And the Richmond Bridge (Monday) saga continues …..

It would appear that David (see previous entry) is something of a 'loose cannon' even in cult circles. He was – until recently – the treasurer of the Surbiton Sunday meeting and concurrently co-secretary of the meeting under question. Apparently his knowledge of AA traditions is rather limited if non-existent (always a positive attribute in a group secretary – irony!). At one time, according to our correspondent, he was involved in a publicity campaign promoting the Tuesday (Ormond Rd) cult meeting. This involved posting flyers through people's letterboxes in the Hampton/Hanworth area. Apparently this was not sanctioned by the group conscience but he went ahead and did it anyway. David's fondness for individual autonomy extends into other spheres. Despite AA guidelines on displaying non-AA literature separately from AA conference approved literature (and being reminded of this) he ignored this advice … and went ahead and did it anyway. The cult's involvement in the Monday meeting seems (according to our correspondent) to be limited (currently) to this one man show. Of course from our point of view ANY cult participation in an AA meeting if left unchallenged usually involves its early demise as a vehicle for carrying the AA message. Such meetings usually degenerate into a cult dominated clique devoted to flattering the ego of the latest narcissist to appear on the block whilst promoting his or her own twisted version of the programme.

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Thanks to our correspondent

(to be contd)

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

Our “Thug of the Month”: Richard E

Yep! Yet another addition to our pantheon of dishonour … introducing ….. Richard E …..who will be joining the likes of Harry K, Glynne M, Billy (the Kid) and numerous other 'unsung heroes' of the cult movement in Great Britain. The list goes on .. but not quite 'ad infinitum'.....

We quote:

“Hi chaps just a little report on the dangerous actions of Richard E. He is a member of AA and CA and is part of the fierce control sponsorship movement sweeping many AA and CA groups. A friend of mine visited an AA meeting in the South Harrow area recently and saw a female member crying outside and when he asked what was wrong she stated that Richard E had told her she is not a real alcoholic and is killing people in AA. This meeting has been taken over by Richard and his army of sponsees who are all ordered to introduce themselves as grateful recovered alcoholics. Richard hunts newcomers in AA and proceeds to tell them they will not recover in mainstream AA and demands they attend his CA home-group in Ormond Road Richmond hence the meeting is full of alcoholics who in my opinion are in the wrong fellowship. He also demands they ring him every day at a set time and write and review a gratitude list none of which I can find in the AA book. He was recently arrested and charged with assault for spitting in a female member's face in a Sunday night meeting in Barnes south-west London but fails to mention this when he speaks in meetings ….. only claims to be happy joyous and free at all times. Please keep my name off this as I don’t want conflict when I see him and his gang at meetings. Keep up the good work. God bless.”

And from another correspondent:

“Perhaps you have already heard of these meetings, nonetheless for your information...

South Harrow, London 8pm Thursday 13th September. The chair was by Harry K - "That's Harry K......., not Henry Kissinger!" he says. Alcoholics "Anonymous". Travelled in from Margate. From the top down he was wearing a black cowboy hat, black overcoat and what looked like blue slippers. Noticed lots of people in attendance never seen before - my view is they had probably also travelled some distance to this meeting. Relatively few locals in the meeting. Didn't count attendance - though guess at least 45.

Also Harefield, London Friday 7pm. Sponsorship and "Big Book Study" offered there. Smaller meeting.

Keep up the good work. I enjoy reading aacultwatch on a regular basis.

Best wishes”

When we checked with our first contact we received the following information:

“Sure. Richard E and Harry K are pals that’s why Harry will have been there. Harry K is actually a heroin addict who cleaned up in AA. He was introduced to CA one year back through Richard and his flock of sponsees so he is now attending CA meetings and has an awful habit of telling everyone else what to do. Also loves to quote his knowledge of the book ….... what page is what etc.. He has also been invited to speak at our CA UK area convention in Hayling Island this November. This has been heavily influenced by Richard. There is plenty of us who can see these people for what they are. We continue to carry the real message of love and tolerance to alcoholic or drug addict who still suffers. God bless fellas.”

Comment: By all accounts these two are just made for each other! Not a lot of people know this (well actually a lot of people know this) but although Harry is something of a self appointed 'authority' on the Big Book he's not so adept when it comes to other people's property. Indeed he seems to have come rather unstuck not that long ago when an employer sacked him for shop lifting from one of their stores! Still to err is human, to forgive divine .. and we're sure that Harry has forgiven himself already!

Cheerio

The Fellas (Friends of Alcoholics Anonymous)

PS Thanks to our various correspondents... keep up the good work!

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)