| Part Three: | | | | getting his merchandise together and put it all |
| Q-DW: With all the years of hard training and | | | | back in his car. |
| instruction going up through the kyu grades what | | | | George then walked back in the dojo with a big |
| was the final path to your first dan ? | | | | smile on his face as if nothing had happened and |
| A-SE: I was always fortunate that not only did I | | | | asked what was going on in this hall, I explained |
| receive personal instruction and guidance directly | | | | that we were doing Aikido classes. |
| from Sensei Williams and my own Sensei, and all | | | | He came back the following week with about 8 of |
| the dan grades previously mentioned. | | | | his friends who all joined. |
| I also think that being assistant instructor to the | | | | George was a very powerfully built man and also |
| beginners class from 7th to 4th kyu, I was able | | | | an accomplished street fighter and he became the |
| to form a good practicing relationship with a small | | | | one for me to train with. |
| select group of students who all later became the | | | | I did not earn much money being an apprentice |
| second generation of " HUT" dan grades. | | | | engineer, George was older than me and soon |
| The group was made up of people like Ron | | | | took me under his wing and quickly embroiled me |
| James at 6ft 5ins tall and about 250 lbs seemed | | | | in his nefarious activities which included a very |
| like a giant to me as a boy. He never took that | | | | profitable enterprise of delivering black market |
| into account and never gave me any leeway at all | | | | hooch to all the Indian restaurants in West |
| so it was very hard but good to train with this | | | | London. |
| giant of a man. | | | | Harry was angry over my involvement until he |
| He would not "go" for anyone so he was always | | | | also got involved, and he also got all the |
| a challenge for me. | | | | decorating contracts for the restaurants. |
| Ron was a good friend and brother In law to | | | | We worked on the door of some of the |
| another dan grade Andy Allen, who was assistant | | | | restaurants and from that day on we always had |
| to Sensei Foster. | | | | as many curries as we could eat and we never |
| Sensei Ellis and I would often bring young ladies to | | | | had to pay. |
| the dojo visitors area. Andy who was the oldest | | | | George became a favourite of Kazuo Chiba |
| student of us all was a very dry and dour kind of | | | | Sensei and is now a third dan, George was a |
| man. | | | | brown belt when he left the HUT to join Sensei |
| I would say to him "Andy, she is nice isn't she" | | | | Ellis at the Slough dojo in 1968, and can be seen in |
| and as long as I knew him I always received the | | | | some photos with Mr Jack Poole who was a |
| same grim reply; | | | | beginner at that time. George remembers him |
| " Huh! They are all nice until you marry them!!". | | | | well and was the one who actually signed him in |
| Andy was one of my regular training partners. | | | | when he joined. |
| Trevor Jones who was junior assistant to Sensei | | | | We could write a book on the escapades we had |
| Williams was probably the one I trained with most | | | | together. |
| and we became inseparable not only as aikidoists | | | | George was at my wedding and did the full Zorba |
| but also as friends and we helped each other to | | | | dance with the glass of water on his head, my |
| prepare for dan grade. | | | | family still talk about it now. |
| I guess that's how I eventually got to that point | | | | Relocating and Leaving the HUT. |
| of my preparation for dan grade. | | | | Q: DW. |
| I received my first dan grade just before I | | | | Sensei, You told me earlier that this was around |
| became 21 yrs of age. At the same time I had | | | | the time you got married and moved away from |
| just completed my apprenticeship as an engineer. | | | | the HUT and the locality. Could you expand on this |
| It was then that Sensei Williams asked Sensei Ellis | | | | time. |
| and I to travel and spread the 'gospel' of Aikido. | | | | A: SE. Yes, After I married I moved to |
| We were the early 'disciples' as he put it. | | | | Basingstoke in Hampshire. |
| Although aikido had started to spread a little, | | | | My work involved a lot of traveling as I was |
| there were areas that had no knowledge of this | | | | working on the drilling rigs, drilling for Gas in the |
| new martial art. | | | | English Channel just off the River Humber. |
| My beloved "Isetta" bubble car, which I had | | | | I would also take the opportunity to visit local |
| pushed to it's limits, had finally BURST ! | | | | Aikido clubs and train whenever possible. |
| It had to be dumped. Luckily at the same time, | | | | I later found work nearer home in 1969, I |
| Sensei Ellis had just bought a one year old Mini car | | | | renewed my contact and friendship with Trevor |
| which was in those days the "business". | | | | Jones who had also married and now lived in |
| So looking at the car and the prospects of aikido | | | | Camberley Surrey only 10 miles from my home. |
| and travel and some amorous adventures I | | | | He told me he had recently opened a new dojo |
| readily agreed to go along. | | | | at the Hawley Hotel. He was now working as an |
| Rat Attack. | | | | Airline steward and asked me to look after his |
| Q-DW: I have read and enjoyed Sensei's stories | | | | dojo and teach when he was on long haul flights, I |
| of your travels from his perspective is there | | | | agreed. |
| anything that you would like to add as you were | | | | I found that Trevor's Aikido had definitely moved |
| also a part of that experience. | | | | up a gear, although the training and technique was |
| A-SE: At this point Henry and I had become good | | | | still fairly traditional, he had by far the most |
| friends outside of the dojo, yet on the tatami I | | | | powerful aiki movement of any person I had |
| would still give deference, and that is how it has | | | | ever met including the Japanese. |
| always been even today. | | | | The dojo later moved from the Hawley Hotel to |
| The first dojo we visited was in Nottinghamshire | | | | Brookwood, with two good students Mike |
| and run by George Cotterell, where we were | | | | Cashmore and Colin Relph as assistants , I also |
| employed for a short while. | | | | remember Wasil Kolenkisov training there as a |
| Mr Cotterell bred Chihuahua dogs of which there | | | | beginner, he later joined Sensei Ken Williams as an |
| must have been about 50 or 60 of what Henry | | | | assistant. At The beginning of 1969 I opened " |
| called overgrown rats. | | | | The Basingstoke Aikido Club" I would still |
| These dogs were all in the paved back yard. The | | | | occasionally help Trevor who had now moved to |
| only toilet was situated at the rear of the yard, | | | | a purpose built dojo at the "Frimley Budokan". |
| next to the funeral parlour. | | | | Unfortunately, Trevor Later had some health |
| At night the gate would be locked so the only | | | | problems and the dojo was then run by my old |
| way to the toilet was through this dog filled yard. | | | | friend Andy Allen from the HUT With the |
| One night we had just got back from a good | | | | assistance of John Harding who still practices |
| night at the local pub and Henry went straight to | | | | today and who we are still in contact with. With |
| bed whilst I stayed up for a cup of tea and a | | | | Trevor I re-visited many dojos including Sensei K |
| chat with Mrs Cotterell. | | | | Williams who had left the HUT and was now in |
| After about one hour, Henry came out of the | | | | the Rhonnda Valley in Wales. I also visited the |
| bedroom wearing just his jeans with no socks or | | | | HUT which was now being run by Sensei Haydn |
| shoes, and he ran across the yard to the toilet ( | | | | Foster who always made me very welcome. |
| that is some strong ale they drink up North). | | | | Aikido visits to Europe . |
| He made it before the dogs could snap at his | | | | Q: DW. Sensei, could you tell me about your visits |
| ankles. We heard a lot of commotion and looked | | | | to Europe at this time ? |
| out of the window to see all these dogs yapping | | | | A: SE. Sure, these were good day's. Trevor and I |
| outside the toilet door and in their excitement | | | | would visit Noro Sensei at the Paris Aiki-Kai. Noro |
| were doing their "business". | | | | Sensei was really pleased to see us, and on my |
| Henry was now trying to open the door, and | | | | first visit he surprised me by awarding me 2nd |
| seeing all the dogs and the mess he then realised | | | | dan which was unusual as I was not a regular |
| he had no shoes on. | | | | student, he never ever charged me for gradings |
| Mrs Cotterell and me were in total hysterics at | | | | or lessons. |
| what was going on. Henry was shouting for me | | | | Noro Sensei reminded me of the time I was at |
| to bring out his shoes but with that northern ale | | | | the HUT on one of his visits, where he |
| inside of me I felt brave and ignored him and | | | | recommended to Sensei Williams that I should |
| enjoyed the fun. | | | | only do backward ukemi (break falling) until his |
| Watching him running across that minefield was | | | | next visit in two weeks time, Sensei Williams said |
| just like a scene from a Jerry Lewis film. As he | | | | he would punish me with a shinai if he caught me |
| ran he was shouting threats of gross physical | | | | doing forward ukemi, however Noro did not visit |
| abuse at me. | | | | in two weeks but 4 months later, I had by this |
| Shortly after that we had problems with the boss | | | | time adapted to some amazing breakfalls from all |
| over the photos we had taken with the coffins as | | | | angles except forward. |
| related in the "Fighting Arts International" | | | | Noro asked Sensei Williams in astonishment, "why |
| magazine. We lost our jobs as undertakers | | | | is Mr Eastman breakfalling in this odd way". |
| assistants and we were now on the road again to | | | | When informed it was as a result of his |
| more adventures. | | | | instruction, he just roared with laughter. He then |
| Visiting dojos and martial arts clubs, schools, and | | | | said this was very similar to an experience he had |
| anywhere that we were allowed to just show a | | | | with Osensei and then said the experience would |
| little of our Aikido in the hope that they would ask | | | | do me no harm anyway. |
| us for more. | | | | Q: DW. Were you still in contact with Sensei Ellis |
| In those days in the North there was not much | | | | at this time |
| work to be had at any time, so we would take | | | | A: SE. Yes, I had always kept in regular contact |
| any job that was offered to us and I mean ANY | | | | with Harry Ellis, visiting his Bracknell dojos |
| job. | | | | whenever possible and his Slough dojo, we would |
| These included general labourer and building | | | | also meet socially with our families. |
| labourer , also working as labourers on Britains | | | | It was at this time that Harry's business was |
| first motorway the M1. Undertakers, Road | | | | expanding and he could not maintain all of his |
| sweepers, cesspit cleaning, steel mill worker, | | | | dojos. He gave his London dojos to Chiba Sensei, |
| deckchair attendants, beach front photographers, | | | | and his Slough dojo to George Stavro who later |
| painters. The worst job of all was the "Railway", | | | | was to give the mats to a student who had |
| that was slave labour and we hated it, that only | | | | helped him, a man called Jack Poole. |
| lasted a few days. | | | | My own work was now taking me back to |
| That is how we spent the days. In the evenings | | | | Europe. When in Belgium I would visit Sensei Pierre |
| we would very seriously spend that time | | | | Nassens dojo. I would visit Leiage often where |
| promoting Aikido including Saturday and Sunday, | | | | there were 6 different Aikido clubs, and in the |
| In what we considered were successful attempts | | | | true spirit and harmony of Aikido they seemed to |
| to extend and build the ever expanding " Abbe | | | | hate each other and did not communicate. |
| Schools of Budo". | | | | I did like one dojo though which was run by |
| The HUT market! | | | | Sensei C Van Parys who had assisted the most |
| A-SE: David, I would like to regress at this point if | | | | dynamic swordsman ever to teach Aikido, |
| that is ok with you, It is that I would like to | | | | Murashagi Sensei, who very sadly was later killed |
| mention one unforgettable character, who got off | | | | in a car accident. |
| to a very bad start with Sensei Ellis and later | | | | This dojo was very traditional with strong links to |
| became a very close friend to the both of us - a | | | | Tadashi Abe Sensei who was still visiting the area. |
| man called George Stavro. | | | | Q: DW. Sensei, You have mentioned so many |
| On the night George made his first appearance at | | | | name of the aikidoists from the old days at the |
| the HUT he arrived about 30 min before Sensei | | | | HUT, do you know of those that are still involved |
| Ellis. | | | | in aikido? And are you still in contact with any of |
| I was on the mat busy taking preparation | | | | these people? |
| exercise. George being Greek and a trader, came | | | | A: SE. As of this date 2003, There are only a few |
| into the dojo with two large suitcases and within | | | | that are still involved and teaching Aikido and I am |
| minutes there were clothes on display all over the | | | | occasionally in touch with some of them. |
| reception area. | | | | Sensei Ken Williams founder of the HUT Judo dojo |
| I wasn't taking too much notice as I thought he | | | | and chief instructor, who was the first student to |
| must have previously arranged to do this with | | | | study Aikido in the UK, and is now the head of |
| one of the senior instructors. | | | | the Ki Aikido Federation of Great Britain. |
| It was then that Harry arrived just as George | | | | Sensei Haydn Foster who is still at the HUT and |
| was getting into his sales pitch with two students | | | | head of the Institute of Aikido. |
| that were waiting for permission to go on the | | | | Sensei Henry Ellis who is head of the Ellis Schools |
| mat. This is the only time I have heard Harry | | | | of Traditional Aikido. |
| swear in the dojo. | | | | Sensei Ralph Reynolds who was a regular visitor |
| Harry shouted " What the #### do you think is | | | | to the HUT in the 50/60s, who is now the head |
| going on in here! What do you think this is | | | | of the Aikido Fellowship. |
| Bangladesh market day?" | | | | Sensei George Stavro who is associated with |
| He then threw the suitcases outside the dojo | | | | several dojos and still linked to Chiba Sensei. |
| door in the rain, with George scrambling around | | | | |