We thought only 50, compared with the usual 80, might mean this year's disco
would not be the usual rip roaring success: we were wrong - just meant
we just had a little more floorspace to "do our thing", "let our hair down"
and "have a laugh" :-) Great time had by all.
The combined Indian Meal and Quiz evening on 10th November was a great success in the Cordes Hall. The Raj Vooj provided the excellent food and the Rabin Family organised the Quiz - with much good natured banter and heckling between tables :-)
Wasn't it fantastic ? Can't be bad when we get "hottest day of the year"
two years running :-)
Fantastic weather for BBQ on 24th June - see the pictures below.
Everyone enjoyed themselves - close to 100 adults and 50 children ?
Many Thanks to Jude and Jerry Bell, the AMRA
committee and all helping with things like preperation of sites, BBQ food, etc.
Here are a few pictures from my camcorder video.
There's Alan Cook, centre, AMRA Secretary, "Mr Barbecue Meister"
- watching David Sutcliffe (new Committee Member) burn stuff.
There's Gerry Bell on the right, taking the required "lubrication" :-)
Alan tells me the big bloke behind David is Brian :-)
Behind Gerry you can see the children being amused by our
very "politically incorrect, but excellent" Julian Hirst, contracted entertainer,
and "Punch and Judy Man".
In the next picture you can see, on far left, Jude Bell, AMRA Social Secretary,
and "Food Meister". Sorry if this updated AMRA Page is a bit "ragged"
and still a bit out of date - it's a rush job after Patsy Lascelles
(now on AMRA Committee as "Estate Manager") gave me, Robin, some
nice snaps of the 1999 "Sixties Disco" and last years "Caribean Evening"
a few days ago:
I just HAD to put them up on the web site - and now I just HAD to get
a few pictures from yesterday up onto the page. Sorry if we missed you,
but hare are a few more below......
Little Nicole at the Bell's table....then a crowd scene with back of Hans in foreground....
Another crowd - with Pat Burgess ? ...... Poppy Sutcliffe shows Robin her Poo Bear Ball....
Juliet Constantine (Treasurer), Patrick Peters (NW Rep) and daughter... more kids...
The Barn Dance was on 10th February, from 7.30pm 'till midnight, at the Cordes Hall, Sunninghill. Tickets were only £10, including Fish & Chips meal, and free glass of wine on arrival. "Rogues Gallery" were be the band. As Jude Bell put it, ".....brilliantly incompetent dancing and perfect fish and chips !" :-)
The "Caribbean Evening" was in the Cordes Hall on Saturday 18th November 2000 from 8pm until Midnight. Tickets were £15 each. Another rip-roaring success ! These Pictures are from Patsy Lascelles: me in my "politically incorrect" dress and makeup: Despite the flash, the black background means you can only see my "No Problem" teashirt, eyes and teeth. I needed two baths to get it all off :-) Who's this doing the "Limbo" ?
Brilliant ! About 90 attended this chance to meet neighbours, chat with quieter music in the background, and eat good Indian food supplied from the Raj Vooj next door (alternatives were arranged for those few who do not like Indian food - which was mild to appeal to almost everyone), and "shout down" the opposition. Tables were pitted against one-another for the General Knowledge Quiz. Tickets were only £8. We arrived any time after 7pm for a 7.30 start to the Quiz, and ate at about 8.30pm. As normal for these Cordes Hall events, we brought our own glasses, bottles of wine, etc. The Quiz was organised by the Rabin Family from Finchamstead - Great Fun !
Here's hoping the 2001 AMRA Barbecue will be as blessed with great
weather as that in 2000:
remember that hot Sunday on 18th June ?
A great time was had by all - including the children - despite the glum face
on Sam Bell ("my lolly isn't big enough") on right - for whom an
entertainer (below) was contracted-in.
Special thanks are due to Jude, who
as AMRA Social Secretary, master-minded the children's entertainment,
all the food, including
getting it from the local butcher, and working with Juliet (Treasurer)
and others to prepare it - including salad, strawberries and ice-cream
- yummy yummy !
John Williams (Secretary) and Stuart Wicks - both
veterens of AMRA BBQ in previous years - did long hours over the coals - doing the
"mens work" aided by myself and David Schofield. Next year we must
remember to organise a "shift system" so those cooking get a one
hour break - we were "at it" for over 3 hours - sorry you had to wait
for the steaks as a "second course". Special thanks must also be due
to Gerry, husband of Jude, who spearheaded the grass-cutting a day
or so before the "A-Team" of volunteers arrived Saturday morning
to cut the grass below knee-height, rake it away, and mow it
to something approaching a lawn again. Grass-cutting is discussed
under "The Bigger Garden" below.
The raffle was as popular as ever - with plenty of nice prizes,
including chocolates, and bottles of drink - and we did not need
to give away the meat left over :-)
That's me on the right - "dressed to kill" :-)
Before you ask - "Sixties" means 1960's - not our age - although
I guess, at this event, we had both those young enough not to remember these times,
and those who qualify on both counts.
Last November's (1999) event was yet another great success - as had
been that the year before. Great music organised by Patrick ! We even made a £30
profit after paying for Champagne, food, hall, music and raffle prizes.
We must do it again - and will remind you nearer the time. See "Next
Social Event" below.
That's Robin with Carol Park next door, but who are these ? .....
..and who are these ? ....