Viva Brighton Issue #82 December 2019

BITS AND BUSES
ON THE BUSES #56: RALPH READER ROUTE 12
Born in 1903, Ralph Reader was orphaned aged nine. He then moved
to Denton, Newhaven, to live with an uncle and joined the local
Scout Group. He ended up running the group aged only 14, after all
the scoutmasters were called into military service. His first employer
– a greengrocer’s shop in Seaford – took Ralph to Brighton to buy
supplies, which gave him the opportunity to see music hall stars at the
Hippodrome theatre.
After moving to the USA in 1920 – where he acted in and directed
off-Broadway shows – Ralph returned to England to work on West End productions. His two
passions combined in 1932, when he staged an all-Scout variety show at the Scala Theatre in London.
The Gang’s All Here featured 150 Boy Scouts performing sketches, songs and dance numbers.
The public started referring to the shows as The Gang Show. World War Two saw Ralph create RAF
Gang Show Units, who were estimated to have entertained over three million servicemen: performers
included Peter Sellers, Tony Hancock and Dick Emery.
Ralph died in 1982, aged 78. In 2011, a blue plaque was erected at his childhood home in Heighton
Road. The 2nd Denton and South Heighton Scout Group in the Seahaven Scout District is the only
group in the country to wear an additional name tape: “Ralph Reader’s Own”. Joe Fuller
Illustration by Joda (@joda_art)
39 Kensington Gardens, North Laine
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