today’s flea market finds! the G1s will get a spa day tomorrow 💞 especially excited that i found june rose because june is my birth month & she’s my birthflower pony!
‘Star-studded ping-pong’ by June Rose (The Jewish Chronicle - November 4, 1966)
Article on Brian’s October 1966 visit to the East Finchley Jewish Youth Club, of which he was vice-president. (apologies for the poor quality of the photo accompanying the article)
LAST Saturday marked the opening of National Club Week. At East Finchley Jewish Youth Club it also marked a visit by the president, Frankie Vaughan, and the vice-president, Brian Epstein, who awarded the trophies, chatted with the members and played each other in two star studded games of ping-pong. The score: 21-15, 21-5 in Frankie's favour.
Brian turned up first, hotfoot from the U.S.A. (he lost eight pieces of baggage en route), and stood looking rather ill-at-ease on the platform, scratching his head and wiping his face nervously, when he wasn't displaying the coy grin that lights up his ruddy, gnome-like face. He told the club that it was "easier the second time" to meet them all. By closing one's eyes it would not be difficult to imagine him as senior prefect at a school hall.
I asked him later why he associated himself with Jewish youth clubs.
"To maintain a link with the past and with the community,” he answered. “I think it's good for young people to have a place where they can span out from their families and meet in a relaxed way.”
Frankie came later, every inch a professional, stockier, sturdier, older, applauding the prizewinners, happy at home in the milieu of the club.
“He's sexier," said a 16-year-old and, despite the bags under his large, bloodshot hazel eyes, Frankie has an air of S.A. that still seems to throw all the girls gooey.
He talked in a slightly more serious vein of the joys of giving, as well as taking, in life, and the crowd cheered. After autographs and ping-pong (with crowds of little faces pressed in on the window pane) the stars left. Frankie first, driving his own Ford Galaxy, Brian later, in a chauffeur-driven Bentley.
The Jewish Welfare Board received a cheque for one of its homes for the aged, the youngsters got a glimpse of the great at play. It was all good, clean fun, except that one had the vague, uncomfortable feeling that any mention of the word “Jewish" was, well, rather unnecessary.
I asked Brian Epstein if he had ever discussed the question of Judaism or Jewish matters with the Beatles. "It must have come up in five years,” said the elusive Mr. Epstein. (But he did add that the Beatles would be making some new records before Christmas).
The only Jewish activity I could unearth in this thriving and popular club is that Hanoar Hatzioni uses the premises and joins in the activities (floodlit football, judo, drama, etc in which a number of club members take part) and about eight club members join in the Zionist Youth programme. But discussions on Judaism, Zionism, social service, well, who wants them if you've got star-studded ping pong?
