Christmas
Brass
Band Concert.
As part of our lead up to the Christmas festivities our Club member, Adrian Baxter, arranged for a Christmas Concert to take place on Sunday the 11th of December. This was held at Frodsham Community Centre and once again it featured the Pennine Brass band, which is the newest brass band in Yorkshire having formed in 1999. Playing to a near capacity audience, the evening was filled with festive music that ranged from a Hailstorm, a Sleigh Ride, a Shining Star and of course traditional Carols, which the audience were asked to join in with.
In thanking their Musical Director, Ian Porthouse, and all the members of the brass band, our President gave assurances that they would all be allowed free and unfettered passage back into Yorkshire provided that they come along next year to once again provide us with such a wonderful musical experience. This they agreed to do!
Thanks were also passed on to all Club members who helped with the event which raised some £450, and it was pleasing to note that the evening was supported by many ladies from Frodsham Inner Wheel Club, some of whom helped provide refreshments during the Interval.
Thank you so much Ladies.
Round Table's Christmas Float.
As with previous years, our good friends in Frodsham & District Round Table invited our Club to take charge of their Christmas Float for one evening during the run up to Christmas. And so, Tuesday the 13th of December was agreed to be our Clubs night when some of our Club members would attempt to act the part of Santa and his Little Helpers.
In charge of pulling the Sleigh was a Rudolph sort of look alike, Sam Williams; Roy Wallwork was the spitting image of Santa, with Vince Akers, Fred Bishop, Richard Brook, Malcolm Davies, Brian Henshaw and Graham Reeves wearing funny hats and carrying collection boxs and armed with brightly coloured lollipops, acting as Santa's Helpers!
The evening was spent visiting part of Helsby where Santa's visit was eagerly awaited. Children were brought along where they would stand, wide eyed and in total awe as a result of being on the Sleigh and there in front of them was Santa. All would carefully tell Santa of the things they would like for Christmas, with several passing to Santa a list, just to make sure that he remembered everything!
As you might expect, the evening was not without incidents. The one that can be retold without fear of litigation was when an elderly gentleman opened the door and told one of Santa's Helpers, 'There's nobody in, mate.' This incident was made more profound when one of Santa's helpers, who will remain anonymous, admitted that that was the sort of thing his father would say! It takes allsorts to make liquorice.
Can't wait for next year?
Christmas
Dinner - 2005.
As is tradition, our last Club meeting in the year is given over to our Christmas Dinner when members generally let their hair down (that is those that have some to let down!) and relax. This year however it was with great pleasure that President Tony starter the proceedings with the formal induction of yet another new member into our Club, who was the 8th to be inducted in 9 months. The photo shows the President with our newest member Keith Millington (centre) and Peter Holland, Keiths sponsor.
Keith..... Welcome to Rotary and to our Club.
As we have come to expect, it wasnt long before the effervescent Frank Ball produced his screaming phallic balloons that, by design, caused much concern and mayhem, with quite a lot of ducking and diving taking place in the back benches! The President was convinced that someone would have their eye put out by one of these unguided flying missiles, but fortunately everyone lived to see another day.
p.s. Frank has a yellow one, John Pollet's is orange and Ian Tickle's is red!
The evening
also
included numerous variety acts ranging from
a Geordie song, a Story of the Christmas Turkey, a Girl from
Huddersfield, Good and Bad jokes and several poignant anecdotes.
Frivolities finished with a trio of choirs singing the 12 Days of
Christmas....... clearly not an evening for the
faint hearted!
The evening was also special for our Club member, Fred Bishop, whos birthday was celebrated by the eating of 2 birthday cakes (with candles) and the drinking of 2 bottles of a rather superb Port.
Happy Birthday Fred.
(Fred is featured on the group photo, he is the first on the left, the good looking one, distinguished sort of guy, goatee beard, very tidy hair, firmly gripping his beer).
As is always the case, Reg Crowthers liquid raffle went down a treat, and as ever remained superb value for money. Our Sergeant at Arms, Peter Holland, managed to draw money from the deepest of pockets as a result of Club members real or imagined misdemeanours.
The evening was called to a timely close by the President, when he wished all Club members, their families, relatives and friends a Safe and Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and Happy New Year.
