Wotton-under-Edge & District Round Table 974

Hosted by

Karlshamn Sweden, 2004

30th Anniversary Euromeeting

The first 74 Club Euromeeting was held in Warrington in 1974. The year ABBA won the Eurovision Song Contest, the year of Watergate, Wombles and Glam Rock. In celebration of 30 years of networking, the theme this year was of course:

1974!

Thursday

For some of we 13 guests from Wotton, the flight schedule was such that we couldn't make it to the afternoon registration party. Others, anxious not to miss a single hour of the event, travelled over a day or more early for an extended stay in Sweden or Copenhagen. Fortunately, the rest of us arrived early enough not to miss too much of the home parties.

The train journey from Copenhagen to Karlshamn was interesting. Our train, clearly labelled Kristianstadt, actually terminated in Malmo. According to the helpful guard, this was because this being Ascension Day, the Danes were operting a Saturday timetable and the Swedes a Sunday timetable - despite it actually being Thursday! Caught a later train to Kristianstadt and them Karlshamn, and spent most of the journey counting hares and deer.

Ros and I were collected from the station and delivered to the Lord Nelson pub - cool! Actually an inn with guest rooms and a large apartment - an ideal venue for a party! As usual, the Swedes had done us proud with a fantastic buffet. After the meal and eager to preserve stocks of the valuable beer and wine at our own party, we sneaked round the corner to where we knew another party was on, and helped consume their supplies instead. Well, the more, the merrier! Spent the night and early hours meeting old friends and making new ones. [Awaiting pic]

Friday

A relatively leisurely start for those of us at Frederick and Miriam's, as we had a bathroom each, and being in the centre of town, no need to travel. Time for breakfast, hangover remedies, a quick beer, then a short stroll to the quay for a cruise around the archipelago, and the first chance to meet everybody together. A brief shower saw us all retreat to the galley bar, but otherwise a crisp sunny day.

After traditional (i.e. herring) lunch, we encouraged our bemused chairmen as they constructed and erected a "Summer Pole" before taking a second boat back to the quay.

A couple of hours to explore the town, then time to get ready for the theme party - 1974! 140 people in all manner of 1970's garb waiting for the beer tanker to arrive at Lokstallarne - outta sight!

Wotton ladies' very first dress rehearsal - backstage with 10 seconds to go!

A huge buffet meal (with purple cous-cous!?) and many drinks later, and each Table had to perform a 5 minute sketch.

Wotton came second with Rockin' with '74, but the highlight of the evening was Faxe who set off the fire alarm with a giant 30th birthday cake decorated with fireworks!

Faxe try to cheat by inviting real firemen to be "extras" in their sketch

In the early hours we head home, finding a couple of lost Norwegians - Leif and Elin - on the way. They seem to have had a good night, though can't remember much of it, not even whether they were in the sketch! Fortunately we have the evidence. A couple more drinks back at our hosts' before bed.

Saturday

On Saturday morning the ladies have a fashion show and shopping trip while the men are given a "treasure hunt" task to do through the shops in Karlshamn. The purple team would easily have won, but unfortunately nobody remembered to judge the competition!

Next a walk through the woods to a country club for lunch - pea & ham soup and pancakes (no herring!), followed by an interesting talk on critical frequency(?).

Afterwards are taken for a sauna where the Scandinavians think it's good sport to sear our lungs by raising the temperature and getting us to sing! Afterwards we crawl gasping to the swimming pool - for the business meeting. Here the unfortunate chairmen have to deliver their annual reports above the sound of our chattering teeth.

Finally we had back to our hosts to relax and prepare for the Gala Night. After sitting down to an excellent dinner, it's time to dance the night away to the band and disco. Somewhere along the way gifts are duly presented, and our Lava Lamp seems to be well received. Rob even remembered to bring the gift for Ninove from last year! "Stolen" regalia is returned - some from 14 years ago!

Warrington present the theme for next year - Hollywood. Somebody manages to set off the fire alarms again - this time by smoking in the lobby. After much beer and schnapps it's time to make our way home as the skies start to lighten.

Sunday

Suddenly it's all over. Time to pack and assemble next door for brunch. Tearful goodbyes are exchanged as people depart in small groups to make their way home.

We ourselves did make it home, despite a rail strike in Denmark, but could have done with with a couple of days off to recover.

Another fantastic Euromeeting. Huge thanks to all our friends in Karlshamn. Next year the exotic location of Warrington, followed by the newcomers in 2006 - Maastricht.