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Not Nearly So Exciting


Claygate Kerfuffles

In December 1957, Claygate Village Hall Association in Surrey sued Helicopter Services Ltd of Piccadilly for breach of contract.

It all started at the Claygate summer fete. In something of a celebrity coup (probably thought up to outdo the neighbouring villages) television personality Jon Pertwee and his wife were due to arrive by helicopter. Now that would be good for business. I daresay there wouldn’t be a pot of jam left on any of the stalls after that.

Anyway, it didn’t quite happen as it should. Mr and Mrs Pertwee actually arrived by car with an escort of motor scooters. As the judge himself pointed out:

“Not nearly so exciting.”

The defendants argued that there was no contract, only a letter. But the judge decided that this was a breach of contract, but in unfortunate legal wording he “granted a stay of execution for 14 days pending notice of appeal.”


Have a look at my book of stories inspired by Joyce Grenfell


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