By Brian Dearn
With the Circle holding a male only function twice each year, which has been the tradition for the last 111 years, we hold a Ladies Weekends at the end of the season in an effort to try and repay our wives and partners for the lost time spent with them over the racing season. These events are held in different parts of the country giving the members and guests a chance to visit some of the great Cities and tourist spots this country has to offer. This year's event was held at our base town of Southport but with a change from our usual venue. The Royal Clifton located on the front of this Victorian seaside town overlooking the well kept gardens and boating lake. Many of the Circle members are no strangers to the hotel as up to 2004 this was our head quarters where we held our Gatherings. We had to move as we had out grown the largest room the hotel had to offer, the room can hold 150 people but has two large pillars just off centre of the room and many of the tables can't see each other. As we now have 150 to 160 members and guests attend our Gathering the room had become unworkable. But for a Ladies Weekend event was just right, the hotel staff worked tirelessly to make our party feel comfortable and several of the guest told me their rooms were very special and one guest Brian Garnham even videoed his showing off his spacious sitting room and bed room. Dr Geoff Richmond and his wife Jean arrived on the Thursday and he was the first one I bumped into on my arrival and he jokingly said I think I might have your room, as it was so spacious.
President Chris Knowles addressing the Function - Chris Knowles with Tony Merrick
Tony Merrick and his wife Kim organise the weekend and both have a great deal of expertise in this field, as they ran a hotel of their own in Hawkshead in the Lakes for a number of years, so these events come as second nature to them. We had a total of 84 sitting down to dinner on the Saturday night and the Circle had invited our transport / convoyer's along, Keith Iddon and Diane Bonney to be part of the weekend as a thank you for their continued support throughout the season. Friday night dinner had only 74 members and guests as along with Keith and Diane the Southport members only came along for the meal on the Saturday. Everyone made the most of the Friday with many of the guest arriving around lunch time and with bright sunshine got out and made the most of what this seaside town had to offer. Saturday on the other hand was a different matter for as the day progressed the weather got wetter and wetter, or so I am told. For myself and Anita along with two of my guests got the bus and made our way to Liverpool and never saw any rain, we made our way to the Cavern Club for a drink and a great singer who entertained us for around an hour, before we moved to Albert Dock for a late lunch and then made our way back to help Tony and Kim set up the room for the night. Kim had gone to great trouble buying a present for all the ladies and when wrapped in pastel coloured pink and blue paper placed on the tables that were dressed in white linen with candelabras gave a great look to the room on entering. A table plan was waiting for the guests on arrival and each place had a place name with the meal each had pre ordered a week or so before printed on the back, once the place names were turned around the waiters had no problem knowing what to serve to each guest. Tony had arranged a singer and a disco for both nights with each one making the nights a little different and soon had everyone up dancing once the drink had kicked in.
Bill and Beryl Lewis - Gillian and George Mainwaring - Angie and Brian Garnham
Mandy and Alwyn Jones - Eirlys and David Jones - Joe and Beryl Headley
Judy and Mike Wilson - Jim and Sue Nelson - Jan with David Sowerby
Chris Knowles the Circle president took to his feet on the Saturday night following the meal and thanked the hotel staff for the way they had looked after us, and then went on to thank Tony and Kim for all their work putting the weekend together. He then asked Pat Sutton to say a few words on behalf of the ladies, Pat delivered a splendid tribute to Tony and Kim and then, which has become the norm made some light remarks about husband Roger. She explained Roger had done very well in the last few young bird races winning quite a good sum of money so she had taken him off on holiday abroad, which was only the second time they had been on holiday abroad since their marriage. Her story of buying Roger holiday clothes had everyone in the room laughing. Pat finish with a couple of jokes that did not involve Roger, much to his relief and left her audience wanting more. Chris then presented Pat with a bouquet of flowers and then asked Kim to step up and he presented her with a bouquet that took them both by surprise. In order to run these weekends funds are needed for the ladies presents and a deposit for the next function, and with this in mind two cracking prizes of a two day stay in the Lake District at the Brown Cow Inn just outside Bowness were auctioned by Bob Smith. A little earlier in the evening Brian Smith had offered a 2018 youngster of what can only be described as one of their best racing pigeons in the loft, that house two national winners. The youngster will be from a pigeon called "Home Star" which has won 1st sec 8th open 1st sec 9th open 11th section 37th open 2 first Eccles Two Bird races and first Lancashire & Yorkshire Border Club plus several inland performances. She will be paired to a terrific cock that has won 1st North Ashton and 2nd Lancashire Social Circle. The bidding was brisk and the hammer finally went down at £300 and when added to the holidays the funds are well back on track for this next year.
Kim Merrick delighted with her Flowers - Tony Merrick with Pat Sutton - Diane Bonney and Keith Iddon Special Guests at the Weekend
Both Saturday and Sunday mornings the hotel had provided a separate venue for breakfast and this proved to be a very nice touch with all our party being able to sit down as a group for what I can only describe as a splendid breakfast. Everyone left on the Sunday morning looking forward to the next one which is to be held at the Kensington Hotel in Llandudno a new venue for the Circle but one I am sure will please.
Brian Dearn Tel: 01254 772515
