Page 8 - PBCOctober2015

Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 12 No.1 March 2015 !8

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The 144 Annual Garden Party
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So a slightly damp December morning saw an early group of Club members arriving at
the Great Queen Street venue for the annual AGM. The well-oiled organisation of the
Grand (?) Connaught Rooms descended into it’s usual chaos and mayhem, when the well
laid plans of our secretariat to pre-order/advance order wine before the AGM, ceased to
get started. At least three managers, a change of wine selection, only one credit card
machine later, saw most of us arriving in varying degrees of lateness for the meeting.
The various reports of officers and some other news from the AGM can be found
elsewhere in the magazine.
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Although we were summoned to our tables by the trumpeters of the Household Cavalry,
it was once again regrettable that some members and guests, failed to take heed and
kept proceedings waiting before we could be put through our paces by the Captain as we
practised our Pickwickian choruses. We did manage to stand for the arrival of our
President and his guest, upon which our Captain urged us to sing with gusto the
appropriate verse.
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We doffed our hats for the loyal toast, and then once seated, we were treated to good
fare from the kitchen, of Salmon Gravadlux, Tomato & Basil Soup, Twice Cooked Roulade
of Turkey (although I’m still not sure why the turkey has to be ‘twice cooked’) and
concluding with Plum Pudding & Brandy Sauce. Our original member –Mr Watty, duly
arrived on his Penny Farthing (yes I know!), supped some wine with the President and
then attempted to mount his machine as he headed for the pianist.
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President elect Quanko Samba welcomed a lengthy list of guests and proposed the
welcome toast. (full details of the guests are reported on page 11….Editor)
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