Sounds like the sort of rambling vocabulary one would perhaps associate with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band or a gibbering madman, but these names actually hold huge significance with the Ancient Order Of Froth Blowers, who this month held their annual ‘Friends Of The Froth Blowers’ Lunch at Simpson’s-in-the-Strand.
The Froth Blowers effectively gained life in 1924 as a wager between two wealthy philanthropists, Mr Bert Temple and Sir Alfred Fripp, who had performed a life-changing stomach operation on the fast-living Temple. Eager to show his gratitude, Temple promised to raise £100 for children’s welfare charities supported by Fripp – No mean feat, considering the average weekly wage was around £3 at the time. The order was born and Temple began recruiting ‘blowers’, first from his military regiment, the 1st Sportsman’s Battalion. The membership grew to huge proportions, each paying a life membership of five Shillings and proudly ‘shooting their Linen’ at meetings to display the monogrammed membership cufflinks.
Today, the Friends of The Froth Blowers, chaired by ale enthusiast David Woodhead, aim to lovingly maintain the memory of the Ancient Order, (which disbanded in 1931) by holding annual revivals, this year reuniting some of the living relatives of both Temple and Fripp.
After a superb luncheon of 28 day-aged rib of beef, washed down with a specially bottled ‘Froth Blower’ ale and a rousing rendition of the Froth Blowers’ traditional anthem ‘The More We Are Together’, members were invited to view some of the original artifacts and regalia from the Order. These included a superbly preserved silver plated tankard belonging to Bert Temple, as well as more obscure ceremonial items such as the Oust Box for collecting donations at meetings and a ‘Piffle Snonker’ to maintain order during the more lively events.
Both Temple and Fripp can rest assured that their humorous yet hugely charitable legacy lives on. More information on the Friends Of The Froth Blowers can be found at Frothblowers.co.uk
September 16, 2009