Cultureshock

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Video transcript

1948, I had completed my national service with the Royal Air Force and had returned to civvy street and home.

Although demobbed, kitted out with a new suit, shoes, shirt, tie, trilby hat and overcoat I was able to retain my RAF uniform which was to prove useful in the months that followed.

Returning to my previous employment as a model maker I soon realised that my wage would not be enough. So to supplement my income I sought part time employment and became in genteel terms, an attendant in the Rink dance hall.

I remember the uniform given to me was not a good fit so my RAF uniform dyed black came into good use.

The Rink was attached to the Regal cinema, the entrance to the cinema being Holmside, Sunderland both of which was owned by Black Brothers.

The manager, Mr Rea, made it clear that no one should be admitted to the dance hall if they appeared to be intoxicated because the heat of the dance hall seemed to have a worsening effect on them.

I happened to on duty in the corridor when a patron came to the pay box. It seemed to me that he had been drinking as he didn’t walk straight and was unsteady on his feet. When I took him aside and explained why I had to refuse entry he became very abusive and as I escorted him to the main door he made it clear he would wait for me when I finished at eleven o’clock. Thankfully he wasn’t there when I did leave.

Three weeks later I was on duty in the same corridor when one of the dancers came running up to me shouting ‘You’d better some down to the dance hall quick. There’s somebody down on the dance floor and they’re kicking his head in. And your other attendants are just standing there doing nothing about it!’.

I ran down and saw about a dozen people around this chap on the floor. So I piled in and pulled people away and managed to get the poor fellow on his feet. He was in a sorry state with a four inch gash over his eye, blood everywhere. He obviously needed hospital treatment. I turned looking for help only to find I was now the attacker’s target. The a voice spoke to my left ‘Its alright mate, I’m with you’. The crows backed off and I turned to thank the man who’d come to my help. It was the very person who only three weeks ago I’d refused entry.

Against the advise of the other attendants who stated I would get the sack if I left early I took the man to the Royal Infirmary. And eventually emerged from the hospital at about 12.30am. He’d has several stitches to his head, a thick bandage covered his eye and he was minus a couple of teeth.  I learned that he was a German, a sailor and his ship was in the South Dock.

As we left the hospital a taxi came by driven by a friend of mine and he agreed to take the injured man down to the docks and see him safely aboard his ship.

When I returned to work Mr Rea called me to his office and thanked me for what I’d done in the interests of the sailor and, of course, of The Rink.