The thugs running the show! Hampton Wick Friday

Extracts from the aacultwatch forum (old):

“Interesting reading …..., I wonder if you've ever been to Hampton Wick? Don't get me wrong, most of the people who share at that meeting carry a good message of recovery, service and hope, but I was wondering if you had come across a chap called Billy McN? I know he used to do Tolworth Newcomers, but now he does Hampton Wick and Richmond Tuesday. If anyone is a cult thug it's him: he's a salesman by trade, and you can hear in his sharing that he sells the message well. He gets a lot of people asking his sponsorship because of his 'sales pitch'. He often shares about being spiritual and trying to help others, but once he's your sponsor, it's completely different. He has proved himself to be an incredibly angry, sick, controlling man. Newcomers listen to his share and want what he's got, but, the truth is, what he shares is NOT what he has got! I have personally been on the receiving end of some of his abuse as a newcomer, all because I wasn't 'phoning two newcomers each day! I mean, he wasn't even my sponsor! He will happily label other members of AA as 'sick' or 'half-measures' or 'not on the program', but never looks at himself. Worst of all, he consciously bullies both newcomers and members who he considers 'easy targets', and if any of them dare to stand up to him, or tell him he's upset them, he just tells them things like "I don't care, you're the one with the resentment, it's not my problem".

I am very sorry to say that he is incredibly influential, and, due to his high number of sponsees, more and more people are indoctrinated with his view of AA, which is 'you are going to drink and die because you don't call your sponsor every day!' My friend …...... was standing-in as secretary at Hampton Wick some weeks ago, and he dared to suggest that reading the Q&A on Sponsorship leaflet was a better option than speaking to Sponsorship Co-Ordinators (of which he is one), and Billy charged at him from the other end of the room, pulled him to one side and told him to 'stick to the script'! …..... withdrew from the Richmond Tuesday meeting completely (after Billy took over the group conscience and selected the new officers himself, rather than let the group decide) …....

The ego has landed, and he's at Hampton Wick!”

Cheers

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Richmond Bridge, Monday – the plot thickens!

Via that same inestimable AA 'grapevine' (where information is transmitted faster than a speeding bullet!) we received the following missive (our edits)

“Hi,

I noticed your latest posting about Richmond under the Bridge Monday night. I heard there was some sort of fight there last Monday, although I don't know the full details, but it involved some "guru" or other. Presumably this Billy person.

I don't know where you got your information from about the Monday meeting, but the Agnostics Meeting at Surbiton on Sunday has had problems with someone who attends that Monday Richmond meeting, in fact he is the secretary of that Monday meeting, and he also attends the Friday night Hampton Wick cult groups. The Agnostics meeting had him as a treasurer and he basically made it up he went along disregarding the Traditions completely, or completely unaware of them - This is what he did

He was sharing whenever he liked, many times over, making up the amount of money in the pot, (didn't keep accounts) telling lies to the group about the rent ( he claimed it was only 3 quid when in fact it was 10 ), bringing in people from other fellowships (probably CA) in order to boost numbers, with no regard as to whether they were alcoholics or not, appointing someone as literature person without consulting the group conscience. putting non AA literature on the front table when he was told it should be on a separate table. bringing in printouts about religion (e.g. Buddhism) for group discussion. acquiring AA literature from unknown source, and the group does not know if it was paid for.

2 women left the group because of this person.

There was a recent group conscience …. [where] he was strongly confronted on these issues and he subsequently resigned leaving a note and disappeared with the pot leaving the group with no funds. His name is David. Presumably his "understanding" of the Traditions came from the cult meetings he attends.

There have been a number of changes to that Surbiton "We Agnostics" meeting. The former secretary (….........) has left AA altogether. The group conscience changed the format and removed most of the verbal stuff that was read out at the beginning including the so called Agnostic steps and other stuff. The group readings are nearly always from Living Sober now …...”

Comment: We're quite sure that David's 'oversight' with regard to the group's funds will be rectified, and that they will be returned in full – promptly. Otherwise it becomes a matter for the police.

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcholics Anonymous)

PS Our thanks to our correspondent

Richmond Bridge, Monday

We've heard via the grapevine that Richmond Bridge, Monday evening (6.15pm) is suffering from a rather nasty infestation of the 'joy boys'. We suspect that this particular swarm may have migrated from just up the road from the cult meeting based in Ormond Rd:

Richmond: How it Works

Tuesday 20.00 Unitarian Church, Ormond Rd

[Contact: comes under Unitarian Church]

See our Cult Where to Finds for more information on cult groups world wide.

This group is headed up by a particularly unpleasant manifestation of “self will run riot” (or narcissism) going by the name of Billy (the Kid), a fellow so violently devoted to his own interests he has even been singled out for receipt of our prestigious (?) “Thug of the Month” award. So Billy! Never forget! You're being AACULTWATCHed!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Thanks extended to our correspondent

And so the weirdness continues …..

Well you're definitely not going to believe this! We don't! And if you think we're that gullible then think again! 'chew think we were born yesterday! Come off it! You're 'avin a laugh ain't 'cha! Still they said “keep an open mind” .. so 'ere goes!

The word is (well several words as it happens) there's a whole new 'spin' been given to the recovery programme. Now mentioning no names (as if we'd ever!) but a certain 'guru' (a member of the “happy, joyous and free” brigade and ardent advocate of the “do as your sponsor tells you” approach so beloved of control freaks everywhere!) who hangs about the Kingston/Richmond area - South west London intergroup - what is it about south west London that attracts so many nutters? Firstly Happy Dennis, then Billy the Kid, and now introducing ….. drum roll … The Sprinkling Vicar! Tah rah! So what's the low down on this programme innovator. Well apparently the 'tom-toms' tell us that he can be found almost nightly (and sometimes daily) at AA meetings entertaining the troops with his latest offerings. Clearly the guy puts an enormous amount of effort into his 'sermons' delivered as they are with an almost professional aplomb, the result no doubt of frequent repetition both in front of an audience and we suspect, no less, the bathroom mirror! As a consequence he has gained something of a reputation for being 'spiritual' whatever that means! Well so far nothing really of great moment we hear you say! But wait! By day (and sometimes by night for all we know) he transforms himself into ….... the 'Sprinkling Vicar'! Hallelujah! Not content, or so it would seem, with saving the 'heathen' (that's you and us by the way!) in the conventional fashion our 'spiritual entrepreneur' has opened up a whole new franchise based (or so we're told) on a tome entitled 'A Course in Miracles' (yet another rehash derived from yet another 'divine' revelation!)! Our intrepid 'spiritual healer' has been known to conduct private ceremonies of 'cleansing and forgiveness' for the chosen few. These seem to consist mostly of women newcomers in whom he has discerned (no doubt in some mystical fashion) some kind of urgent need to have water sprinkled over them. Apparently this 'baptism' (yes .. we're quite familiar with the symbolism)i is conducted behind closed doors and whilst the subjects are lain prone (or is it supine?) upon the floor! Well you could have knocked us over with a …... modest sized paperweight! “Never!”, we gasped as we struggled to come to terms with this radical concept. Eagerly we rushed to the book case to consult the Big Book (or the AA 'bible' as it's regarded in some dogmatic quarters). It must have slipped our minds! How could we have missed that section about getting a thorough 'sprinkling'? This was a mystery we could not abide! We MUST have an answer!! In vain we flicked through the tome searching desperately for this unquestionably essential part of the recovery programme. Well if not in the Big Book then surely the 12 and 12? But again our efforts led us ….. absolutely nowhere! Suddenly there came a moment of inspiration! We'll use our well thumbed Big Book concordance! Surely this will hold the answer we so urgently seek! Plugging in the word 'sprinkling' we discovered in a matter of moments …. absolutely nothing - “sprinkled” yes but “sprinkling” .. no! How could we be so blind! How was it that we so failed to see? Again we turned to the Book but this time praying for that moment of intuition. And then it appeared as if in a vision in the Foreword to the 2^nd edition:

“Alcohol being no respecter of persons, we are an accurate cross section of America, and in distant lands, the same democratic evening-up process is now going on. By personal religious affiliation, we include Catholics, Protestants, Jews, Hindus, and a sprinkling of Moslems and Buddhists. More than 15% of us are women. “

There it was – as plain as the nose upon our face! Glory be! But then puzzlement struck. Did this mean that the “sprinkling” should actually consist of Buddhists and/or Moslems? Surely not! Or was it the case that only Moslems or Buddhists could carry out the ceremony? Or perhaps you had to be either a Buddhist or Moslem in order to get 'sprinkled'! Most perplexing and no mistake! At this point we would have turned to our sponsor to ask for clarification/direction/have our fortunes told etc before remembering we don't have one! Such was the rush of relief at the complete absence of any kind of 'advisor' that all thoughts of 'sprinkling' completely passed from our minds and we passed into a state of profound tranquillity blah di blah di blah. Anyhoo ….. the upshot of our investigation revealed absolutely no reference to being sprinkled with water (holy or otherwise) whilst laying on the floor. Not in the Big Book, not the steps, not the traditions,not the concepts. There is in fact a complete absence of any kind of dousing with water alluded to therein.

In light of this might we suggest in all humility (is there any other way!) that anyone seeking 'forgiveness' or 'cleansing' pop along to see the local vicar where they will find an amiable enough fellow in a lacy white frock who will do the business (and for only a small fee). Or to put it another way – leave it to the pros! Similarly we really do believe our 'guru' should take up another hobby more in keeping with his predilections (although for the life of us we really can't think of one entirely suitable at this present time – suggestions may be sent SAE)

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

Hampton Wick (Friday)/Detroit Joys of Recovery connection!

Well anyone who might doubt the cult is an international movement need look no further than the Hampton Wick (Friday) cult group and the Detroit Joys of Recovery offshoot. The word is that the current secretary (Hampton Wick) is a chap who goes by the name John C (and who is married to someone called Kristin). Now of course this all might be an enormous coincidence but then wasn't it a John and Kristin C who played 'mummy and daddy' to the Detroit gathering? Over the past few years we've had a number of complaints about this group and its activities – the usual stuff: directive and dogmatic (cascade style) sponsorship (and with group consciences that are not quite what they seem), anti-prescribed medication, “shunning” (if you don't toe the party line) and so on and so forth. It would seem that their “mission” is to bring the 'true word' back to the dear old motherland, and to which end they moved here a number of years ago. We wonder how they're getting on with Billy the Kid? How many top heavy egos can a group contain before the usual 'falling out” happens?

But then we shall see what we shall see won't we!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS There is a now a new grouping at Bayham Road - BRAG - Bayham Road Amalgamated Groups (?) They have one steering committee for all 18 meetings. Apparently not all the meetings are cult although cult members have a large presence on the committee. It includes people from the 'Happy Dennis/Jim W (David C)' sponsorship line, and someone from Road to Recovery too! Thus the virus spreads!

Billy the Kid Rides the Range! (or Hampton Wick Friday/Richmond Ormond Rd Tuesday anyway!)

“Dear ‘Fellas’,

“I am interested in your website, and have been encouraged to submit an email to you by other members. I currently live in …....... I attend intergroup meetings for the London (South West) Intergroup (LSWIG), which meets in St Mark’s Church Hall, Compton Road, Wimbledon, …...... I have witnessed the behaviours of the individual whom you refer to as ‘Billy the Kid’ at both group and intergroup levels, as well as outside AA.

Billy used to attend intergroup as GSR for Richmond Tuesday, and every time he would attempt to raise the same issues (usually revolving round compliance to his ideals; trying to make the six suggestion card conference-approved, trying to get conference to adopt Dr Bob’s ‘Back to Basics’ programme from the 1940s to combat “AA Shrinkage”). He invariably sat in the same corner of the room with his sponsor, a couple of his sponsees and a few other pals of his, and when everyone came to vote at intergroup or GSR, if they voted differently to him, Billy would sigh or roll his eyes, pull them to one side and try to explain them why they should be voting with him, and demand a recount. I also attend the Hampton Wick meeting on occasion with a friend who still lives in Kingston. I was in attendance when Billy grabbed the secretary by the arm to stop him from walking away while he told him to ‘stick to the crib sheet’ (for your information, grabbing someone by the arm in a manner like that is considered a form of common assault by UK law, not that this is a surprise – Billy fell out with a sponsee and became really aggressive towards him, and in Billy’s own words, the sponsee thought “...[Billy] was going to hit him”. Billy’s view, however, is that, in spite of the aggression and getting in the sponsee’s face, Billy claims it’s not his problem as the sponsee only thought he was going to hit him. Well, that’s alright then! Incidentally, this is the ethos behind Billy's manner - he behaves abusively and the blame lies with the other person for having the resentment).

I feel really sorry for the members of AA who fall foul of Billy’s actions. He appears to have a lot of ‘yes-men’ sponsees who are suggestible and do things because he tells them to. He also has a sponsee called D. (who from my understanding is better known in AA by his surname than his first name) who actively claims to promote the Tuesday meeting in a lot of other meetings using fliers (I do not have one). Billy also has a sponsee called S. who on two occasions called me to ask me if I was calling my sponsor every day; he called me once at around midnight and once at 1.30am. I also feel sorry for Billy – so convinced is he that AA has lost its way that he and his cohorts pre-screen chairs before allowing them to share (but only if they are from ‘outside’ groups rather than the politically-approved groups – Tottenham/North London, Strood etc) and ask every newcomer who their sponsee is, and often advise that they should change sponsors to one from the group. Then again, I am not surprised Billy is the way he is; his sponsor is an actor named R. who tells his sponsees not to pick their kids up from school and to leave them waiting until after the meeting because they need to be at their home group an hour before the meeting starts - one of his several 'Joys of Recovery' traits.

…..... there is a very ‘happy clappy’ meeting in Burnham on a Saturday morning. Someone from the area tells me the American woman who ‘runs’ the meeting formed the Joys of Recovery in Detroit with her husband (who is now the secretary at Hampton Wick). ….... I am willing to be of any assistance I can. I am also curious as to what other information you have on this meeting.

Yours in fellowship,

….... (Anonymously)”

(our edits)

Comment: Apparently Billy is clinging to the hope that we're just going to lose interest in his thuggery, and that aacultwatch is going to go away! Doesn't look like it does it! We've also been informed that our website has been proscribed by the cult hierarchy – and that on no account should their sponsees surf us. Fantastic! What an endorsement! But you know what they say about forbidden fruit? Tastes all the better!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS More to follow on the Detroit connection

Our Thug of the Month – introducing …... Billy “the Kid”!

Yes that time has come once more – yet another 'personality' (?) to join our Rogues Gallery of cult thugs! Billy (Hampton Wick/Lower Teddington Rd/Friday and Richmond/ Ormond Rd/Tuesday) will be joining such notables as Glynne M (aka The Incredible Hulk – ex-secretary West Kent Intergroup – bully extraordinaire with a neat sideline in back-stabbing!), Harry K (Big Book 'expert' and Primary Purpose franchise rep for East Kent), Harry A (aka Harry the Handbag – also hailing from East Kent – another Big Book adept and lecturer 'to infinity and beyond'), Ealing Tim (speciality: picking on old age pensioners), Happy Dennis (aka Mad Dog Dennis – simply barking!), Alexis K and Jon F, (formed their own gang – the Plymouth Road to Recovery – biggest scalp to date: the AA General secretary), Wayne P (another desperado from the Hole in the Wall gang – although we hesitate to include Wayne – after all who can take seriously someone whose trousers keep falling down!)..... and so the list goes on and on and......

Billy it would seem is something of a smooth operator and likes nothing better than to deliver a finely polished performance for his public's consumption. His product is the programme, and his sales pitch well practised, enhanced moreover by a carefully manufactured 'spiritual' image that lends a further gloss to his slick presentation. Unfortunately – or fortunately perhaps - from time to time the 'façade' slips and reality breaks through to show its wrinkly face, and then we are presented with quite another 'show' indeed! When charm fails and patience is all but exhausted Billy falls back on that other much favoured cult technique for “carrying the message” - the rant! Billy apparently can scream and rave with the best of them. His victims have been variously berated in public and private. But when Billy loses it he really does LOSE it! Screeching directly in someone's face or across a room either way Billy goes for it BIG TIME. If you want decibels Billy's your man! Volume control is set to 11 (remember Spinal Tap – the band that goes to eleven – they've got nothing on Billy!). Once you've been on the receiving end of a Billy 'Special' if you're not sobered up then nothing's going to work! You're a lost soul and no doubt about it! You might as well just “step over to the nearest bar” and get it over and done with! Indeed, and on occasion, so overcome by his own fervour is Billy that he likes to get PHYSICAL, and has been known to engage in fisticuffs with a recalcitrant newcomer (or indeed anyone else who happens to be around) as he tries to sober 'em up!. Yes sirree.. Billy can shoot not only from the lip but also from the hip! Don't mess with this bandito! He's a baaaaaad baaaaad man! His territory stretches from down Richmond way and even across the Pecos (aka the Thames) to Hampton Wick. Word is that his gang is holed up in Ormond Road where he rules the roost with an iron hand, his crew of sponsees, every man jack of them, carefully corralled, and properly schooled in Billy's oft-times DEAFENING message! But Billy likes to keep his ear to the ground for there's always the risk of an ambuscade! You just never know when it's going to come – do you Billy?

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)