Switzerland

 

Hotel Alpina Matten Interlaken
With Paul Blunt.

I have heard it described by visitors as Charming, Rustic, Quaint, Beautiful, and Antique. One thing it most certainly is; a good place to work with good food, nice staff, with thoughtful owners who look after their staff and guests and take pride in their Hotel.

We were high on a hill overlooking the town of Boppard in Germany. Below us was the River Rhine. We were sitting on an open chairlift and it started snowing. We suddenly had an idea; why not go to Switzerland and see some real mountains and big cable cars?
This decision was to change my life in most unexpected ways.
Later that year my friend Tex (Paul Blunt) and I found ourselves in the village of Matten which is next to the town of Interlaken. We had chosen a family owned hotel rather than a large chain. It was most certainly the right choice for us and it was summer 1998.
Somehow the hotel owner got to hear that I did a bit of entertaining with Magic and asked if I would be willing to perform for her staff and a few guests the following evening. I was so pleased; the problem was all I had was a deck of cards but I managed to put 20 minutes of entertainment together and everybody enjoyed the show. By the end of the week we had made a deal and the following year I was working; that’s how it happened and I was a very happy chap.
I would be treated as a guest with half board and my own room; I would entertain with two shows a week and help around the hotel for 2 or 3 hours in the mornings. We were both happy with the arrangement and it worked well.

It was at breakfast time in June 2002 when things started changing. The girl on duty in the dining room that morning was probably suffering with a hangover and she dropped a full tray of glasses. I was a bit abrupt with her. Later that morning I was summoned to the reception. Frau Dora Gerringer wished to speak with me. Perhaps I was a bit sharp with the girl that morning. As I entered reception I noticed an elderly lady (not a tourist) but a local, chatting to Dora. This lady spoke no English and she was a local goat farmer. Dora explained that her helper had died suddenly and would I consider helping with the goats twice a week. I was absolutely delighted to be asked and although I knew nothing about goats, I accepted immediately. We shook hands with smiles all round and I was in for a new experience. This was a Tuesday morning and I was to start on Thursday evening at 1845. Later that day I was taken to the farm about 10 minutes away on a cycle. Now at least I knew the start point.

Dressed in period costume we set off with the Goats to the William Tell Play. First it was a steep climb upwards to a grazing field, where we had a 10 minute rest and the goats were happy. They seem to be able to digest most things. Not being sure of my exact duties it was a learning curve that I had to adapt to quickly.

Soon we were moving again and steadily climbing towards a mountain forest. I was at the rear of the 15 strong herd making sure none strayed too far away and occasionally pausing for rest. The journey took about an hour. We finally came to a holding pen and after a short time the William Tell music was being played and the scene was set for a dramatic entrance, which I was not quite ready for.
Standing in the pen I could hear the cows with their large bells clanging getting closer. They looked wonderful as they came near, this was our entrance cue and we were to follow them into the large arena. I felt the warm breath of a goat on my right hand and my left foot suddenly went warm. One goat was trying to devour my rope belt and another was urinating on my left foot, (I was wearing open sandals.) Suddenly we were off down into the arena with a great reception from the audience of about 2000. Whilst I was busy trying to keep the goats together my right foot found a large cow pat. It was a walk through part with a pause for a short time in front of the audience.

Now it was time for the return journey home. I think the whole village turned out to see the parade home plus many tourists were also lining the streets. We were getting a lot of attention, especially from Japanese visitors. We were on the main road which leads from Matten to Wilderswill. I found I had to keep a close eye on the goats as they were attracted to window boxes and nice gardens with plenty of beautiful flowers, they soon woofed them down; sometimes they would bring a whole window box crashing to the floor before devouring the contents.

Myself with Anna Buchs
Goat Farmer

Anna the goat farmer seemed pleased with my performance and I soon got used to working with the goats. Anna knew them all by name and their bell sound. She soon knew if one was missing and which one it was. We worked in all weathers including the most violent thunderstorm which came on whilst we were up in the forest. Neither Anna nor the goats took the slightest bit of notice and we carried on regardless.
Everything was going well at the hotel. I had settled into a routine 2-3 hours work in the morning which involved watering the plant pots, keeping the garden tidy and helping in the dining room when required but the best bit, I got to walk the hotel dog. Magic shows were twice a week and by request. This was a success proved by the fact that visitors came back year after year and always came to the show.
I was getting used to the goats and the routine for the Tell play took place on Thursdays and Saturdays. I could see Anna was happy with my performance. Swiss National Day, August 1st was approaching and the cows and goats were to lead the parade. It is a massive event. I had seen it before but now I was so pleased to be part of the celebration.
It was a really hot day. We left the goat farm a full two hours before the parade started at 1500 from near the Interlaken Ost (east) Railway Station. This is about a mile and a half away and there was time for the goats to rest near the start point and

I managed a glass of water. The Swiss are first class timekeepers and at 1500 we set off on the parade proper. The whole town centre was closed and the whole route was lined with cheering happy people. We left the main parade near the West Railway Station and took a different route back to the farm. I was so pleased to reach the forest and some shade, and have a well earned rest whilst the goats did what they enjoyed most, grazing.
The temperature was in the 90s but we still had a long haul back to the farm up through the forest. It was a great day but we were all very tired. I retired back to the Hotel for a cool beer and something to eat.
In the Magic shows I used the same routine, always incorporating a story about the goats as many of the audience had seen me passing the Hotel with the goats the evening before. It was easy for me to relate a good tale about the goats at their watering hole. Using a bit of Magic it developed into a comedy routine with the water suddenly disappearing.

I enjoy mind Magic or Mentalism. It was so easy for me to glean enough information to use at the shows, it’s surprising the amount of information people pass on voluntarily. I managed to bring out their date of birth in apparently freely chosen playing cards, mention they were perhaps afraid of flying, or tell them towns they had passed whilst driving from the U.K. to Switzerland. This sort of thing was a great reputation builder.
It was also pleasing for the hotel owners that some guests returned year after year bringing their children and grandchildren. One evening we had Japanese visitors staying the Hotel. After seeing a spooky hand finding a card they immediately invited me to perform for them in Japan, which I did and it was a great trip.

Above: Turning for home
After Swiss National Day

Hotel Alpina, Matten, Interlaken, Switzerland.
Visits Record

Summer 1997 first visit with Paul Blunt
Autumn 1997 weekend visit
May — September 1998 with magic
July 1999 holiday
July 2000 holiday
June-September 2001 Magic, Tell Play, Swiss National Day
June-September 2002, Magic, Tell Play, Swiss National Day
June-September 2003, Magic, Tell Play, Swiss National Day
September 2004 Holliday two performances Tell Play
June-September 2005 Magic, Tell Play, Swiss National Day
December 2005 holiday for New Year January 2006

August 2007 Holliday with Fergus Anckorn
July August 2009 Tell Play Swiss National Day
Tell Freilichtspiele Total Performances 2001–17
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: 2002–21
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: 2003–21
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: 2004– 2
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: 2005 –21
:: :: :: :: :: :: :: 2009– 8

Total 90

Swiss National DayAppearance 6

Tellspieler
Michel Gurr aus Bedford (zweiter von links). Ganz links Adele Furniss. Hinten Dave Bateman und rechts Marco Rüegsegger.

Die Interlakner Festspiele dürfen sich durchaus einer internationalen Besetzung rühmen: So tritt der Brite Michel Gurr aus Bedford schon seit vier Jahren bei den Tellspielen auf – er kommt eigens dafür von Juni bis September aus England um mitzuspielen und die 15 Ziegen von Anna Buchs aus Matten auf das Spielgelände zu führen. Dieses Jahr hat er für kurze Zeit auch noch zwei Freunde mitgebracht, Dave Bateman und Adele Furniss aus Staffordshire. Sie unterstützen den zwölfjährigen Marco Rüegsegger aus Goldswil, der bereits seit fünf Jahren mitspielt.

Above: A Swiss newspaper report and photograph.

Congratulations to Member and Monday Night Host Michael Gurr on receiving the Key to Interlaken in recognition of his loyalty to the town. Michael has been visiting Interlaken for a number of years and, during his visits, has taken part in over ninety performances of the traditional William Tell play.
On several occasions Michael’s professional experience as a fire-fighter has been called into action as he helped with the theatrical burning of a castle at the end of the play. On one Occasion, his magic knowledge also proved useful, as he used Conjuring techniques to help simulate William Tell’s famous Stunt in which he shoots an apple that is balanced on his son’s head with a crossbow.

The Golden Key
On the 3rd August 2012 I was awarded The Golden Key to the town of Interkaken. Goat herding, dog walking, and entertaining with Magic were amongst the many things I enjoyed at the Hotel Alpina Matten Interlaken Switzerland. “I was amazed and felt greatly honoured when my name was called out. I was delighted.” My wish is to return to Switzerland providing my health stays sound; unfortunately the goat herding role which I loved has ended

Regarding the William Tell Play.

“I had varied roles in the play, from herding goats used in the performance, to helping with the burning down of a castle due to my past experience as a fire-fighter, to creating the illusion of the shot bolt being shot off the boy’s head. This happened once when the regular man was unable to attend”.

Anna Buchs
The last Goat run and the call of the Goat Lady
Dedicated to Anna Buchs
Matten Interlaken Switzerland

Diba-Diba Dib——-Diba Diba Dib: In a high pitch voice this is how I can best describe the call, we had been resting in the Kline Rugen woodland after the Swiss National Day Parade through the center of Interlaken on August 1st 20012, Anna the Swiss farmer was calling her goats to move on homeward bound. The goats knew the call well and left their feeding area for the last return to the small farm on the other side of the Rugen Weg.

We had assembled at1400 outside the goats stable situated just near to Rugenstrasse in small lane named Holengassli. At 1415 a van arrived which was about the size of a campervan and we carefully ushered the 13 goats inside, Felix ( Anna’s son in law) entered the van at the rear and I went in through a small door in the side. Anna traveled in the front cab with the driver along with one other young man. It was a warm day and the goats were good company. There was standing room only in the van and after a rather bumpy ride with a few twists and turns we arrived near the assembly point in Freiestrasse near Interlaken Ost Railway Station.

Once the goats were unloaded from the van they immediately set about grazing on a small patch of land, they were in the safe hands of Felix and Anna so I decided to take a short walk along the street were most of those taking part had already assembled. I remembered many of those taking part in the parade from previous years, I was given a warm greeting.
I returned to the grazing area and the goats were fine, it was 1440 and Walter Balmer and his cows were in place a few yards away, the cows with the Bull would be leading the parade and we would behind them, but not too close.

1455 Mr. Balmer set off with his cows towards the start line, at exactly 1500 the start gun sounded so that all those waiting along the parade route would know we were on our way. It was a left turn into the Hoheweg and cheering crowds greeted us as far as the eye could see, to the right we passed the grand hotel Beau Rivage and the hotel Royal St. George. Many of my friends from our hotel the Alpina in Matten were lining the route, I tried to acknowledge all with a wave and they cheered us, the goats were behaving well.

On past the hoe matt on our left and the Victoria Jungfrau on the right, soon we would be in the town center. At times we were moving slowly, which was helpful to me and I am sure it helped Anna. We held the line near the center of the road and as we approached the roundabout in the town center a man on traffic control duties directed us to the right of the line however the goats decided to go left; that incident was very amusing to me.

I heard a call from my left “Mick — Mick” I looked round, It was a Charles a work colleague from the hotel Alpina who retired a few years ago, we exchanged a quick handshake and greetings on the move, it was a brief but enjoyable encounter. Next into view it was Interlaken West Rail Station to the right and we were in Bhanhofstrasse, with the Migros supermarket store to the left. It was at this point a lady asked me “Where are you taking those goats? Back to the Farm” was my brief reply, I just pondered, how did she know I was English.

As we came to the next roundabout we entered Rugenparkstrasse the crowds were thinning and the pace was slowing. Soon we would be entering the wooded area for a well deserved rest. We stopped for a brief word with Walter Balmer the Cattle farmer, I felt very pleased as he came across and gave me a warm handshake. We found a resting place in the woodland and after about 20 minutes; Anna stood up and called her goats together Dib a Dib a Dib a Dib. This was my last Goad run

Anna Buchs date of Birth 21st March 1929

To me Anna is a great example of courage and determination; a person who was borne into difficult times and hardship. Anna’s mother and twin brother died in the birth and Anna was given away. (Adopted.)

Lead: Anna
Rear: Mick and Marco
Passing the Hotel Alpina

Anna has a strong will and great tenacity, loves animals and cares for her goats so well. I very much admire Anna; I am also so pleased to have become friends with her and her family.
Anna, Thank you for the wonderful experiences and happy memories we have shared together during the last few years.

The Goats Names

De Gyson Namen

Anita (Chief Goat )

Wanda, Zifpel, Conny, Barbi, Bethli, Franzi, Fany, Diana, Dora, Berna

Eva, Elsi, Gisela, Gerlinde.

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