“HUGELY SUCCESSFUL” is how Consul General Bob Peirce described this years www.BritWeek.org ten times more effective than last year? What did we think? We’re worn out! There was so much going it was impossible to cover every event, even though we tried. What we like, the world could fall to pieces recession etc not on Brit time. Business was brisk, the British above all a lot of fun. There was a fashion show at the Pacific Design Centre in West LA, put on by an outstanding new magazine called Genlux that included a 32 page feature on BritWeek in the April issue. Two dozen of LA’s hottest models strutting their stuff with loads of good food and good people to meet (notice my priorities).

That was followed a couple of days later by a massive party at the Petersen Auto Museum on Wilshire Blvd (more in CarMan Phil’s column in this issue) with more models, music, dancing, food and cocktails with a superb collection of classic cars, in addition to a special presentation celebrating 100 years of Morgan cars put on by Denis Glavis and his wife Pamela www.morganwest.com. Then unveiling of the new Bonneville Triumph Motorcycle to a lot of WOW’s. It claims top speed of 170mph, doing 10 mph in first gear (probably tested on the A30 from London to Exeter). Pictures, video clips etc continue to poor in with over a quarter-million hits on www.britweek.org website with lots of inquiries for next years festivities.

Our special thanks to Nigel Lythgoe (American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance), Bob and Sharon Harroun Peirce for having the foresight to make this happen for all of us. An idea that was long overdue.

On the way back from LA I called at the Hare and Hounds in Thousand Oaks (805) 495-4042 talking with Trisha. This British Shoppe has be in businesses many years, almost recession proof as they have a steady flow of regulars. BritWeek is a bonus to them.

Then on to Rosie Lee Imports in Ventura. Suzanne was wildly excited, “Have you tried the new pork pies” which she just got in. “I saw their advertisement in the UJ and decided to try them and they are delicious. Now I can’t keep enough in stock.” so I tried one and devoured it. I had forgotten what a good pork pie was really like. So I phoned www.Englishporkpiecompany.com (802) 349-7878 and spoke to Vicky who recently arrived from the UK, first to New York and then upstate to West Seneca, starting a family owned bakery with husband Damian when they saw the need for an authentic genuine pork pie following the traditional award winning recipe and method, importing the finest seasonings from the UK. And what do they get? Best pork pie this side of the Pond.

They do a full range from classic, mushy pea, Stilton, apple to Mowbary. They bake fresh to order, so allow time for delivery. Your local Brit shoppe should stock them through a wholesaler like Let’s Buy British in Compton (310) 761-9565 sales@ilbbimports.com.

They can rush a shipment anywhere on the continent or as local as the Old Toad Pub in Rochester. If you talk to Vicky ask her if Leo has gone bonkers or are the pies really as good as he says they are. Nothing beats a pork pie and a pint! Hey. We will always help young people starting out in America and yes, the pies are that good!!

Talking of a pint, the Ventura County Star featured an article on British born musician and singer Jackie Lomax, better known as Liverpool Slim, who was appearing at The Village Jester in Ojai. Although not a British Pub, but with the same welcoming attitude as a pub. Could that be because the owner Nigel Chisholm, is British? Karen and I decided to check out the place and the music.

Liverpool Slim and Nigel Chisholm at The Village Jester in Ojai.

Jackie, who looks more Country Western come frontiers man, was born in Liverpool and was part of the Mersey Beat explosion with his soulful rock band The Undertakers and has played The Cavern Club and Hamburg, Germany, a few times crossing paths with the Beatles and Eric Clapton. Brian Epstein had taken an interest in Jackie but when Brian died so did the record deal.

Liverpool Slims’ music is R&B with a touch of Pop. Lomax who has lived in Ojai for the past 10 years is returning to Liverpool this year for a festival. I’m not sure the Brits will even recognize the ex-Liverpudlian complete with cowboy hat. Mind you, are any of us recognizable anymore? Including The Village Jesters owner, 47-year-old Nigel Chisholm, born in Birmingham and left 24 years ago on a one way ticket with $1,000 in his pocket.

Nigel came to the US, hitch hiked down to Nicaragua during the Contra War on a fact-finding mission to discover the truth of what was going on. Found that it was a beautiful place with very friendly people. “Left alone they will be just fine,” he stated. Nigel traveled the Western states, met his wife Anita in Santa Cruz, spending two years in San Francisco before moving to Tokyo for seven years where he started coaching soccer which he still oversees today, winning national awards for Grasshopper Soccer ghsoccer@hotmail.com for photos.

Living in Ojai, a charming historic village 20 miles from Ventura, he decided it would be an ideal place to have a community oriented village restaurant, so October 16, 2007 The Village Jester came into being and is now doing very well, he’s pleased to say, including a new found hobby “The Jester Sky Diving Group” a once a month experience. The Jester is located on Main St in Ojai (805) 640-8001.

Bill of Rights School at Channel Islands Harbor
in Oxnard.

Finally the magnificent 136ft Tall Ship Schooner Bill of Rights sailed into her new home in the Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard for youth at Rick, schools and youngsters who yearn adventure. To help defray the upkeep Island Packers (805) 642-1393 www.islandpackers.com have agreed to run charter trips on weekends with several trips scheduled under sail for whale watching each Saturday and Sunday. So LA, get out of town for a nice day trip to Ventura County and have a fabulous and different experience. If you so wish, working alongside the professional crew, help haul the sails on a Tall Ship. We are often on board as volunteer crew www.americantallship.org.

Jonathan Moore

“LADIES AND Gentlemen, our next artists needs no introduction: The Tonight Show; Merv Griffin; Don Keshner Rock Concert; he’s performed at every Playboy Club worldwide in hopes of finding a wife; he’s opened and been friends with Elvis Presley, Linda Ronstadt, Ricky Nelson, Jim Croce, Rod Stewart, Donovan, Hoyt Axton, Cheech and Chong, Pat Paulsen, Joey Bishop, Dean Martin, Milton Berle, Robin Williams, Glen Yarbrough, to name but a few. Can I get a round of applause for Jonathan Moore!”

That’s how I introduced comedian Jonathan Moore on more shows then I can remember. He would then appear from the rear of the auditorium, theatre, or night club playing bagpipes, leaving audiences never knowing what to expect next. “Now don’t make me laugh” he’d exclaim, ‘the last time that happened me pipes backed up and blew me underwear off! Now you’re asking yourself: is he English or is he Gay? Yes, I am! English that is. Let’s get that cleared up right away.”

“I grew up in England. I learned English literature, Greek Mythology and Jousting. I came out totally prepared for the 10th Century.! The Queen, she rode side saddle on the horse. For years I thought she had only one leg.”

But, depending on the audience, although one of the brightest, funniest men I have ever known, if the audience was witty, his performance was bordering on genius – If it wasn’t, he’d walk off stage and then there was no living with him.

Jonathan was born in Bristol, served in the RAF (national service, the only real job he ever had). Her Majesty gave him the OOBE, as against the OBE: he was Ordered Out of the British Empire. He tried Canada until they found out he was from Britain when he gave his home address as a girls school in Sussex.

On his arrival in the US, America was jumping and what better place to perform than The Hungry Eye in San Francisco. He toured the nation as the opening act for many of the great acts of the time. He cheated death twice as he was supposed to be on the plane that went down with Ricky Nelson, then on another plane with Jim Croce.

I remember one time we flew a small plane with Tony (another Brit) to Arizona to look at some property in this remote town. He told me: “When we had engine problems and the entire town turned out when they found out we were on board. They claimed the engine would take at least two days to fix.” So Jonathan and Tony repaired it themselves. We flew back to Santa Monica that night when the whole of the Santa Monica Mountains was a blaze, between the smoke and the fire, that was weird and scary.

Many people remember his shows at The Comedy Store and The Ice House with Robin Williams, Richard Pryor and Jay Leno; The USO Tours wherever US service men and women were, including Vietnam; the voiceovers for movies he did for Hook, Cheech and Chong, Robin Hood Price of Thieves; he spent four months in Russia under extreme conditions filming Ice Runner with Timothy Bottoms. And this doesn’t include all of the nights we all spent at the Kings Head in Santa Monica.

I remember I asked him to do a reading up at Danny Kaye’s house. Jonathan walked in, picked up an Oscar, turned to Danny and stated, “I’d like to thank the Academy.” That’s all it took to be invited for lunch and spend the rest of the day. Jon had Danny in stitches.

Jonathan will be one of the most missed comedians of our time as he was always was accessible with a big heart. He died on the beach at Paradise Cove in Malibu. It’s rumored a couple of blonde’s in thongs were running by and it was just too much for him to take! We scattered his ashes (yet none of us had seen the body) by a stream in his favorite place to walk in Simi Valley, then went to his hang-out Chuey’s for a pint. Who’s going to make us laugh now? I guess we will have to wait for the encore. There was only one Jonathan Moore. He was unique. Thanks for the laughs and friendship Jon. You will never be forgotten.

– Leo Lewis

To contact Leo or Karen: leolewis12@yahoo.com
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