Wayne P – the next chapter! (Plymouth Road to Recovery (cult) group)

And so it would appear the rehabilitation of Little Wayne proceeds apace. After being rendered a “non-person” - due to a little misdemeanour on his part some months ago (this reflected in the disappearance of a number of his recordings from the cult website) - it would seem that Wayne has been welcomed back into the fold, his renaissance exhibited in his role as closing speaker at the recent 17th anniversary of this cult group (audio recording now available courtesy of the group's website - which also features some free advertising for a few notable 'circuit speakers' – 'personalities' - as always - before 'principles' with this group!). As usual it was delegated to one of the aacultwatch team to sit through yet another session of Wayne discoursing on his favourite subjects i.e. Wayne, his home group and sponsorship. The unfortunate auditor in this instance was assured in advance they would receive full psychiatric assistance subsequent to their ordeal, and, moreover, a “crash team” was put on stand-by during the actual audition - just in case! (you never can be too careful!) We are pleased to report that no permanent damage has been sustained by the individual in question (although it was touch and go on several occasions!) Additionally, however, and perhaps to alleviate some of the more serious consequences of having to listen to the “Roadies” expound on their version of recovery, the auditor was instructed to monitor and record the number of instances where sponsorship and God/Higher Power/spiritual experience were mentioned during the course of the one hour long recording. The session itself was structured in four sections with three speakers having 10 minutes each to rehearse their scripts, the finale being reserved for the aforementioned 'grande fromage'. According to the count the terms 'sponsor' and 'sponsorship' occurred no less than 67 times - an average of over once per minute. On the other hand the terms God/Higher Power/spiritual experience were noted on only 13 occasions (two of which seemingly referred to the group itself?). So nothing's changed there then! The speakers sounded off in an ascending hierarchical order based on length of sobriety (interestingly the incidence of the term 'sponsor' etc seemed to increase correspondingly, with Little Wayne mentioning it no less than 25 times during the course of his own address). The speakers were unremarkable in most respects but the underlying message was quite clear – a 'hard sell' for both the Road to Recovery (cult) group and then their own (rather twisted) version of sponsorship (i.e. the “do-exactly-as-your-told” style). Other meetings were referred to but only to be 'damned with faint praise' or more often than not cited (either explicitly or by implication) as presenting a rather sub-standard version of the recovery programme as contrasted, of course, with the Roadies' own quite naturally superior brand. Indeed the term applied to the former was (by implication) “Beano” readers (a children's comic) whereas our heroes contrived to portray themselves as 'hard core' Big Book fans (a tome of which they remain strangely ignorant – most especially when it comes to Chapter 7 “Working With Others” ??) Anyways no contest there then! The Beano readers have it! But to return to our theme: During the course of these speeches there was much self-deprecating humour (generously interspersed with equal quantities of mutual admiration) the former presumably an attempt at faking some species of humility on the part of the respective speakers. Much of this self-mockery seemed to focus on who had managed to endure the Road to Recovery group the longest - the odds-on favourite for this dubious honour would seem to be Wayne (although on this we still cannot be entirely sure). The scripted performances were almost uniformly mind numbingly predictable, and consisted largely of standardised quotes from the Big Book with an occasional link line thrown in betraying the last vestiges of independent thought on the part of the presenter. Defects of character were mentioned but again either in an attempt to suggest some degree of humility, and thus persuade their listeners that these were in fact mere mortal men (incidentally no women featured in this performance – presumably they were all too busy making the tea – the Visions movement has always been a male-dominated grouping), or occasionally with some degree of embarrassment as if the merest mention might cause them to suffer some kind of censure from the assembled faithful. But at last we arrive at the main course – Little Wayne! If ever there was a man who was so demonstrably incapable of being honest with himself this must surely be a prime example! And if experience is supposed to be a teacher then here indeed was her most unwilling student! Firstly we are welcomed to the Road to Recovery group - “The most famous AA[ ??] group in the country” (quote). He extends his thanks to the group's detractors (we do hope that we too are included in this ever lengthening list) claiming that they have no idea how much they have assisted the Road to Recovery. (Well no worries there Wayne. But then we know otherwise!). Following on from this characteristically modest introduction we are treated to the usual diet of sponsorship, sponsorship, home group, sponsorship, sponsorship blah blah blah. Interwoven within this dross is a bit of name dropping – but only the usual suspects – this intended presumably to lend some weight (and even credibility) to what is otherwise an extremely lacklustre performance. Indeed there would even seem to be a growing defensiveness on the part of Little Wayne with regard to the “shit” that has been coming the group's way over the last few years – well ever since the group started or so it would seem. This, of course, is swept quite magisterially aside for we must all have been indoctrinated in this group's motto by now viz. “We are ALWAYS right and you are ALWAYS wrong”! Nevertheless the group is cast in the role of underdog, one striving heroically moreover to carry the true message, and this despite the blinkered notions of “mainstream AA” (who are referred to almost in passing). We are then exposed to an extended and somewhat covert “apologia” on the part of the main protagonist in this drama, his own deficiencies re-cast again heroically, but making seemingly now a virtue of his own stupidity. No less an authority than Bill Wilson is rolled out at this point to lend some semblance of substance to what is otherwise a quite transparent rationalisation, the fault abiding apparently rather (neatly) within the observer than with the 'actor' himself. So history is (neatly) rewritten, and no doubt all the boxes (neatly) ticked, justice (so neatly) self-administered, and amends no doubt quite (neatly) concluded! Wayne is BACK and the show WILL go on! (or so his sponsor says!)

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)