new book on 1960s Thames Valley scene (will include quotes from Eel Pie Island Dharma)

On 2020-06-18, at 12:37 PM, ANDREW HUMPHREYS wrote:
   
Hi Chris
I'm an author working on a book about the Richmond and Twickenham scene of the 1960s and '70s. It covers the whole Eel Pie Island, Crawdaddy, L'Auberge scene, from about 1956 (when L'Auberge opened and Eel pie started hosting jazz) to the demolition of the hotel in 1971. While the music is at the forefront of the story, I'm also keen to ground it in the alternative cultural landscape of the time – the arts labs, squats and commune. I've read Eel Pie Island Dharma, and I'd like to quote from it if may? It might also be fun to chat, if you're willing? Maybe Skype or Zoom or something similar? I've almost finished the first draft of the book and am now working on the final chapter, which cover the years of the commune, hence me getting in touch with you now. It will be published later this year.

I hope to hear from you.
Best wishes,
Andrew Humphreys



Hi Andrew,

Thanks for contacting me - it makes my day when someone expresses an interest in EPID and those long ago crazy days of the 1960s  ;  )-

You have my permission to quote whatever you wish from Eel Pie Island Dharma. Just make sure I and my publisher, Hidden Brook Press, are given credit. I've cc'ed my publisher, Tai Grove of Hidden Brook Press, on this so he's aware.

I've also cc'ed Weed, whose memoir of the commune is included in EPID. He may be an even better resource than I on the cultural history of the commune.

I've also cc'ed two Twickenham playwrights, Tom and Sam, who have completed a first draft of a movie script based on EPID.

Of course I'd be most willing to natter your ears off about my time on the island. I'm not the most techy of people, so I don't use skype or zoom - in fact I just have a very old-fashioned landline. Tom and Sam found a way to cheaply connect with me long distance, so that may be the best way to chat.

Have you read the hardcover book, Eel Pie Island, by Michele Whitby and Dan Van Der Vat?

Best wishes for your book - the Thames Valley scene was a very magickal time and place! 

peace,
Chris



Hi Chris
Thank you for getting back to me so quickly and with such positivity. To be sure I will fully credit your book and Hidden Brook Press, and hopefully some people who read my book might be directed to yours to find out more. I'd love to hear from Weed, and have him on my list of people to contact. Similarly, Tom and Sam, I'd be very curious to hear more about your project. I do know Michele's excellent book and I'm in touch with her – where mine differs is that it places Eel Pie in context and talks about what else was going on around the area, like the Richmond Arts Workshop (and its inspiration in the Drury Lane Arts Lab), the L'Auberge scene, the local art schools, and so on. I'll look into how to make cheap international phonecalls and get back to you shortly on that – it would be fascinating to chat.
More soon.

Memorial poem for O Puck: Patrick Connors

A Period of Transition

In Honour of O Puck


March 21st.

The first full day of spring.
Birds are chirping, the sun shines
leaves are forming on the trees.

Today is the day
O Puck has left this dimension.

And yet I know 
his spirit lives on.

He taught us in 2012
    that the end of the Mayan calendar   
                    was NOT

the end of the world

but merely a new beginning…

"The universe is in a period of transition," O Puck said,
 "All the stars and planets
            are in perfect alignment.

"It has taken us over 5000 years
to get to this point, but make no mistake -
our time has come.

"If you are not ready for our destiny
                    the world will leave you behind.

"But if you will accept this new dawning
    the importance of mother earth, the sacredness of all people

                then you are ready for the days
            which will change the world forever."

I know I will see my friend again
    after I have made a period of transition.

We will laugh and hug, and he will tell a joke
        about an angel, a poet
and the eagle.

And we will laugh again
        and he will teach me how
                    to live in a world beyond enlightenment.






Robert Preston Doepper

October 1, 1945 – March 21, 2020

Rob passed away as a result of a massive stroke which followed open heart surgery in Toronto Canada.


He was predeceased by his parents John and Gloria Doepper of Wellfleet MA and is survived by his brother Richard and wife Margaret of Delray Beach, FL; sister Denise Ilkovich and her husband David of Wellfleet, MA; His daughter Tara Zai Mead of Port Perry, Ontario and his nieces Julie La Rosa, Katie Ilkovich, Sasha Gerardi and nephew Ben and their families.

Rob was born in Brooklyn NY in 1945 moved to Wellfleet MA in 1960 graduated from Nauset Regional High School in Orleans, MA he attended the University of Oregon, and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy.  He had a varied career ranging from construction to being an Administrator for Housing for the indigenous peoples of Canada, worked on courseware concept for the Ontario Ministry of Education to teach young children about people and places with the goal of inoculating them against racism to working for ChocoSol, a cacao processing company.


He was known to many of his friends as Intelligent, spiritual, generous, loving, kind, teacher, mentor and good friend.  He cared deeply about the environment and “Mother Earth”, he was more concerned about helping his fellow man than helping himself.


Some of his accomplishments include:

Planetary Synergy Award
Outstanding Achievement Award for Volunteerism
Save The Rouge Valley Foundation
“Pride of Place” Roundtable, City Council
Founding Chairperson – First Peoples Cultural and Recreational Centre of Scarborough
Certificate of Merit – Native Canadian Centre of Toronto
And the list goes on…
Rob/Puck marched to the beat of a different drummer…

“Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away.” – Henry David Thoreau