Explosion Entertainments CIC

Hi, my name is Steve Braden, I promised that I would write a few words about the close links there are between showbusinees and charity.

But first, who I am I to talk? I am now 51, my Father, Alan Braden and Uncle, Edwin were both Musical Directors. Edwin was 15 years older than Dad, and true to his generation, born during the Great War, he learnt to play piano in the front room of their terraced house in Manchester. He went on the tour in many of the bands of the thirties before serving the whole of WW2 in the Royal Engineers, finishing the war as the Sergeant Major in charge of the Radio station in Milan. He went on to be a staff musical director for BBC Radio in London and was the Band Leader for the very popular radio programme "Round the Horn"

My Father, Alan Braden, was on the stage at the age of 8 at the Tower Ballrooms in Blackpool, billed as the "Boy Wonder Saxophonist". He served in Lancasters during the end of WW2 and formed his own swing band after the war touring the country. As Edwin was for Radio, Dad was for TV. His big break came with a series set in a Pub called "Stars and Garters" where he fronted a 5 piece pub band and supported Kathy Kirby, Clinton Ford and Vince Hill. He was the MD for Mike Yarwood, Sooty (The Sooty Braden Showband on Thames TV) and for Rolf Harris for whom he re-wrote the folk ballad "2 Little Boys" and got to No 1 In 14 countries. His biggest show, however, was London Night Out, which contained 15 minutes of "Name That Tune". Its Producer/Director, Dennis Kirkland, who went on to do Benny Hill, died a few months ago. I was at the funeral, unique in having Chas and Dave sing "Theres No Pleasing You" in the middle of the ceremony.

They say that if you remember the 60’s that you weren’t there!! Well I was only young, living in NW London, and my parents were part of the TV in-crowd. I remember parties at our house when I would go around the garden in the morning spotting celebrities asleep in various places and positions.

I was Equity and the Film Artists Association (for adverts and film extra work). Those were the days when, if you were’nt in the Union you didn’t work…period. I remember doing a Fairy Ad with my Mother Margaret, at about 4 years old and my first solo extra work in "The Lovers" with Richard Beckinsale and Sarah Wilcox, it would be 1970’ish and the call was at Eton and Slough Railway Station. Having spent many of my holidays at Pinewood Studios (The Devils, Bless this House and loads of Hammer Horrors) I went into the Army.

12 years later and I am offered a post in the Pavilion Theatre Weymouth, running marketing and events. Coming back to the business was wonderful, out of the constraints of military life. I thrived on the pressure of large scale events, 2 Tall Ships visits, Fireworks Festivals every Monday in season, Town Criers and Kite competitions, Radio 1 Roadshows etc etc. It was these years that prepared me for the company I now run, Ubique Leisure Ltd (Ubique is Latin for everywhere and is the motto of the Royal Engineers).

It was with Ubique that I ran into Peter and Explosion at the Havering Town Show, where we were helping the Council, and so to Charity.

My Dad. Uncle and I are all Freemasons, as are most of the guys who work in my company. None of us joined to gain preferment of any kind. Indeed in the 31 years since my initiation, I have neither sought, got or seen any funny business. Quite the contrary, the Masons I know are good people, and generous charitable donors. Every year English Masons donate £millions to non-masonic charities all over the world. Indeed, on a global scale, Masonry gives £Billions and covers most religions and backgrounds.

The biggest showbusiness Lodge is called "Chelsea" and meets at the Masonic HQ in London. It is always packed with guests and raises more than any other Lodge for charity. It organises the Annual Nasonic Variety Show attended by Prince Michael and the Duke of Kent.

All of the shows that Ubique organise have substantial charitable interest. Usually in the form of free or very cheap charity plots. Our largest show, The Lambeth Country Show, hosts over a100 different charities, mostly small local ones who look upon the Show as their main chance to raise funds.

Last Saturday we were running Brents Hindu Festival of Diwali and I would like to give Heartfelt Thanks to Neha and Julian the Juggler for helping raise £hundreds for the "Children Walking Tall" charity.

So Daddy or Chips…..Showbusiness or Charity,… well I believe you can have both!