Ape and Apple, Jan 14th, 2023

Thanks to the 28 hardy souls who braved the bleak midwinter and turned up to make it a most enjoyable occasion. For reasons difficult to define, the Meeting was even more enjoyable than usual, with a very warm and fraternal atmosphere – notwithstanding the obvious disappointment among the Membership at an unusually short oration from our esteemed FoC. The plus side of that, of course, is that thankfully there were no eulogies for passed Members for once.

 

However, what the recitation lacked in quantity it certainly made up for in quality, with a most entertaining effort by Gerry – despite several mean attempts at heckling and Peter Curley shouting out the result of the Mancester derby just as Gerry was getting into his stride!

 

Thanks are due to Derek Manton who has taken over the unremunerated role of Chapel Photographer. The mugshots will be available on the website in due course. Thanks also to Mark Laverty for overseeing the website. (I presume and hope he got home to the Lake District without any broken bones this time.)

 

I must say I’m still concerned about the lack of numbers attending, although this time it was reduced by quite a few Members cancelling at short notice – all with good reasons. Except for that it would have been a well-attended foregathering. Please would all Members who can still make the trip, do their best to attend at least one of the two remaining Meetings this year, which are Saturdays, May 13 and September 9. If these dates are not already in your diaries, then please attend to it. Please do not respond intimating intention of attendance or otherwise for these Meetings until you receive the reminders for them.

 

Finally, a big thank-you to the generous Members who bought me a pint and to those who offered same but whom I had to refuse, having reached my capacity (which wouldn’t have been the case not very long ago!).

 

A very happy New Year to one and all.