Introduction
Five years? You don’t get to serve that length of time for a serious crime these days!
I had been looking back to previous Newsletters. This reminded me that I was elected as Secretary a full five years ago. That election was included within the business of our Annual General Meeting, and we are now coming to that time of year again, on Thursday 7th March.
We will gather at the Exeter Golf & Country Club for coffee, have a brief but efficient business meeting, followed by a very good speaker. Andrew Millington was the Organist and Master of the Choristers at Exeter Cathedral from 1999 until 2015. You can Google him to appreciate what a fine talent we have coming to talk to us. Andrew and his wife Madeleine will also be joining us for the lunch afterwards.
Full details of the meeting, and the lunch booking form are included in this issue. We hope to see you there!
And finally, just to keep your brains working there is another one of Les Rendell’s quizzes to get your heads around. There will be a prize for the winner at the AGM.
Andrew Green, Hon Secretary
Wellbeing
I am writing this in the heat of Melbourne – 40 degrees centigrade as opposed to Fahrenheit – whilst spending invaluable time with the grandchildren. We are increasingly aware that we do not know how many more years we shall be able to do this, so ensure we savour every minute.
Sincerely hope that you are keeping well and, as ever, please contact one of our Wellbeing team if you feel that we may be of support. In any event, we shall be pleased to talk with you!
I shall otherwise hope to see you at upcoming theatre trip or at the AGM.
Ray Cavill, Wellbeing Officer
Annual General Meeting
The Club’s Annual General Meeting takes place on Thursday, 7th March 2019 at 11.00am in the Mews Suite at the Exeter Golf and Country Club, Topsham Road, Exeter EX2 7AE. There is plenty of parking available in the two car parks situated in the grounds and disabled parking is at the entrance to the second parking area – you can take your car to the entrance (paved area) and then have it moved to a suitable bay. If you would like to come but need a lift, please contact one of our Wellbeing Officers who will do their best to find a lift for you.
Access will be available for (free) coffee/tea and biscuits from 10.30am and we would ask that you are in your seats prior to the start of the meeting at 11.00am so that there is no distraction whilst we remember those who are no longer with us.
We have saved some costs by not including the Agenda with this newsletter, planning to distribute on the day, but if any would wish for a copy prior to this, in print or electronically, we shall be happy to oblige.
Functions
AGM Luncheon
The Annual General Meeting will be followed by lunch. Menu/booking form is attached and should be returned to me with your cheque by Tuesday, 19th February 2019. Cheques will be banked on Thursday, 21st February. No refunds will be given after this date. The cost per head for members is £12.50 or £25.00 per head for non-members. The cost includes a glass and a half of wine OR a glass of orange, apple or grapefruit juice.
Please also let me know when replying of any special dietary requirements you may have, e.g. if you do not want sauces or gravy.
The lunch will be in the Duckworth Suite. Please try to collect your booking form from me, showing your food choice, if possible before the AGM, to place on your chosen table; remember we do not have a seating plan for this event. Should you be coming only to the Luncheon, would you please indicate on your booking form with whom you wish to sit if you have a preference. Thank you.
The restaurant staff will take a note of your food selection around 12.40pm so please do not move your place setting after this time.
Bars in the Mews and Duckworth Suites will be available from approximately 12.30pm and lunch will be served at 1.00pm.
Future dates for your diary:
Saturday, 2nd March 2019 – Theatre Visit, Manor Theatre, Sidmouth (see details in this Newsletter)
Wednesday, 10th April 2019 – free Coffee Morning, White Horse Inn, Woodbury Salterton EX5 1EP (on the A3052 Exeter to Sidmouth road), 10.15am-12noon
Tuesday, 21st May 2019 – Lunch, Sidmouth Harbour Hotel, Manor Road, Sidmouth EX10 8RU
Tuesday, 11th June 2019 – free Cream Tea (scone, jam, cream, tea/coffee) and Garden visit, Fursdon House & Garden, Cadbury, Exeter EX5 5JS
Menu and booking form for the May Lunch and further details regarding the free Cream Tea and Garden visit will be in the next Newsletter. Details of functions beyond June will be in future Newsletters.
Lynne Ring, Committee Member
01392 879446
lynne_ring@hotmail.com
THEATRE VISIT – Saturday, 2nd March – 7.30pm
MANOR PAVILION, MANOR ROAD, SIDMOUTH, EX10 8RP
Following the popularity of our outings to the Manor Pavilion Theatre in Sidmouth during the last two Summer Rep seasons, your committee has made a provisional booking for a further visit on Saturday, 2nd March 2019.
The play this time, entitled “Dead on Arrival”, is an original classic period whodunit and is being staged for one night only by the Moonstone Theatre with that performance starting at 7.30pm.
We have initially reserved a block of 27 seats (in the same part of the auditorium as for the previous visit). A maximum of two tickets per member is available on a first come, first served basis. (Those members who previously expressed interest at the Christmas Lunch will be prioritised).
A theatre discount applies for our block booking which together with an additional generous subsidy from Club funds means that on this occasion we can offer seats (maximum of 2 per member) at just £8.00 per ticket (the advertised price being £12.00). (Non-refundable).
We need to confirm numbers and make payment to the Theatre by 13th February, so if you would like to attend we need your confirmation and payment please (cheques payable to “Exeter Spread Eagle Club” ) as soon as possible and no later than Monday, 11th February.
Please return the attached booking form together with a SAE to Peter Johnson.
QUIZ – DEVON, GLORIOUS DEVON
- Who was born in Devon in the sixteenth century, became an Admiral and died of a fever off Panama in 1596?
- Which house in Devon was built for the D’Oyly Carte family between 1925-6? The architect was Oswald Milne.
- On which river is the Becky Falls and Becka Brook?
- Which is the largest Iron-Age hill fort remaining in Devon?
- Where was the last traditional bakery to be used in Devon and was run by Stuart and Gerald Collier until the late 1980s? It is now part of a National Trust site.
- Which famous Devonian was married to the archaeologist Sir Max Mallowan?
- Where could you visit the Port and Mining Museums and the Victorian Farmyard, take a train ride through the George and Charlotte copper mine and be attended to by staff in Victorian dress?
- What was the name of the Plymouth born naval administrator and commander, who was the chief architect of the Elizabethan navy?
- Who is the Exeter Chiefs’ Director of Rugby?
- In which year did the Mayflower leave Plymouth carrying the Pilgrim fathers to the New World?
Name: ………………………………………………..
Entries please by Tuesday, 5th March to Les Rendell on lesrendell41@gmail.com or 11 Aubyns Wood Rise, Tiverton EX16 5DG