From Only £135.00 per person
ABOUT THE TRIP - in case you haven't been before?
Special Guest just announced - see below
The french trip is a bizarre excursion that we have organised in Dunkerque, since back in the
the early 1990s. After 12 trips, we took a break for a few years, however, in 2009 the trip was
resurrected by popular demand, and a wonderful time was had by all.
Most of us (including the band) will meet up early on Saturday in Kent. If you prefer to come
by train, we can meet you at Dover station. This year, we will meet at a new venue (to be
confirmed) somewhere near Folkestone, and we may hold an event on Friday night.
Leaving the cars there, everyone will hop on the coach and we head for the channel. For the
ferry crossing most of us will be found with Otway, and the band in the bar until we arrive
in France at around 3.00 local time.
There's usually enough time for everyone to check in
the hotels and then nip off to do some booze shopping, which is a nice bonus in the run up
to Christmas. Then it's into town in the early evening, where most people seem to want to
explore and find a nice bar or restaurant somewhere. At around 8.00 it´s time to meet at the
venue for the big Saturday night show, at our venue in the town centre.
On Sunday we'll head for suitable venue to lose the hangovers accompanied by a little
unscripted entertainment which we hope to lay on, which this year will be near Calais. This
show, for many of us, is the highlight of the trip. Anything goes and it often ends up very surreal.
We'll be heading back to Blighty for sunday evening.
There will be an Upper Class version of the trip (after Otway nicked the idea from Richard
Branson), and a Standard Class version, according to whether you want a posh hotel in town,
or are happy with a more basic hotel a little away from the town centre.
The Saturday Otway Big Band show, with our traditional French guests is included, as is
travel to our Sunday venue and all travel by ferry and coach during the trip.
Please note we have very limited places the trip - as always, it's first come, first served.
Do e-mail us if you have any questions, or anything is unclear.
I really hope you can make it this year.
I look forward to hopefully seeing you in France!
Richard Cotton
THE URBAN SPACEMAN HAS LANDED
It gives us great pleasure to announce that Neil Innes has kindly agreed to join John and the band on this year´s French Trip.
Neil is a founder member of the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band whose one hit "I´m the Urban Spaceman" earned him an Ivor Novello Award in 1968. However it is his work with Monty Python and as a member of the Rutles that he is best known. He appeared on stage with the Pythons in New York City in 1976, performing the Bob Dylanesque "Protest Song" (complete with harmonica) on the album Monty Python Live at City Center. He was introduced as Raymond Scum. After his introduction he told the audience "I've suffered for my music. Now it's your turn." (Something that all Otway fans can sympathize with!) He also wrote the songs that appeared on the soundtrack to Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Because of this long association he is often referred to as "The Seventh Python".
After Monty Python, Innes co-founded the Rutles with fellow former Python Eric Idle for the comedy sketch show Rutland Weekend Television. He wrote all the songs that parodied the Beatles with his own take on songs such as I am the Walrus (Piggy in the Middle) and Help (Ouch). Such was the success of the Rutles, a one-off made for TV movie "All You Need is Cash" was filmed which also yielded an album released by Warner Brothers. More recently Innes formed the comedy musical collective "The Idiot Bastard Band" with Adrian Edmondson and Phil Jupitus.
We are honoured that Neil has agreed to join us on this year's trip and we're sure that you will enjoy one of British comedy's true legends as much as we will.
Please e-mail
france2011@rotator.co.uk
if you would like details of this November's Dunkerque trip
