Carrying the spiritual message of AA, one blog post at a time.

Death of a Sponsor

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 11:10:01 GMT

“Still are thy pleasant voices, thy nightingales, awake; for Death he taketh all away, but them he cannot take.”

October 1979. An article appeared for the first time called “Death of a Sponsor” and it has since been published many times all over the world. The article was Travers' obituary for his Sponsor Sackville (source: Twenty Years of Bristol Fashion tape archive).

“Still are thy pleasant voices, thy nightingales, awake;

For death he taketh all away, but them he cannot take.”

A few weeks ago my sponsor died. He was in his 80s, and he had been sober in the Fellowship 32 years. I feel writing some kind of an appreciation of him will help me and maybe some who read it, particularly those who shared him with me, perhaps as a sponsor or as a friend.

It is difficult to know where to start. So understanding, as I do only too well, my own alcoholism, I will begin at the end.

It was in mid August that I heard he was gravely ill in hospital - that his life was probably ebbing away. On receipt of this news I did what has become, down the years, a reflex action, I sought the advice of a fellow member of A.A. who knew my sponsor and my relationship with him. His advice was very simple, “If you can, you must fly at once to be with him.” I took a plane the same day and for the next five days sat with him each morning, afternoon and evening. He lay in a cot in a tiny room by himself, he never regained consciousness at any time I was with him, but I think I found this time alone with him perhaps the most rewarding of my whole life. While watching him, I was able to consider exactly where I was with gratitude, and what a blessed thing sponsorship had come to be for me.

I think I came to know for the first time what I understand good sponsorship to be. It is, as I see it, not only the giving of one’s experience in time and love but also the complete opening up of one’s whole life in order that the sponsee may know every facet of the joy of living a full life in recovery.

This gift of opening up oneself is of course useless, unless the sponsoree is willing to take and use it. Whatever my failings as a sponsoree may have been, I do not think I failed in this respect. There is a line from ‘Anna and the King of Siam’, or if you are younger a song from ‘The King and I’ “Getting to know You” and this is what I did with my sponsor. Through getting to know him, I believe I supplied an outlet for him to share many of his favourite attitudes and pastimes. We could carp and criticise at anything we disliked in our shared interest and would likewise applaud those things that we loved. Maybe you will understand a little more of what I am trying to say if I am more specific.

We both loved detective fiction, Sayers, Christie, Marsh. However, the pinnacle, of course for us was always Edgar Wallace and his indefatigable Evans. If depressed or despondent over anything at all, one of us would say “He sends out his racing tips on a duplicating machine that even a child could manage”, and this often used quotation of Educated Evans would make us dissolve into uncontrolled laughter and give us the lift that was needed to carry us on and oh so much better than alcohol or Benzedrine which we had used in our attempts to dispel bad feelings in the past. Our favourite food was Omelette a` la Arnold Bennet, or a two course entreatment of whitebait and ice cream. We both adored ice cream, and we had our favourite places for eating.

Another of our common interests was our love of horse racing, accompanied of course with the inevitable betting. He had some fantastic experience to offer, which I never took. He didn’t believe in doubling horses, he said “I never ask for two miracles in one day.” After a long losing streak he would always trot out his favourite piece of alcoholic rationalisation and what he called ‘application of theology to betting’, “If God wanted me to stop backing horses, He would have made me back all losers!” He loved Derby Day on the Curragh and in his latter years I had the bizarre experience, for me at least, of walking round Cheltenham race course with him on a hot July afternoon, “I have never been to Cheltenham races, but I want to tell my friends that at least I have been on the course.”

Our relationship was taken up with finding out about each other. Our meetings were initially a filling in to each other of our recent experiences. We travelled together, and as I expect you all know, travelling together with a friend will always reveal the others’s defects. I remember so well his frantic fear on his first encounter with Roman taxi drivers. When questioned about this fear after three days in Rome he calmly replied “I now take it as normal.”

He loved having things done for him. I think it was that he liked to openly indulge himself. I always travel ‘brush and polish’ and he loved to have me clean his shoes. He told me that his greatest experience in A.A. had been on the occasion when he had stayed with Bill W. and Lois, Bill had always brought him early morning tea in bed. He used to round off this account of life with the Wilsons with “You have no idea of the security it gives one to be served with early morning tea by the co-founder of A.A.!!

I was with him when a dispatch rider brought us notice of a private audience with His Holiness Pope Paul. His only comment was “Do I have a clean shirt for the Pope?” He had a wit that sometimes people would feel to be a little caustic. I always felt this was untrue. Had they been brave enough to look into his eyes they would have seen not sarcasm but a dancing loving fun. A typical example of this was when an English army officer who had recently become a group secretary sought my sponsors’s advise about the ordering of literature from Service Office. Having made a meal of the ordering of a few pamphlets the secretary finished by saying “And that pamphlet of yours which is put out by Dublin, we will have one of those”, to which my sponsor replied “A whole one?”

The single most significant influence he had on my life occurred one winter Sunday morning when returning from 6.30 a.m. Mass, scuffing the dead leaves with our feet he set me a simple poser. “Do you find you have much difficulty in making your weekly commitment to the Mass?” I considered as we walked on in silence and it came to me that there had been many Sundays when I had to really take myself by the scruff of the neck mentally and rearrange my Sunday wants to fit in with my Sunday needs in order to get to Mass. I told him this and he replied very simply “You will find it easier when you make the mass your daily commitment” Thank God I found out how right he was. We had our difference, but we each felt the freedom to disagree and maintain a standpoint in which we believed.

To all sponsorees reading this appreciation, I trust you will be able to make the effort to get to know your sponsor as I did mine and enjoy the fruits of an integral part of the life-giving experience available to us in the fellowship.

While in America recently I came across a toast which I think is very applicable to my sponsor at this time.

“Health and long life to you,

The girl of your choice to you

Land without rent to you

And death in Ireland”.

Health and long life he certainly had. The girl of his choice I believe to be the world wide fellowship of A.A. to whom he gave his life. Land without rent to you I believe to be the unqualified gift of sobriety given freely to him by God and A.A. in return for that life. And death in Ireland is his for sure.

Anon.

1985 - Go West Bristol Fashion, Go West.

Sun, 24 Sep 2023 13:39:27 GMT

Bristol Fashion visits New York in preparation for the World Convention

(Source: Twenty Years of Bristol Fashion, Tape Archive).

“Go West Bristol Fashion, Go West. In early June (1985) one of the Editors formed an advance guard of a Party of Bristol Fashionteers who would be travelling to New York later in the month, prior to going on to Montreal for the World Convention celebrating 50 years with Gratitude. It was his job and privilege to make all the final arrangements for this brave little party of whom only two had previously been exposed to the great American way of life. He did his job well as you will see later. So well that he even had time to join in the anniversary celebrations of the office staff at GSO on Monday June 10 ^th . He found it good on that very special occasion to be in company with not only Bob P. General Manager World Services but also Jack G. General Manager from Redcliffe Gardens who was taking the advantage of a spell of experience at GSO New York. Later that evening our editor had one of two choices to make.

The big spiritual gathering of approximately 4,000 to be held in St John the Divine up town or a hazardous Subway visit to a Brooklyn group meeting of some 200 at which the speaker was Nell Wing. As our editor is of a romantic nature he was obviously influenced by remembering the title “A Tree grows in Brooklyn”. It was a great evening to be spent with real down to earth recovering alcoholics. Our editor even found time to make his annual spiritual journey to Akron before visiting, in Philadelphia, Conor F. founder of AA in Europe and Margaret his wife.

Conor was as excited as our Editor, not only about the forthcoming International Convention but also the visit to the New World of the Bristol braves. On Thursday June 20 ^th , a British Airways 747 duly deposited the Bristol braves at Kennedy Airport were they were met by a charming lady called Kathie in appropriate Airline uniform in company with our Editor. Some of the members of the party could not understand how the Editor was allowed to greet them inside the Customs and Immigration confides. They had of course overlooked that AA knows no barriers. For the rest of this memorable pilgrimage ,one can offer in the space allowed, and from a clear recall entirely due to recovery ,only little glimpses of the next 2 1/2 weeks. The amazement on the group's faces on driving into New York to be informed that due to the cancellation of accommodation by the YMCA, they were to stay at the Waldorf Astoria! The total disbelief as they were shown by the bellboys not to their rooms but to their suites. Thank you, Miss Rossenfield.

Shopping on 5 ^th Avenue, the visit to GSO and archives for the very special AA meeting at 11 o clock Friday morning in company with members from around the world, including many sober sailors en-route by sea to Montreal. Jogging in the Park, top of the Empire State building, long since vacated by King Kong. Joy riding on the Subway, Battery Park with echoes of Kojack. Statten Island ferry and the setting sun. Circle line around Mannhatten, Transport provided by Mike M., Ed S. and Cathy G, never failing to be where it should be. Four days of glorious self catering, inter-efficiency communication. A genuine 12 ^th Step Call answered by 2 members of the Party. The Hamptons, the fish, the Ocean the expectations of Bay Shore. Our member hosts; Mike, Peter, Cathy, Pam, Otto, the St Peters group, Sr Liz. Ice cream in Friendly’s, breakfast at the Forum and the visitation of two baby Racoons which had lost their mother and their way.

7am departure for Niagra. The bus arrives, the driver was beautiful and his name was Fred, a truly wonderful driver and charming man. Niagra in the Moonlight, bedrooms overlooking the Falls. Each member of the Party looking like a very anonymous mussel, dressed in black oil skins, as they disappeared into the mists onboard the boat that took them under the Falls.

Another early morning start and a day's drive to Montreal. Expectations, what will the hotel Belvedere be like, will it be a let down, after all that has gone before? Not a bit of it, just the right hotel for us. First sight of the Convention Centre, straw boaters worn by the meeters and greeters, national costumes. More and more people pouring in, how many here 40,, 45, 50, 60,000.! Exposure to the new books '50 years with Gratitude', the signing of everyone you meet's 'blue book'.. The Escalators, the choosing from your programme which workshop to attend. A quick sight seeing tour by bus, the sight of the Olympic Stadium, knowing that, that night it was to hold the largest AA meeting ever held in the world and that you were to be part of it!

Getting out and getting your seat early and waiting with ever increasing anticipation and expectation. The wave effect of members leaping to their feet and throwing their arms wildly into to the air with equal vocal thrust. Flags from every nation being carried by real live alcoholics, marching and counter marching to the time of the drummer of their choice. The big, big meeting. Bob P.’s introduction. Lois forgetting to remove her script form the Podium. Thousands and thousands of alcoholics moving forward in a body down to the Metro. Sheer wait of numbers causing official ticket collectors to abandon their duties and allow us on free. More workshops, Clancy I.’s superb presentation on Sponsorship.

“I went to the Gay meeting”, “were you at the Archives meeting”? “No I made Around the world in AA.” Every glance every handshake, every hailed greeting, a celebration between spirits. And then on to the Spiritual meeting on Sunday morning and the incredible feeling of being totally at one with every other human being in the world. The closing talk by Joe of Arkansas, the final 'Our Father', the beginnings of farewells. Cries of see you in Chicago, Hawaii, Mexico City, maybe perhaps Seattle!? Who knows where but see you! Last minute shopping in St. Catherine Street. Taxi to the Airport. Good old British Airways. Hello Heathrow. This could only possibly have been beyond our Wildest Dreams.”

(Source: Twenty Years of Bristol Fashion, Tape Archive).

Vol. VII-2 The heart of true sobriety and the Career Officer

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 06:33:41 GMT

THE HEART OF TRUE SOBRIETY

July 2002

We find that no one need have difficulty with the spirituality of the program. Willingness, honesty and open-mindedness are the essentials of recovery. But these are indispensable.

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, p. 568 Am I honest enough to accept myself as I am and let this be the "me" that I let others see? Do I have the willingness to go to any length, to do whatever is necessary to stay sober? Do I have the open-mindedness to hear what I have to hear, to think what I have to think, and to feel what I have to feel? If my answer to these questions is "Yes," I know enough about the spirituality of the program to stay sober. As I continue to work the Twelve Steps, I move on to the heart of true sobriety: serenity with myself, with others, and with God as I understand Him. Reading this reflection and reflecting on it this morning, I have to admit that, when I first read it, over two decades ago in early sobriety, the only question I could answer "yes" to was "Do I have the willingness to go to any length, to do whatever is necessary to stay sober?"

I had had enough of the torture of drinking to be willing to go to any lengths to stay sober and then the learning curve began. To put sobriety first I had to learn to say yes to the other questions. I guess having the open-mindedness to hear what I had to hear came next albeit, it with my ego being often bruised-having a sponsor who gave me the tough love needed helped and her being sober enough not to get insulted when I had a pissy fit. Slowly but surely and still continuing is learning to trust myself, to feel all the emotions which bubble up, acknowledge them and continue living in the moment. Living with instead of living in.

"Like Roots"

Our hands imbibe like roots,

So I place them on what is beautiful in this world.

And I fold them in prayer,

And they draw from the heavens light.

Recently reading the above poem by St Francis, my first thought was of the beauty of the unconditional love felt when I rest my hand on one of my grand children's heads or get an all-embracing hug from one or indeed all of them and as I sat with the poem, I felt the beauty within me as my hands rested on my knees. My great resounding "yes" to accepting me and letting you see me, through sharing my experience. For me, the wonder of this programme continues to unfold, some new adventure every day, some inward journey to be taken and experience shared from a heart full of gratefulness and love.

Fiona D

THE CAREER OFFICER

A British officer, this Irishman-that is, until

brandy "retired" him. But this proved only a temporary setback. He survived to become a mainstay

of A.A. in Eire.

Sackville O'C-M's story was first published in the second and third editions of the AA's Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous.

I am an Irishman and I was forty-nine when I joined A.A. I belonged to one of the Irish families who, more or less traditionally, sent their boys to the British armies. I had a very happy upbringing at home.

When I look back, I can’t see anything that would have predisposed me towards being either a neurotic or a drunk. I went to a very good public school run by Jesuits. I got along well there. I was going to be sent to the Indian Civil Service, which, in those days, meant that people thought you had a certain amount of brains. I was very fond of music. I was one of the star singers in the choir and one of the leading violins in the orchestra. I liked games. There was nothing in my school life that I can look back on which was responsible for anything that happened afterwards.

Then I had a year in Germany at school-that was, incidentally, when I got drunk for the first time. But that was just a mistake. I went out and drank some German wine and it went to my head. When I came back, I told the priest, the Chaplain of the place, exactly what I thought of him and he didn’t like it. He reported to the Headmaster and the Headmaster was going to expel me. But I pointed out to him that as I was the first British boy who had been to the school, it wouldn’t be a very good advertisement for him, so I got over that all right. The term was nearly over and we parted on fairly friendly terms.

I had two years at Dublin University, and then in 1916, I got a nomination for Sandhurst, the British Military College. The war was on and it was a fairly short course, about eight months. Up to that

time, drinking didn’t really mean anything to me at all. In fact, I couldn’t have told you the difference between sherry and brandy. But as soon as I got on my own in France, I started drinking. At first, like everybody else, I could keep control

when I drank, but if I did start to drink, even in those days, I was always one of the last to leave the party.

When the war was over, we had about a year in Germany, occupying the place. When I came home to ordinary garrison life in England, I found that I was drinking rather more than most people of my age. It didn’t worry me very much, because at that time I could shut off for a couple of months without taking a drink or even wanting one, and without feeling that I was giving anything up. I should say

there was less drinking in the Army than I thought at that time. Lots of the older people had taken to drinking quite a good deal more during the war, but the younger generation was, I think, about the same. In my own generation I stuck out, I can see that now, as being a very much heavier drinker than the average man. But as long as you did your work and didn’t disgrace yourself, you were socially acceptable and nobody really intruded on your private life very much. I was still very fit and good at games.

Then I went over again to Germany for four years on an occupation job. I got a job by myself which suited me down to the ground, because there was nobody really to interfere with what I did, one way or the other, and I usually had my nerves in good trim when anybody was coming around to inspect. The gradual result was that I was drifting into making drinking one of the more important parts of my

life. I was alone by myself in that job for a long time.

The I was sent out to India and from then on drinking just increased and increased, and I started having two or three day spells instead of just the ordinary concentrated one day. This was about 1926. India lent itself to drinking then, if you were disposed to drink, because you lived in bungalows; you didn’t live all together as you do at home in an Officer’s Mess. We had a minor campaign or two and that helped distract attention from my drinking. By and large, I got through. I was still very good at games. I was up to International standards in one particular game, and that again covered quite a lot

of my sins. The a change in management took place in my regiment and the new O.C. didn’t like me very much and I didn’t him, and he started to lie in wait

for me. He didn’t have to lie in wait very long, but fortunately by that time, I had acquired friends upstairs and they covered me for quite a time.

The Abyssinian war broke out just as things were going very badly for me, and I went off to Egypt on a job there. Strangely enough, right through to the end of my twenty-six years in the Army, I was still being offered very good and important job sin spite of the fact that my superiors must have known that I wasn’t thoroughly reliable. However, I kept that job in Egypt and Palestine for about two years, and then I changed over to the other battalion in my regiment. They weren’t quite so up-to-date on my history and I got away with about four years with them. Then I had about six months on a small island in command of the troops there. I left because I had a contretemps with the Governor. I went to a dinner he gave one night, rather drunk. I buttonholed him after dinner and gave him a few tips on how to run his colony better and the result of that was about a fortnight or so later I was shipped back to my regiment. But on the other hand, I was terribly fortunate because that should have been a court martial offence and I should have been out on my ear. I was lucky again. I had three or four very uncomfortable months with my regiment then on the Suez Canal. The Commanding Officer only spoke to me when he wanted to tell me exactly who I was and what I was and how little I counted in the scheme of things and how glad he would be if I went away. Even at that, he spoke quite often.

Then Hitler’s war broke out, and again, I was given a really important job on the Suez Canal, dealing with military shipping. I lasted at that for four months, chiefly on alcohol, because I never seemed to find any time to eat. At the end of that time, they shipped me back to my regiment again. I think the Commanding Officer was rather tired of this particular chicken coming back to roost so often because he very soon wrote in to the medical authorities to tell them that they had to get me into hospital, to be thoroughly examined for drinking. They brought me in and of course, they hadn’t very much trouble in finding that I was an alcoholic. But that didn’t mean anything to me. I didn’t know what an alcoholic was. I was down in the Sudan by this time. They kept me in hospital for two months, and then they sent me up to Egypt, a three days journey. They sent me up with an attendant, and the attendant and I both arrived at the Egyptian Hospital rather the worse for wear. I was there for another couple of months and then, after a few more adventures in the East, I was shipped home.

About three months after that, my record reached home and I got a letter telling me I was retired from the Army, they put it very kindly, on medical grounds. But I knew that they knew what the medical grounds were, and that they had put a big black mark against my name. I was never to be allowed back.

I had two or three feelings about that. In part, it was a feeling of intense shame at having to leave the Army during the war, but mostly it was resentment that this kind of thing should happen to me for , strange as it may seem, up to then I still thought I could control drinking. I thought, well, now that I’ve put out for drinking, I’ll just show them that they were completely wrong, so I went off on the biggest bout I had been on up to then, involving about a fortnights blackout.

I was a civilian now. I was in a world that I knew nothing at all about, and I felt intensely afraid. I put myself into a home. I stayed there just long enough to work up a real good resentment against the doctor in charge, who I didn’t think was doing anything at all except collecting fees, and I left there fully determined that I’d never put myself in the power of medical people again.

I stopped off just to have one drink to see if it tasted the same on the way back to London, and that night I was carried back to bed again. So I decided I’d go back and live in Ireland to try the geography cure.

When I arrived back in Dublin, I had no friends left. Everybody I had known in the old days had gone. This was in 1941. I had no work to do and I was at a point where it seemed too late to start anything new. In any case, I made myself believe that, so I just drifted about, existing on my retired pay, drinking, and living at home. That went on for about six years. Things were getting worse and worse. I went to hospitals, I went to retreats, and doctors, and finally my mother asked me to go and see a specialist of her own choosing. I talked to him for quite a long time and at the end, he said, "Well, you’re not quite mad enough to be shut up for good yet, but you soon will be if you live long enough." That put a scare in me for about a fortnight. I was terribly afraid that I was actually going mad, if I hadn’t gone mad already.

I couldn’t understand myself. I was intensely unhappy the whole time, but I didn’t seem to be able to do anything about it, and the worst part to me was the realization that all this was going to

happen again and again until I died. I couldn’t see that there was any way out of it, and I got absolutely despairing. My only hope was to try and get through what was left of my life as best I could, but I could never visualize doing that without drinking. The thought of stopping drinking just never occurred to me.

As I say, this specialist put a scare in me for about a fortnight or three weeks, then I started my last bout which went on and off for about three months. Finally, my mother came and said she had kept me at home for six years because she thought she could help me, but that now she had come to the

conclusion that I wasn’t even worth trying to help. I was to pack and go and get out of their lives for good. That was on the 28th of April, 1947. That morning was the first time I really realized where I’d got to in my life. I couldn’t think of anything at all to do. It was no use talking of putting myself into a home, a hospital, or of going to see a doctor again, or of going to see a priest or anyone else. I had played all that out long ago. She really meant business this time. This was the only time in my life that I’d ever known my mother to be almost pitiless, but she couldn’t be blamed for that. Just when I was wondering what on earth I could do-I was too drunk even to pack a handkerchief-the memory of an A.A. write -up that I had seen in the Evening Mail flashed across my mind-and I thought to myself, this is something I haven’t tried yet.

So, I did manage to get myself down to an A.A. meeting that night. Providentially, this was a Monday night when the Dublin Group met in those days, and my family agreed that if A.A. could do anything for me at all, that I’d be allowed to stay on at home on probation. But if I came back in the usual state, then I’d have to go off for good the next day. Having made that bargain, I immediately began to feel I’d been trapped into it and I went out and had some drinks-four glasses of gin, I remember. I was taking benzedrine and paraldehyde quite impartially during the day then, and by the time I arrived at my

first A.A. meeting, I was pretty drunk and certainly doped up to the eyes and completely jittery. I had been using paralehyde more or less like ordinary drink for the last six years though, occasionally, I’d bounce back to phenobarbital and things like that.

When I arrived at The Country Shop, which was a restaurant where they met in Dublin, I found about thirty-five or forty people in the room. It was their open night meeting, but of course I thought they were all alcoholics; I couldn’t imagine why anybody else would want to go there, and my first reaction was well, I’ve come to something that’s not for me. People seemed to be carefully dressed, too happy, too normal. My mind was too screwy to be able to understand this eventually, that these people had been through a lot of drinking experiences just as I had, and had managed to make a job of it. What struck me most was that they all seemed to be quite pleased with having made a job of it and having stopped drinking. That gave me my first bit of hope. I thought that if these kind of ordinary people can do it, a man of my brains ought to find it much more easy, and I joined.

I suppose I had reached my spiritual gutter that night, but I have never had what you could call a real urge to drink again. Since I joined on that April night, A.A. has done more for me than just me from drinking; it has brought me back to life again. It has made me understand that I must be one of my world, that I cannot exist in any happiness as a rebel by myself.

It has taught me that I can best keep my sobriety by sharing it out with others; that I must bring that sobriety to others who need it, in my own interest. It continues to try to teach me the real charity, the charity that gives time and good will and service, and not just money. It has shown me, through the tragic stories of so many other

alcoholics, the utter futility of self pity. It has taught me that success and failure are never final, and that neither count for very much in the final assessment of any man who has done his best. It has brought me back to a realization of my Maker and my

duties to Him. It has made me very happy.

My mother lived on for five years after I joined A.A., the last two in complete blindness. Not least of my debts to A.A. is the knowledge that in that time when she wanted me most, I was there-and that I wasn’t drunk.

Sackville O'C-M

Reprinted with the permission of AA World Services, Inc.

"My mother lived on for five years after I joined A.A., the last two in complete blindness. Not least of my debts to A.A. is the knowledge that in that time when she wanted me most, I was there-and that I wasn’t drunk."

1971 - The First European Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 06:10:27 GMT

The origin story for the Bristol Reunions

The First European Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous 1971

The First European Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous took place in Bristol, England in September 1971. A major milestone in AA, it was given the go ahead by the General Service Board (GSB) in London and sponsored by the South West Intergroup (SWIG) with a planning committee meeting first in Hartley Wintney and comprising from amongst its members Jack McG (Glasgow), Travers C. (Bristol) & Tony B. ( Cork Ireland).

The scope and ambition of the Convention made it landmark event for not only recovering alcoholics but also for those alcoholics and their families who still hadn’t heard the message of AA with its Recovery programme in the form of 12 steps. Ove the weekend, the convention discussed how best to facilitate the spread of this message far and wide; how to utilize AA’s kinetic energy with all its potential to change the lives of alcoholics who still suffer, to demonstrate just what is possible given the right circumstances.

The Prison Intergroup (PIG) arranged the transportation of convention attendees in fleets of coaches to attend specially convened AA meetings held within prison walls. HMP Bristol, HMP Leyhill & HMP Shepton Mallet opened their doors to the Fellowship in this ground breaking work.

The European Convention was also a gathering of the Friends of AA including professionals whose working lives had been spent trying to tackle the problems of alcoholism, including one in particular, Dr Max Glatt, a Consultant Psychiatrist. He formulated a new way of treating alcoholics at the pioneering in-patient Unit at Warlingham Park Hospital in Surrey from 1952-1962. Max is remembered in the UK with an affection similar to that accorded to Dr Silkworth by the whole fellowship. Max drew inspiration for his work from attending open meetings and the AA way of life. A significant number of early AA members in England where treated in this Unit and so introduced to AA. The Unit at Warlingham Park became a model for similar units opening up in National Health Service (NHS) Regions across the country a decade later.

Richard P., the first European member of AA, arrived at the Convention said “Alcoholics are people who need each other and who need God.” Sackville of Dublin (a great friend to Bristol Fashion) was principle speaker, standing in for Bill W., who had died earlier that year. Conor F., the founder of AA in Ireland in 1946, sent a congratulatory Telegram from his home in Philadelphia. The Papal Nuncio (the Pope’s Ambassador to the Court of St. James in London) was also invited and afforded a full diplomatic welcome in Bristol. This helped inform growing interest from the wider Catholic Church worldwide in the problem of alcoholism and it’s successful treatment.

Harry Vincent the chairman of the National Council on Alcoholism gave an impassioned plea and presented his blueprint for much greater cooperation with existing agencies tasked with the welfare of society in tackling the scourge of alcoholism in our communities. He recognised the primary force for good of AA though, in his opinion, AA needed to cooperate much more with sister agencies in order to realise its unique potential.

Alcoholics Anonymous World services (AAWS Inc.) in New York were represented by General Secretary Bob H. and Dr Travis Dancy a non- alcoholic Trustee of the GSB. Both men shared their experience of AA from both a personal and professional view point. And then, Bob H. gave the eulogy at the Interdenominational service of Thanksgiving for the life of AA Co-Founder Bill W. held immediately afterwards the Convention at Bristol Cathedral.

The flags of the host countries represented at the Convention flew proudly outside the venue all weekend, including England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Malta, Finland, Sweden, United States of America, Canada, Australia and South Africa. The flags of Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales were folded and given to each country’s representative service office as a reminder of the First European Convention. There was also a desire to keep the spirit generated over the weekend going and a Reunion was to be held in subsequent years. This would eventually morph into the AA Reunion in Bristol restarted in 1981 (see flyer below) and which flourished for many years afterwards.

P.S. There is a growing set of Bristol Reunion Recordings on this website, just click on the link below.

This timeline of the 1971 European Conventions draws on both contemporary and later sources, including the History of AA in the West of England, and flyers / material from the Convention.

September 1971. Richard P. speaking in Bristol said of AA: “Were setting something up that the doctors couldn’t do for us”. (Source: Euro Convention tapes). “The most remarkable thing that ever happened about alcoholism was AA”- Travis Dancey ‘71. (Source: As above).

20 ^th -23 ^rd September 1971. Great breakthrough occurred. A three day workshop on alcoholism was held in Bristol. The event was held prior to the European Convention of AA. As a result of the workshop the council were provided with valuable experience and concrete evidence of those areas where education and information are still badly needed.

· Day 1. Alcoholism, Industry and Trade Unions.

· Day 2. Alcoholism and the Social Services.

· Day 3. Alcoholism and the Church of all denominations. (Source: The Council 1971 report C1 D2).

24 ^th September 1971. First European Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous. Two telegrams, first one dated 24th September 1971 “Best wishes from all Scottish Groups sorry unable to be with you=LIL.” The second one addressed to Travers says “Wishing you every success to the First European Convention May God Bless all your efforts and work to bring this milestone in AA history into being, love Alec and Ann.” Newspaper clipping reporting the First European Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous at Bristol University Students Union. The headline is “Dan spends pension... on not drinking.” Tells of a retired New York cop who is spending part of his savings to travel from his Florida home to be at the Convention. Also that he has brought with him a tape recording of the final public address of Bill W. To be played at the memorial service to Bill W. at Bristol Cathedral. It goes on then to talk of the convenor, Travers and has some quotes from him. Some handwriting on the back. (C5 D3)

September 1971. The RAC (the Royal Automobile Club associate section for the provision of roadside assistance and motoring services) put up road signs in Bristol, along the route of the 1 ^st European Convention. They were pleased to do it because of the good publicity they got from such a good play on words: “RAC shows the way to AA Reunion” (with the other AA alluded to in this case being the RAC’s competitors, the Automobile Association). National newspapers carried pictures of these signs and also printed commentary. It reached the cartoon stage of press coverage. (source: Reunion index)

Though Bill was not present at the First All European Convention, having passed away only nine months earlier, the following quote from him may well have touched on the spirit that was present at the Bristol Convention. "We of AA have likewise been lacking in open-mindedness. We, too, had our communication-proof compartment in which we were heard to declare that AA was the only solution. But that phase of our infancy is pretty much in the past. Our thoughtful members now well understand that we of AA are but a part of the great synthesis of meaningful forces now in formulation, a synthesis hopefully designed to cope on every front with the total problem of alcoholism. We therefore stand ready to cooperate with all constructive efforts in the field to the full extent of our ability. We AA's can now truly say "that in isolation we shall be limited but in cooperation with our friends, all may become possible." That, too, is the spirit of this volume; it is a significant step in precisely that direction." W.G.W. Co-founder Alcoholics Anonymous 1968 (Source: Understanding Alcoholism. The Christopher D. Smithers Foundation, Inc. 1968. Archive library)

Wednesday 22 ^nd September 1971. “The First European Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous made up of members from England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, France, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Malta, Finland, Sweden, United States of America, Canada, Australia and South Africa. Members attending began to arrive on Wednesday, September 22 ^nd .”(Source: History of the West of England).

Thursday 23 ^rd September 1971. “His Excellency Archbishop Enrici, Apostolic Delegate to Great Britain arrived at Temple Meads Station. He was met by Bishop Joseph Ruderham and priests of the Clifton Diocese, together with the Lord Mayor of Bristol and her husband, the Sheriff and Sheriff’s Lady, and he was afforded a full diplomatic welcome to the City for the sole purpose of his attendance at the Alcoholics Anonymous gathering.” (Source: History of the West of England).

Thursday Evening 23 ^rd September 1971. First official event was a production, which ran for three nights from Thursday, in the Winston Theatre, part of the Convention complex, of ‘Lady on the Rocks,’ produced especially for the occasion, followed by readings on alcoholism by a well-known actor (Travers) and actress” (his ex-wife Constance Chapman). (Source: History of the West of England) .

Early Friday Evening 24 ^th September 1971. “Early Friday evening the Lord Mayor gave a reception for the Distinguished guests and Overseas Visitors to the European Convention at the Mansion House. Approximately 120 guests attended.” (Source: History of the West of England).

24th-26th September 1971. First European Convention is held in Bristol. Theme: “Give freely of what you find and join us. We shall be with you in the Fellowship of the Spirit.- Bill”. Organized by a committee of three including Travers as the driving force behind the convention. Fr Larry K. is the opening speaker, also present is Richard P., Sackville is Principle speaker, all the staff from AA World Services are present. The Papal Nuncio invitation invited representatives of AA to visit the Vatican saying that not much at this time is known about AA and its suggested way of recovery in Rome. Sackville and Travers are chosen to accept the invitation to visit Rome. The Convention officially opened at 9pm and Chairman for the first big meeting was Richard P, first known alcoholic to get sober in Europe as a result of a direct 12 ^th step call. Other speakers at that meeting included Dr. Travis Dancey (non-alcoholic, Board member, Montreal).” (Source: History of AA in the West of England).

Saturday morning 25 ^th September 1971. “Approximately 400 of those members attending, who were interested in prison work, were divided into three groups and attended meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous at Shepton Mallet, Horfield and Leyhill Prisons. In addition, a large prison group meeting was held in the Convention complex.” (Source: History of the West of England):-

2.45pm. Winston Hall meeting. Please be there early. Doors close at 2.45pm. No standing room allowed at all. Rule of the Union. It’s going to be a very large meeting. After it starts we do ask everybody if they possibly can because we don’t want to spoil the meeting for each other to be at that room as soon after 2.30pm as possible.

5pm. French speaking members please note meet at the Information desk at 5pm. There is going to be a French speaking meeting sometime that evening. There are no collections at any of the AA meetings. There is a Prison Intergroup Social taking place that night they are asking people to support the event by buying tickets they are only a few pence.

Saturday afternoon. 25 ^th September 1971. “The afternoon saw the principle meeting of the convention chaired by the late Leslie K. (GSB) with two non-alcoholic speakers, His Excellency Archbishop Enricci, Apostolic Delegate, and Harry Vincent, Chairman of the National Council on Alcoholism. The alcoholic speakers were Bob Hitchins. General Service Manager, New York, and the meeting closed with Sackville of Dublin.” (History of AA in the West of England). Bill, Chairman of SWIG: “We in the South West have been given the privilege of trying to organize this Convention and I hope your all going to enjoy it very much. As you know it’s the First European Convention and we are delighted to see people from all over the world. I myself made the very hazardous journey across Salisbury plain. We hope that not only this meeting but tomorrow mornings meeting will spread the message that AA gave us here in England from America will help to spread it throughout Europe. I have one announcement to make it is a Telegram from Conor F. who in fact was the person who brought the message from America to Ireland. And he says: “Congratulations on your First All European Convention Sorry I cannot be with you in person but I am with you in spirit. Love to All. Conor.” Now I hope that we will be able to do for other people what he has done for us.

Saturday Evening 7pm 25 ^th September 1971. A German Speaking AA meeting is held in the main hall of the convention complex. (Source: 1 ^st European Convention tapes).

Saturday Night Ceilí (music & dancing) at the European Convention continues until 4am on Sunday morning.

Sunday Morning Meeting. Chairman Jack McG : “Many of you heard in the early stages of AA of a lady who was a wonderful help to Dr. Bob and Bill, Sr Ignatia and rightly so did she become internationally known. AA is fortunate that in the great big public world in this highly competitive and vicious cycle in which we live, there are many people who contribute in their own little way. Neither seeking gratitude, applause or anything. But to many people to whom we are deeply indebted such is a little lady. I should like to have this opportunity of presenting to you just to say a few words. The lady from Dublin Sr. Maria Joseph, a great friend of AA and Travers.

Sunday 26 ^th September 1971. Service of Thanksgiving is held in Bristol Cathedral for the life of Bill W. “Before departure from Bristol, practically all members and their families foregathered at the Bristol Cathedral for an Interdenominational memorial service for Bill Wilson, during which the Preamble, Fifth Chapter, Eleventh Chapter, prayer of St Francis, were all freely used. The service was led by the Bishop of Bristol and a most moving address was given to Bill by his long-time friend and fellow member, Bob H. of New York..” (Source: History of AA in West of England). Over 2000 people attend the Service.

Sunday 26 ^th September 1971. Redland Park Church Hall, Hurle Crescent. Open AA meeting at 6.30pm for those visitors staying over. But the Hall itself is open from 3pm to 8.30pm for Refreshments. Due to transport difficulties and for those from abroad not going home they are able to stay overnight in Redland Park Church Hall. Check this again. (Source; Euro tapes).

28 ^th September 1971. The first reference found in the archive to a proposal to hold the 1974 European Convention in Helsinki. (Letter addressed to the convenors. Store room)

Friday 31 ^st September 1971. It was not until this day that the last of the overseas members attending departed Bristol, and then, in many cases, only to proceed to Dumfries for the Blue Bonnets Gathering. (Source: History of AA in West of England).

October 1971 Bristol Fashion.

Sept/Oct 1971. A sample of thank you letters for the European Convention: Archbishop Enrici said of the European Convention: “I am sure it will have notable beneficial effects in the future on the growth and achievements of the Fellowship.”4/10/71. Sir Dick Caldwell (the Executive Director of the Medical Council on Alcoholism and former Surgeon General of the Royal Navy), was at the convention with his wife Lee and found it “extremely interesting”. “The convention had the spirit of Dr. Bob and Bill about it - I can pay it no higher compliment - I loved every minute of it.” Sister Marie Joseph 1/10/71. Dr Max Glatt, was also there “he loved it and was so thrilled to see some of his hopeless cases alive and well”. Dr Martin K. member of London Akron group. “Far from having a dream - like quality, the convention at Bristol seems the reality, and this life here, the dream. Whichever way, I want you to know that the First All-European AA Convention was, a wonderful experience for me. Our 52 hours in Bristol were a unique and rewarding experience for both my wife (Elaine. ed) and me. I hope we will have the opportunity some day of seeing you here in New York.” Bob Hitchins. 18 ^th Oct, 71.

12th October 1971. John G. of Liverpool to The Bristol Akron AA Group. “Dear Friends, Whilst I was at the recent European Convention I picked up a copy of your “Bristol Fashion” and I enjoyed this so much that I would like, if possible, to obtain further issues. I am enclosing £1 note for you to use as far as it will go with mailing and postage - perhaps you will advise me if you have any special subscription arrangements. I would also like to express my appreciation for the capable way in which the Convention was organized - this was my first Convention, and I thoroughly valued every second of my time in the company of so many members - it was an experience not to be forgotten, and I thank you all for making it possible. I think Travers, and everyone connected did a splendid job. I am actually a member of the World Hello Correspondence AA Group and I was delighted to meet two of my friends from Canada and Australia at Bristol All good AA wishes to you very sincerely.” (Source: Index)

“Far from having a dream-like quality, the convention at Bristol seems the reality, and this life here, the dream. Whichever way, I want you to know that the First All-European AA Convention was, a wonderful experience for me. Our 52 hours in Bristol were a unique and rewarding experience for both my wife (Elaine. ed) and me. I hope we will have the opportunity some day of seeing you here in New York.”

Bob Hitchins (General Manager of AA World Services),

18 October, 1971.

Vol VII - 1. Bristol Fashion is back with the rise of the Prison Groups, Tom T. on sponsorship and more.

looka_production_115990537 — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 11:31:16 GMT

This is the first edition of Bristol Fashion in the new format, Bristol Fashion 2.0. Whilst the ascetic may evolve overtime, the content will seek to reproduce key tracks from previous BFs, new contributions from ongoing correspondence and further familiar elements. Do check out our home at www.bristolfashion.net and the growing resources on https://www.bristolfashion.net/AA-Reunions-in-Bristol.

"We publish Bristol Fashion (2.0) for your enjoyment and information. Any mistakes you find are there for a purpose. We publish something for everyone and some people are always looking for mistakes."

THE PRISON GROUPS.

"The link between prisoners repeat offending and their drinking was now being established in people’s minds."

One of the great stories of AA in England during the 1960s was the rise of the Prison groups. The success inside prison walls showed that AA can work for the alcoholic offender. It was recognised as ‘the best catchment area to be found for the non-drinking alcoholic’.

The first English prison group was formed at HMP Wakefield in December 1958 by Jack H. from Cambridge. The Second group started at HMP Dorchester in 1959 early sponsors: Jacko, Riou, Humphry H. and Travers. By 1965, AA had spread to other Establishments so that a Prison Intergroup (PIG) was formed. By 1972 there were 61 AA prison groups in England and with a further 15 with limited facility.

In HMP Bristol Horfield, Prison Officer Bailey took up the role of liaison and showed a keen interest in the AA group, often getting prisoners involved in the work of the 12 step programme of recovery. He even spoke at the First European Convention in 1971, such was his enthusiasm for the work of AA in prisons. During the European Convention, a lady sponsor from Holloway Prison lauded the Bristol Prison group. She said it was ground breaking in that the prisoners themselves led the meeting, something that did not happen anywhere else.

The link between prisoners' repeat offending and their drinking was now being established in people’s minds: not only with sufferers but with prisons' administrations, welfare officers, chaplains and prison officers. On the outside, it also broadened the base of AA membership with prisoners being released and keen to attend regular meetings.

The groundwork was set for a new generation to build on these early pioneering groups inside prison walls. When Bristol Fashion invited Joe & Charlie over to England in April 1989, to do their Big Book Study at Nympsfield, it created a lot of interest in the Fellowship.

One of the people who came was Peter B. who already had an interest in Prison work. While at Nympsfield he got the idea of starting a treatment programme in British prisons similar to what Joe McQ was doing in America. The rest, as we say, is history.

12 Thoughts on Sponsorship

The relationship between sponsor and protégé is mutually rewarding. The sponsor is both teacher and pupil. You come to be so interested in your protégé that a hole in his shoe makes your foot cold.
You get a thrill when you see your new boy (or girl) making the grade. This thrill is heartwarming and lasting. You never outlive the ability to be so thrilled.
Speak up to your own experience, but not beyond it. Your own story, told simply, without exaggeration or drama, carries conviction. It is the sincerity of the speaker that puts over our message, not skilled oratory or a well turned phrase. Only you can tell your story.
In 12th Step work, we carry the message to an alcoholic who is still suffering. We do not carry the alcoholic. Do not confuse 12th stepping with baby-sitting.
When an infant is learning to walk, the wise mother does not insist on carrying the child. She allows the baby to learn to use its legs.
Encourage the prospect to speak. Learn to be silent in seven languages. What he says can be of great importance. In talking about himself, he releases tension. The writer finds this most difficult. His friends who know him will understand why.
Do not think of yourself as changing the prospective new member. You are only the channel through which the Higher Power operates. Thomas a Kempis said "be not angry that you cannot make others as you wish them to be since you cannot make yourself as you would wish to be.
Should your efforts be rewarded with success you, being human, will enjoy a great thrill, but always remember that the credit belongs to the Higher Power. Remembrance of this will safeguard the sponsor against disaster in those cases where the prospect does not respond. Should we take the credit in successful cases, we must blame ourselves when our efforts have apparently failed.
No honest effort in AA is ever wasted.
Responsibility of a sponsor. No man is an Island. Always remember, from now on, you are all Ambassador for AA / Watch your behaviour carefully. A slip on your part, could cause the death of your protégé. Be specially careful when dealing with a member of the opposite sex. Beware, lest you cause scandal within your group, or about your group. Love is blind, but the rest of your group is not!
Do not let fear of making a mistake keep you from making a 12th Step call. If any man can honestly tell you he has never made a mistake you can bet your bottom dollar that his father cannot make the same claim.
Expect to be criticised. Ours is a fellowship of men and women. Some of the criticism may be justified. "It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to listen to the singing of fools." - Eccls., Chap 7, Verse 5. Eamon Andrews on TV recently quoted the late Pope John who, in turn, was quoting a much earlier Pope on criticism, when he said "do your best, and be happy, and let the sparrows twitter."

By the late Tom T. of Birmingham.

First published in Bristol Fashion, November 1997, No. 352.

"From your home, to our home."

Communications Corner

Subscriptions, letters, cards and communications of all kinds are gratefully received.

Communications

Martin R. (Belfast)

Eileen G. ( New York)

Fiona D. ( Co Mayo )

Vaughan H. ( Bristol )

Christian ( Stockport)

Joyce Ann ( Ireland)

Stewart A. ( Bristol )

Larry G ( Little Rock)

Anniversaries

Bristol 1953 - 2023. It was Dr Jim H. from Belfast who started the first meeting in Bristol when he gathered together six other members at the Full moon on Stokes croft. Bristol's 70th Anniversary is coming up in November this year. The Editors intend to honour the occasion with an Anniversary Dinner at a city centre hotel, details to be announced.

Thought for the Month

"Alcoholics are people who need God and need each other."

Richard P.

First European Convention

Bristol, 1971

First published January 2012, Bristol Fashion Vol VI, No 26.

Bristol Fashion 2.0

Wed, 12 Apr 2023 15:50:54 GMT

The story of an Independent AA Journal in the West of England.

Bristol Fashion 2.0 is a digitised platform for story telling and this is the story of an Independent AA Journal in England which started in 1968 , ran until 2005 and was then restarted in 2010 . With thirty seven years of unbroken, monthly hard copy publication, it became something of an institution among its subscribers who comprised, at their peak, a worldwide readership of over one thousand.

The Bristol Fashion Journal was a means of communication between the readers as birthdays were marked, obituaries were printed and conventions and retreats were publicised. If you lived locally, in the West of England, hard paper copies were available free on the first Monday of each month at the Newcomers group at 103 Queens road Clifton. Due to its longevity and evolution into a well-connected platform of communication, they recorded events and happenings across the Fellowship over a span of many years and, together, the Bristol Fashion archives contain a history of the birth and growth of AA in the West of England.

Bristol Fashion was also a vehicle for Spiritual Retreats, organised by the editors who wished to highlight the fact that the AA programme is, at its heart, a spiritual programme. It covered all the aspects of an alcoholics life but with a special emphasis on Steps Three and Eleven of the AA programme's Twelve Steps to recovery. These two Steps involve a personal surrender to a God of one's own understanding and the development of effective communication with this Higher power through Prayer and Meditation. Over the years, retreat givers included Priests, Ministers, Rabbis, Psychologists, Monks as well as ordinary AA members with years experience of working the Twelve Steps.

Each month the editors of this Bristol Fashion 2.0 blog will endeavour to draw out and curate some of the contents of the host of articles contained within the past editions to make them accessible again for a new readership to enjoy. Also included in Bristol Fashion 2.0 website, you will be able to find a growing set of recordings of the many speakers who came to the AA Reunions in Bristol over the years, as well as snapshots and material telling the wider story of the treatment of alcoholism, the evolution in how it was understood within the wider community and together, the new editors efforts to help continue to carry the message forward.

Echoing the original editions, "we publish Bristol Fashion (2.0) for your information and enjoyment. Any mistakes you find are there for a purpose. We (will) publish something for everyone and some people are always looking for mistakes."

The Editors.

Carrying the spiritual message of AA, one blog post at a time.

Death of a Sponsor

1985 - Go West Bristol Fashion, Go West.

Bristol Fashion visits New York in preparation for the World Convention

(Source: Twenty Years of Bristol Fashion, Tape Archive).

Vol. VII-2 The heart of true sobriety and the Career Officer

of A.A. in Eire.

Sackville O'C-M's story was first published in the second and third editions of the AA's Big Book, Alcoholics Anonymous.

"My mother lived on for five years after I joined A.A., the last two in complete blindness. Not least of my debts to A.A. is the knowledge that in that time when she wanted me most, I was there-and that I wasn’t drunk."

1971 - The First European Convention of Alcoholics Anonymous

The origin story for the Bristol Reunions

Bob Hitchins (General Manager of AA World Services), ﻿

18 October, 1971.

Vol VII - 1. Bristol Fashion is back with the rise of the Prison Groups, Tom T. on sponsorship and more.

﻿ THE PRISON GROUPS.

"The link between prisoners repeat offending and their drinking was now being established in people’s minds."

12 Thoughts on Sponsorship ﻿

Communications Corner

Communications

Anniversaries

Thought for the Month

Bristol Fashion 2.0

The story of an Independent AA Journal in the West of England.

Bob Hitchins (General Manager of AA World Services),

THE PRISON GROUPS.

12 Thoughts on Sponsorship