By Brian Dearn
Spring came to Southport this last weekend when the Lancashire Social Circle held their Spring Gathering at the Prince of Wales hotel. Twelve months ago we experienced the Beast from the East with heavy snow covering the whole of the country resulting in around 30 of our guests having to cancel. What a difference a year makes with the lead up to the gathering the country had experienced record temperatures for the month of February since records began. All was going well up until two days before the event when one of the main guests had to cancel, which left me in a difficult situation to say the least. Following a number of phone calls Keith Iddon one of our members and a Lancashire County Council Councillor stepped into the breach something he had done for the Circle on two other occasions. Two quick phone calls one to Brian Walsh who was introducing the guests and the second to Bob Smith who was making the reply to the speakers to alter their speeches put thing back on the right track. The following day Bob Smith rang crying off as he had been confined to barracks by his doctor with a very bad chest infection. A quick call to Brian Smith asking him to stand in was my next call and I am pleased his excepted the job at short notice. Friday night saw another misunderstanding when the second of my guest speakers turned up having got the wrong date, he being my funny man for the evening a top comedian who had travelled down from the north east a journey that took him around three and a half hours. So with only 24 hours to go I needed another comic, a few phone calls later and the show was back on the road with everything set for the official dinner on the Saturday night. As if this was not enough and the time for dinner approached and with everyone seated in readiness for dinner, there was no sign of the comedian. We pushed on and started the first course with this out of the way the president and myself put a plan together to fill the evening's entertainment, when the comedian entered the room. At last all was well and we reverted back to plan A. From there on the evening went great with most of the members and guests not having a clue about the troubles that had been set before us.
Brian Smith, Brian Walsh, Chris Knowles, Tony Roscoe and Brian Dearn.
Once dinner was over the president made the loyal toast and welcomed everyone with a special welcome to the 6 guests attending for the first time. Apologies were offered from a number of our honorary members who had health problems including Brian Newson John Marsden Alan Harrison Rod Adams and Stan Dangerfield. As mentioned Bob Smith had been taken ill and was missing, his first gathering since becoming a member in 1992. Two other members were unable to make the dinner these being Alan Bamford and Ken Cliffe. President Chris Knowles gave a very warm welcome to Vinnie Donnelly who had missed the last function following his wife Brenda's accident and this again was the first gathering he had missed since becoming a member back in 1994. Chris was very pleased to see two members Alan Jones one of our Liverpool members who is waiting to go into hospital for a minor operation, and Tony Merrick who was taken ill while on holiday and has had a short spell in hospital prior to this gathering. Chris sent his best wishes on behalf of all the members to two longstanding guests Derek Towers and Roy Jones who are both feeling the effects of ill health.
Following a short break The President introduced two new members to the Lancashire Social Circle by asking them to stand, first John Winstanley from Orrell and Bobby Brandon from Rochdale. He spoke on behalf of all the members of the Circle when he hoped they had many enjoyable years as Circle members, and was sure the friendships they forge will last a lifetime. He then asked Brian Walsh to introduce the principal guest speakers for the evening before making a toast to the guests. Brian kept it light-hearted by saying he had written his address 3 times, with the ever changing line up of speakers. He kept his introduction short and to the point and then went on to introduce the members seated on the top table to the gathering, before asking all members to stand in a toast to the guests.
New Members Bobby Brandon and John Winstanley with the President. - Secretary Brian Dearn with Tony Merrick.
Keith Iddon was next to his feet, Keith is a Councillor and gave a brief account of how he first got involved, and the job satisfaction his has had over the many years since his first involvement. Being in charge of the roads, footpaths and bridges in the county has a very large budget which to many was eye watering. He spoke how he had improved the roads and the procedure of repairing potholes. Being involved in the transport business for most of his working life and in more recent years in the transport of racing pigeons alongside Diane Bonney, explained to the gathering some of the problems Brexit will cause to us all as pigeon fanciers should we leave without a deal. Keith addressed the concerns of uncertainty of the road haulage sector and the Withdrawal Agreement which if ratified by Parliament will allow permit-free road transport to continue during the implementation period that will last until the end of 2020, meaning we should be OK for the 2019 channel racing season. Keith then asked all guests to stand in a toast to the Lancashire Social Circle.
It was now the turn of our star turn Tony Roscoe, who once he got started we could not get him to sit down, with his light-hearted banter he held the audience in laughter for well over an hour. With the night moving on the President Chris Knowles once again took to his feet with a few reminders. First the Ladies Weekend that is to be held at the Kensington Hotel, Central Promenade at Llandudno on the 4th 5th October of this year, and anyone wishing to go to let Tony Merrick have their contact details as rooms are limited. At present we still have a couple of room left and these can be booked by ringing Tony on 01539 445995. Chris went on to thank Dr Geoff Richmond for all his help at the last gathering when one of our guest was taken ill and had to be taken to hospital. Chris pointed out how over the years Dr Geoff has been coming to the Lancashire Social Circle functions how his services have been needed, and on behalf of all members thanked him. A new venture the Circle started last season was the Friendship Race and Chris reminded members this was a great opportunity if they had not already done so to arrange a pair of youngsters from one of the guests. Chris thanked the Secretary for his efforts in putting the weekend together before closing with a small tribute to longstanding guest of the Circle who had recently passed away, Bertie Morrow from Ireland who had been a regular visitor in the late 1960's and 1970's.
Bryan Jones and Brian Harrison with Phillip and Peter Latham. - Cumbria Fanciers Les Blacklock, Jim Nelson, Richard Hodgson and Jim Varty.
David Jones Congratulates Arthur Cowley. - Dr Geoff Richmond with David Newson. - Tom Owen with guests Ian Taylor and Jimmy Hampson.
Tom Owen, Stephen Stringfellow, Graham Mackay, Scott Irving, Ernie Fergusson andJimmy Hampson. - Keith Iddon with his Guests Derek Pedley, A Bamber, R Wilson, Tim Donnelly and Alan Raby.
Guests Phil Allen and Andy Florek from Gloucester.
CLICK LINK BELOW TO OPEN PHOTO GALLERY
Spring Gathering - Photo Gallery
At this time of the year the Lancashire Social Circle Hand Books are printed and ready for distribution to all the members, several of the guests purchase one for themselves as there is a mine of information in them. These last few seasons the hard backed pocket size book cover has been colour coded to go with that seasons GB rings, so this season they are yellow.
Before closing this report I am pleased to announce that Arthur Cowley has volunteered to take on the task of doing the race results starting from this season he will be following this up with a report in the BHW of the race winners. I hope all members will give him their full support and make sure should they not clock in, they inform Arthur so as not to hold up the result. It is hoped this will reduce some of the workload from the secretary, who has over the years has taken on more tasks. I will still carry on covering the reports of the twice yearly gatherings for the moment. This small change will mean that in the future when the LSC is looking for a replacement secretary the post will be a little easier to fill. The contact details for the new race secretary Arthur Cowley are in the hand book and I hope members will give him the support they have given me over the last 15 years of reporting for the Lancashire Social Circle.
Brian Dearn
Tel. 01254 772515.
