Reg Varney Makes History

It was announced today that the man credited [sic] with inventing the cash machine, John Shepherd-Barron, died at the weekend at the age of 84.

The first cash machine was installed at the Enfield Town branch of Barclays Bank in north London in 1967. Nobody realised back then just what a massive impact cashpoints would have around the world; how much these machines would revolutionise the banking system. Hence at the time it wasn't seen as that big a deal.

The bank still wanted to make an event of the ceremonial first withdrawal - scheduled for 27 June 1967 - however. They found a celebrity willing to do the honours, handily enough one that lived locally: Reg Varney. The role that made him a showbiz legend, that of Stan in On The Buses, was still two years away, so at the time Reg was best known as the star of the sitcom Beggar My Neighbour, whose second series was about to start its run on the BBC.

Hence on a warm summer evening in front of a small crowd of curious locals and wearing a natty flat cap, Reg Varney went down in history by making the first ever withdrawal from an automated cash machine to murmurs of, "it's him, you know, from Beggar My Neighbour".

When you consider the countless billions of cash withdrawals that have been made since, this low-key event in north London is an oft-overlooked milestone of the Summer of Love. In the opinion of the museum curators, however, this is truly a brilliant thing and more than worthy of exhibition.

Laurel and Hardy dance in Way Out West

Laurel And Hardy arrive in Brushwood Gulch and make for the saloon. As they approach, we notice The Avalon Boys sitting on the porch singing At The Ball, That's All. Stan and Ollie, after first taking in their new surroundings with approving smiles, dance in the dirt to create one of the most magical scenes in movie history.

It's hard to say exactly why this clip is so beautiful and so moving. It could be the unexpected grace of the duo (Ollie was always surprisingly nimble for a man of his size) or their sheer happiness: how two fellows down on their luck and wearing patched trousers can still see - and be - the goodness in the world. Their cares are almost visibly lifted as they dance to the gentle shuffling rhythm of the song, with its chanted lyrics under Chill Wills' soaring yodel. The Museum Of Brilliant Things curators felt that it was a combination of those factors combined with the sheer moving innocence of the scene that led to its acceptance as an exhibit here.

The Way Out West dance oozes goodness; that even in the toughest of worlds you can always find joyful innocence if it's there inside you.