Ape and Apple, May 14th, 2022

Thanks to all who turned up last Saturday. As always the Meeting was a great success and a very happy occasion, the only disappointment being the somewhat sparse attendance – and the price of a pint of bitter (£3.65)!! It’s a good job my serious drinking days are well behind me – I’d be bankrupt by now otherwise.

 

We enjoyed the usual entertaining oration from FoC Gerry Dodd (unremunerated), the serious bit of course being eulogies for our late colleagues John Hope and Bernard Hill, of whom Gerry spoke very warmly. The usual silence was then observed as a mark of respect for John and Bernard.

 

The attendance figure was 24 out of a possible 69 and I must say I was very disheartened by this. I realise we are all getting older and some Members have medical conditions which prevent them from attending, but I was disappointed that a good number of those unable to attend was because of holidays. Given the unlikelihood of anyone being away on holiday on the second Saturday in January, there are only two more Saturdays in the year (second in May and second in September) to avoid when planning holidays. Surely it’s not too much to ask to avoid booking holidays on those dates if at all possible. I do put a fair amount of time and effort into organising the Meetings, which I consider deserves a bit more enthusiasm from Members than we’ve had recently, and I’m not prepared to continue indefinitely if there’s no improvement.

 

The next Meeting will be Saturday September 10 where I hope for a considereable improvement. I will of course be circulating the reminder nearer the time.