The Old Sulians’ Association exists to provide contact between the former pupils and staff of the Bath Secondary Boys’ School, the City of Bath School for Boys, the City of Bath Boys’ School, and Beechen Cliff School.
Annual General Meeting.
Thankfully, once again we were quorate. Tony Buss carried on as President for another year and the other Officers were persuaded not to retire. A new Auditor, Roland Adamson, was appointed and Eric Sims was elected to the Committee. The motion regarding Life Members subs was carried after debate but we will have a wholesale look at the Rules in the near future.
Annual Dinner 2013
This year’s Annual Dinner will be held at Beechen Cliff School, Alexandra Park, on Friday 18th October, commencing at 6.30 pm . More details inside.
Beechen Cliff School Concert
A number of us attended the annual musical extravaganza that is the School Concert. Over the years music, as with sport, ebbs and flows in numbers, quality and diversity. When I was a rather rudimentary clarinettist in the legendary ‘Basher’ Bennett’s School Orchestra, we had that or the Choir. A bunch of renegades formed a Trad Jazz Band that, I recall, went down rather well with a German audience when we toured there. Nowadays there is a String Group, Concert Band, Swing Band, Boys Choir, Male Voice Choir, Folk Group, Guitar Ensemble, assorted quartets and soloists. Oh, and drummers (percussion is the polite name!). Paul Calvert and Alison Nourse rarely venture from the splendour of the penthouse suite in the new Music Block which houses classrooms, performance rooms and rehearsal studios, a far cry from the Hall and its 2 small wing rooms which I recall, and Basher’s Dansette record player. The annual concert again raised the bar in terms of performance and talent. Held over 2 evenings with full houses, it was most enjoyable.
New Sixth Form Block
Work has started at Beechen Cliff on a new Sixth Form Block with a residential unit attached. This replaces the old block on what was part of the old plateau, junior rugby pitch. Terry Light is currently in negotiation with Brian McGee, the Head of Sixth Form as to how we might suitably mark this latest venture.
EVENTS FUTURE
Informal Lunches –
May 15th - The Mill, Rode.
June 12th - The Stag, Hinton Charterhouse
July 10th - The Pelican, Chew Magna
September 11th - Quarryman’s Arms, Box
Still on Wednesdays, meet from Noon, arrange your own table and pay your own bills, and treat yourself to lunch out in the countryside with convivial company.
63’ers Re-union Friday 24th May
John Rogers left CBBS in 1963. He writes: “About a dozen ex-classmates of my year and the year below plan to celebrate our 50th anniversary of leaving school by visiting Beechen Cliff on the afternoon of the 24th May 2013. We have a number of other planned events for the weekend in order for us to catch up on old times”. .John has signed up as a Life Member and we will be leaving Su’s material at School for the attendees.
NHSOB Golf – Thursday June 6th
The Sulian Golf Society will be fielding a team as usual for the traditional match against Newport High Schools Old Boys. This year we are away in Newport. Mick Moore will contact you if you are needed to defend our honour.
Approach Golf – Wednesday 3rd July – Victoria Park
Pebble’s Last Stand! This will be the 60th Anniversary match and probably the last. There is room for one more name on the John Midgley trophy. Many distinguished Sulians are immortalised on the base and you could add your name to them. Start from 6 pm at the Victoria Park 18 Hole Course and hope that Pebble Beach’s little black handicap book is kind to you.
Association Golf Day – Friday 5th July
Mike Wood has had to step down from organising the annual golf day through illness and last year the event was cancelled due to a lack of confirmed attendees. This year Mick Moore and Alan Blake are going to try and give it another chance. If you were on Mike’s list you should have been contacted but if not, do not be shy and get in touch. Bath Golf Club at Sham Castle will be the venue and I understand it is likely to be just the one round in the afternoon. Meet at 12 noon to start at 1pm, If all else fails contact me and I will pass on your details to Mick and Alan.
‘49 ers Re-union. – Thursday July 11th
Alan Blake is organising another re-union on Thursday July 11th, for those that did School Cert in 1949. I gather that lunch will be served in the school hall for about £5 a head plus wine and this time partners are welcome. Around 50 are expected so far. If you have not been contacted and think you qualify please contact Alan at: alan.Blakeofgreyfield(AT)talktalk.net or 01761 471088
Treasure Hunt/Robert’s Ramble – Thursday 25th July
Last year’s underwater event was a great success and we hope to build on that this year. Robert Hill, the protégé of demon clue-setter Sue Trude, has proved just as imaginative ( i.e devious!) in finding bits of Bath that you will have walked past many times without noticing. The start line is the Abbey Churchyard from 6.00 pm. Look for a suspicious looking collection of ‘young’ people and that will likely be Robert, Linda, Roy and Rachel, ready to set you on your way. Teams of up to 4 are allowed and it is immensely helpful if you can let us know if, and how many of you, are coming. A modest entry fee is usually collected at the end from survivors. Please drop an e-mail to Robert at: raehill81(AT)aol.com. (replace the (AT) with the usual symbol), or give me a ring and I’ll pass it on. I always say it but you will see parts you didn’t even know were there.
Annual Dinner – Friday 18th October 2013
This year’s Annual Dinner will be held at Beechen Cliff School, Alexandra Park, on Friday 18th October, commencing at 6.30 pm (18.30 for those who understand). We are planning the usual programme with a familiar menu prepared by resident Chef Tim Fletcher. Dinner will be served in the Hall at 7.30 and formalities will be kept to a minimum. Full details and a chitty will be provided as usual in the September Newsletter but please note the day and date now. You may also, as an added incentive on this special occasion, be allowed to use both the Main School Entrance and the main staircase! No running!
School Shooting Club.
We still need volunteers to make up a team invited to compete at Beechen Cliff. Equipment is provided, you won’t need your own Kalashnikov. Contact Alan Blake if you are interested. His details are elsewhere.
People
Len Burch, who for many years, was the Manager of the local Bristol and West Building Society and from whom many of us got our first mortgage, and Dr Norman Cook, a Sulian Veteran, have both sadly passed on. Our condolences to their families.
Sulian Bill Hanna had his name spelt wrongly in the last newsletter. I had been watching too many Scottish actors!
And on a personal note, I am delighted to report that Ethan Wood, will follow Bill and Vic, Roger, Mike and Derek, Richard, Alex and Jamie, and become the first of the 4th Generation of Woods to attend Beechen Cliff in September 2013.
Old Sulians’ RFC
Finished the season around mid-table in Somerset 1. Some very good results and some not so good. There is good support from the University but continuity is difficult out of term time. More players would be welcome but the club is still alive and kicking and in good spirits. Follow them on: www.oldsuliansrfc.co.uk
Technology Matters.
Our erstwhile Secretary Peter Powell has joined the 21st Century and obtained a computer and an e-mail address: ppowell33(AT)icloud.com
Another convert is John Richards down in Hampshire. He’s getting to grips with his computer but he can now listen to his own Jazz Show on the internet radio http://www.skylinegold.co.uk/john_richards.shtml
And a cautionary tale from Alan Blake. In copying a couple of photos from a memory stick onto his computer he managed to remove everything else including his whole e-mail address book! Our Hon. Treas. Rich Wood, who normally keeps the computers humming out at the Royal United Hospital managed to restore things with a minimum of bad language. Alan now has his address book back and complimentary copies of ‘Brain Surgery for Beginners’ and ‘Is Colonic Irrigation the Answer?’. And the moral of this tale? Don’t forget to backup your files regularly, and not necessarily onto the same hard drive as the rest of your details. A memory stick or external drive will give you a second chance. After all, we all have the names, addresses and e-mails written down somewhere else, don’t we! Any new e-mail addresses are always gratefully received. It keeps us up to date and saves a fortune in stamps.
Beechen Cliff School
No separate news this time but scrutiny of the Chronicle and the School website informs us that the Under 14’s Rugby team had a modicum of success winning the Somerset Cup, Bath Schools and South West Schools titles. In 17 matches, points for were 743, points against 30! Next year will see entry to the Daily Mail Schools Championship. Their soccer teams for years 7, 9 and 10 all won their local district championships. And if that is not enough, the 1st XI beat Monkton Combe by a large margin. In the regional Maths Challenge they were the highest place state school and this last weekend they took part in the 10 Tors. You can keep up by following the newsletters on the School website at: www.beechencliff.org.uk
Next newsletter is scheduled for September. Any news to me before then please. I always appreciate, as do our readers, any tales or news from those away from Bath. Thank you for your kind comments, they all help.
Tony Buss has secured a number of seats on 2 forthcoming Coach Trips.
20th July (Saturday) Blenheim Palace
18th August (Sunday) Royal Air Force Museum Cosford
Various local pick up points.
If you are interested please contact Tony soonest for full details.
Those who have been on previous trips will tell you that they are an
easy and comfortable way of visiting different places and an
enjoyable day out.
Details of both sites can be found on the net.
Tony can be contacted at 01225 404625 or by e-mail: bussstop(AT)sky.com
The Annual General Meeting of the Association will be held at 7.30 pm. prompt on Tuesday 26th
February 2012 at the Bath Cricket Club, North Parade, by kind permission of the Cricket Club.
Your attention is drawn to Rule 15, under which any member wishing to move a resolution or nominate
an Officer at the Annual General Meeting must give notice of their intention in writing to the Honorary
Secretary, not less than seven days before the meeting.
Honorary Secretary
Looking back to 1998, the Annual Dinner at the Stakis Hotel, £21 with no speeches; Rugby Club not doing well and wanting new members; President’s Night poorly attended; Approach Golf Tournament – few turned up ( which was normal). Please note that Pebble Beach is arranging the last ever tournament this year – so come along.
At that time stalwarts Derek Smith retired as Secretary after 27 years and Bill Wood retired as Treasurer after 33 years (Rich Wood is nearly half-way there!) Other events in 1998 were successful. Mick Moore was President and Tony Bowrey the Social Secretary.
Now 15 year later, apart from positional changes not a lot has changed; the Rugby Club still struggle for members; the Executive Committee meets each month and would also appreciate new members; Thanks to Roger Wood the Annual Dinner is still a success and to Rich Wood for managing our finances. Other events such as the Walking Treasure Hunt continue and it should be noted from the newsletters that other new functions are in place, some reflecting the average age of our membership. Despite the gap between the City of Bath Boys’ School changing to Beechen Cliff, membership still holds up. If you can suggest other events or add a voice to the Committee please contact me.
We are, as always, indebted to Headmaster Andrew Davies, for his continued support, and to Bath Cricket Club for the use of their room for our meetings.
Peter Powell. Hon. Secretary.
I am hoping that the figures will be ready for the AGM after a little local difficulty with Barclays who, even after 14 years of sending me the bank statements, refused to believe that I was the Treasurer and demanded that I turn up at a Branch with my passport!
I anticipate that the accounts will show a surplus on the year of about £125 after all expenses. The use of e-mails for correspondence and the newsletter is particularly valuable these days and I thank all those who passed on their details last year. I also record my personal thanks to our joint Auditor John Foster who has indicated his wish to retire. John took over from his late father Arthur many years back and has guided us through the presentation of the accounts each year
Rich Wood. Hon. Treasurer.
You will see in the AGM Notice proposals for a rule change. The Executive Committee has recently been considering the availability of Association funds. Rule 10 has always been interpreted as requiring that subs from Life Members be placed into a ‘Life Members Fund’
10. ALLOCATION OF FUNDS .
The subscriptions of Life Members, and such proportion of those of the Ordinary Members as may be annually decided by the Committee in consultation with the Trustees, together with such other sums of money as may come unconditionally into the hands of the Association, shall from time to time be invested in such securities as the Trustees may decide, after full consideration has been given to the annual requirements of the Association
The notional fund therefore in theory contains all LM subs ever paid. This is also our Auditor’s view. This ties up a large portion of our assets. Currently all funds are in current and deposit bank accounts. The Committee has no immediate spending plan but considers the present situation restrictive.
At it’s meeting on 8th January the Committee considered 3 options to changes to Rule 10. Essentially
1, do nothing; 2, amend to cover current LM’s only; 3, delete Rule 10.
Any proposal would have to be taken to the AGM or an EGM.
The Committee’s option is to propose a change in line with 2. In round figures the Association has around £5,000 in accounts. Currently £3,000 represents the LM Fund, we have a ‘float’ of about £1,000 to cover newsletters and dinner expenses and therefore £1,000 is ‘available’. The proposed change would require about £2,200 in the LM Fund and therefore give us nearer £2,000 should we wish to use it. (The Association has further assets of ties, etc., of approx £500.)
The Rule was probably written back in 1925. The proposal for the AGM is as follows:
10. ALLOCATION OF FUNDS A Life Members Fund shall be maintained from Life Members Subscriptions, sufficient to represent the number of Life Members in the Association at the year’s end. The Funds from time to time be invested in such securities as the Trustees may decide, after full consideration has been given to the annual requirements of the Association
If you want to propose an amendment or alternative your attention is drawn to the AGM Notice. You should write to the Hon Sec at least 7 days prior to the meeting. Everyone is welcome to attend the AGM. Whilst we do not have a proxy voting system any views conveyed to the Committee would be aired.
Around mid-table in Somerset 1, in need of players but with a good club spirit and following. There were 3 good wins over the Christmas period and another match best not mentioned. Since then the snow has upset the normal balmy Lansdown temperatures. News can be found on their website: www.oldsuliansrfc.co.uk
I am grateful to the Headmaster for his customary update on School activities that should be found with this newsletter.
Next newsletter is scheduled for 1st May. Any news to me before then please.
Around 60 Sulians met for the Dinner at Bath Golf Club back in October. A convivial evening was, I think, had by all. I received several kind messages afterwards showing that we have got it about right. plenty of time to chat; plenty of time to eat and drink and just a short break for the formalities. Alan Blake proposed the toast to The Association, the President Tony Buss responded; the Headmaster, Andrew Davies, gave an interesting insight into developments at School and Mick Moore had a few words about the Rugby Club. The books balanced at the end of the evening. A departure this year
was the gift of a suitably inscribed coaster to every attendee, an illustration of which can be found somewhere in this tome. We have some left which can be purchased from me at modest cost. A set of 6, in deep translucent blue, is £7.50 including postage. Just drop me a line and cheque. (Old Sulians’ Association)
We are hoping to hold this at the School on Friday 18th or Saturday 19th October and have tentatively held those dates. A new Commercial Manager starts in April and I hope to negotiate details with him and confirm in the May Newsletter. Please note the dates now.
A variable number of Su’s, wives and guests continued to meet up for their monthly lunch date. The Mill at Rode, Old Down Inn, Emborough and Talbot Inn, Mells all enjoyed their patronage.
President Tony Buss was on stage at the Assembly Rooms to hand over the Association sponsored awards. As well as the cup, shield or rose-bowl, each recipient gets a medal and book token. The main guest was the actor, Anthony Head who will be familiar as either Uther Pendragon, King Arthur’s father in Merlin, or the man in the Nescafe Gold Blend adverts from the eighties. It all depends on your age and memory! Sulian Awards were: Literary Achievement – Grace Harding; A W Marquiss, Advanced Technology – Adam Norman; Presentation of Work – Joda Callan
School Carol Service Bath Abbey, Thursday, December 20, 7:30pm
Our erstwhile President was again in service at the Abbey reading the last of the nine lessons. There was nearly a hiccup when he pulled out the reading and found his old notebook – “You are not obliged to say anything but….”. A very enjoyable evening was had by a number of Sulians and partners.
Feb 13th – The Stag, Hinton Charterhouse
March 13th – Old Down Inn, Emborough
April 10th – Old Crown, Kelston
May 15th – The Mill, Rode.
All on Wednesdays, meet from Noon, arrange your own table and pay your own bills, although the
Hon. Sec is not prohibited from receiving bribes or sponsorship!
Alan Blake is organising another re-union for those that did School Cert in 1949 and writes:
Four years ago, during our 60th reunion, it was suggested that we should plan to meet every 2 years, on
the basis that if we waited 10 years there would not be many left to meet with! With Mike Huckers’
permission, I have undertaken to organise the 2nd of these gatherings and so far we have;-
1 – a date – Thursday July 11th , this ties in with school activities.
2 – a venue Yes you’ve guessed it The School
3 – a meal
the school chef can prepare us a cooked lunch, served in the school hall for about £5 a head plus wine. Talking with Andrew Davies, he reckons it will be pretty good and I believe him. Sounding out a few 49ers I wondered if we might include partners, they agreed. So there you have it, if you are interested enough to come then please contact me. Hopefully enough will respond in the affirmative so making it a worthwhile exercise.
You can find Alan at: alan.Blakeofgreyfield(at)talktalk.net or 01761 471088
Veteran Sulian Bill Hannah had a bit of a turn whilst on his way to the Bath War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday. Now fitted with a pacemaker he is making good progress and is regularly seen ‘jogging’ round the Bear flat.
Sadly at the time of writing I have just noted the passing of Francis Gilbert, a dinner and ladies night regular for many years.
Next newsletter is scheduled for 1st May. Any news to me before then please.
January 2013
Dear Old Sulian,
It seems a very long time since I last wrote for the Old Sulians’ Newsletter, although I am sure that you have read my piece in the School Christmas Newsletter. If you have, I crave indulgence if the information here replicates anything you have already read!
The Autumn Term is always a particularly long one, although it is often rugby-filled and allows us to get over wet summers and disappointing cricket cancellations. Success by our boys at two age groups in the Bath and District rugby will soon, I trust, be replicated by teams competing in Somerset Cup finals over the next four weeks. News will be forthcoming, of course. The acquisition of a new Master in Charge of Hockey, Tim Davenport (of Bath Buccs) has allowed us to develop further the talents of our boys across the age groups, and I suspect we will soon see our teams achieve significant success in the regional championships which take place in the Summer Term. More boys than ever seem to be taking up the sport and I suspect that Monkton Combe School will be missing the talents of their hockey coach! We wish Tim every success as he works with our pupils.
Developments within the site have been significant over the last three years, as many of you will be aware. The Music Block was completed in 2011, along with the new Astro turf and 3G surfaces. These have proved to be exceptional resources for the school. The building of the English block last year helped to alleviate some of the pressure on the 1932 building and has provided large classrooms with fantastic views across the fields and Alexandra Park. We have now been granted planning consent to build a new Sixth Form building and a Science classroom with fitness suite. The £2.6m project will enable us to be in a position where the thought of 1960s/1970s portable huts can be banished and where the boys and students can enjoy a very different classroom experience. The building work begins in earnest at half term and we would hope to see completion for September.
The 1932 building has not been left ‘untouched’ after the recent developments. The Mathematics rooms have all been updated and the spaces ‘opened up’ to allow space for classes of thirty or more boys – something that was very difficult previously.
Looking ahead, we hope to be able to show off a very impressive looking site in September and I know a number of you will be joining us for one of the two reunions already booked for the Summer Term. Let us hope that both take place on sunny days so that the view from the school can be fully appreciated.
I look forward to providing you with a more detailed update in the Summer Term, reflecting I hope, another Spring and Summer of artistic and sporting successes.
Yours sincerely,
A Davies
Headmaster
This fine, full colour, new print of the ‘Old’ School is available for you to buy. Full details are on the back page, and a copy will be available for viewing at the Dinner in October. And talking of The Dinner, this year at Bath Golf Club at Sham Castle, again you will find full details inside and a chitty for you return in either paper or digital format. Please get your bookings in early so we can get the sprouts on.
Thank you to all who sent e-mail details after the last news, the Royal Mail will now be a
little poorer.
Informal Lunches A variable number of Su’s, wives and guests continued to meet up for their monthly lunch date. The Mill at Rode, Old Down Inn, Emborough and Talbot Inn, Mells all enjoyed their patronage.
June 15th Association Golf was cancelled through lack of support. Hopefully there will be another try next year.
June 21st NHSOB Golf did take place. It rained and I think we won but by how much was not clear. Mick Moore’s old retainers enjoyed the day and will try hard to keep this ancient combat going. (NHSOB = Newport High Schools Old Boys)
July 4th Association Approach Golf was another rather damp outing for the faithful
few. The results were 1st Alan Blake, 2nd.Pebble Beach and joint 3rd Alex Wood and Ian Mills. Terry Hardick broke his record but I’m not saying which way. Next year will see the 60th Anniversary of this event which has only been abandoned once in 2004 due to the weather. Not something that has happened much this year!!!
July 12th Walking Treasure Hunt/Hill’s Hike Despite the weather once again, Robert Hill conjured up a magical evening of entertainment for the hardy teams that paddled their way round the back streets of Bath. The legendary Holvey/Lambern crew took the honours but it was very close. My team had all the right answers but not the same ones as the organiser! I seem to recall that one of the teams competed in full wet-suits, or was it diving- gear and most needed several pints of encouragement to get to the finish at Bath Cricket Club.
Coach Trips. July saw a trip to Portsmouth and early September, a trip to Kew Gardens.
More next year.
School Shooting Alan Blake and Terry Hardick visited School for a practice on the shooting range. There were no casualties. We still hope to raise a Sulian Team so if you are interested or particularly if you are experienced, give Tony Buss a call or drop me a line.
Annual Dinner October 20th at Bath Golf Club, Sham Castle. Please note the change of venue. We have held the price again. £35 a head BUT ONLY £30 if you get your chits and cheques in by 6th October. Black tie or lounge suit. The formalities are kept to a minimum to give maximum time for chat. Just 5 minutes each is allowed to the Proposer of the Toast Alan Blake, the President, the Headmaster and the Rugby Club. Those running sweepstakes should note that The Head always over-runs but would you challenge him? I still recall the look from Les Scott that could freeze lava!
Informal Lunches – September 12th The Stag, Hinton Charterhouse, October 10th Bird
in Hand, Saltford, November 14th Old Down Inn, Emborough.
Contact Peter Powell for any directions. As usual, make your own arrangements and pay your own bills. Meet from 12 noon.
School Carol Service Bath Abbey, Thursday, December 20, 7:30pm .
Old Sulians RFC
Front-row forward Matt Kelsey has been appointed First XV Captain for 2012/13. Matt joined the Su’s straight from Beechen Cliff’s 1st XV in 2003. A reminder that you can find their news at: www.oldsuliansrfc.co.uk/
Beechen Cliff School
No Newsletter from the Headmaster this time which is entirely my fault. I endeavour to cajole him just before the end of term in July but I was away and it completely slipped my mind. However I have taken the liberty of the following extract from his end of term letter. “Opening with glorious sunshine the Summer Term ends grey and wet, although hopefully many members of the school community have some bright memories to take from the last eleven months.
It is worth mentioning that twelve months ago we were yet to move into the new Music Centre, the first game of hockey was yet to take place on the All-Weather Pitch and the New English Centre had only just received planning permission. Today we have all three facilities in operation and the pupils and students will see the benefits as the years progress. We have now received further funding to create new Science and Sports facilities on the site, in addition to an accommodation block, both of which are likely to support the plans to create a strong commercial time for Beechen Cliff, giving our pupils the very best facilities possible.
As always, it is the teams at the school working for the pupils and students which give us the success delivered for so many. Without the tireless support of so many teaching and support staff members we would not be in a position to do everything you see, manifested in the experience which your sons and daughters will talk about for many years to come.” Some of us are still talking 50 years on! Those wanting to read more can find all the news on the School Website at: www.beechencliff.org.uk/
L F Burt.
Alick Burt writes: ‘I am the grandson of L.F.Burt(past president), and son of Thomas Burt who is now 82. I found an old money box that used to belong to my grandfather and has a sticker on it that says O.S. receipts (contents long gone.) Does anyone have any memories of him that I can share with my father? ’ I can put you in touch or pass letters on.
Membership
Sadly, this year we have lost Paul Dahl, (1944) and Kenneth Michel (1939). Paul Fleming, a regular dinner attendee also passed away. Our condolences to their families and friends. And as we go to press, I read in ‘The Chronicle’ that former President, Ted Sheppard (1939), has also died..
Next Newsletter at the end of January, in time for the AGM. Any news, gossip, requests, small ads, photos or gifts of money can be sent to the Editor as listed.
PDF Version: September 2012 Newsletter
Interesting old photos.
I am the grandson of L.F.Burt(past president), and son of Thomas Burt who is now 82.
I just put O.S.into my search engine because I found an old money box that used to belong to my grandfather and has a sticker on it that says o.s receipts on the top.(contents long gone.)
Does anyone have any memories of him that I can share with my father?
I will show him these pics next time I’m home.
regards
Alick Burt
By alick burt on Aug 3, 2012 | Edit
Just a reminder that the Approach Golf Competition is on this Wednesday July 4th at Victoria Park from 6 pm. Find Pebble Beach and you’re in.
And the Walking Treasure Hunt around the glorious City of Bath is on Thursday 12th July starting from the Abbey Churchyard opposite the Pump Room between 6 and 7 pm. Give Robert Hill an e-mail at : raehill81(AT)aol.com if you haven’t already done so. You are welcome to bring your friends as long as teams are not more than 4.
Your support would be greatly appreciated to help keep these events going. And we must be due for a little fine weather soon!