AN OLD charitable community group is being resurrected in an Oswestry pub – the Ancient Order of Froth Blowers.
Mike Lade, a well-known Rotarian in Oswestry, has joined forces with Duncan Borrowman, landlord of the award-winning Bailey Head, to bring back the group for the first time since 1931.
Mike says the Order was a ‘humorous, typically British’ organisation ‘to foster the noble art and gentle healthy pastime of froth blowing among gentlemen-of-leisure and ex-soldiers’.
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He said his thinking in restoring the Order is to ‘grab the public imagination in a fun way’ and give people a group to belong to and help raise money for charities.
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He said: “We are open to men and women who appreciate beer, ale or exceptionally, lager or cider who are friendly and want to enjoy the company of others.
“Also, who want to look after our community and raise some money for others.
“Particularly welcome still are ex-military veterans, same as they were in 1924-31, but also ‘blue light’ workers, NHS workers, the lonely and isolated that can come together and chat over a beer - preferably real ale.”
The organisation was set up by Bert Temple in gratitude for life-saving stomach surgery by Sir Alfred Fripp with a subscription equating to £11 today.
Across the country, it had 700,000 members and raised millions of pounds for charitable causes before it came to a natural end in 1931.
Mike said that he was motivated by the history he learned of the group to start it again.
He said: “A fun, tongue-in-cheek group of people that doesn't take itself very seriously, that is centred in the community, that cares for each other and strives to ‘do good’ has a great appeal to me in this day and age.
“Hence, the desire to resurrect the Ancient Order of Froth Blowers starting in Oswestry.”
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In Froth Blowers speak, a meeting place is called a Vat and the Oswestry Vat is The Bailey Head in Bailey Head and will meet at 7pm at every first and third Tuesday.
More information is available on Face Book @Ancient Order of Froth Blowers -Oswestry, contacting Mike on 07803 038858, via email at AOoFB@gmail.com or through the temporary web site available from the Facebook page.
Please contact Mike if you would like to be part of the Ancient Order of Froth Blowers in Oswestry.
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