I wrote the following a few years ago in m memory back up notes, and thought it might be worth shearing in here. If anybody can relate to any of the names or information, I would really like to hear from your, here in the paddock, or if you wish through a PM.

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The Willesee brothers, well known West Australian TV personalities, Mike, Steve and Don, did a stint on Channel 7s "Today Tonight" show, Oct 2013. It was about life around Perth and Scarborough during the 1950s and 60s. I sent the following comment into Monica Kos ( Runs today tonight for Ch 7 WA), to forward onto the Willesees. So far have not had any feed back as at 10^{th Dec 2013.}

To the Willesee brothers,

Gday fellas, your recent show on Today Tonight was really fascinating and bought back some fabulous memories. I was part of the Scarborough Boys back then, maybe a bit early (1954 to 1960). I am John Simpson (Simmo) and had a (1952 Triumph Tiger 100 motor bike), and am now 73 years and I thought I might rattle off a few names that might strike an accord.

There was John Obyrne (Sprocket),

Harry Lloyd, Rod McPherson,

Bruce and George Wylie, Ted Prout,

Ian Woodhouse (Cluster), Choco, a Ceylonese boy

Denis Butco and his brother, Rod Buttel and his brother,

Philip Norton (Pipsy Norton),

Ray Williams.

Ray was the first person to be given 20 years (Minimum), after Hanging was banned in WA. He killed his wife Erica who was working in Perths first Sex shop up in the western end of Murrey street. He walked into the shop at about 8.Oclock that night, shot his wife with a rifle, sat on a chair and said "call the cops".       

He was a Sign Writer at the time and went on to artistic painting, and I believe had a few exhibitions in Fremantle Jail.

One of the Butco Boys ( Denis ), crashed his 1938 Ford Vee 8 car on West Coast Highway down near City beach. Ted Prout was one of the passengers and had his first crew cut because of his head injuries, and still has a crew cut to-day.

The Scarborough boys were called Leatheries, as apposed to Bodgies and Widgies, and we always had miles too much Californian Poppy hair oil on our scones. Occasionally we would sit on the front step of Frys Ice-cream shop (Scarbourough Beach) and flick our ciggie butts onto the footpath and watch the people walking past jump as the hot butt woke them up. The ciggie butt thing also helped the Bodgies jump higher in the Snake Pit (Jive Dancing place at Scarbourough) as well.

We never had any trouble with Andy Andross, probably because we always gave him a wide birth. It was probably only his reputation but he was a Boogy, not a Bodgy.

Parking up at Kings Park on a Friday night with a bottle of Brandavino or Sweet Sherry was good fun. Saturdays throbbing headache didnt stop us doing it again the next Friday night.

We never caused any real trouble but had a bit of fun sometimes. One of those times was when we got caught jumping the fence to get into the Claremont Speedway for free, and had to pay double. The next week we all (probably 10 or 15 of us) went around to the quiet gate opposite side to the main gate. We all gathered at the gate for the cars entrance which only had 2 attendants. All at once we all ran in different directions to get among the buildings. If the attendants had chased us, the cars would have started driving through. Pretty cool hey?

Then there was the Australian F1 Grand pre held at Caversham, and Jack Brabam in his No 3 green Cooper won. We didnt go hungry that week-end as we went up to Caversham during the night and stocked up with sugar bags of grapes from the plantations on the way.

Occasionally we would all dob in, and the oldest would go and buy a 5 Gallon keg of Swan Lager. We would all jump into the old Vee 8s and FJ Holdens and go up to the sand hills behind Triggs Island Surf club. Also we could go into the North Beach pub ( a fairly isolated place) and buy a couple of bottles of beer (King Browns to-day) even at 14 or 15 years of age.

My school life was a bit of a fruit salad as well.

Started at Mt Hawthorne infants 1946.

Then up to Wyndham till end of 1949.

Down to Langwell Boarding school Broomehill / Katanning for the whole of 1950.

Then over to Maylands for 3 months.

Then Doubleview Primary school.

And finally Perth Junior Tech in Newcastle street.

OK, thats my waffle for now.

Cheers.John Simpson

Simmo, you can now tell that to your grand kid, I bet not. Ralph.

Radar, unfortunately one son who loves them all and marries none, and one son who doesn't have the right seeds to enlarge the population, so no grand kids. Anyway we will push on. But I still like to WAFFLE.

Simmo.

kandagal wrote:

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Sounds like you should have had your backside tanned when you were a teenager Cheers Alice

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And before that........I lived next door to John when we were both about 10 (two little horrors that's for sure) !  

Comon Lynda, a juicy one would liven the place up a bit. I first saw my wife at a bus stop one morning and said to my mate, who's that honey over there. He said that's Les's sister. She was 13 and I was 14.  2 night's later on 7th May 1954, I made a bee line for her at the local pictures. Now 61 years latter I am still her humble servant.
Ooop's, my darling just looked over my shoulder a told me to correct that last bit, apparently it is Back to front.

Simmo.