Christmas Dinner Celebrations

The original date for our Christmas Dinner having been snowed off members gathered at the Grainery Harwood Dale on the 4th January, when the weather was fortunately fine for travelling.  

It was great to have a seasonal meal out of season as it can be turkey and tinsel overkill prior to the big day.

We enjoyed a champagne reception on arrival andsat down to a great meal of well cooked food in generous proportions with wine included and the usual seasonal trimmings. Some folks had forgotten their menu choices but Chairman Peter was available to put them right.

After the meal we were treated to a excellent quiz created by Simon Ward with increasing random questions (and random answers) which were real mind benders.

All in all a great Christmas Dinner albeit delayed. 

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November 2022 Meeting Report – Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

The November 41 Club meeting took place at the Blacksmiths Arms Cloughton, the Blacksmiths offers great pub grub and beers.

The evening started with a speaker, Shean Duggan representing the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust who gave members an interesting overview on the Trusts activities and issues facing wildlife around Yorkshire and beyond including oyster farming which were unfortunately not on the menu to eat !  A vote of thanks was given by Simon Ward.

We enjoyed a good old fashioned 41 club meal comprising Minestrone soup, Steak Pie chips and peas all rounded off with apple crumble and custard.

There was one guest on the evening attended the meeting, Clive Welburn.  

Chairman Peter inducted two new members Martin Walker and Brian Davidson.

New Members Martin and Brian

By way of reports secretary Mike Shingler mentioned the the Round Table sleigh would again be running before Christmas and 41 clubers were asked to help as collection elves, dates of the evenings concerned would be circulated.

Catering officer commented that the Christmas meal will soon be upon us and asked for confirmation of attendance asap if not already given along with menu choices, overnight accommodation is offered at discounted rates. General comments were that the evening was a great old fashioned 41 club meeting including both a speaker and a hearty pub meal.

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October 2022 Meeting Report – Turkish?

The last meeting at Askim’s featured a particularly meaty feast which left your humble correspondent feeling somewhat bloated, and allegedly exuding an odour of garlic. The meal itself tasted excellent, however. Don’t think I‘ve ever come across any restaurant proprietor less keen to make money by selling drinks, if it involved paying with the credit card machine. I’m sure we would have consumed more alcohol if he had been less bothered by his transaction charges.

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September 2022 Meeting Report; Crescent Hotel

After a bit of shenanigans with where the meeting actually was, our illustrious catering team of Dominic and John did a great emergency manoeuvre and managed to get us in at the Crescent. Despite it being prime holiday time for ‘silver surfers’, some 22 people attended, including 3 guests, John Price, Andrew Hayes and Bob Heaps.

The evening opened with Chairman Peter asking for a minute’s silence in respect of the Queen. He had received a missive from National setting out protocols for any meeting around this sad time, but decided that, as we were such a ‘well behaved club’, we would meet all the requirements without him having to read them all out!

The meal comprised Veg soup, Boeuf bourguignon and a very large cheese board, all of which your correspondent found to be very good.

There was no major business reported, other than the Secretary reporting that Gordon Hayes had resigned due to his heavy commitment related to his charity work. The Chair reported that he had heard unofficially that the Aalten weekend (with Aalten coming here) was conceivably likely to maybe possibly perchance be in late April 2023, but he wasn’t sure. Watch this space for further information.

The meeting finished with the usual toast to RT. Brian Pidd then had a gentle rebuke for the Chair forgetting to toast the new King.

It was good to meet up again after the summer recess.

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September Meeting; Photo Gallery

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August 2022 Meeting Report; Summer BBQ

Dominic our catering officer organised a summer event based at the Nags Head Scalby, partners and guests were invited to join in. The event was well attended and all appeared to enjoy themselves.

The weather was geat and we enjoyed not only a few drinks but a pleasant meal prepared by Arthur’s catering van in the rear courtyard at the pub.

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June 2022 Sports Meeting Report – Quoits

Sports report to follow but here is a taster of the three amigos arriving for the showdown at Beck Hole.

The quits evening closely contested event was won by Colin Bird and Ben Kitto, with Colin being awarded ‘Man of the Match’ status. Many thanks to sports officer Darren for organising this and our hosts at Beck Hole.

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May 2022 Meeting Report – AGM Part 2

The second part of our AGM was held on Thursday 26/05/22 at Geo’s Scarborough. The event was well attended, with the most notable attendee being incoming Chairman Pete Calow who had been forced to to miss the AGM Part 1. 

Geo’s was an innovative choice of venue, with good food and service. However, there was quite a lot of background noise generated from the restaurant below, making discussion somewhat challenging. Incoming Chairman Peter therefore opted to deliver most of his prepared speech via this report – please see below:

‘Those of you that know me will be hugely relieved that there’s to be no long rambling speech at this point, but just one or two bullet points to set out. 

Apologies for my non-attendance at the AGM, owing as many of you know to Covid within the household, and a surfeit of caution regarding this. 

Firstly, many thanks to David and all on his committee for their fine efforts last year. 

After the vote at the National AGM to open-up the new membership requirements, our own club rules will need reconsideration to account for this. The committee will have a look at this. Along with other 41 Clubs, we are moving with the times in that Charles Hindle is our new Vice Chairman. He will be the first non ex Round Table member to join the Scarborough 41 Club committee, and I’m sure you will all join me in congratulating Charles on this. 

I am conscious of the fact that the Aalten visits have ceased during the pandemic, and that we need to try to organise fresh contacts with Aalten, despite the difficulties that the small membership of Round Table now presents. Aalten are due to visit us again, and are reportedly keen to do so, and so we will try to set things in motion during the next year.’

Peter Calow 

(Peter then added a PS at the end of his email ‘At least no bad jokes feature above’. Not sure if he was having a go at yours truly, but then again, if the cap fits…).

All in all, it was a watershed moment for outgoing Chairman Dave. Not only was he handing over the 41 Club reins to Peter, but the following day was his last day at work before retiring. This came as a surprise to many members, as Dave has never seemed to age like the rest of us. Painting in the attic maybe? (Like in the story of Dorian Gray – come on gentlemen – keep up).

Peter therefore made one of his first duties proposing a toast to Dave, to wish him a happy retirement, before ending the meeting with RTBI.

THE UNVARNISHED TRUTH by ALTERNATIVE REPORTER

In place of the planned visit to SeaGrown on the Southern Star moored in the harbour to learn all about the cultivation and harvesting of seaweed which was cancelled at the last minute (will we ever succeed with this visit?) those members with a thirst to quench met in the Leeds Arms for a pre-meeting drink before been chivvied by John White into leaving at 7.30pm to walk to the restaurant in time for the second part of the AGM and the induction of our new Chairman.

Although we had the sole use of the upper floor of the restaurant the noise from the ground floor and the sound system made life difficult for the outgoing Chairman Dave, the Secretary Mike and the incoming Chairman Peter to be heard. The silver lining in the cloud was that Peter was unable to entertain us with his pre-prepared half hour address and limited his remarks to thanking David and his team for their efforts over a difficult period.

The Chairman’s regalia was duly handed over and the past Chairman’s jewel presented with David H (standing in for Stuart who was absent sailing around the Baltic Sea looking for Russian submarines in the absence of any whales) doing the honours with the camara.

The absence of table settings having become apparent the growing concerns of members about when and where they were going to eat was assuaged when plates albeit somewhat small and cutlery was placed on the tables by the restaurant staff. A series of tapas style dishes soon followed and the reason for the small plates became apparent.

Your reporter, David H and Nigel waited patiently as other tables were served a variety of dishes but nothing arrived until one table showed some sympathy by sharing their roasted green peppers. The noise of furniture being eaten finally drew the attention of the restaurant staff who initially explained that the correct number of meals had been served but were persuaded that additional food should be served to the starving trio. Further enquiry revealed that the restaurant had served 2 tables of 10 and 1 of 5. A quick count revealed that there were in fact 2 tables of 8 and 9 who had scoffed the trio’s share!

Several small plates later a satisfying meal ended with a miniature burger, fries and a salad. 

With the noise levels from the ground floor having reduced Chairman Peter was able to make himself heard to propose a toast to Former Chairman Dave on the eve of his last working day before taking a well-earned retirement. 

There was no other business and the meeting ended with the usual toast to RTBI.

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April 2022 Meeting Report: AGM at the Crescent

The following is a brief outline of the evening, full minutes to follow from Simon Lockley (via email) in due course.

The AGM evening at the Crescent Hotel started well. National Council Liaison Officer Wynn Parry reported on the change of Association rules to the effect that clubs could invite any new members regardless of whether they had been in Round Table previously or not. This is without limit in number. 

Wynn commented that that our 41 Club is one of the biggest in area and indeed in the country which, in my opinion, is worrying for 41 Club nationally given that we are ourselves conscious of our shrinking numbers. 

Wynn asked that we support National Tangent’s charity work by buying raffle tickets which we duly did; the Club also voted to give a lump sum of £100.

The previous minutes from the AGM were passed; the AGM had been with minimum attendance by officers only at the Nags Head, Scalby due to Covid restrictions.

Officers’ reports were given with no major issues forthcoming.

It was discussed what the situation regarding Aalten visits was currently. Apparently, Aalten are keen to firm up a date but Round Table are being cautious at the moment given that they only currently have approximately eight members. 41 Club hold funds to support a visit.

There will hopefully be a sports night, possibly Quoits, in the near future.

Given that Peter Calow the Vice Chairman was currently self-isolation, the handover to a new Chairman and appointment of officers could not take place and was been postponed to the next meeting.

A toast was made by John White in memory of Tom Cathcart.

A toast was made by Simon Ward in favour of Dominic Grunwell for his Catering Officer endeavours through the year.

At this point we enjoyed dinner which comprised of a Pate starter, Irish Stew and, to finish, Cheese and Biscuits or Sticky Toffee pudding.  

After the dinner, Chairman David Ascough inducted Neil Warburton as a new member.

Dave suggested the Rainbow Centre as his appointed charity for the year. He gave gifts to his officers in thanks for their services, Mike Shingler with a miniature replica.

Steve Slade was presented with his past chair gong, just a little late due to Covid.

With that, the AGM procedures were paused pending completion at the May meeting.

Meeting report and photos by Stuart Baines.

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March 2022 Meeting Report: Chinese Meal (Maritime Meeting)

The March 41 Club meeting got off to the usual start with a pre-dinner tipple at the Tap and Spile on Falsgrave. A good turnout with circa 20 members getting a head start on the beer. Personally, a top tipple was available to me: Camerons Strongarm – definitely a throw back to the late 70s!

We were herded out and across the road at 7.30 pm to Tops Chinese restaurant. Chairman Dave welcomed guests Andrew Hayes, Neil Warburton and John Price.

The meal comprised of the usual pre-dinner crisps (always remind me of Quavers), a medley of fried goodies, and a main course of four pork and sweet and sour dishes dishes, rice and a side of chips (they have the Scarborough preferences sorted here not something you are likely to get with your meal in Peking).

Chairman Dave asked for reports but none were forthcoming.

Not much maritime apart from the prawns in the sweet and sour but  we left suitably stuffed and satisfied so what’s not to like?!

AGM at The Crescent next on the agenda.

Report and photographs by Stuart Baines.

Don’t look now, Brian, but we’re about to be attacked by a giant Triffid flower. – Don’t worry, David, I think it is after Nigel.
Get off my chip!

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