Christmas Celebration Lunch

We gathered on December 9 at the Beauvoir Arms in Downham, as we usually do for our Monday club meetings, but this time for our Christmas Partners Lunch.  Over 30 members and guests attended and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, a first chance to celebrate Christmas with our partners and perhaps relax a little before the stress of the “official” family celebrations and other Christmas festivities?

There was the usual pre-lunch chaos as members tried to get to the bar to order their drinks for the meal, while at the same time, handing over and receiving Christmas cards from other members.  As always, service from the staff was excellent and they were quick to supply the drinks.

Fellowship and Fun

Our bar location gave us privacy and a much more intimate atmosphere away from the distractions from other guests in the main restaurant.  In fact it was just what you’d expect from a Rotary get-together at Christmas.
President Patrick, fresh from his very recent return from his trip to Australia and New Zealand, was his usual efficient self, leading the occasion and reminding members why we were all there – to say thank you to all our partners for their tolerance, patience and understanding as we go about our Rotary business year in and year out.  He spoke briefly about his trip and featured two specific items.

The first was the success of our participation in the Billericay Fun Walk, where the celebration of its success and a “reveal” of the bonus had been announced only just over a week ago.  He showed all members the certificate of our stellar fundraising – a total of £2581 plus £495 Gift Aid.

The second was to record the award of a Triple Sapphire Paul Harris Fellowship to Peter Greene.  Peter had been away during the Charter Lunch, when other PHF Sapphires had been announced, and so Patrick took the opportunity to thank Peter for his contribution and record this notable achievement – the club’s second triple Sapphire PHF.

Finally, Patrick thanked Stephen King, our President-Elect, for running matters so admirably while he (Patrick) was away, and also especially thanked Brian Wellman who had put so much effort into arranging this special lunch, and all our other events this year, and who had prepared the table plan and organised the menu choices.  He ensured everyone was having a really good time.  We hope he had the time to enjoy the fruits of his labours and a very enjoyable meal, despite Julia being unable to accompany him on this occasion.

It’s a 50/50 Question

Then Roger Kettle hosted another 100 Club draw.  The 100 club is one of the club’s regular fundraisers, and it’s a painless way for members and their friends to donate to charity and at the same time, have the chance of a prize. Half the receipts goes in prizes, half to the benevolent fund for charitable purposes. Its growth success means that more members mean more prizes.  Roger shook up the “selection” tokens, and as the number of each selected token was announced,Brian Wellman read out the lucky winners for each of the selected token numbers.