St Georges Knight 2011
15th to 17th April 2011
How quick this year seems to be going, here we are at Torquay celebrating St George’s Knight 2011 already. Tina and I made our way down to Devon on Friday 15th April and arrived at the Headland Hotel just after 2pm. We were soon joined by one of our newest members and our guest speaker for the dinner, Peter “Spud” Spowage. Gradually other members arrived and having sorted rooms out, we sat outside to have a drink, well what else? We were joined by our friends from England VI who rode their bikes down across country arriving in time for dinner with a couple of friends from England VIII. Following a lovely meal, time to retire to the bar and enjoy good company.
Saturday after breakfast, a few of us (Muddy, Lesley, Spud, John Rook and myself) decided to go on the Torbay Steam Railway. We caught a taxi to Paignton railway station and having purchased our ‘round robin’ tickets, we followed Spud to the front of the train. I should mention at this point, that Spud likes steam trains. Actually he is a steam train anorak full of facts and information, which I have to say, was very interesting zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Sorry Spud, only joking! Didn’t stop us taking the p**s though!
Muddy and I managed to take plenty of photo’s during the journey to Kingswear following the coast. Just ask Muddy how many times he hit his head on the light putting it through the window to take photo’s! Once we arrived, Spud spoke to the driver to let him know that Lesley’s grandfather worked at the Swindon Rail Works and she was then able to go onto the footplate. My goodness, did she enjoy that!
We then used the ferry to cross to Dartmouth where we had an hour and a half to wait before the next part of our journey. So, tea and cake it is then. We walked around the town and fell across the brilliant ‘Singing Kettle Tea Shoppe’ where we enjoyed tea and superb cakes. The tea is made with leaves and not bags and come with an egg timer so that you allow enough time for the tea to brew. Brilliant! Muddy had a fantastic cream tea – just look at the photo! Only Muddy could have done this. But the other selection of cakes and cookies were just as good. Mmmm, soooo good! This is definately one place that I will be returning to. Not only good food but an experience in a 16th Century building.
The next gem we found was a fantastic shop with the most diverse range of spirits and wine that we have ever seen! The owner, Chris Otter, was so helpful with advice and guidance. It took us ages to go through his selection of rums listening to his descriptions before buying. We enjoyed our time, but before we left, he challenged us to identify a whisky from a sample. Well blow me, it was so smooth, almost sweet and certainly warmed all the way down. Wow was it good! The name? Compass Box “Hedonism”! Yes, sex in a bottle J It was also £60 for the bottle so we didn’t buy one. Spud Muddy and I left very happy and with bottles of something very special and different from each other.
Soon it was time to catch the “Cardiff Castle” our boat for the trip up the river to Totnes. The Captain was full of humour as well as information and the trip was very enjoyable, but we started getting colder as the afternoon progressed. We were following the incoming tide as we sailed up river even grounding twice before once more substantially in Totness and had to wait for the tide to rise before forcing our way across the mud bank. We then transferred to the last part of our ‘round robin’, an open top bus ride back to Paignton. We were first on, so we sat upstairs at the front behind the glass partition – but it was still cold! Soon we were back in a taxi travelling back to the hotel in brilliant sunshine again having had a great day. If you haven’t done it then please do, you will not regret it. Certainly look out the ‘Singing Kettle Tea Shoppe’ and the Dartmouth Wine Company you will not be disappointed.
Back at the hotel, the evening started with everyone dressed up in their gowns and DJ’s entering the function room and having a welcoming ‘Bucks Fizz’ and the ladies being presented with a single red rose. Simon & Claire came bringing ‘Fudge’ and ‘Meile’’ with them. Fudge spending the evening fast asleep on her blanket. John & Jayne Rolfe also came for their first St George’s evening.
John Rooke then called everyone to their seats ready for the President and his entourage to make their entrance. Now you really need to attend one of these dinners to appreciate the homage to St George which the team put on. I will not describe what goes on too much, but the photo’s in the gallery may help! The evening is formal with speeches and toasts and most of all with great traditional food – roast beef and apple pie, what else! This is normally followed by cheese and a glass of port.
Our speaker this year was Peter ‘Spud’ Spowage who whilst being a member of England XIV, is also the leader of this years charity event, “Great Escape 2”. Not giving too much away, but Spud started with a Health & Safety instruction – one of the funniest things I have heard recently. He followed this with a letter from his ‘friend’ Gene Hunt who couldn’t make it to the dinner. Spud is a natural speaker and entertainer. His sense of humour is great and everyone appeared to enjoy it. He then got serious and gave the background to how GE2 came about and where it is today. Even though I am on the team and run the website for the event, I still found it very interesting such was Spuds manner.
The raffle and auction raised the fantastic amount of £175 which was being given to ‘Great Escape 2’. Then, Muddy, for the first time, ran his disco for the final part of the evening complete with coloured flashing lights, spinning lights and even a machine for blowing bubbles! Now do NOT ask how he got all that together. Those who know him, like Pete and I, are just never surprised with what he comes out with anymore. There was much dancing and talking before the disco man called for the last dance and the evening drew to a close for another year.
Sunday morning after enjoying a hearty breakfast, it was time to say our “goodbyes” and head for home. Our thanks must go to everyone who made this a successful weekend including the staff at the Headland Hotel especially the Manager, Toby who also put a bottle in our raffle to help raise funds for GE2.
Special thanks must also go to the members of England VI who travelled down from Nottingham bringing members from England VIII with them. They always give us fantastic support and we always enjoy their company. Thanks guys!
Before I finish I must send our thoughts to Ron and Carolyn Barnes (Wales 1) who should have been joining us, but they have to nurse their son who had been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident. We all wish their son a full and speedy recovery from all at England XIV.
Finally, next years event will be held in Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset. Again by the sea and with it's newly rebuilt Grand Pier. Look out ofr details soon!
John Cooke
Chapter Secretary & Webmaster
John CookeChapter Secretary & Webmaster
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