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Reminiscences about the Northern O.B.B.C. of fifty years ago

By Tony Potts

       The October 1999 edition of the Collectors’ Digest contained Roger Jenkins’ article on the Memories of Herbert Leckenby and an obituary tribute to Molly Allison, both of whom were members of the Northern O.B.B.C. when I joined in February 1958.  The meetings were held in a large old terrace house in Hyde Park Road, Leeds.  I continued to be a regular member until June 1961 when I came up to London (or, as they say, “down to London” - if you are a true Yorkshireman.}  The admission charge to each meeting was one shilling.  Whether that included refreshments, I do not remember.  My membership number was 112.

       Geoffrey Wilde, who soon became a leading light of the club, and I, joined after seeing a poster in the Leeds Central Library, informing the general public of the group’s activities.  This would have been in the January of ’58.  Geoffrey was very knowledgeable on Charles Hamilton’s works and soon got promoted to the top table, where he joined Ron Hodgson, Frank Hancock, Bill Williamson and by no means the least – Gerry Allison.

       When I was in Leeds around 1988, I visited the café of Holy Trinity Church, Boar Lane, where the Northern O.B.B.C. then held their meetings, and was informed that Bill Williamson was the only person left in the Club when I was a member. It transpires that he was an original member when the branch was founded in 1950.  I was also told that Geoffrey had died in his early fifties.

       In the 1950’s other members attending the meetings included Breeze Bentley.

Harry Barlow (whom I shall mention later), Jack Wood (who looked like a middle-aged Billy Bunter), Myra Allison the wife of Gerald Allison and Molly who was Gerald’s unmarried sister, and last - but by no means least - Herbert Leckenby.  Myra and Molly were a charming and friendly pair who always sat together.  Molly unfortunately was very short-sighted and hard of hearing.  I cannot remember Molly giving a talk, but on one occasion I had a private discussion with her during refreshment time, in which she told me that her favourite Charles Hamilton character was Horace Coker.  During our conversation she reeled off many incidents in which Horace was involved.

       Some wives of members occasionally attended, these included my wife Audrey and also the wives of Geoffrey Wilde and Ron Hodgson.

       The talk which most impressed me all those years ago was one given by Breeze Bentley on Mr Quelch.  I believe that Breeze was a master at Bradford Grammar School. Geoffrey Wilde was also a school master and taught in Leeds. 

       All I remember about Herbert Leckenby was his shabby raincoat, which as far as I can remember he never took off and also a cigarette dangling from his mouth.  I also cannot remember him saying anything at a meeting, so I cannot comment on Roger’s view that he had a Yorkshire accent.  He never sat at the top table.  On one occasion

 Herbert was sitting in front of me when a new member whispered to me and pointing to Herbert said “What does that man come here for, he says nothing? I replied in a very subdued voice, “Keep your voice down!  He founded the Club and the Collectors Digest”

       Gerry Allison was a jovial and friendly man so long as you did not upset him.  If you did, his affability quickly evaporated. On one occasion I can remember him telling us all about his heart attack and that he was 54 years of age.  I believe that this heart attack must have been a short time before.  Unlike the London O.B.B.C. which is democratically run by a committee, the Northern O.B.B.C. at  that time appeared to be run by one dominant person, viz. Gerry Allison. On another occasion, Gerry told us that the Club had some spare cash and asked if anyone had ideas on how to spend some of it, .presumably on books and old comics.  (Their library was quite extensive.  I can remember borrowing copies of the Boys’ Friend and also the Boys’ Realm for my father who was born in 1889.)  One member replied, by the name of Harry Barlow, “What about organizing a day trip to Blackpool?”  Before any of us had the remotest chance of seconding this motion, Gerry’s face turned to a bright red; his blood pressure must have risen to a dangerous level and in no uncertain manner he turned it down with the contempt that it deserved.  The only good thing about this incident is that Gerry did not have another heart attack!

       A final anecdote about those far off times concerns once more the aforementioned Harry Barlow.  I believe that he came from Huddersfield; he certainly had a broad West Riding accent and also liked to sport his blazer at the meetings. I once asked him what the badge was on his blazer to which he replied “Nottingham University.”  He then added “I never went there but I do like their badge”.