Successes
Summer BBQ
We had a very enjoyable afternoon and evening
at the Bar-b-que hosted by Mike & Ena Kingstone and Alan &
Janet Sturgess at Sunrise, Broadchalke, the food was superb and the
event well attended by 31 members and friends. We were
pleased to welcome Mr and Mrs Whines from Warminster - it was nice
to see them again.
This event raised a total of almost £300 for
this year’s charity Help for Heroes (this included £61 raised by
the raffle tickets which Alan sold).
Sunday Lunch – 10 August 2008
We had another wonderful time at our charity
Sunday Lunch on 10 August held at our home (Bill and Pat Lawrence,
Lanterns, Whaddon). 23 members and friends attended this
feast and it was lovely to welcome our Regional President, Rosemary
Jasper, with her husband David, also Liaison Officer Mary and her
friend Pam. The lunch more than upheld Sarum’s high
reputation for catering.
I wish to thank everyone who helped at this
lunch, from the two Bills and Mike putting up the shelters, husband
Bill who cooked all the meats, Ena who did all the other food
including her cheesy potatoes ably helped by Janet Sturgess and
Janet Setchell. Janet also helped me in the morning, and did
mountains of washing up during the day. Our Vice Regional
President, Brian Holstead, was also on board serving the wine after
helping Bill move tables and chairs in the morning and again at the
end of the day. My thanks to Alan for again doing the
raffle.
I did lay the tables and sorted out dishes
etc, but as I really cannot do a lot now, it was a combined effort,
the weather was kind to us, with bad days on either side, so we
were lucky.
It was a lovely day and such a pleasure to
have so many old friends together at our home, thank you all
for your help in raising £172.50 for our charity, plus £62.50 from
the raffle. Total £235.00.
Pat Lawrence
Summer Walks and Pub Lunches
On 22 June we enjoyed a walk at Whaddon - just seven of us and
our dog Chloe. It was a beautiful day, no cars, so peaceful,
many butterflies and dragon flies. We were joined by
non-walkers for lunch at the Green Dragon, Alderbury.
Walk and Pub Lunch at The King’s Head, Whiteparish – 13
July 2008
This is the village where my sister Janet and
I were born and brought up. Our home was about one mile outside of
the village. Alan thought it would be nice to see our old
home again. We had Jordan, (Janet and Alan’s Grandson) with us and
we enjoyed showing him where we lived when we were his age.
The walk across fields where we used to play brought back many good
memories.
We needed to
get out of the fields and onto the road back to the village, we
asked a farmer where the stile was and he directed us. It was
completely blocked with stinging nettles, brambles and farm
machinery, so we had to return the way we came. I’m sure that
farmer was laughing at our expense!
We enjoyed our lunch at the King’s Head, Alan
had forgotten to mention that the chef was on holiday, but the
landlady excelled herself cooking a delicious roast. In the
garden there are deer, pigs, dragons, mice etc. etc. plus a witch
on the roof! All life size and made out of wire and
straw by the landlady. I would have liked a deer for
Christmas, but at £1,500 I was told NO!!! The prices started
at about £30 for the mice though.
Walk and Club
Lunch at The Wooden Spoon, Downton – 17 August 2008
Our third walk was at Downton. We have done
this walk many times and have always enjoyed it. We go by the river
and over a bridge, quite a lot of fish, but difficult to see at
first. We came to a field where there was lots of water and
mud, so we had to turn around and go back the way we came, but to
go over the bridge again and see the water going through the
hatches was worth it. Twelve of us enjoyed a meal at the
Wooden Spoon in Downton which finished the day off nicely.
Ena Kingstone
Walk and Club Lunch - 27 April 2008
We met at Hamptworth for our annual Bluebell
walk. Sickness had again taken it’s toll so only nine members
and friends set out for Langley Wood and the area behind the
11th and 12th holes.
We were fortunate to see many flowers
including primroses along the way, but it was in the wood that we
came upon massed bluebells over a large area. The Forestry
Commission and the Golf Club have done so much to clear the area
and so give the bluebells a chance to shine.
After the walk we had a very enjoyable
leisurely carvery meal in the clubhouse. This time Bill
Lawrence was our leader, and our thanks to him for another very
successful day
Regional Skittles - 6 April 2008
On Sunday 6 April we hosted
the Regional Skittles Competition at Alderbury Bowling Club in
Salisbury. Neighbouring Branch Lodden Vale were our
opponents.
We started the day with a superb lunch
prepared by our Sarum Caterers - many thanks Ena, Janet and her
daughter Karen. After lunch we played the match with Sarum
winning by four legs to two.
We will be traveling to the leisure centre at
Portishead for the final on 31 May.
Walk and Pub Lunch at The Fountain Inn - 30 March 2008
Seven members and
friends and our dog Chloe enjoyed a walk in the New Forest. As well
as Forest ponies we passed friendly donkeys, pigs and sheep just
wandering in the road.
We saw many beautiful primroses and other
spring flowers. We then disturbed a group of pea-hens (what a
racket they kick-up).
A really enjoyable walk, our thanks to our
leader Alan Sturgess, well done. The walkers then returned to
The Fountain Inn to be joined by the 11 non walkers for a prolonged
meal and chat. A really lovely day.
Installation and Presentation Evening - 15 March 2008
This event was held at the Hamptworth Golf and
Country Club in Salisbury. The main purpose of the evening
was the installation of Officers by David Eggleston and
presentation of a charity cheque to Riding for the Disabled.
Ena Kingstone presented a cheque for £6,000 to
Riding for the Disabled. The secretary of Riding for the
Disabled, Chris, said they have to meet all the costs involved at
the Centre as they get no official funding. Her fellow guest
Pat, one of the riders at the center, said the benefits were
immeasurable.
Then our outgoing President, Bill Lawrence,
presented a clock and a teddy to our Regional President, Rosemary
Jasper, to acknowledge all her loyalty and the hard work she has
done on the Branches behalf during her eight years as Regional
President. He also presented a glass tankard to Bill Holstead
and Alan Sturgess and Teddy Bears to all his ladies, including our
Liaison Officer, Mary Bowerman. Mary said her Teddy would be called
Bill.
Bill was himself presented with a Past
Presidents pin by Bill Holstead and glass tankard for all his hard
work during the last four years by the incoming President, his
wife, Pat Lawrence.
David’s wife, Kay, was presented with a
plant. Kay was originally a member at Sarum, her name is on
our Charter. Pat Holstead presented David with a cheque for
our own Benevolent Fund.
The remainder of the evening was given over to
dancing to Paul J. who was a great success. Paul offered Ena
and Janet £10.00 for our charity if they backed him with the
sixties hit “Rubber ball come bouncing back to me”. They did
well and this gave a boost to our charity combined with the £200
raised on the raffle.
It was a wonderful evening, thanking the
outgoing Officers and welcoming the new, although we all just
change places, it does add interest to do a different job, we have
a very worthwhile charity this year.
People may not agree with the war but “Help
for Heroes” is to help our servicemen and women who have been
injured just doing their job in Iraq or Afghanistan. I hope
you will all help us.