Annual Report 2011

This years AGM was again held at Langfords Hotel Hove and attended by 42 members.

The meeting went according to plan and all Officers were re-elected to stand for a further year. Our Honorary Auditor, Geoff Taylor announced his retirement from the post and was thanked by the Chairman, Roger Francis for all his hard work in the previous years. Mr Robin Frost had volunteered to accept a nomination for this post and will commence his duties at the end of the current financial year in December.

After the AGM there was a short break when members were able to quench their thirst with a suitable liquid and then an excellent buffet meal was served and enjoyed by all.

This years lunch only attracted 37 members and guests to this popular venue, the lowest number since we introduced this event in 2006. The previous low number was 50, last year. Perhaps this is a sign of the times, although hopefully we will be able to continue with this lunch as it was again thoroughly enjoyed by those who did attend.

An excellent 3 course meal was served and with all drinks included in the price, the afternoon provided both great entertainment with 14 live dog races and good company with members trying their hand at betting for the first time - some doing slightly better than others!!!

Don again offered his betting skills to those members who wished to participate and although we didn't win overall, members had an interest in 10 races and got back £7 from their initial investment of £10.

The greyhound, bottom right, was called English Rose, and didn't win....guessed who lost a few pence on that!!!

It was a lovely afternoon in the heart of Sussex where we played the first of this years golf competitions at Ifield, near Crawley. Only 15 hardy men went out in search of glory and tried to win the vast array of expensive prizes on offer at this heavily subsidised event.... Oh sorry, I got a bit carried away there... oh well, some of it was true!

The course was in excellent condition, the weather was warm and the meal after the golf was terrific. Thanks go to Gavin Elliot for selecting the course and Ifield Golf Club for their hospitality.

At the after dinner presentations, our organiser, Robin Frost, mentioned how close the competition had been with only 12 points between first and last place and how well the handicapper (himself) had done.

After close scrutiny of the cards, aided by Don Semmons, Robin declared that the winner, with 36 points was Chris Hudson, closely followed by David Kaye with 34 and Maurice Watts and Don Semmons on 33. Two 'nearest the pin' prizes were awarded, one to Don Semmons and the other to Doug Thompson.

These scores will go forward to the Autumn competition to see who can lift the prestigious 'Bob Russell Trophy'. Last autumns competition at The Dyke has seen Ted Scalé aged 77 going round in 78 shots...or was he 78 years old and took 77 shots!! Well whichever it was, what a performance.

Here are photos including the winners showing off their 'rather average' prizes.

Messrs Kaye, Clark and Thompson on the 18th. The winners, Maurice Watts, Chris Hudson and David Kaye

Nearest the pin winners, Doug Thompson and Don Semmons Enjoying the 'afters', John Lockyer, Bob Russell and Gavin Elliot

The Apollo Victoria was the venue for this London Theatre trip and 43 members and their guests arrived in good time to allow everyone to have a bite to eat or just browse around a few shops. Some even took the opportunity to walk up to Buckingham Palace and were rewarded by a glimpse of Barack Obama, the US President, who was staying as a guest of the Queen for a few days.

The show was fantastic and the entire cast were excellent. The story set in the Land of Oz had all the right ingredients: great songs, eye-popping costumes, brilliant dancing and engaging performances and some of the lighting effects were spectacular.

Like all good things, it quickly came to an end and we boarded the coach for the short trip back down the A23, stopping off at the Fairfield Halls Croydon for a most welcome 'Fish & Chip' Supper. It was then back to Hove to end another successful day out.

It was a bright and breezy day as the 24 members boarded the coach to take the 30 minute ride along to Tangmere and the Military Aviation Museum.

We were greeted by the museums' curator, Alan Bower, who gave us an introductory talk about the history of the airfield from its beginnings in 1916, through its illustrious service as one of Britain's front line fighter bases during WW2 and on to its key role as home to the world speed record breaking aircraft of the High Speed Flight.

The museum contains countless fascinating exhibits. The historic aircraft such as Neville Duke's world record breaking Hawker Hunter, equipment used by the brave agents who were carried into occupied France on 'black Lysander' flights from Tangmere, a full sized replica of the very first Spitfire prototype and more.

Interestingly, one of the exhibits referred to one of our own members, Wally Randall, and a report which read:-

TEMPEST PILOT SHOT DOWN

Lee Randall was a Hawker Tempest Sergeant Pilot in 1944 when he was shot down over Holland behind enemy lines. A member of No 274 Squadron he had been attacking a train when he was hit by cannon fire which damaged his aircraft’s radiator and caused his engine to stop.

He was lucky to force land safely in a rough field and walked away from the crash. With the help of brave local people he managed to contact the Dutch resistance. With an Army Captain and a bomber pilot he was hidden away from the Germans for six months on a farm and then in a barge until he was liberated by advancing Canadian troops in April 1945.

He ended the war in India ferrying de-mobbed troops after the end of hostilities. After the war, Lee returned to his pre-war banking career, married Joyce and continued flying (this time as a hobby) in gliders at Ringmer, Sussex.

Displayed are Lee’s flying helmet, goggles and cut down flying boots which he wore as shoes when hiding from the Germans.

We then jumped back onto the coach for the 15 minute journey to Arundel Castle where we went straight to the restaurant and had a wonderful lunch served in the Old Refectory. After resting a short while, we were met by our two guides who took us round the Castle and supplied us with a magnificent commentary on all aspects of the Castles wonderful 500 year history. From the Barons Hall to the Private Chapel, every room had a story to tell. One of the guides was named David and he is the second butler to the present Duke and Duchess of Norfolk and he was a real gentleman.

Our visit was all too short and we left Arundel just after 5 p.m. for the short journey back to Hove.

No photography was allowed inside the Castle, but here are a few more photographs anyway:

We returned to Wickwoods Country Club, Hotel & Spa for our mid-summer lunch and were treated to an excellent three course lunch in wonderful surroundings. 73 members and their guests arrived in good time to have a practice on the 'Shuffleboards' that had been arranged by the Social Secretary to add a 'little difference' to the event. There was a free raffle where some lovely prizes were won.

As always, photos tell a better story than words, but it would be correct to say that everyone enjoyed themselves and the Shuffleboard competition was great success albeit that we ran out of time to play the full tournament.

Prizes were awarded to the strongest team (holding up all the others!) and in spite of the wonderful action displayed by our Chairman in the photo below, it was the team led by Roger with Ruth and Jean Clarke, that literally picked up the wooden spoons. The winners, after a short shuffle off, were Pat Rose, Pat Jarvis and Sylvia Sharratt (that's my sister and her friend)

A few members took the advantage of purchasing shuffleboards at a special price to enable them to play at home!!! Maybe it was for the grandchildren really!

It was a little grey and cloudy when 29 members and their guests boarded the coach for the 90 minute journey to Selborne in Hampshire, the small village north of Petersfield that is the home to Gilbert White's House and Garden.

Gilbert White was described by the lady giving us the introductory talk as "the first David Attenborough" and he cared for all things in the Natural World including plants and wildlife. After the talk we had a guided tour of the rather unusual gardens with a gentleman named Laurie, and he took us round the meadows and gardens giving us a detailed history of how the garden had developed over the last 2 centuries.

The house, first built in 1610 was redeveloped and added to until 1880 since when it has changed little. A part of the house now contain the 'Oates Museum', which refers to both Captain Lawrence Oates, who went to the South Pole with Captain Scott and Frank Oates, Lawrence's Uncle, who explored Central America and Africa and brought back with him numerous artefacts and exhibits.

Later in the afternoon we all tucked into a wonderful cream tea before rejoining the coach for the short journey home.

We were pleased that the gale force winds from the previous day had abated for our trip to Maidstone and the Kentish Lady River Boat. We arrived in Maidstone by coach and walked the short distance to the Archbishops Palace Gardens to board the Kentish Lady and our 3 hour trip on the River Medway.

Skipper, Tony Cheeseman, also gave us a commentary on all aspects of the river and surrounding countryside. At the outset we were each given a picnic box with a variety of sandwiches, cake and biscuits. Fresh fruit and a cup of tea or coffee completed the faire, although some preferred a drop or two of wine.

Luckily the weather stayed kind to us during the trip that took us through Farleigh Lock and up to Barming and Teston bridges, turning at Teston Lock.

Eating a meat pie will never be the same after this memorable trip to the Chichester Festival Theatre to see Michael Ball and the fabulous Imelda Staunton in Stephen Sondheim's compelling musical, Sweeney Todd - The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

32 members and their guests were brave enough to make the short journey to Chichester, and they were treated to a magnificent performance of this fascinating musical. It was certainly not for the squeemish as blood was frequently spurting out of the many throats sliced open by Mr Todd. The effects were stunning and the black humour made us all laugh and gasp at the same time.

The song, " A Little Priest", just before the interval, where Sweeney Todd (Michael Ball) and Mrs. Lovatt (Imelda Staunton) decide that the pie shop business needed a lift, was the most amusing and most scary highlight of a wonderful show.

It would have been fitting to have walked the few yards across to the 'Brasserie in the Park' and had meat pie for our meal, but we settled for chicken followed by Eton Mess, both of which were excellent, to round off a superb afternoon.

It was a cloudy and chilly afternoon that 21 members of the Brighton Spread Eagles Golf Society met at the Dyke Golf Club in Brighton for the Societies autumn meeting. This meeting was arranged at short notice after the meeting at Royal Eastbourne a couple of weeks previously had to be cancelled through lack of support. A number of our members were on holiday or had prior commitments and we couldn't find sufficient numbers as required by the golf club.

Those who played in the rearranged meeting were treated to a top quality course in excellent condition, a wonderful supper and, of course, good company.

David Kaye and Mel Sims won the prizes for nearest the pin and they're catching ability was tested as the organiser, Robin Frost projected their prizes across the room.

The winner of the autumn meeting was Bob Russell closely followed by Mel Sims and Richard Box. Robin not only congratulated Bob on his victory, but thanked him on behalf of the Society for being instrumental in arranging the meeting at The Dyke at short notice.

For the 4th year, the Bob Russell Trophy was contested and was awarded to the member with the highest aggregate scores in both the spring and autumn meeting. The winner this year was no other than Bob Russell winning his own trophy for the first time. Bob was a clear winner, with Graham Clarke in second place.

After the golf we were treated to a fine supper and some words from Graham Clark who thanked the members for attending with special thanks to Brian Haite and Keith Pike for travelling down from Peterborough to play and also to Phil and Melanie Neilson who had travelled all the way from Australia just to play in the competition (not strictly true!!!)

Robin handing out balls to the winners The winners Bob Russell, Robin Frost (Organiser), Richard Box and Mel Sims

It was a bright chilly day when 49 members and their guests hopped onto the coach to make the now familiar journey up to London and to the Queen's Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue to see the long running musical 'Les Misérables'.

For those with long memories, it was recalled that we last saw this show in 2003, and it appears to have improved with age. (like us)

We arrived in town in good time for a bite to eat or some shopping and then made our way to the theatre to be treated to a magnificent show that kept us enthralled for nearly 3 hours. The cast work tirelessly and it was easy to see why this show has been in the West End for over 25 years.

Unfortunately Alfie Boe did not appear in this performance, but his understudy, Christopher Jacobsen was amazing and the whole show was terrific entertainment and without exception, was enjoyed by all our members.

Just a quick journey down to the Fairfield Halls in Croydon for a 'Fish & Chip' supper, then back to Hove after a thoroughly enjoyable day.

We again went to Deans Place Hotel in Alfriston for our annual Christmas Lunch and 104 members and their guests enjoyed another wonderful occasion. This is the sixth year that we have been welcomed at Deans Place and it gets better every year.

The main room was beautifully decorated with festive adornments and the 11 tables looking very Christmassy and neatly laid out. Screaming balloons again filled the air as our youthful members let there hair down (sort of!) Yet again the food was excellent and the service was even better. There was certainly plenty of food and it was well cooked.

The afternoon continued with the usual games of 'Irish Bingo' and the much awaited raffle and everyone agreed it was a wonderful event and we will be back at Deans Place next year on Thursday 6th December.