Annual Report 2025

On a spring like afternoon, 27 members attended our latest held tournament that commenced shortly after 2pm. Nine teams of three eventually took part in what can only be described as a fun packed afternoon with some members achieving some good scores.

At the half way stage it was all to play for and at that time (appx 3.15pm) we all enjoyed a superb tea laid on by the Harbour Club that brought forward a number of praiseworthy comments. At 4pm the resumption of the tournament took place as the members were eager to get back to playing once again. The eventual winners were the team “Red Kite” with 552 points comprising Robin and Dot Frost and Viv Hill. Congratulations to them!

Our thanks go to Adrian and Colin who administered the tournament from the English Shuffleboard Company and also to the staff at the Harbour Club who looked after us during the afternoon.

As this was our second visit and another successful one at that, it is most likely that we will return for another tournament in the future as it was enjoyed by everyone who attended.

A few photographs were taken to show how members enjoyed themselves and are shown below.

On a bright and sunny day, 34 members and their guests attended the Club's 47th Annual General Meeting held at Tottington Manor Hotel, Small Dole.

The Chairman opened the meeting and welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending.

At the end of his report, Dave Stedman, our Chairman, asked everyone for a minutes silence to pay respect to those members that we had lost during the last year. This was adhered to impeccably and I am sure we all had our own thoughts of those that are no longer with us.

The meeting proceeded smoothly and the election of the officers on the Committee which included the election of Robin Frost b as Vice Chairman. The remaining position on the committee continuing as last year. And they are:

A full copy of the AGM Minutes is now available in the AGM Minutes section of the web site.

The Meeting was followed by an excellent two course meal that was served quickly by friendly catering staff.

A number of our members joined Sally, with David & Jill Stedman and about 50 of Merv's friends and colleagues on a very enjoyable trip around Hove and parts of Brighton on an unconventional bus route. We were fortunate that Brighton and Hove Buses allowed us to have the bus taken out of service for this tribute trip in Merv's memory.

I am grateful to Nigel and Jayne Parsons and Rae Titcomb who provided some bubbly to raise a toast to Merv whilst we had our first stop at Devils Dyke.

The other members that attended were Graham and Christine Clark, Colin Mockford, Viv Hill, David Ritson-Smith, Valerie and John Figg. A couple of stops en route were the Devils Dyke and the Amex Stadium( how fitting)

On a bright and sunny day, 42 members and their guests attended the lunch at Hove's Coral Greyhound stadium for an afternoon of relaxing, chatting, eating and losing money....... although not for all.

The two course lunch was excellent and with drinks included in the cost, it proved to be a wonderful afternoon.

Some members chose not to have any bets, whilst others tried their luck on the tote, with mixed success. The voluntary syndicate betting, organised by Don, did unusually well with the participants picking up £15 from their initial investment of £10 which gave them an interest throughout the afternoon.

On a bright and sunny day, 29 members and their guests boarded the coach for the short journey to Chichester and to Goodwood House. The trip was a bit slower than usual due to the customary road works on the A27 at Worthing.

However, we only arrived just s few minutes late. to be greeted by the welcoming staff in the main entrance hall. We split into two groups to be taken round the house by two wonderful guides whose knowledge of the rooms and paintings was amazing and they were always prepared to answer questions along the way.

Goodwood House has been the home of the Dukes of Richmond for over three centuries. Set at the heart of the 11,000 acre estate, the magnificent Regency interiors form the backdrop to one of the country's finest art collections. The 1st Duke of Richmond was the natural son of King Charles II and his French mistress, Louise de Keroualle. He originally bought Goodwood as a hunting lodge and subsequent Dukes enlarged the existing Jacobean house to create the magnificent house that we ssaw today.

Following the guided tour, we went into the Ballroom and after a short delay, were served with a magnificent afternoon cream tea, there is a photo below that shows was was consumed!!!

On a bright and breezy day, 11 members donned their golf shoes and plus fours (not really) to participate in the Brighton Spread Eagles Spring Golf Meeting that took place at Lewes Golf Club.

Getting to the course was the first hurdle to overcome with a very steep, bumpy and narrow lane leading up to the course, with yours truly having to reverse about 50 yards to allow a large transit van to pass!!

After the usual bacon rolls and coffees, we set out round the hilly course with some using buggies to aide their aging legs...including me!

The course was in good condition and with no rain and just a few clouds it was all set for some reasonable scores to be had.

In the end it was a close run affair with all 11 golfers within 10 stableford points of each other and the winner of the RT Box Memorial Trophy was Graham Clark with 37 points, second was Mark Allen with 36 points closely followed by Chris Hudson on 35 points.

Luck was on our side with the weather, as on Tuesday it rained and today (Thursday) it is raining, but it was just cloudy and a little breezy as 17 members (and Freddie) donned their walking boots and set off on a three and a half mile ramble starting from The White Horse in West Street Ditchling. We met at 11am for coffee or tea before setting off.

We stopped for a group photograph in front of the building that used to hold the Ditching Sub Branch of Barclays Bank, needless to say, it closed in August 1999 and Graham recalled that the cashier used to wear a crash helmet at times to avoid the dropping from the death watch beetles that were ever present...what a nice thought. It is now a Grade II listed building under the auspices of Historic England and is detailed as:- Not now a bank. Restored C16 timber-framed building with plaster infilling in front, north wall faced with red brick on ground floor and tile hung above. Gable to each front. Tiled roof.

We continued up a gentle slope towards the Oldlands Windmill that has been in existence since 1703, although it was completely rebuilt in the 1990's. We moved on towards Hassocks, passed the Thatched Inn in Ockley Lane then made our way back the White Horse in Ditchling.

On returning to the pub, most members enjoyed a lovely meal before making their way back home after an enjoyable walk.

On a glorious sunny day, 49 members and their guests boarded the coach to make the short journey to Chichester and to the Chichester and Portsmouth Canal for a 90 minute cruise.

We had hired both of the boats for this trip, with 32 members on the Richmond and 17 on the Kingfisher.

During the cruise we were served with a lovely cream tea with a hot or cold drink. It was a peaceful and incident free cruise and members took the opportunity to catch up with the colleagues they hadn't met for a while, or went onto the aft of the boat to chat with the boat's skipper, John, and ask any questions they had.

As usual with this type of trip, photos speak louder than words, so here are a selection taken by Dave Stedman, Val Figg and myself.

On a warm and sunny day, 64 members and their guests attended the Mid Summer Lunch at Tottington Manor Hotel and enjoyed an excellent two course lunch followed by tea or coffee.

After the lunch Don had organised a quiz in the style of Richard Osman's 'House of Games', with each table appointing a captain and endeavouring to answer the variety of questions over six rounds. The competition between the tables was fierce and lots of discussions were going on trying to work out the answers.

The final score sheet took shape and thanks to scoring a full 6 points in the final round called 'Answer Smash' the winners were declared as Table 1, captained by Les Hamilton ably assisted by Justine Hamilton, Viv Hill, Pat Jarvis, Tim Kent and Rose Semmons. (I did confirm to the members that Rose had no prior knowledge of the questions or answers, which they accepted!!!)

Chairman, Dave Stedman presented the rather ordinary trophy to Les and handed the prizes to the winners. A close second was Table 5, captained by Colin Mockford who also won wine and chocolates. The table that finished last, Table 8, captained by Umi Patel, won the rather adorable hand made wooden spoon people that had been made by Don's granddaughter Charlotte.

Dave thanked Don for all his hard work in putting the quiz on which was greeted by a generous round of applause.

If you fancy seeing the quiz, with the answers, you should be able to view it here: Quiz with Answers

On a warm but showery day, 32 members and their guests made their way to Sheffield Park and the Bluebell Railway for a 'Cream and Steam' trip.

Don managed to arrive at the station last of all having managed to instruct his car sat-nav to take them to the Bluebell Railway, but unfortunately ending up at Horsted Keynes station and having to make a bit of a detour to finally arrive at the correct location. As a member readily pointed out, if I hade read the email I had sent out giving the post code and directions, I wouldn't have ended up in the wrong place!!

Anyway, all was well and exactly on time, the train pulled out of Sheffield Park Station at 3.30pm taking us through to East Grinstead Station via the previously mentioned Horsted Keynes Station.

Shortly after setting of, the staff brought round freshly made scones to go with the clotted cream and strawberry jam for the traditional 'Cream Tea'. Coffee and tea was served during the trip.

As always, photos best describe the event, so here are some taken by myself, but mainly by Dave Stedman.

On a cloudy and quite windy day, just 12 members of the Spread Eagles Golf Society met at Brighton & Hove Golf Club for the Autumn Meeting.

Following the now 'essential' bacon roll and coffee, players set off for 18 holes around this downland-links course set within the South Downs National Park, with magnificent views over the South Downs, the sea and the City of Brighton and Hove.

The scoring for the meetings is by stableford points (the less shots you take, the more points you get) and after the round, the organisers, John Jago, and Chris Hudson (with a bit of help from me!) were working out the scores and who was going to win the prizes.

We sat down for an excellent meal, following which John & Chris announced the winners of the various prizes that were on offer.

The main award was the Mike Barrett Trophy, that was presented to winner, Julie Webb, by John & Chris. The other winners are listed below.

At the Autumn meeting, the Bob Russell Trophy is also awarded to the player with the highest combined score from the Spring and Autumn meetings. and the winner this year with a total of 61 points, Julie Webb. The trophy was handed to Julie by Bob Russell who had kindly agreed to join us after the golf. A close second, just one point behind was John Jago and in joint third place , one further point behind were Graham Clark and Barry Davis

FAWLTY TOWERS - Congress Theatre Eastbourne

9th October 2025

On a bright and sunny autumn day, 42 members and their guests boarded the coach for the journey to Eastbourne and the Congress Theatre to see the much acclaimed comedy show - Fawlty Towers - The Play.

The reviews said - The ‘Greatest British Sitcom of All Time’ (Radio Times) is back – this time on stage!

Fawlty Towers is now a stage play adapted by comedy legend John Cleese and directed by Caroline Jay Ranger. This laugh-out-loud production was universally acclaimed by every London and national critic, selling out every single performance during its record-breaking West-End run.

Join Basil, Sybil, the delightfully bumbling Major, and an 18-strong cast as they bring to life all your favourite moments from the show’s unforgettable twelve episodes. With sharp wit, chaos, and calamity at every turn, this is the comedy event of the year!

Well, we can confirm that those reviews were correct with excellent performances from all the cast, who unerringly, were remarkably similar to the original performers.

The second half in particular was just a laugh a minute and included the now infamous 'German' sketches and the falling Moose Head. The interaction between Basil and the Spanish waiter, Manuel about Basil's winnings on a horse was absolutely hilarious.

After the show we made our way to the Orwell Rooms for a fantastic afternoon tea with all the trimmings.

We then returned to the coach for the drive back home, the highlight of which was a wonderful sunset - see photos below (With thanks to my sister Pat).

Another wonderful day out, enjoyed by everyone.

Christmas Lunch - The Alfriston Hotel

Thursday 4th December 2025

On a wet and windy day, 122 members and their guests attended the Christmas Lunch at the newly renovated Alfriston Hotel, (formerly Deans Place) and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon.

The food and the service were excellent and the now customary games and raffle that followed the meal were well received.

After the main proceedings, our Chairman Dave Stedman thanked Don for all his hard work during the year and especially in making the Christmas Lunch such a success. He also thanked the staff at the hotel for their excellent service.

We hope to return to this venue for next years event.

Here are some photographs, some taken by me and some by Dave:

Cineworld 2025

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MISSION IMPOSSIBLE – THE FINAL RECKONING

On 4th June, a total of 23 members gathered at Cineworld, Brighton for a hot drink and cake before seeing the blockbuster movie that was screened at 11.15 am and ended just before 2pm.

In "Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning", Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and the IMF team face the threat of a malevolent AI, "The Entity," which has seized control of global nuclear weapons. Ethan, seeking to destroy the Entity, must retrieve a "Podkova" module (also known as the Rabbit’s foot) containing the Entity's source code from a sunken submarine. He faces opposition from a cult, Gabriel (the Entity's former proxy), and the US government, who also want to control the Entity. The final showdown involves using Luther's "poison pill" to trap and corrupt the Entity. By doing so The World is saved from destruction.

The film contains many facets of blockbuster movies, great actors/actresses, plenty of action, unbelievable and death defying stunts (e.g. hanging from an aircraft) all undertaken by Tom Cruise. This coupled with a bit of comedy and raw emotion with amazing soundtrack and spectacular scenery made the film an extremely enjoyable watch. Probably one of the best films that our members have watched.

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Bridget Jones - Mad About the Boy

On 19th February, 29 members and guests attended this latest screening the Club had arranged and it certainly didn’t disappoint.

Briefly the plot was as follows.

Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is a novel by Helen Fielding. It is the third instalment in her Bridget Jones series. When the story begins, thirty five year old Bridget is dating twenty nine year old Roxster. He is her first serious relationship years after the death of her husband Mark. Bridget does not want to be alone anymore. However, she wants to be a good mother and have a career. Over the course of a year, she struggles to balance a dating life, a home life, and a career. Ultimately, things do not work out with Roxster because of the age difference. Bridget ends up dating Scott Wallaker, a military veteran, turned teacher, who has two kids of his own.

The main character, Renee Zellweger put in another sterling performance as Bridget and ably supported by Hugh Grant (Daniel Cleaver) Lee Woodall (Roxster), Chiwetel Ejiofor (Scott), to mention a few.

It was an excellent romantic comedy that had bawdy humour with the odd expletive every so often but this didn’t spoil it for the audience and it turned out to be a thoroughly good watch, probably the best film of those we have seen this season.

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Les Misérables

On 2nd February, 24 members and guests attended the 40th anniversary screening of Les Misérables, one of the world’s most popular musicals, and witnessed the spectacularly staged concert version on the big screen featuring an all-star cast including Michael Ball, Alfie Boe, Carrie Hope Fletcher, Matt Lucas and John Owen Jones. With a cast and orchestra of over 65 and including the songs I Dreamed A Dream, Bring Him Home, One Day More and On My Own this sensationaly staged concert was magnificent and thoroughly entertaining, bringing a tear to many eyes with the its emotional story. Matt Lucas's rendition of Master of the House was amazing.

An afternoon to remember.

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Mufasa - The lion king

On 15th January 2025, a total of 25 members and guests attended our first visit of the year to Cineworld Brighton Marina at 10.30 am for our usual morning coffee and cake/cookie prior to seeing the movie: “Mufasa- The Lion King”.

The film is a prequel that narrates Mufasa’s journey from orphaned cub to King of the Pride Lands. After being separated from his parents by a flood, Mufasa is adopted by a royal lion family, forming a brotherly bond with Taka, the future Scar. As they grow, rivalries and betrayals emerge, particularly over their mutual affection for Sarabi. Facing external threats from vengeful white lions and internal conflicts, Mufasa overcomes challenges to unite the animal kingdom, ultimately ascending as king and redefining his relationship with Taka, who becomes known as Scar.

It was a masterpiece of animated animal production from Disney using the latest digital graphic technology leading you to believe it was real animals talking to one another. Everyone who attended the screening thought the film was excellent and in my view was a great start to the Cineworld season.

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THE ROSES

On 11th September 2025 being a blustry Thursday morning, 21 members attended Cineworld to enjoy as usual the customary hot drink and cake before venturing into Screen 4 to watch “The Roses”. A synopsis of the film follows:-

This is a dark comedy film directed by Jay Roach and written by Tony McNamara, and is a modern re-imaging of the 1989 classic film "The War of the Roses," that was based on the novel by Warren Adler. The movie stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Theo and Olivia Colman as Ivy, a seemingly perfect couple whose marriage begins to unravel when their careers take opposite turns.

The film's plot centres on Theo, a successful architect, and Ivy, a gifted chef, who meet and fall in love. Initially, Theo is the primary breadwinner, and Ivy puts her career aspirations on hold to raise their two children. However, their dynamic shifts dramatically change when Theo's career suffers a major setback, and at the same time, Ivy's culinary business takes off, leading to her becoming a celebrated success.

As Ivy's star rises, Theo becomes a stay-at-home dad, a role that he struggles with and that fuels his resentment and feelings of inadequacy. The reversal of their professional fortunes creates a breeding ground for bitterness and fierce competition. The couple's playful banter turns into cutting remarks and their once-loving relationship devolves into a toxic and destructive feud.

With their children grown and having left for an elite sports school, the couple's underlying frustrations intensify. The conflict reaches a boiling point over their lavish dream house, which was built with Ivy's money but according to Theo's vision. The house becomes the central point of a brutal divorce battle, as both Theo and Ivy are unwilling to compromise and seek to leave the other with nothing. The film follows their escalating war of wills, as they resort to increasingly cruel and outrageous tactics to make each other's lives unbearable.

There were excellent performances from the lead actors and the members to whom I spoke to afterwards enjoyed the film, albeit with some strong language.

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Downton abbey - the grand finale

On 24th September 2025, a pleasant sunny morning, 32 members and guests attended Brighton Cineworld at 10.30am

After the customary refreshments the members took their seats in Screen 1 to what can probably be described as one of the best films of 2025 and that was reflected by the comments of members following the screening. One member asked if she could see the film again she was so enthralled by the film as indeed we all were.

This was third and final film in the Downton Abbey franchise, Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, brings the story of the Crawley family and their staff into the 1930s. The film focuses on the household's response to an era of great change, particularly as the next generation prepares to take the lead. The plot centres around a public scandal involving Lady Mary’s divorce and the family's financial struggles. These challenges threaten the Crawley's social standing and force the entire household to confront an uncertain future. As they navigate these difficulties, secrets are revealed, old relationships are tested, and new beginnings emerge.

The film serves as an emotional and elegant farewell, blending romance, wit, and regal splendour for a final, unforgettable chapter. Written by the infamous Julian Fellowes, it was a masterpiece of his work following the successful TV series and the two previous big screen films.

Without singling out any particular actor/actress it is fair to say that they all performed superbly as we have come to expect in this classic drama over the years.

To any member who has not seen the film it is thoroughly recommended to watch.

Chairman:	David Stedman
Vice Chairman:	Robin Frost
Secretary:	Cyn Fleetwood
Treasurer:	Don Semmons
Chief Welfare Officer:	Tony Comber
Social Secretary:	Don Semmons
Committee Member	Graham Clark
Committee Member	Gill Hill
Committee Member	Colin Mockford
Committee Member:	Rosemary Singyard
Hon. Accounts Inspector	Roger Francis