Welcome
Welcome to the second newsletter of the year. I hope this finds you all safe and well, but if not, then on the road to recovery. We have had two events already, namely the coffee morning at the White Horse on 30th March and our AGM in March at the Swan’s Nest, Exminster. A report on the AGM follows after these opening remarks.
Your committee has agreed to a full programme of events this year with three of them detailed later in this newsletter: That will be the free cream tea at the Hartnoll Hotel at Bolham (near Tiverton and the Knightshayes National Trust property) on 27th April followed by our Spring lunch at the Belmont Hotel, Sidmouth on 23rd May. That lunch will be followed in June by a visit to the Seaton Tramway on 7th June (back by popular demand!), which includes a free cream tea at Colyton Station café.
After that we will have a visit in August to the Manor Pavilion Theatre, Sidmouth, another cream tea afternoon in September (probably Powderham again) followed by an October Pub lunch. November will be coffee time at Bickleigh with some Christmas shopping and December is already booked at the Victoria Hotel in Sidmouth on Thursday, 7th December. How about that to fill your diaries!
AGM Review
We held our 48th AGM on 9th March at The Swan’s Nest, Exminster where we were made very welcome by the staff and had a room to ourselves and a carvery lunch. Numbers were better than last year with 39 attendees booked in and the regular business was quickly done: All parties duly elected on, including a new committee member in Wendy Mitten. Ray Cavill’s Wellbeing report included his usual plea seeking an extra person to join his team of volunteers. We do need some help….so please consider volunteering to join us. The business was followed by a picture quiz which kept the “little grey cells” working in an enjoyable way. With my Chairman’s hat on I did the usual round of thanks to my Committee without whom this Club could not keep going and welcomed in 10 new active members to the Club this past year.
To all of you, please stay safe and healthy. I look forward to seeing you at one or more of our 2023 events.
Garry Adams, Chairman and Treasurer
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Secretary’s Notes
The clocks have changed so it must be Spring Time! A ‘spring’ in our steps, perhaps too?
It is wonderful to see the trees budding up, the cherry/almond blossom and the magnolia flowers waving in the breeze – hooray. We are lucky that we have a good selection of daffodils and other spring flowers in our garden, but there is plenty of evidence of their presence in the area.
In February I went to Exeter Cathedral to see the GAIA (EARTH) created by artist Luke Jerram which proved to be quite an experience. The rear of the nave was dominated by the enormous globe of Earth suspended and rotating slowly from the rafters. At some seven metres (23 feet) in diameter it was awesome and was created by using High resolution NASA imagery of Earth’s surface. It might be an idea for a group club outing if they do another similar event.
In the meantime, we do hope you can come along to some (or all) of our proposed events! It is always good to meet up and a great way to catch up and renew our friendship in this special bank pensioner club.
Take care,
Barbara Johnson, Secretary
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Wellbeing
It was good to see so many of you at our AGM, and for those who missed out on my thoughts on the day, a very brief update!
Transport
A BIG thank you to those already providing support to enable those members to attend who would otherwise be unable to be with us. There was a plea for the EX1 area, and still grateful to receive a response to this. Otherwise, please let one of the Wellbeing Team know if you would like a lift, or alternatively if you are able to give someone a lift. Please use the annual contact sheet that Carole has attached to this Newsletter.
Vacancy
From this you will still see that there is a vacancy for the EX1 postcode area, although you DO NOT have to live in this area, as contact is on the phone +/- email. As ever, full guidance will be given by me, with support from both the Wellbeing Team and the Committee.
Ray Cavill, Wellbeing Co-ordinator
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Annual General Meeting
If you wish to see the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting, please email Les Rendell – lesrendell41@gmail.com – or telephone him on 01884 254375 and he will send you a copy.
Following the Annual General Meeting, as is our usual practice you will find an updated list of Officers, Committee and Wellbeing Officers for 2023
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Functions
Free Cream Tea – Hartnoll Hotel, Bolham, Tiverton EX16 7RA – Thursday, 27th April at 3.00pm
We are returning to the Hartnoll Hotel for one of our cream teas this year. For those of you who have not been to this venue before, there is a free car park, everything is on the level and the scones (a mixture of plain and fruit) are delicious.
We do need numbers for this event, so if you are intending to come, please email Barbara or Peter Johnson on barbj@talktalk.net or peteraj@talktalk.net or telephone them on 01297 599086 by Monday, 17th April. Thank you and see you there!
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Lunch – Belmont Hotel, The Esplanade, Sidmouth EX10 8RX – Tuesday, 23rd May at 1.00pm
A return to the Belmont Hotel: We haven’t been to the Belmont Hotel for a while and we are assured of a warm welcome.
Menu and Booking Form is attached (click here) for this lunch. We have been requested to provide a seating plan for the lunch. So, if you wish to sit with particular people, please indicate name(s) on your booking form.
You are able to pay for the lunch – £15.00 per person for members, guests £30.00 – by BACS transfer, rather than cheque, if you wish: Full details below.
Account Name: Exeter Spread Eagle Club
Account number: 10138878
Sort Code: 20-30-47
Ref: Your Surname
Your menu choices may be emailed as an attachment to Barbara and Peter Johnson rather than returning by post if you prefer by Friday, 12th May.
However you still have the option of returning your booking form with a cheque, made payable to Exeter Spread Eagle Club, to Barbara and Peter Johnson by Friday, 12th May.
Whichever method you choose, please also let Barbara and Peter know when replying of any special dietary requirements you may have, e.g. if you do not want sauces or gravy.
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Seaton Tramway, Harbour Road, Seaton EX12 2NQ and free Cream Tea at Colyton Station Cafe – Wednesday, 7th June.
As requested, another visit and ride on the Tram from Seaton to Colyton and return with a delicious free cream tea too!
Please advise Barbara or Peter Johnson on barbj@talktalk.net or peteraj@talktalk.net or telephone them on 01297 599086 if you wish to attend so the appropriate Tram can be secured for us and the correct number of scones may be ordered.
The Tram leaves Seaton Tramway Station at 2.20pm so please be at the Station by 2.00pm latest to collect your ticket(s). The cost is £10 per ticket payable in advance in the usual ways to Barbara/Peter Johnson either by BACS (see details above) or cheque made payable to Exeter Spread Eagle Club by Tuesday, 23rd May.
The cream tea will be served at 3.00pm at Colyton Station Cafe and the return tram to Seaton leaves at 4.00pm, arriving back at approximately 4.25pm.
A map of local car parks is attached for your information. There is no parking at the Tramway Station.
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Future dates for your diary:
Thursday, 7th December Christmas Lunch at the Victoria Hotel, Sidmouth
Look out for full details of further events in subsequent Newsletters.