Weekly Meeting 01 September 2014

President Ian Dunkerley proudly displayed the Bat and Trap trophy that was won by the club when the annual competition between Deal and Sandwich clubs was played at Baypoint.

Ian Dunkerley with the trophy

Sandwich built up a formidable lead of 19 runs in the first round only to collapse in the second allowing Deal to win by five runs.

Alex Stenhouse, aged 14, has been serving us in the restaurant recently. He is a member of the1st Deal Scouts and has been selected to go to Japan.

Alex Stenhouse

The president has already sponsored him for a sum on money and it is hoped the club may be able to do likewise. This is sure to be a wonderful experience for Alex and we wish him well on this adventure.

Paul Blair has become a regular guest at the weekly meetings.

Paul Blair

The secretary informed the club that correspondence has been received from the RC of Ostend about the Triangulaire that they have organised on Saturday and Sunday 4 and 5 October. In case you have not read the email sent by the secretary, details of the weekend, with a WW1 theme can be found here. In the pdf file you will find details of all prices including the hotel Bero but there may be a possibility that some couples could stay on the New Petra and save a lot of money on hotel bills.

It will be our responsibility to organise the Triangulaire next year and suggestions for historical places to visit are welcomed.

There are two events on Friday 19 September; The Inner Wheel Club of Deal has their journey on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway and the District has their Council meetings that several of our members will attend.

The District has also organised a Public Relations Workshop that will take place on Saturday 11 October in Rochester. This free event (including refreshments and light lunch) is, as its title suggests, aimed at clubs' PR representatives but senior club officers will also gain benefit from it. Your Webmaster/PR Officer will be attending and has three spare seats in the car if anyone wishes to accompany him.

Another District event is the annual conference in Eastbourne. This takes place over the weekend 24 to 26 October. Those wishing to attend should register through the District website although the secretary has hard copies of the booking form. PP David Wells is organising accommodation in the Congress Hotel as usual.

The RC of Westerham have scheduled their annual Churchill Commemorative Dinner which will take place on Tuesday 25 November. Those who have previously attended have high praise for this event.

PP David Hannent reported upon his visit to the RC of Calais where he had a jolly good time, as is usual there.

The Walmer Picnic on the Green took place on 23 August when the club borrowed Sandwich's new ShelterBox. Erecting the new tent proved to be more difficult with IPP John Utting getting stuck behind the inner layer.

"Help, let me out!"

The erection was eventually successful but sadly the event didn't raise much interest with the public who seemed to attend solely for the pop concert on the bandstand. One of the few visitors used the tent to change her baby's nappy! At least it did have some use.

Four stalwart club members spent the best part of the Saturday in this lonely position.

PP Mike Baxter announced that the planned garden party has had to be abandoned. In its stead there will be an Evening With The Ladies in the form of a gourmet evening in Dunkerley's Restaurant. Details of this dinner have already been circulated and there is a page on the web site here.

The weekly 200 Club draw was not won because the drawn number had not been allocated. The weekly wine draw was won by Rtn Paul Robbins.