Kingsley Park Working Men's Club Newsletter February 2007
Editor: Barry Slasberg
Phone: 01604 719800 Email: barryslasberg@...
Restaurant: 01604 715514
Goodbye and thank you Dave
It is with regret we announce the death of our friend and servant of
the Club, Dave Hewitt.
Dave came to us from Far Cotton in the late 80's where he was a
Barman and he also used to shoot for them.
He soon established himself here as a highly proficient and
professional barman who got on well with everyone with whom he came
in contact. Getting close to retirement age, he came to find the bar
work a bit much and transferred to being our main doorman. He served
in this position up until the end of last year when he became too ill
to work.
Dave did not enjoy the best of health over the last year or so, but
to speak to him you were never aware of his suffering. He always had
a smile and was a perfect gentleman, even when under the weather.
He was a regular member of our skittle team and always a main fund-
raiser for our Children in Need Skittles marathons.
He will be greatly missed. Our sincere condolences go to his family
in their great loss.
Welcome to Michael
The Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Doy
as our Steward.
Michael spent 10 years working at Towcester Sports & Social Club
where he worked up from being a pot collector to being steward for
the last five and a half years.
We wish Michael well with us as he comes to grips with being the
Steward of a much larger club. We are sure your support of Michael in
this new phase of his life will be welcomed by him and can be counted
on from you.
Bar Tariff
In July last year we reduced many of our bar prices to the nearest
five pence and stated that in future rises would be in increments of
five pence.
Your Committee maintains its resolve to keep rises to a minimum.
In November last year Carlsberg put their prices up substantially,
but the Committee held prices at the bar until the review this year.
In taking into account the review this year, two major factors have
been taken into consideration. The first is the phenomenal increase
in our Gas and Electricity costs and, yet again, the above inflation
increase in the minimum wage levels.
With effect from Monday 12th February the following increases will be
implemented: -
Draught Bitters 5 pence per pint
Carling & Carlsberg Lagers 5 pence per pint
Export, Strongbow & Guiness 10 pence per pint
Bottled drinks currently under £2.00 5pence
Bottled drinks currently £2.00 and over 10 pence
Wine by the glass 5 pence
House Doubles 10 pence
Spirits 5 pence
Soft drinks 5 pence
It is hoped that this will be the only increase this year and; whilst
at this stage no promises can be made; there will be no increase in
prices when the Chancellor announces his budget.
Entertainment February
Friday 2nd Sharron Knight Mancunian Vocal Entertainer
Saturday 3rd Bump in the night 4-piece band
Sunday 4th Girl Ambition Girl Duo
Friday 9th Emma Jenson Vocal Entertainer
Saturday 10th Frantik Excellent Three Piece Group
Sunday 11th Entwine Female Duo
Friday 16th Katrice Female Vocal Personality Ent
Saturday 17th Krusade 4 Piece Covers Group
Sunday 18th Family Affair Male/Female Duo
Friday 23rd Clair Daniels Top Vocal Entertainer
Saturday 24th La Diva Live 3 piece Covers Group
Sunday 25th Mason Male/Female Duo
Bingo
There will be bingo sessions every Friday and Sunday and Saturdays
3rd 10th and 17th. Eyes down for every session is at 20.45.
Extension of Bar Hours
The bar will remain open until 23.30 on Saturday 24th February.
St George's Day Celebrations
After the unfortunate experience last year, the Committee felt it
owed the members something special this year. We are proud to
announce that for your entertainment we offer you a full show
entitled "A Night at the Music Hall". The show will be from 12.30 to
16.30 (not quite night time!) and include the traditional master of
ceremonies, sing along and other musical entertainment and comedy (Of
a family nature!)
This will be the epitome of traditional English entertainment. If you
come in your music hall garb, there could well be a prize for the
best turned out in the room.
Quiz Nights
In response to requests received we are going to give the quiz nights
another go on Tuesdays 13th & 27th February.
If we get a goodly number of teams on these evenings, we will
continue on a regular basis.
We will kick off at 20.30; have a session of Aces High and a snack
half way through the evening. As in the past all entry money and
stake money on Aces High will be returned as prizes. When we get
properly established we will see about reintroducing prizes for round
winners.
Come along and banter with Bamber, give the brain cells a burn, and
fill your evening with fun. You know it is worth it!
Youth Pool News
Both of our teams have set new high standards for the start of the
season. The A team has won four of its five first games, only losing
to the Vocal. The B team has notched up its first ever win and has
now won two of its first six games. Interestingly enough its first
win was against the Vocal.
The league includes several clubs in town and the surrounding
villages. The competition is always keen and the standard of play,
respect for equipment and opponents and behaviour are all exemplary!
We are always looking for new faces, so if you have children from 8
to 18 years of age, bring them along on a Saturday from 13.00 to
16.00 and see how they enjoy it. Parents are encouraged to stay in
the room and support their children but must in any case stay on the
premises. The bar is open in the games room and children may purchase
soft drinks and sweets. This is the only time and place folk under 18
years of age are served at the bar in the Club.
Subscription Renewal
Any member who has not paid their subscription by 28th January has
become a member in arrears. This means that such people are not
allowed into the Club until they come to pay their subscriptions.
The following are the payment times in February: -
Sundays 4th 11th 18th 25th 11.30 to 12.30
Mondays 5th 12th 19th 26th 19.30 to 20.30
If anyone cannot make these times, please contact the Secretary by
popping in, telephoning or writing and make alternative arrangements
to pay before 26th February.
You can pay in person, by post or through a representative. Let us
have your Membership card and payment and the jobs done. Any subs not
paid will result in club membership being lost and application for re-
entry may not be considered until March 2008.
Please do not miss out.
Welfare Section update
Who says size doesn't matter?
The draw for the Treasure Chest is made each Sunday at 21.15. The
potential prize for Sunday 28th January is a massive £1700. Tickets
are on sale from behind the bar at any time and also at the Welfare
Table when the Committee is in attendance.
Just one pound gives you five chances to win the key selection. If
the wrong key is chosen there is £100 consolation prize. The prize
goes up £50 a week until won and then reverts to a huge £750 and the
climb starts again.
If you cannot attend in person, give your tickets to one of the
Welfare Committee with your name and phone number on the back and
they will arrange for another member to make the draw on your behalf.
The excitement must be in opening the box for yourself and leaving
the Club in a haze of wealth!
Of course size matters!
£150 per week guaranteed every week!
You can be the outright winner or have a share of the £150 paid out
every week on The Tote. For five pence you can choose a pair of
numbers, and if they come out in any order on the weekly draw held on
Sundays at 13.00 you win the pot or share it with any others who may
have picked the same two numbers.
For just £1.00 you can choose twenty pairs of number plus two extra
free numbers.
Welfare Subscriptions
For members of the Welfare Section, these are now being taken and
must be paid by the end of February. The next Welfare Payments are
due to be paid out in March to qualifying members.
Dave Yates and John Carnegie-Brown are available at The Welfare Table
in the Bar on Fridays between 19.00 an 21.00 and on Sundays between
11.00 and 13.00 to receive Tote and Welfare payments, sell Treasure
Chest tickets and to answer any questions.
Liverpool v Chelsea 20th January
Unbelievably, the holder of the winning ticket did not come forward.
The tickets were therefore auctioned and raised £83 that has been
donated to The British Heart Foundation, in honour of Dave Hewitt, as
this was his family's chosen charity.
Committee Elections
The following people retire by rotation from the Committee at the
Annual General Meeting of the club that it is hoped will be held on
Sunday 25th February.
Treasurer; Dave Birch
Committee: Stu Bee; John Canham, Geoff Bassett, Brian Dolby, and John
Carnegie-Brown.
All of the above are eligible for re-election.
Any male member with at least six months membership is eligible for
election if nominated and seconded by two male members with at least
six month's membership.
The nomination sheet will be posted in the main bar by 9th February
and remain in place until noon 26th February.
Those nominated should supply the Secretary with a photograph so that
voters can see for whom they are voting.
Voting will be on 2nd 3rd & 4th March. It is permitted to canvass for
votes, but not in the vicinity of the polling booth.
The club faces a year of further challenges in the form of the
smoking ban mainly, but also much other legislation that seems to
come out of Westminster like confetti at times. Supermarkets continue
to promote irresponsible drinking and we need to fight to get people
to come to us and enjoy social drinking rather than bingeing at home
on cheap drink. So. If you have vision, courage and determination and
time to spare, why not stand to join the team that can make a
difference?
Annual General Meeting
As stated above, it is hoped to call our Annual General Meeting for
Sunday 25th February. The official notice of the meeting will be
posted in the bar by 18th February.
The last item on the Agenda is "Notices of Motion". If any member
entitled to attend the meeting wishes the Committee to consider a
coarse of action, he may make his position known by presenting a
notice of motion to the General Secretary in writing to be received
by the Secretary at least five days before the Annual General
Meeting. It must be borne in mind that the Committee must give
notices of motion serious consideration, but is not obliged to adopt
any motion that is passed. The person putting the motion must attend
the meeting to argue his case, and the motion must be seconded before
it can be considered by the meeting.
Please do your best to attend the meeting, as this is the only time
in the Club's year when members have the opportunity to show support
and gratitude to those on the Committee who have dedicated themselves
to the service of the Club over the past year. Thank you.
At the time of going to press all the above dates are correct. They
may be subject to alteration as will be displayed in the formal
notices displayed in the Club.
Zen for those who take life too seriously
1. Save the whales, collect the whole set
2. A day without sunshine is like, night
3. On the other hand, you have different fingers
4. I just got lost in thought, it wasn't familiar territory
5. 42.7 percent of all statistics are made up on the spot
6. 99 percent of all lawyers give the rest a bad name
7. Honk if you love peace and quiet
8. He who laughs last, thinks slowest
9. Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm
10. The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the
cheese
11. Support bacteria, they're the only culture some people have
12. A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory
13. Get a new car for your spouse. It'll be a great trade
14. Plan to be spontaneous tomorrow
15. Always try to be modest, and be proud of it
16. OK, so what's the speed of dark?
17. When everything is coming your way, you're in the wrong lane
18. Hard work pays off in the future, Laziness pays off now
19. If Barbie is so popular, why do you have to buy her friends?
20. I couldn't repair your brakes so I made your horn louder
21. Just remember – If the world did not suck we would all fall off!
22. Light travels faster than sound, which is why some people appear
bright until you hear them speak.
Thank you for another contribution from a regular reader.
And finally
On Saturday 31st March, the Annual General Meeting of the Working
Men's Club and Institute Union Ltd will be held at Blackpool. The
whisper doing the rounds at the moment is that it will be big on
content this year. Hopefully we will have a meeting full of vision
and determination to secure a healthy future for all Working Men's
Clubs. We look forward to seeing positive results for the Union and
this Club. Full reports will follow in due course.