A return to Beccles for both events, and it was just as good as last year!

The turnout for this season’s opening dinner dance was a little lower than previous but it meant a little less crowding and more dancing room for the 54 members and guests who attended. Some members and their guests had booked rooms at the hotel, or adjacent hotels, and a few made the return trip by car on the night. The rest of us were aboard 16 boats comfortably moored at the yacht station, and most arrived on the Friday afternoon. That’s when I saw the funny sight of Ray, standing on the prow of “Dream Weaver”, lowering his mudweight on its electric winch – but the chain payed out completely and the whole tackle dropped into the water. The surprised look on Ray’s face was a picture! ((mudweight & chain were soon retrieved though, with a nifty bit of boathook fishing). An early candidate for the “Broken Oar”?

Some of us dressed our boats on the Saturday in national flags ready for St.George’s Day on the Sunday, and very colourful they all looked as well.. We again raised the George Cross on our flagpole adjacent to the moorings, although we now have our own club flag ready to fly – but that was taken into the venue and displayed on the Raffle prize table on the Saturday night. We’ll all have to wait until Loddon for the inaugural raising of the club flag ( and for the inauguration of the new club gazebo! ).

Weather was cool for the time of year, and windy, but mainly dry with even a drop of sun occasionally. Heavy rain over Friday night and a bit more early Saturday morning but that was all. Saturday passed with a bit of shopping; a bit of drinking; and quite a bit of chatting along the moorings. I distributed Yearbooks and Green books to members who missed Surlingham over the Easter weekend, and took some up to the Dinner dance for those in the hotel. That afternoon, I went up to the hotel to lay out the menu cards and set-up the raffle table and prizes (donated by Margaret, and added to by other members). John and Bim were setting up, and Andrew was busy “PAT” testing their electrical equipment, to supplement our new Public Liability insurance. (many thanks Andy)

A shuttle-service minibus had again been laid on by the club, starting at 6.30pm, to ferry members from the Yacht station up to the venue, and again, some walked for the exercise? The service worked well, although the return trips were delayed until well after our appointed pick-up time of 12 midnight.

The Staithe Suite looked lovely in the early evening sunshine from the river, just 5 large tables this time, all smartly laid out as last year. In Bob’s absence, Steve called us to our tables at 7.30pm, saying a few words of welcome and I organised the ticket number raffle, with Jackie doing the actual draw for a nice bottle of champagne. For once I didn’t win, although I had been forecasting all week that I would, but (funnily?) my wife Jen did – to the usual shouts of “fiddle” and “how did we manage that?”. Funny old world, isn’t it?

The meal was served smartly by the busy staff, who cleared the tables with speed and stood by between courses. The meal was lovely, large portions as well, and only a few complaints that the “lamb was tough”. The entertainment started early about 9pm –music by “Shipwreck” – and the small dance floor was soon busy. Jen and Dawn went around selling raffle tickets, collecting £190 towards club funds. The draw was made by Katie, Dave’s daughter, during the band interval at 10.30pm., and over 20 prizes were soon being snapped up – with just a short interval in between draws for photos. “Dig deep and fast” was my instruction to Katie, and she did a stirring job, allowing the dancing to continue as fast as possible.

Staff tips of £40 were taken direct from club funds – but we still made a profit on the night of £78, first time we have been in the black at a dinner dance!

Music & dancing continuing through to just before midnight, before we all said our farewells and headed back to the boats.

Another good club night, but next year we hope to book the new function room at the Waveney River Centre for the opening dinner dance. April 21st 2018 - another date for your diaries.

A total of 41 members and guests made it to the AGM on the Sunday morning, returning to the Staithe Suite. The bacon rolls and coffee were ready at 10.45am, and were soon snapped up as members assembled before the meeting kicked off on time at 11am. Many thanks again to the staff at the Waveney House for preparing everything and sorting all the tables out so speedily.

Yearbooks for those who had not yet received them were available, and a few Green books were left. Copies of the AGM agenda and previous minutes were also available before the start. It was a well-attended meeting and it was great to see so many taking an active part. Steve gave the opening address, again encouraging members to put forward any ideas they may have as to the running of the club. The AGM was all over by 12.30pm, but some members stayed on for lunchtime drinks.

Another successful OBMBC event weekend.                                                            

Ken  (April 2017)