Five Bells Trio Represent Bridgend

A special report from Chief Editor, Jonathan David Abraham

The Five Bells Inn is well known throughout Bridgend and the United Kingdom for the cornucopia of skills, talents and crafts possessed by its regulars. This weekend three of those regulars put their talents and the honour of the Five Bells to the test at the 2003 Don 'Lofty' Estelle look-alike competition.

This year the Wales and the South West heat was held in the garden of The Boater Public House in Bath. The three men set off accompanied by an eager bus full of supporters early on Saturday morning and arrived in plenty of time for the competition. A great deal of time had been spent preparing for the event and the party all wondered whether one of these gallant men would go on to represent their town and country at the United Kingdom final to be held at the Albert Hall, London, in August.

Pith

Things started badly and Bridgend's hopes were immediately dashed as James Coates was disqualified before the competition had even started for forgetting his pith helmet. David Oakley soon followed, eliminated for an 'inappropriate haircut' by the judges. Now everyone's hopes were stacked on the able shoulders of Mike Myles.

Grass

Mike gave it his very best shot and easily made it through to the last three. The judges were particularly impressed by Mike's rendition of 'Whispering Grass' and commended him for the 'extra dimension' his accent had brought to the song. Huge anti-climax and desperate disappointment was to befall the Bridgend contingent though as Mike was declared runner-up to a one-legged carpenter from Taunton.

STOP PRESS

Spirits were totally restored on the way home when David Oakley was unexpectedly declared winner of the David Essex look-alike competition held annually at the car park of the M4 Services at Magor.