2024 Activity Reports
If you were there you can Reminisce
If you were not there you'll know what you Missed
If your NOT a member you can see what you're Missing! - Contact Addrienne Campbell-Lawrence for membership enquiries via the "Contact Us" tab above.
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22nd April 2024 Main Meeting Featuring Speaker Richard Griffin Former Royal Protection Officer to the late Queen and the late Prince Philip.
Wow! Today yet another attendance record was set with 122 members who attended the well publicised event where we were privileged to welcome Richard Griffin former Royal Police Protection Officer to the late Queen and Late Prince Philip and what an interesting talk it was.
With a PowerPoint Presentation of many photographs of the Royal Family of which related to incidents and experiences he had encountered during the many years of his career.
There was also a table displaying many of his treasured mementoes including many photos medals and certificates etc.
Richard indeed kept our attention for a solid hour. Fabulous talk and his fee and donations were to Kent, Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance Trust that was of course our chosen charity for 2023.
16th April 2024 Tenpin Bowling
Our monthly meet up of our regular bowlers had just 7 members bowling, this was due to a number of factors, we were 2 weeks late as we avoid the school holidays when possible and we had several of our group away on a BeARA holiday to Torquay. Never the less we had an enjoyable session with the top scorers this month being:
Ladies: Diane Huddart - 105
Men: Grahame Lock - 111
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15th-19th April 2024 5 Day 4 nights holiday to Torquay.
Some 38 of our members enjoyed break to Torquay below are just a few pictures of the holiday.
Pictures Curtesy of Dave Finch & Gillian Alexander
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4th April 2024 Social Meeting Beetle Drive
65 of our members attended our ever popular Beetle Drive we arranged for our April Social Meeting.
25th March 2024 Bi-Monthly Walk with David & Janet Leech
Fourteen of our members joined David & Janet making a total of Sixteen at The Sugar Loves Pub carpark for a most enjoyable walk around Hollingbourne. Most returning to The Sugar Loves Pub for lunch.
It was good to welcome 5 new walkers to the group including Pete who is one of our newest Associate members.
Once again our thanks to David & Janet for organising this walk.
18th March 2024 Main Meeting Featuring Rob T. Ukulele Genius
100 of our members attended a most enjoyable afternoon with Rob T. playing the Electric Ukulele and singing many of our favourite songs. We were also treated to a cabaret of Irish tap dancing by one of our talented members Marilyn Harris, well done Marilyn.
Any member who attended this meeting and was unable to see Marilyn's intricate footwork should login to the members area and follow the link on the "Members Home Page" for a video clip.
7th March 2024 Social Meeting Musical Afternoon with our own D J Graham
It was so nice to see almost 70 of our members attend our March Social Meeting, with our own D J Graham Morecraft officiating with the entertainment.
It is also always gratifying for the committee to see members enjoying themselves on the dance floor.
5th March 2024 Tenpin Bowling.
Our meetup today was attended by 9 members with top scores being:
Ladies Pauline Lock - 134
Men
Dave Flexman - 114
12th February 2024 Main Meeting AGM
Our AGM meeting today was very well attended with 115 members present and commenced with a presentation of a cheque for monies raised for our members chosen charity Kent Surrey & Sussex Air Ambulance for which a total of £1,568.88 was raised throughout 2023 and presented to the KSS Air Ambulance Representative Fran, who gratefully received the cheque.
Prior to the AGM formalities we were given a presentation on "Managing Arthritis by Kyle Blackburn.
It was amazing how Kyle was able to present such a serious subject with such a humorous presentation on the various types of Arthritis what the effects are and how to live with the symptoms, this was particularly interesting to to our members given the type of association we are.
Our thanks to Kyle for his presentation today and we hope to see him in the future.
After our traditional cup of tea and biscuit it was down to the normal business that included voting for our chosen charity for 2024 that was McMillen Cancer Support by a narrow margin.
At the April 2023 Committee Meeting it was decided by those present (the webmaster was absent due to testing positive for Covid at the time) to present the member who logged in to the members area of our website the most times during 2023 with a small prize at the end of the year.
Having noticed the winner Eileen Dunn enter the hall prior to the meeting all was set for the presentation after the end of the webmaster's report.
BUT! Unbeknown to the committee Eileen had to leave early due to a migraine so was unable to accept her prize.
Thankfully Val Fuller offered to deliver the flowers to her door,
Thank you Val.
6th February 2024 Tenpin Bowling
We as usual had our monthly Tenpin Bowling get together with 15 members participating. I was nice to welcome 3 new bowlers tour group. Highest scorers above 100 today were:
Ladies: Pauline Lock - 100
Men : Grahame Lock - 120 Certainly a family affair with "Team Lock" taking the lead.
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1st February 2024 Social Meeting Games Afternoon
Our second Social Meeting of the year was attended by 61 members who had a most enjoyable afternoon playing a varied array of board games.
29th January 2024 Bi-Monthly Walk
9 members took part in the January bi-monthly walk around Kingshill, David our walk leader took the trouble to research the area and provided us with a guided tour giving us an interesting insight into the various points of interest, statues, works of art etc. On returning back to where we started the men adjourned to the Spitfire Pub for a pre meal drink, the ladies found a lengthy distraction in the form of some retail therapy in the Sue Ryder Charity shop.
Our thanks again to Davis & Janet for organizing this walk.
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15th January 2024 Main Meeting: CONCORDE A Supersonic Coverup
We had a near record number of members (112) attend our January Main Meeting where everyone enjoyed a fantastic speaker Mr Guy Bartlett about CONCORDE in general but in particular the circumstances surrounding the tragic crash.
Clearly he has delved very deeply into the official crash report and compiled a very interesting and informative presentation.
We look forward to having him back for another presentation in the future about why Concorde is not flying today!
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