Category: Events

• The 47^th Annual general Meeting of the Club took place on Thursday 24^th February at the new venue of Downes Crediton Golf Club.
• There were 24 members who attended the meeting with 4 more joining for the subsequent lunch.
• Garry Adams was re-elected as Chairman for a further 3 years and, combining his second role as Treasurer, reported on a better year socially with the easing of the pandemic restrictions in the latter part and a strong financial position given that the Bank grant to the Club had remained the same despite the fewer functions which could be arranged. The subsidies provided to members both for the lunches and the free Coffee Mornings and Cream Teas were very welcome and would continue in 2022 when 10 or 11 events were being planned.
• There were no changes to the Committee but a vacancy still exists and also on the Wellbeing Committee. Is there anyone who would be prepared to fill these positions? Just phone any Committee member for more details of what is entailed.
• Unfortunately the speaker scheduled for this meeting (Rev. Alan Dodds), after the formalities had been dealt with, had been taken ill so Garry Adams and Les Rendell devised a quiz which was much enjoyed before the Golf Club provided a three course lunch also much enjoyed.
• The full minutes of the AGM are available from Les Rendell on lesrendell41@gmail.com or by phoning him on 01884 254375.

Another successful lunch gathering at the Best Western Hotel in Tiverton was attended by 35 members including some who had only recently joined us. As usual the meal was excellent and the cost was subsidised by the Club. There was no rush to get away and friendships were augmented with some new friendships being made.

The next function will be a free coffee morning at Bickleigh Mill near Tiverton on Tuesday 16th November (from 10am) when the gift shop will hopefully be filled with Christmas items and lunch will be an option for those who wish to stay.

The Christmas Lunch will be at the Victoria Hotel Sidmouth on Tuesday 14th December.

A new venue, a cream tea and lovely weather combined to make an enjoyable function for our members.

In the Orangery on the Powderham Estate, 38 members spent a happy afternoon with a delicious cream tea and then a visit to the shop and garden centre nearby.

After the lockdown it was good once again to meet up with former colleagues at a new venue and we were able to welcome two new members. The tea was free to members making the occasion even more attractive.

The next function is a lunch at the Tiverton Hotel on Thursday October 14^th.

After the lockdowns and with the end of restrictions in sight, it was great to meet up in person at a coffee morning on July 6th. We were at the White Horse Inn between Exeter and Sidmouth where a specially converted outdoor area had been built so we were not breaking any rules. Around 20 of us enjoyed coffee and a chat and a few stayed on for lunch. Plans are now afoot for a cream tea in September and a lunch in October hopefully free of Covid-19 rules!

Annual General Meetings are not the most exciting events in any club’s calendar but the one held at the Exeter Golf and Country Club on March 10th ended with over 50 Barclays Pensioners singing one of Lonnie Donegan’s great hits “Putting on the Style”. Why? Well the guest speaker, following the formal business, was the Rev. Alan Dodds who had a remarkable story to tell and the response to his guitar playing during his excellent presentation obviously hit the right notes and brought back fond memories.

Alan became involved in the fifties with the music of that era and formed a band called the Konrads in the Bromley area of London. David Bowie (as he later called himself) became a member of that band and eventually its lead singer while Alan wrote one of Bowie’s first songs. Images and music of the time were recalled by Alan who had no difficulty in getting his current audience to join in whenever he played songs from ‘back in the day’.

Alan, who retired as the Rector of Uffculme a few years ago, also told of his conversion to Christianity and eventually to the Anglican ministry through a blind date at a Butlins holiday camp.

It was a fascinating 45 minutes thoroughly enjoyed by all and a deserved vote of thanks was given by Garry.

What about the AGM then? Well, full reports about another successful year of Club events were given by Chairman and Treasurer, Garry Adams with Ray Cavill providing information about our Wellbeing Committee and the Bank Workers Charity. The subscription of £5 was retained and details of the 2020 events – ten are proposed – were announced.

After six years as Secretary, Andrew Green has decided to step down but remain on the Committee and he was thanked for his stalwart work over that time by Chairman Garry whose appreciation was shared by all present.

Our new Secretary is Barbara Johnson and she was given a warm welcome by everyone present. These changes were the only ones on the committee.

The full minutes of the AGM may be obtained from Les Rendell on lesrendell41@gmail.com

Seventy Barclays pensioners, spouses, partners and friends once again enjoyed an excellent Christmas Lunch at the Victoria Hotel in Sidmouth on 5th December. As usual, the hotel was beautifully decorated and both the seasonal fare and the service were first class. Those who attended benefitted from the heavily subsidised cost and there was a good deal of animated chatter and festive good wishes over the three hours or so in the hotel which offers lovely sea views for those arriving early for coffee beforehand.

Forty or so pensioners and friends were startled by a Halloween invasion of witches and ghosts at the commencement of their lunch at the Tiverton Hotel on October 31st (click here). Several of the Club members (who shall be nameless!) dressed appropriately for the occasion and were eventually welcomed by the rest of the group so that a very enjoyable lunch ensued. The Tiverton Hotel has hosted this October lunch for a few years now and has always provided excellent food and service. The hotel is easy to reach and parking is no problem so we always hope that those who do live in mid and north Devon will find it more convenient to join us.