A total of 29 members and partners joined Chairman Richard for a Chinese Banquet at TOPS Chinese Restaurant on Falsgrave Road on Thursday 27 November 2025.
Several members and partners accepted the invitation to begin the evening with a drink or two across the road at the Tap and Spile. This year with a suggested meeting time of 6.00pm there was plenty of time for everyone to finish their drinks and still arrive at TOPS in time for the start of the meal.
A brief welcome to members and guests from our Chairman was followed by the arrival of bowls of the obligatory prawn crackers while orders were taken for main courses and any special dietary requirements. The usual plate of mixed starters was followed by a main course of one’s own choice accompanied by individual bowls of fried rice. Secretary Mike requested a set of chop sticks to eat his main course with but then declared them to be too much like hard work!
With Mike bemoaning that in the absence of Catering Officer John and Treasurer Iain he was wearing 3 hats he managed to recruit Steve Slade to check the numbers in attendance against the members list which was just as well since Mike was convinced that there were 33 members and guests present. In his absence John was blamed for Mike’s accounting difficulties.
Peter Calow also took pity on Mike and relieved him of the task of taking the charity box and the card reader around the members.
With partners present there were no reports from the various officers who were in any event somewhat thin on the ground but at the end of the meal Mike, our Chairman and Vice Chairman Simon were able to hold a short meeting between just the 3 of them wearing several hats when the decision was made to divide the £1,000 sleigh proceeds recently received from RoundTable equally between the 3 charities who had received previous donations namely Martin House, Sparks Project and Westway Open Arms.
The Chairman brought an enjoyable evening to a close with a vote of thanks to the restaurant staff.
It was observed that the Chairman’s xylophone was again conspicuous by its absence!
Chinese Banquet Reporter
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