Hello good evening and welcome. We finished up with 48 for the new style Food and Wine Evening which wasn't too bad. The feedback we had was very favourable in every respect. Although some of us old uns looked back on the self - catering times with some nostalgia, wasn't it great to be able to sit through the whole meal without jumping up and down when your course came up. Ann Tennant did us proud, I hope you will agree, and it was a treat to have her rushing round to make sure we were all happy. We were able to subsidise this function but it might be a one off, we will have to see next year, perhaps a team of members may want to cater for us, we will have to see.

It is the AGM next month and Margaret is standing down after 16 or more years of devoted service to our club, in recent years she has really worked hard to maintain the tradition of wine and beer making in the club but we have to acknowledge that at the moment there is very little interest in what used to be a major hobby for many of us. We thank her sincerely for her massive contribution in organising the competitions, the chairman’s wine kits and her great enthusiasm, wine making would have stopped years ago without her contribution. Her position on the Committee will not be filled.

Mike is also standing down as Social Secretary after three years, I think we all know just how much work that involves, our thanks to him for all the great functions we have enjoyed during that time. I have persuaded Mark and Jeanette Wilson, fairly new members, to pick up the reins, and I know you will all support them. Mark will be the official Secretary, Jeanette told me! The rest of the Committee are continuing in office.

If you have any Propositions to put before the AGM they must be with Jackie our Secretary by 25.05.10. Just to confirm the Chairman's at Home will be on Sunday 25th July at Jan and Robs as last year, more details later.

Our speaker this evening, Doug Anson, has had to cancel because of the General Election. Instead, Colin (with a beautiful assistant), is running a Quiz with a difference, sounds very intriguing.

Cheers for now

Derek