Welcome
Here is your first Newsletter of the year and a warm welcome to you all. I hope it finds you fit and well, and “raring to go” to join us at the events of 2024.
This year we are again preparing a full programme of events to include 4 lunches (including the AGM in March), 2 free coffee mornings, 2 free cream teas, a theatre outing and a visit to the Grand Union canal at Tiverton during the year. The last item is currently in abeyance as it is shut for the winter!
We have our AGM on Tuesday, 12th March at The Swan’s Nest near Exminster, meeting from 11.00am for coffee with the business part from 11.30am. This is the same venue as last year with a carvery lunch. Full details provided later in this Newsletter.
As usual, the business part takes about half-an-hour and will be followed by our entertaining speaker, Rose Chanin. She comes well recommended, is highly amusing and worth listening to. Please come and join us from 11.00am. Lunch will be served from about 12.45pm onwards.
Booking details for the AGM are attached to this Newsletter with the menu options and reply slips.
Before that we have our first free coffee morning of the year at The White Horse (usual venue on the Sidmouth road, near Aylesbeare) on Wednesday, 14th February followed by a free cream tea on Wednesday, 17th April at The Hartnoll Hotel, Bolham (near Tiverton) and a May (Spring time) lunch.
Dates and venues and other future events will be announced at the AGM and in our Spring Newsletter.
With my other hat on, I can confirm that our finances remain in good health and we have already submitted our annual grant claim to HO which should see us maintain our lunch subsidies at 50% or better, with coffee mornings and cream teas free to members. As an example, the AGM subsidy to members is likely to be around 60%. A good incentive to be there! The annual accounts will be available as usual at the AGM.
Finally, please do visit our website for latest news and a write up of the Christmas lunch where we had 74 booked in to the Victoria Hotel at Sidmouth. By the way as an additional plea (I say it each year), if there are any keen photographers out there; do take pics at our events and send them to Les Rendell (lesrendell41@gmail.com) for inclusion on the website.
Although it seems a little late, I wish you all a very happy, safe and healthy new year and look forward to seeing you at one or more of our events in 2024.
Garry Adams, Chairman and Treasurer
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Secretary’s Notes
A somewhat belated Happy New Year to you all and here we are already into the second month of 2024!
Garry, our Chairman and Treasurer, has covered some of the events we are planning for this year and I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible when you come along to one or more of them.
Do please let me know if you change your address or any details. With postage costs being high we are always keen to add email addresses too, so that we can reduce costs.
We have received some requests and two interesting offers (see later in this Newsletter) via our website www.exeterspreadeagles.org to share with you. The first is a call to those of you who enjoying singing. The Shaldon Singers are presenting a ‘Come & Sing Workshop’ of Verdi Requiem on Saturday, 27th April from 9.30am to 5.00pm. If any of you are interested please have a look at the website www.shaldonsingers.co.uk and contact them.
The second request is from Don Semmons who wrote an interesting article in the winter edition of Connections magazine (page 15). He is a volunteer for a charitable organisation called AbilityNet who offer free technical advice to support older people and disabled people of any age, anywhere in the UK. Please have a look at this article and do not hesitate to contact him for further information or help.
The third request is homes are needed for the lovely painted Eagle models that Mick Mabbutt has made from copying them from an original sculpture. Perhaps one could sit in a corner in your garden? He will be bringing them to the AGM for you to look at.
Now spring is coming and it is wonderful to see the signs of new growth in the gardens. Enjoy the longer days, take care and keep warm and cosy.
Best wishes.
Barbara Johnson, Secretary
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Wellbeing
Spring will soon be Sprung!
Having just ‘entertained’ our Oz family over a very busy few weeks here, and in temperatures of minus 3 when we visited Disneyland Paris in January, the brighter warmer days, blessed with the array of spring flowers cannot come soon enough!
Thinking of change, I will again be looking for additional support to our Wellbeing Team at the upcoming AGM. I shall be only too pleased to outline the role and it will be up to you to decide whether or not you will also want to join as a full Committee member as well.
I regret that I will not be at the next social function in February, but do hope to see as many of you as possible at the Swan’s Nest for our annual get together.
Ray Cavill, Wellbeing Co-ordinator
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Annual General Meeting
The Club’s Annual General Meeting takes place on Tuesday, 12th March 2024 at 11.30am at The Swan’s Nest, Exminster EX6 8DZ. There is plenty of parking available in the car park situated in the grounds. 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.
We are assured of a warm welcome. We do hope that you will join us for the short, but nevertheless important, meeting to be followed by a presentation by Rose Chanin, as mentioned by Garry in his opening remarks. Lunch will follow at 12.45pm.
From Exeter/Countess Wear direction, take the Dawlish road (A379) at the roundabout. Continue along this road to another roundabout and turn left. The Swan’s Nest is signposted at this roundabout. From the Dawlish/Teignmouth direction, turn right at the roundabout at Exminster.
Access will be available for (free) coffee/tea and biscuits from 11.00am and we would ask that you are in your seats prior to the start of the meeting at 11.30am 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.
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Functions
Free Coffee Morning – Wednesday, 14th February, 10.30am – White Horse Inn, Woodbury Salterton (A3052 Sidmouth road)
On this occasion it would be helpful if you would let Barbara or Peter Johnson (contact details below) know by 9th February, if you intend to stay on for lunch (at your own cost) after the coffee morning. No requirement to decide on what to eat: It’s just helpful for the staff to know how many to expect. Many thanks.
AGM Luncheon – Tuesday, 12th March, 12.45pm
The Annual General Meeting and Presentation will be followed by lunch at the cost of £12.00, being subsidised from Club funds.
On this occasion we have opted for a Carvery meal with a choice of four meats OR vegetarian alternatives. This means that members will need to collect their food from the Carvery counter. Staff will be on hand to carry plates to your tables if required. We will not be serving wine, etc at the table this year so any drinks you wish to have, please purchase at the bar.
Please complete and return the booking form (click here) with your food choices and payment.
Whilst it would be appreciated if everyone would join us for the short AGM, should you be able to come along for the lunch only, then please do complete and return the booking form with your payment.
Please collect upon arrival your booking form showing your food choice and place on your chosen table before the AGM. On this occasion it is likely that, because of space restrictions, we will need to occupy our dining places for the whole of the day’s proceedings.
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Diary dates:
Wednesday, 17th April Free Cream Tea at Hartnoll Hotel, Bolham
Thursday, 23rd May Lunch at Belmont Hotel, Sidmouth
Full details of both events in Spring Newsletter following the AGM.
Thursday, 5th December Christmas Lunch at Victoria Hotel, Sidmouth
Full details in Autumn Newsletter
Barbara & Peter Johnson
barbj@talktalk.net
peteraj@talktalk.net
01297 599086
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And finally…..
Two Great Offers for Club Members!
Hair Perms for free:
The Meraki Salon & Spa, 75 Queen Street, Exeter is looking for 3 clients to have their hair permed for free by apprentices (under supervision) for their hairdressing qualification. If you are interested please ring Jack at the salon on 01392 343102 for details.
Exclusive Discount on Wendy Wu Tours:
This reputable holiday company is offering our Club members a discount if they book a holiday with them. Please contact Keith Norman (Specialist Sales) on 07983 474493 or their main number 0808 2581 714 for more details.