur and I’m an alcoholic, I shall tell you, I am male, nearer 60 years of age than 50, I’m married and have a daughter. For a hell of a long time, I used to drink a lot of grog. Gruesome detail? No, no, the only thing gruesome about my drinking was the quantity.
As an alcoholic I found I always resented people telling me what to do, it’s rather strange that, you know. I think it’s pretty general for the alcoholic they don’t like to be told what to do. When I was drinking, I was a pretty good drinker, I could take my liquor like a gentleman, when I was doing that, someone would tell me not to drink so much, do you know I resented that, pretty strange, who were they to say how much alcohol I could drink, I could drink as much as I liked and far more than I liked. I resented that sort of thing, there came a time much later in my life when this company was still growing, when I wanted to know what to do about my drinking, I was unhappy cos I asked people what can I do about this, they would say have a couple or something, which is silly of them to tell me. I wanted something more concrete, like go and cut your throat or take this tablet or put salt in your socks every morning and you’ll find you can get away with it. I was still in this quandary.
One day I did this most amazing thing, I told my wife I was in terrible trouble about this. She said she had known this for several years…..she said to me; do you want to do something about it? By God I would do anything about it, I was in tears.
She said will you go to a Meeting? I said, I’ll do anything. She had heard of A.A through a broadcast on Women’s Hour, she had made a mental note because she knew I was an alcoholic, she knew, I didn’t. It’s strange, prior to talking to her about this thing, she had seen an advertisement in the Daily Telegraph that there is a public meeting at Caxton Hall. Why it should happen, I spoke to her on that day, at that particular time after 37 years of solid drinking, I don’t know.
I went to that public meeting at Caxton Hall, it was a bit difficult to find the alcoholics, and that is the reasons why, when a speaker says their name, they then say they are an alcoholic. Because it gives the chance for people who are alcoholic to see what one looks like, as in that bloke is male, he is nearly 60 or drinks like that, things I may say may register with the poor devil who is trying to find Hope. I went to this particular meeting and they told me what to do, which I had always resented, but I believed them, don’t know why. They said if you are a sick man, you will find that out yourself that you must stop drinking and I believed them. I drank for all sorts of reasons, to meet people, to be social, to be happy and that would last 10 minutes, and I was miserable, I couldn’t live without a drink. I came into A.A. and I’m alive today, which is something. I certainly have been alive for the past four years and haven’t had a drink in just over four years and I’m not miserable. I can still do my business and go to social functions. I can meet and talk to people and…….There goes James’ and the gavel, meaning my time is up. Thank you.
Bob from Minnesota
I was very argumentative when I was drinking, I wanted so badly to join in the discussions here at the convention, but I just moved to England from France, I’m in the American services. Here, doing this talk, I have no opportunity to get into a discussion, I’m talking and nobody can answer me, it’s difficult for me……I have enjoyed this convention very much, it has taught me something and brought back into my mind it is not to worry about tomorrow’s problems and solve them today.
Last night I was listening to what I shouldn’t have been and heard something I shouldn’t have heard about resolutions. I became very perturbed about it; I spoke to one or two friends who indulged my statements that wouldn’t go any further. All these things I got stewed and perturbed about never happened, so I’m very happy about it, it’s a resolution.
I recognised that an A.A. group has the right to be wrong. I also recognise and fully believe in the 12 traditions. The guiding principle of A.A. works for groups and I see it working here nicely today, which I’m thankful. I came from the Minneapolis Group and the fathers of that group are my instructors. They did a pretty good job, I Haven’t had a drink since making contact with them, who are the early publishers of the little red book, the interpretation of the 12 steps. In Europe the last few years we have an A.A. Europe roundup which I attend. No Business, it is all strictly A.A. Here in England, I was amazed at first when I joined the canterbury group that they had two meetings a month. I said I’ll die on two meetings a month; I was used to two a week.
I recalled, when a member goes to another group, they don’t try to change that group as somebody gets hurt in the conflict, I kept my big mouth shut…Thank God. They are now weekly with a few G.I’s sobering up.
I would like to mention the family groups which I know a little about. In Minnesota there was some groups of mates of alcoholics when I left for Europe. When setting up the program I had the occasion to listen to several wives who were members and are enthusiastic, they came to Europe with their alcoholic husbands and these family groups have grown and I have sincere belief in these family groups and can tell it will provide a lot of help to live with some peace of mind.
A.A. has given me a lift; I never had any love for anybody, and myself which I lost completely.
I have found the meaning of the word love since coming into A.A.
In Minneapolis they had a big sign saying, Love and Service. When I first saw that, I shook my head, it was way beyond me. I couldn’t get it; it later dawned on me a little. I believe in A.A so strongly, it means so much to me, as it is my life…..
(James – Chairman – banged his gavel)
Thank you, Mr Chairman.
Desmond
Ladies and gentlemen, my first thought this morning is I’m suffering from what I can only describe as a coca cola hangover. With that of course it is a deep thankfulness it is a coca cola hangover. In the past I was somewhat of an A.A. authority of hangovers. Fact it was during a hangover a period of in- feeble weakness I first came to believe that the North West say today, London will say tomorrow. These hangovers in my case came from moderate drinking…..which my mind told me, and I would like to say what an understatement that is, it is the understatement of the century.
This is when a cockney woman told her friend, ‘ere, John he’s been and cut himself. The friend asked if he cut himself bad? The mother said yeah, he’s cut his bleedin’ head off. Our moderate drinker was really of that type.
I will end by saying that full I am of the blessings of A.A. and share this with our non-alcoholic friends, wives and husbands. We may do things we shouldn’t do or leave undone, we fall short of our ideals, we suffer of resentments, yet we can remain sober which is a blessing. It brings these words to mind. ‘For He shall give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.
Thank you.
Diana
Listening to Desmond talk about the coca cola hangover, that happened to me last year at the convention. I drank too much tomato juice, so had to stay in my room most of the time. This year I avoided all that…However I have never spoken in front of such a crowd of people, I am nervous and glad when James said we only had five minutes.
Quite a few in this room know me, may have heard my story, as I was around A.A. for six years and didn’t make any headway at all. Looking back now, I now know why, I was very unwilling to accept the program. I couldn’t help but accept and admit the fact I was an alcoholic because I had gone right down and couldn’t go any further and hit most of the jails and hospitals.
When I first came into to A.A. I was a headache to Padge and many others, like I say I did not accept that….I speak openly and honestly, I couldn’t accept the spiritual side of the program. I knew that was my stumbling block, that was the missing link, with me I wasn’t willing.
Anyway, for a long time I have been very happy and sober in A.A and accepted the program without any reservations. That has made me feel happy indeed and grateful to all these members, a lot are present here who showed me the upmost patience and tolerance and I fully realised I’m convinced if I stay with the program that I have hope and confidence with the help of AA and higher power to remain sober daily.
I’m one of these members that must have meetings, I do two or three a week. I get rebelish and don’t want to go, that is the time I need to go and I make myself go and when I leave the meeting, I feel like a different person altogether and pleased and thankful I have gone and my faith is growing stronger.
(Gavel is banged)
Thank you.
Lexi
Greetings and best wishes from the Derry group. Afraid I feel a little bit nervous this morning as I’m an A.A. baby amongst many veterans.
I started my drinking in America, I was there for a short while, I took an ocean to look inside a brewery and suggested this idea to another Irish man who I was staying with, he wasn’t an alcoholic, but near enough one. He knew that on this trip we would get a taste of this stuff. The guy who showed us around was another Irish man and he was delighted to meet us. He gave us any amount of beer and I must say I liked the taste of it, very much. Being of a nervous disposition I like the effect. Throughout my drinking life I say I liked the taste of drink and the effect it gave me; it gave me a feeling of warmness confidence.
How I came to join A.A. I was in a bar hanging onto the counter saying to the bar man, how I need to give up this drink….will you give me another whiskey, please. He told me, do you have a sincere desire to stop drinking, he was an alky himself.
Two years previous he had been in hospital in Dublin for treatment, he told me his patterns, he went on Antabuse treatment and carried that out for a year afterwards. He said during his stay in the hospital he had been visited by some members of A.A. and he went to a couple of meeting in Dublin he was very impressed by the speakers there, and he thought A.A. would help me, although he was sober, he struggled as he couldn’t get contented sobriety, he wasn’t going to the meeting. I told him he should write to Dublin for the nearest group to Derry, which is what he did.
A week after he met me in the street and said he has the address and asked if I would write to them? I said oh no, I don’t need anything with A.A. I’m all squared up myself, I’m alright now. That went on for a year, until easter before last I was on a three-month binge and reached the end of my tether from a physical and near financial standpoint. I told the firm I work for that if I didn’t stop drinking I would leave…….I couldn’t stop drinking. I went to see Tony the bar man and said I will try this A.A. business, he said, another chap is interested as well. So, we decided to go together to a meeting in Belfast, we sent a letter to the secretary, we went up on a Sunday night 21st April 1956, we were all nervous, didn’t know what sort of people we were going to meet in A.A. What we got was such a sincere welcome. I forgot what the speakers spoke about but after the meeting I felt like I floated out the room with a feeling of HOPE. My life has changed since then, I am more serene, A.A. has solved my drinking problem, as well as my problem with life as it has given me more of a mature outlook. (Gavel bangs) Thank you.
Maurice
I have a resentment against James (chairman) James told me last night he wanted me to give a speech, so I sat up all night writing one that would last an hour and half…..All joking aside I didn’t prepare anything, James asked if I would speak and I let him know this morning, I only have one story.
I joined A.A. five years ago in California (1952). California is the place all alcoholics go to get the geographical cure. The land of fruit and nuts as it’s called. We have a great vineyard which many alcoholics go to and squeeze all the grapes.
I’m very grateful in being here in England and seeing the progress you have made in your 10 years. One thing I have noticed and to be concerned with, is what the hospitals here don’t understand is that there are no alcoholic wards, we are fortunate in the L.A area we have a 12 step hospital and it is run by a member of A.A. on a commercial basis that is to say, he takes an alcoholic in and charges a minimal fee or nothing if they haven’t nothing and gives them a room, as of today he has put nearly 3000 alcoholics through this place. He helped get me sober, he himself was in a mental institution he had been committed for life, he ended up getting well and made up his mind to help other alcoholics, he showed me the way to A.A.
Thank you.
Allan B (Allan and his wife Winnie set up A.A outside London)
I haven’t a story to tell you that hasn’t been told by much finer speakers than myself. One thing that strikes me at this convention is what a miracle it all is. Looking back 9 ½ years ago apart from the London Group there was only my wife and myself in the North of England, although we had dried up and trying to follow the program, which, I had my doubts from time to time as to whether this was all a bit of a cranky thing that was divorced from real life and whether real life was the alcoholic life we had left.
We persevered and as time went on, we began to see that it was the true way of life and if anyone ever needed further proof it is right here in this room, all these people mostly alcoholics. In years gone by I would never have the intention of coming here, spending time with others at an open meeting, to me that is a miracle, the whole thing is. In my life, it’s a miracle every day, every 24 hours, which I live, just 24 hours at a time, every morning I think this is rather wonderful. I can look at a fried egg squarely in the eye, 10 years ago I’d have to have three double gins before I could shave.
I have no inspiring message; the gift is the best message which is in the book. If there is anybody here who hasn’t got it, my colleagues and I strongly advise you to get it.
Thank you.
Wick
Alan just mentioned the miracle, I have just been thinking, there are speakers who dried up here and drank in another country. I started my drinking in England and dried up in America. It catches us all, if you want it. I often sit spellbound listening to people’s stories full of dramatic incidents, smashed up cars, smashed and broken homes, police called. I didn’t have any of that, mine was drab as hell and yet it had the exact same effect, as it brought me in some years ago on my hands and knees, a deadbeat in A.A.
The Miracle is I haven’t got a drinking problem this morning, I didn’t have one yesterday, I haven’t had one for some time, now. That may sound a foolhardy thing for anybody that took 25 years trying to battle with booze and being beaten at every twist and turn, but it’s not as stupid as it sounds, not so rash as it sounds. I keep the realisation that while I haven’t got a drinking problem today, I can damn soon get one. I could let any one of things catch up with me again and it would turn into the only solution an alcoholic knows, is to drink.
To me, it’s all being in this change of thinking business, it started right from the first meeting I ever went to. I had to change my thinking about the fact that I was just one of those unlucky chaps that things always happened to when I drank. If I was about to go home from the pub, ‘ole George would come in an I would have to have one with him and it went on. I had to change my thinking on that and I found out I was an alcoholic…..that was a pretty revolutionary change. I’m not going over the change of the past few years, it’s a constant series of changes of thinking on this and that, getting a new sense of values on that it goes on the whole time, the effect, I find has been since I got in with A.A.
A.A stopped my drinking problem; my drink problem is inseparable with A.A. I live day by day, keep stock of pitfalls, the old line of thinking, the resentments, the ego, the selfishness. Provide I bear in mind the process of change and not striving for perfection or anything, I’m just trying to keep out of trouble. My old ways of thinking landed me right here in A.A. I live happily now, I can do anything anyone else can do, bar one and that doesn’t matter any longer, I like it that way and that’s the way it’s going to stay, so long as I stick to A.A.
They were the speakers. Just to let you know, in 1958 the third annual conventions was held in Cheltenham for the third year running.
Hope you enjoyed reading this.
East London Archives of Alcoholics Anonymous. 