ThamesMog
Secretary's Report December 2009

Over the years we have always been smartly dressed. This has been thanks in a large part to our regalia officer Jane Davies. So I was very sad to learn that Jane has decided to stand down as our regalia officer due to her changed circumstances and her future direction in life. I would like to thank Jane for all her hard work over her time as our regalia officer and for all her innovation in the attractive garments we can now stroll around in. I wish you Jane, happiness with good health in the future and I do hope we will not lose touch.

So in the New Year we shall be looking for a new regalia officer – so if you are interested in the role please contact me. It’s the sort of job that needs a methodical and comprehensive approach, going off at tangents and making random decisions doesn’t work, for example. I look forward to hearing from you. It will be fun working with you.

During Heidi Miller’s leaving do for her departure to university, her party was held at the Harte and Magpies in Coleshill. The food was good and the landlord was very welcoming. The pub has a good car park and the venue is convenient for many of the local members that attend the Hampden Arms. They have therefore decided they would like to try this venue as a replacement for the Hampden Arms noggin. So we will now meet at the Harte and Magpies on the third Sunday for our lunchtime noggin. Moreover, we shall be holding our Christmas meal at this pub instead of the Hampden Arms as was reported last month. Please accept my apologies for any confusion this change may cause. An additional change is that the meal will be held on Friday evening, apparently a lunchtime Christmas menu wasn’t available. Please see listing under dates and things for details. I know my dogs Bobby and Sally will miss their Christmas lunch this year, it is a great shame, let’s face it they won’t be with us forever, sadly.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Anita Pullen for organising our Christmas lunches at the Hampden Arms for the last six years or so. They were immensely enjoyable occasions. Also, best wishes to Heidi for her future studies – I hope you will find them enjoyable, Heidi.

By the way I am still organising our Christmas Dinner at the Poacher. But please remember due to booking pressures at the Poacher our Christmas dinner there will be held on Saturday night for the first time on 19th December – hopefully this change will be okay for everyone.

The Poacher often has guest beers on tap, so for our festivities I have requested that they try and get hold of the Morgan Centenary beer from Wye Valley brewery – you know the beer we all enjoyed over the celebrations. On draught it is particularly good, in my opinion. Fingers crossed it will be there for Christmas/New year.

Please note that at the time of writing the Phoenix pub was closed (late September) so there is uncertainty about the New Year Classic car show that is normally held there. However, the classic car meet will be on at the Poacher as normal – although without the Phoenix it could be larger – please contact Andy Low for the latest information nearer the time – many thanks.

As this is our December Centre report, I would like to wish all the readers of this column a very happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year with above all, good health!

And our final walk for our Centenary celebrations will be at the spectacular Devil’s Dyke see our events page for details.

Take care, see you all soon - Roger.