Area Report

Greetings one and all, as usual we seem to have been very busy with October seeing the AGM which as usual saw the previous motley crew sally on for another year, didn’t quite beat our record of 8 minutes for the time taken for this very serious occasion, but then this is West Sussex!

For those of you brave enough to have a look at our website you will have all of our committee’s ugly mugs staring back at you (counselling is available from Linda Reinhardt).

This years charabanc trip was the delights of either Bovington Tank Museum for the military minded or Monkeyworld for the uninitiated.

Organised by Martin & Diane Simons aided by Paula an absolutely marvellous day was had by one and all and certainly a lot warmer than last years freeze-up at Hatfield. The staff at the museum were superb by providing very interesting guided tours and even opening up several exhibits that are normally closed to Joe Public. The Monkeyworld contingent were also treated to a great day and had immense fun matching the antics of the residents with some of our members husbands. Typical, take them on a day out and all you get is abuse.

After better communication, diplomacy and determination, our poppy day presence was this year expanded to cover more days and also more locations with Barnham added to the normal locations. Members again braved the elements to fulfil the commitment with several days being extremely wet. Between the three locations we raised just over Ł2500

Our quiz night organised by Nigel Buck was another success and a great evening was had by all who took part. Fisticuffs over who won was resolved by Hazel and a broom handle, the winning team was lead by Gordon Gardiner, despite a stewards enquiry initiated by Roland Poole who despite stamping his feet and holding his breath was ruled off side.

Now listen very carefully, I’ll shall say zis only vunce. No prizes for guessing the theme for this years Christmas bash at East Dean. Net haul for the night was three Rene’s, one Poloceman complete with trincheon and whostle. The ladies were represented by a Michelle of ze resistonce and a very fetching Yvette complete with maids costume and garter (nice one Linda). Bob Slaughter had to have oxygen to recover. Apparently the outfit belongs to her husband, your secret is safe with us Andy.

A grand turnout of about 50 people wearing military uniforms and period dress as one would expect, and even a Southern Railway train guard who complained about leaves on the line.

The raffle was well patronised and despite Jill and Roland Poole attempting to keep the prizes they had supplied, all went well. With the kids doing all the rushing about, more time was available for partaking of the falling down water, which brings me neatly to Paul Covey’s ‘apple juice’ aka rocket fuel that he claims he can run his Fordson tractor on. Having tried it I can verify that your head will register about 9 on the Richter scale.

Our caterers did a splendid job and a veritable feast was provided to tempt the tastebuds, and plenty of it as well.

As a token of the committee’s appreciation for the last year, a calendar containing photos of members vehicles taken during the year, was well received. Although the suggestion of next years effort being on the lines of calendar girls was met with derision, Martyn Streeter is flatly refusing to remove his string vest.

The evening was rounded off with members ‘cutting a rug’ and Sue Taylor playing her bass guitar (looked like a broom to us). All in all a cracking evening, well done to all concerned, but primarily Paula and Diane, our social secretaries who yet again rose to the occasion despite the odds and with less stress than last year.

To combat the Christmas cobwebs, a walk was organised by Philip Hawes and Andy Kyte around Pagham Harbour to view the caissons for the Mulberry Harbours that were left behind. A very interesting talk was given by Philip who had also been instrumental in the renovation of the Saltings now used as an information centre, a commemoration stone on the foreshore, and also spoke about when he was Admiral of the Fleet in charge of one of these caissons upon its delivery to Normandy in 1944.

The day concluded with a warm up in the Pagham Yacht Club with food and drinkies.

That’s about it for this allegedly quiet time of the year, with plans aplenty for the coming years shenanigans and shows etc no doubt a busy year will follow.

MARK TAYLOR

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