Category: Events

There were 24 hardy souls who braved the bad weather to enjoy the tram ride from Seaton to Colyton on Monday 9th September. Most members met up beforehand in the cafeteria of the Jurassic Centre and had a light lunch knowing that a very filling cream tea was awaiting them at the other end of the tramline. The ride itself in a tram reserved for the bank pensioners took us through Seaton Wetlands where many birds and other wildlife could be seen and the rain did not detract from everyone’s enjoyment especially with the lively commentary from the tram driver. Barbara and Peter Johnson’s initiative in suggesting this function and their organisation of it were rewarded with a thoroughly engaging few hours. The cream tea at Colyton Tram Station was worth the trip in itself while Mick Mabbutt’s replica Golden Spread Eagle made sure the occasion was a Barclays exclusive!

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Don’t worry – that’s the name of the latest play we watched at the Sidmouth theatre! Around 25 Barclays Pensioners and friends enjoyed the fine acting, the suspense of the thriller and of course each other’s company thanks to the arrangements made by Barbara and Peter Johnson. This was our fourth theatre visit as a group and more are planned for the future.

On Tuesday 11th June the poor weather relented sufficiently for a tour of the lovely gardens and 34 members received a delicious cream tea augmented by Catriona Fursdon’s presentation about the history of the property which proved extremely interesting.

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The May lunch attended by 45 members was at the refurbished Sidmouth House Hotel and we believe it is the hotel with the best view in Sidmouth with the whole bay before you.. The lunch itself was excellent and the service matched it. The improved facilities and décor following the refurbishment has certainly enhanced the hotel and on a gloriously sunny day members were reluctant to leave for home.

We are all fine! That was the title of the latest play we attended at the lovely Sidmouth Theatre. As the name suggests it was a murder mystery play and 20 members enjoyed it in March with heavily subsidised seat prices. We are planning another visit this summer so watch out in our Newsletters for details.

Garry Adams achieved a hat trick! No, he was not on the cricket field nor did he turn out for Exeter City but simply carried out his dual duties as Chairman and Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting of the Club at the Exeter Golf and Country Club recently wearing a different hat for each office.

There were no changes to the Committee nor to the annual subscription  of £5 and members heard of a planned 10 events in the forthcoming months some free and others heavily subsidised.

The full minutes of the meeting may be obtained by emailing Les Rendell on lesrendell41@gmail.com

Following the formal business, members were treated to an excellent presentation by Andrew Millington, former Organist and Director of the Choir at Exeter Cathedral.

Andrew  (see below) gave an informative, interesting and illuminating talk on his career as a professional musician for over 40 years. From his early days in Malvern, Worcestershire, his work in Worcester Cathedral, his scholarship to Cambridge, his role as Organist in Gloucester Cathedral and then at Guildford through to his 17 or so years at Exeter Cathedral, Andrew illustrated his enjoyable life with recordings of some of the music and choirs with which he had been involved and with humorous anecdotes of his experiences. He took great joy from being able to train youngsters in choirs in wonderful buildings in the art of teamwork and in striving for professional standards.

Members then adjourned to an enjoyable (and subsidised) lunch at the Club.

Over 70 members enjoyed a great lunch at the Victoria Hotel Sidmouth where the food and service, augmented by the lovely Christmas decorations, were very much appreciated by all. The quality of the lunch gave a lie to the price paid by members – just £12 – as the meal was heavily subsidised. There was much chat, much laughter and the Christmas spirit was much in evidence.

Our October lunch was very successful and enjoyable. The Tiverton Hotel did us proud with quality in both the food and the service. Only 33 members and friends attended but there was no shortage of lively discussion and laughter. Everyone who attended indicated that it was one of our most pleasing functions so the committee are pencilling in the venue once again next year.

Members and friends gathered at Sidmouth in late August to watch the performance of ‘Strictly Murder’ at the Manor Pavilion. This is the second year running that the Club has initiated a theatre visit mainly thanks to committee members Peter and Barbara Johnson. Tickets were subsidised by the Club so a highly entertaining and easily affordable evening was enjoyed by those who attended.

In early September the venue was the Hartnoll Hotel near Tiverton when a superb cream tea both in quality and quantity was provided free to members. Again this was a repeat of the same event and venue as last year and the committee’s decision to return to the Hartnoll was certainly justified.

 

The Belmont Hotel was the venue for our Spring lunch and what a good choice it turned out to be, not simply the excellent fare but the glorious surroundings and views on a perfect day weatherwise.  53 members enjoyed the friendship and food provided and were left wondering where else could they have partaken of such a lovely meal at a heavily subsidised price and in such great company. Membership of the Exeter Spread Eagle Club has distinct advantages!