Round Table

Membership

Committee

Fundraising

Area23

41 Club

Ladies Circle

74 Club

Wotton-u-Edge

Links

Hosted by

Ninove, Belgium

European Annual Meeting 2003

What a fantastic time! Fourteen of us from Wotton made the trip to Ninove for the annual 74 Club meeting. Yet again, the weekend surpassed expectations. For those able to make it, the 74 Club Weekend is the highlight of our Round Table year, and the opportunity to meet old friends and make many new ones.

Chairman's Diary...

Thursday

Arrive at Dover for the ferry to Calais, only to discover that somebody has left the gift behind. Too late to do anything about it now, so a couple of temporary substitute presents are hurriedly acquired on the boat.

Arrived at the City Hall in Ninove mid-afternoon, to baking hot pancakes and baking hot weather. Fortunately cold beer was on-tap too. Lots of people we know! So busy catching up that a couple of hours later we need to be ushered to our hosts' vehicles. Off to a great start!

That evening are the house parties. Excellent food and wine and a chance to get to know one another. The fortuitous hot weather provides an opportunity to relax outside on the patio and chill-out. Back to our hosts Franky and Anja in the early hours, but just time for a few more drinks and a chat by the pool before calling it a day around 4:00am.

Friday

Rudely awoken to the blaring sound of Chihuahua at full volume! Ok, we're awake! Champagne breakfast (some hair of the dog definitely helps!) and off to Jan Staels' farm for the Ninove Olympics....?? Think It's a Knock-out! We're split-up and organised into teams - feel sorry for Team 11 with me on it. The human foos-ball was particularly good fun! Notice lots of water being drunk even though there's free beer available!?

Lunch, and the Belgians have obviously heard about the (undeserved!) British reputation for disliking foreign food - a chips and burger van. You don't get such a good choice of things to put on yer chips back 'ome though! Remainder of the afternoon spent relaxing on the lawn under a giant sunshade, with live musical entertainment. The beer's starting to flow again. Prizes awarded for the morning's games, and what do you know, Team 11 win! More beer as the prize, but very nice it is too!

Friday evening is the Theme Party - Cartoons - at Zaal de Roosevelt. The dancing on the tables is interrupted for a while each country take their turn to perform their carefully rehearsed (?) sketch. Our's is dire; Hanau's is great; they win, and Jan is so pleased he spends the rest of the evening in his ballgown. Back to our hosts, more vodka, and another 4:00am finish.

Saturday

Accursed Chihuahua again! Well I suppose it's better than Anton aus Tirol. Breakfast and then for the men it's to Kalvaar for the business meeting where each of the Chairmen give a report on their Table's year, and present a gift to the host Table. Apparently my report was too long - though I was spared the white flags. I sheepishly hand-over our substitute gifts - a farting gnome and some Stella Artois brewed in the UK (in cans of course) while the real gift - an engraved Bristol-glass decanter - lies back in Wotton. Some more discussion on membership etc., and a proposal for an "Old Duffer's" 74 Club event, and then on the coach (more beer) for transport to Brussels.

Lunch at La Becasse, followed by short walking tour of some of the sights of Brussels, ending up at another bar - La Fleur. Relax by the fountain in the baking hot sun. Then back to Ninove to relax and prepare for the Gala Evening.

The event is in a large marquee set in gardens - lovely venue. Group pictures and more time for conversation before dinner is served by candle-light. Spectacular fish-course buffet to start with. After dinner, the band appear (The Crowd - excellent cover band) followed by a Disco, and dancing till dawn - literally.

Sunday

An extra hour in bed before the now-traditional awakening. Time to pack, coffee round the pool, and then off to The Buurthhuis for Champagne brunch. Dave's had enough by this stage, and flakes-out on the stone floor. Time to say our goodbyes, which takes some time when you've met so many great people. Sadly make our way to the car and head-off for Calais.

Well Ninove, thank you all for a truly fantastic event. It's a lot of hard work but really appreciated. Thanks especially to Franky and Anja for being wonderful hosts and putting up with Dave Primrose. See you next year!

- Mike

More Pictures

Ninove
Hanau

Anton, Anton, Anton...!