Gerald Sables Remembers...

Hello, Please find attached some photographs of Green Oak from the 1984-85 period when I was an honorary member of the team. Some of these could be better quality but until I have the time to go through my negatives and scan them these are all that I have available.

Most of them were taken at an officers street party at Finningly airbase in the summer of 1985. There are a couple of photographs taken at Dawn on May 1st just outside Tickhill, it was so flipping cold that I couldn't feel my fingers pressing the shutter of my camera, Norman was kind enough to warm me up with a nip of whiskey. There is one of my photos of a Morris Man at Dawn which is often used by Green Oak, well the piper shot at Dawn is a companion to this, they were both shot on Kodak VPS 120 Roll Film. The Hat shot was for a logo that I was designing for Green Oak, I don't think they ever used it? Lastly the shot of Erik was taken at Granville College in Sheffield.

I was a photographic student at Granville College in Sheffield and we were asked to take on a project over the summer holidays. I was looking for something different and I was already very involved in the folk music scene and decided to approach Green Oak, who insisted I could only take photos if I became involved and danced, they soon discovered I had not only two left feet, but two right feet as well all going in different directions at the same time. I became an honorary member of the team and was listed on the membership sheet, something which I can honestly say I was and still am very proud of. We were all good friends and some of the lads came all the way through to college one night to pose for some studio portraits. Looking back at what I learned it was this, I don't think I learned a thing about dancing, I learned how lethal a weapon those sticks are, I learned that holding onto the bar stops you falling on the floor unconscious whilst trying to keep up with them in the Masons after practice and I learned what a really truly great set of mates they all were, I have missed them. I moved away from the area and we lost touch.

Looking back My main memories were of getting a lift back from the officers street party at Finningly with a driver who could hardly stand never mind drive, I aged thirty years on that journey home. I recall freezing to death on both May the 1st events I photographed and I remember those wonderful practice nights and the sessions in the Mason's. Often myself and Jim the vicar would drink well into the early hours, boy did he know some rude jokes, we lost touch and I have no idea where he is.

I hope that these photos will help bring back a few memories, sadly my health is very poor these days and I am unable to nip across to catch up with you all, but probably nobody would remember me anyway, if they do then please give them my warmest felicitations, (you can tell them I have learned some big words) and thank them for some of the best times I have ever had in my photographic career.

All the best Gerald