October 2019 meeting report: Bryherstones and Nigel Sheppard’s presentation

We all had enjoyed a great night at the Bryherstones hosted by Paul and Sally Shipley.

There was a good turnout of members all looking forward to fine food followed by a presentation from Nigel Sheppard, which included the impact of the Beeching Report on the train timetables in the local area. As most of us are aware, Nigel is passionate about his trains.

The meeting started early with food being served from 6.30pm, including a starter and followed by game pie with lashings of gravy and vegetables. Tom had requested that Sally made us all game pie and it was very well received. Wine was also provided on each table, so as you can imagine, we all left in a very happy state.

The presentation from Nigel provided a great insight into the problems envisaged by the local community if the trains were to cease running. The local community sent appeals to the report’s author which were not very persuasive and had little if any impact. What would have happened in those days if today’s Extinction Rebellion protestors had been operating?

The railways were however being run with significant losses and something had to be done. Following the report, the reshaping of the railways left deep scars, with towns and villages isolated and London all important.

The history of the past 50 years shows that some commentators regard Beeching as a colossal mistake with passenger numbers at the highest level ever. Beeching contributed to the UK’s geographical divide between thriving big cities and struggling smaller towns.

Without Beeching there might not have been a vote from Brexit!

Many thanks again to Tom Cathcart for organising the evening.

Stephen Slade
Scarborough 41 Club Chairman

ps Our esteemed cameraman has told us that he may have accidently deleted the shots he took on the evening. It wasn’t on porpoise.

He has sent us some substitutes for the report, seal or return.

Nice porpoises
Seal at Ravenscar

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Bowling evening, October 2019

What a great time we all had at the Olympia Bowling Centre on the sea front in Scarborough.

We met at 6.30 pm and soon checked in and changed our footwear ready for the bowling challenge.

The customary pint was needed to calm our nerves before we began the game.

The game started slowly with quite low scoring but then some of the team found the skills obtained from their earlier years. Strikes and Spares came naturally to some.

There were several funny moments, one to remember is Mike Shingler lining up on the bowling alley with a ball to hand ready to roll it down the aisle, but then somehow bowling the ball backwards towards the rest of the team sat having a pint! This happened twice but we were on our guard the second time.

Scores on the doors

Simon Ward won the game with a terrific score of 176, which was some way ahead of anyone else.

After the challenge had ended, we walked down to the Ask restaurant to enjoy a meal and a glass or two of wine.

Many thanks to Darren Kellett for organising the evening and we look forward to the next event.

Stephen Slade
Scarborough 41 Club Chairman

Shingler bowls up

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September 2019 Meeting Report: Tapas Night

We were honoured to have the National President, Andrew Mackereth, and our National Area Councillor, Wyn Parry, at our September meeting, both being hosted at my house.

Several members met at the Merchant pub on Eastborough from 6.30pm and we then moved on at about 7.30pm to the Tapas Bar on Blands Cliff.

The owners, Steve and Elaine, made us all feel very welcome and provided a wonderful evening of food and wine. I would highly recommend the venue so, if you were not with us last night, then give it a try.

Grateful thanks to Tom Cathcart and John White for planning and organising the night. I understand they had been to the restaurant three times before to make sure all would be well on the night.

Wyn Parry explained his role as a National Councillor and that with 45 clubs in his area, he intends to visit each at least once in a year. Sounds like he will be a busy chap.

Andrew spoke about his role and gave us some information on the links with Round Table and the other sister organisations.

After leaving the Tapas Bar several members then returned to the Merchant pub for a night cap or two.

What a wonderful night we all had.

See you all in October.

Stephen Slade
Chairman

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Summer 2019 BBQ

The BBQ had been arranged for Saturday 10 August but after reviewing the weather forecast earlier in the week which showed gale force winds and rain, it was postponed until the Sunday.

A team of 41 Club members arrived on the Sunday morning to erect the marquee and set up the tables, chairs etc. ready for the guests to arrive from 5pm onwards.

The BBQ food was planned around a Caribbean theme with accompanying music. Upon arrival the guests were given a garland around their neck and a choice of rum punch (Tom’s special) or a Prosecco but the rum punch was a popular choice.

The food had been lovingly prepared over a few days by Tom and John and was much appreciated by all.

Grateful thanks to Tom and John for al their hard work and time in planning and providing a magnificent BBQ.

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RAF Fylingdales Visit Report

A few members of Scarborough 41 Club recently joined with the Scarborough Round Table to visit the RAF Fylingdales site. We all had to be security checked in advance and went through 2 checks to gain entry to the site on the night.

We were shown into the conference room and given a talk about RAF Fylingdales and amongst other interesting things were informed that:

  1. The site provides a continuous ballistic missile early warning service to the UK and USA, ensuring a surprise missile attack cannot succeed.
  2. Any such detection of a missile strike should give 25 minutes notice in which a decision must be made as to whether to counter strike. 
  3. A secondary role is to monitor all objects in space with the size of a fist or larger, all items being numbered and catalogued.
  4. A third role is as a satellite warning service for the UK keeping track of spy satellites used by other countries.  
  5. We were panning to also visit the operation room but, during the conference room talk, were advised that we were not allowed as there had been a “live incident” which they were monitoring.  
  6. Over 350 service personnel, military police and civilian staff work there.

It was a very interesting tour but I cannot give any more information “as we were sworn to secrecy” at this top secret base.

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Quoits Night

Many thanks to everyone who attended the Quoits evening laid on by the Beck Hole Quoits club 0n July 2nd

The weather was perfect and a good night was  had by all.   Everybody had 5 games each over the 2 hours.   Nobody got injured and luckily no damage was caused to any parked cars.   The lucky winners this year were Eddie and myself  destroying all the competition.  However to my advantage Eddie is the Quoits team captain and plays three times a week so I can’t really  claim the victory.   So the first prize went to Dave and Mike  (as usual) and a close second to Dom and Martin.

Many thanks to the Quoits team for hosting the event and to Glenys at the Birch Hall Inn for supplying the Ale and food. – Darren

Apres Quoits – The Birch Hall Pub

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AGM – Committee and Pictures

Your new committee is
Chairman – Steve Slade, Vice Chair – David Ascough, Secretary – Mike Shingler, Treasurer – Iain Johnston, Catering – Tom Cathcart, Meeting Reports – Stuart Baines, Membership – Alex Jowett, Past Chair – Simon Lockley, Sports – Darren Kellett.
Some pictures of the AGM; 

Simon hands chain of office to Steve
New members Dominic and Julian
Tom explaining 2019/20 Programme

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March Meeting – England Forever

The March 41 Club meeting took the form of an evening with St George at Scarborough Yacht Club, albeit a tad early in the year! As ever catering officer Tom Cathcart had organised another fun packed evening. We sat down to a three course meal ; lobster bisque, venison casserole, and a selection of sweets. 

Venison Casserole

Tom Cathcart then regaled those present with the origins of St George and his influence on English heritage. Next we enjoyed a quiz on English history won by Malcolm Smith and yours truly, along with Richard Clark, seriously good beer was given as the prize. 

TC

By way of a finale TC had organised a gin tasting session, the evening ended as members weaved their way home, fortunately nobody falling in to the harbour. All in all another excellent 41 Club meeting.

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Thai Meeting

The February meeting was a good food and drink night.

We started off at the Scarborough Flyer pub where pre-dinner pints were supped of the various guest beers, on the dot of eight o’clock were meandered along the SABA restaurant.

We were met with a suitably Thai welcome and an oriental beer.

The evenings food comprised

Starter Course

Vegetable Spring Roll

Shrimp

Chicken Satay

Fish Cake

Main Course

Lamb Massamam

Beef Phad Khing

King Prawn Panang

Chicken Golden

Vegetable Sweet and Sour

Egg Rice

Jasmine Rice

Egg Noodle

Guests attending were Dominic Grunwell, John Price and Jason Penfold. There was a vote of thanks to the restaurant owners and staff by Tom Cathcart.

A few photos of attendees

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Burns Night Meeting

The meeting was held this year at the new restaurant called “Nineteen09” at the new Scarborough TEC on Filey Road, Scarborough.

The 41 Club members were joined by ten members of Round Table and the total attendance on the night was forty.

Once members had sampled the drinks in the bar, the organisers Tom Cathcart and John White, asked for us all to be seated.  The haggis was then piped into the restaurant with a procession including our Chairman and Dave Henderson, who was wearing a Scottish hat and wig for this spectacle.

The piper excelled himself with the pipe playing and the address to the haggis which was warmly welcomed by the members.

We enjoyed a superb three course meal which was followed by cheese and biscuits and coffee.  Ian Cocker then gave a whisky tasting and talk.

The training staff and tutors came into the restaurant afterwards to receive a round of applause for all their hard efforts.

 A great night was had by all. 

After the meal a new member of Scarborough Round Table was inducted by the Chairman, Jim McCann, who used the new sword that had been presented to the club by the Aalten Round Table from Holland.

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