Who was on the Jolly Boys Outing coach in the 1989 Episode?
By Tom Griffith (Griff)
One of the most memorable episodes of Britain’s best loved sitcom would have to be ‘The Jolly Boys Outing’, screened in 1989. My personal faveourite episode. I love watching this episode on a Friday or Saturday afternoon/evening for some reason – I guess it’s the kind of feel I get when watching the episode. If I was to go on a Jolly Boys Outing, it would be a Friday or a Saturday. And, for some reason, I find myself watching this episode with a cold beer and a curry on a typical Friday or Saturday! I also love this particular special as it includes all of the main cast.
The episode included all of the boys joined together enjoying their bank holiday break on the east-coast of Margate.
It’s fair to say that most of us often wonder who else was involved in the day trip to Margate in this episode. Along side Del Boy, Rodders and Uncle Albert, were the likes of Trigger, Boycie, Mike, Mickey, Jevon, Uncle Albert, Denzil, Sid, Alan Parry and coach driver Harry – who else was sat on that famous coach? (before it blew up!).
Well, unless this question has been cleared up officially by the great man himself in the past, John Sullivan, or anybody else that has a reliable source, I would like to speculate who would have likely been involved in all of the boys’ fun in that very eventful episode.
Many of you beady eyed viewers will have recognised who I believe is Young Towser, who was sat at the back of the coach. You see him clearest when the lads are singing along to Bananarama’s version of ‘help!’ and just after Del Boy sets up Denzil with the brass bell ringer where everybody engages in a raw of laughter and mickey taking out of poor old Denz.
We do see Young Towser in a couple of the earlier episodes/specials, albeit very briefly and seemingly by different actors. If my memory serves me correct, we see him in ‘Healthy Competition’ and ‘To Hull and Back’. You would bet a score that he would have been involved in the Jolly Boys Outing carnage. Other times, we only hear of Towser if Del Boy is referencing him regarding a deal for example.
So, either this was Young Towser, or the same actor playing a random mate of Del’s. Or I’m completely wrong!
Next analysis of who was sat on the Jolly Boy’s coach – Sun Glasses Ron. Could this have been the bloke sat right at the back, with his sunglasses on and mini-afro? Nobody knows for sure of what race Sunglasses Ron is, but I would bet my double-headed coin that this was Sunglasses Ron himself in the 1989 episode.
So, who else was on the coach then? My speculation leads me to suggest the following characters surely would have made Del’s guest-list:
- Paddy the Greek – Did any of you see a Greek looking chap? Not me..
- Ginger
- Monkey Harris
Most of us already have gained the knowledge that in the early days of the Jolly Boys Outings, along with a youthful Del Boy and Boycie et al, had Freddie Robdal and Jelly Kelly in attendance. But again, who else would have been involved on the classic trip that we all would love to have made?
Working from the top of my aching brain, I would say the following also made the classic trip to Margate:
Edward Trotter – A younger, and ever so slightly more vibrant Ted will have made the trip. Del Boy always ensured that his Grandad was well looked after and involved. Except for the unwilliness to bring him to Spain in his later years!
George Trotter – The brother of Albert and Ted as you all know. A shame we were not blessed with a visibility of this character.
Reg Trotter – Needless to say, Reg would have ensured he was involved in any kind of booze-up.
Jack Trotter – Father of the three brothers in Albert, Ted and George. Every jolly boys outing has to have an old git in attendance! Just like the 1989 trip with Albert!
The Driscoll Brothers –Danny and Tony. There’s no ruling out that the local mafia wouldn’t have been in attendance. Nobody would turn away the Driscol Brothers. At least with these two feisty, bullying brothers, that the group would have some form of safety wherever they visited! Should they come across any local hard-nut gangs.
Young Towser – ‘Young’ being the operative word. Towser will have been a youngster, early teens.
Clayton – I would argue that it was very likely that Clayton, the elderly chap who has a cameo role in ‘Danger Uxd’ and who was seen in Rock & Chips will have had his seat booked on the famous coach.
Dirty Barry – I wonder if he was around in 1960’s, Peckham? Or did he move there in the 1980’s during the Thatcher era? I would have thought that if he was around in 1960’s Peckham, he will have been involved in exchanging dodgy deals with a young Del Boy perhaps?
Don – Played by Bobby Bragg – The warm-up comedian for audience participants for those lucky bleeders who experienced and witnessed Sir David Jason and co performing live. He was also seen as playing the landlord of the Nags Head in ‘Rock & Chips’ series.
Roy Slater – We know for sure that he was infact in the party in the first episode of ‘Rock & Chips’. I believe that he will have forced his way on to that coach time and time again. Regardless of getting an invite. I believe that he would have had Del Boy wrapped round his finger over some dodgy deal, just as he (Roy) was working his way through the Force.
Finally, a confirmation as to who else was present on at least one trip to Margate:
Albie Littlewood, Jumbo Mills, Trigger, Boycie, Denzil and Del Boy.
I am sure that I may well be corrected on something in my analysation, and feel free to add anyone that I may have missed or who you think attended. Thank you for reading a first-time blogger.
And Lenny Corbett and bronco
I remember that Denzil was in charge of the food on the coach, until Del heard about his “disease”. Del gives the food responsibility to Mike, and Sid asks him why he shouldn’t do the food as he runs a café. Del says, “Well, we intend to eat it”.
Thanks for writing this article. It made me think back over my knowledge of the entire OFaH world, and was an entertaining take on the subject of the mighty Jolly Boys Outing. There are a few spelling mistakes in your article – but the information and intent more than makes up for this. Spelling mistakes and syntactical errors are only held against you when you write something contentious / YouTube ;)
abdul surely would of gone along once ?
https://www.ofah.net/blog/jolly-boys-outing-coach/
That coach still exists today!, registered to an operator in Margate. A friend of mine did an MOT on it, was told by the owners about it’s OFAH appearance, then when my friend did the print-out of the vehicle history, he knew they were telling the truth!.
Hello Marc,
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I thought ‘Ginger’ had moved to Canada? Because I remember Del Boy using Dezils phone to call Ginger whilst doing a cackhanded decorating job.
i would suggest sid would have been there,funny that it was him that gave rodney the photo in sleepless in peckham yet he was not mentioned in rock and chips!!
I missed out ‘Ronnie Nelson’!
What about Teddy Cummings?