Page 191 - Mind, Body and Spirit No. 105 2021/22

189
After the cancellation of our reunion gatherings in 2020 and 2021 due to Covid, without doubt the highlight of this Branch year was the 2022 Annual Branch Reunion weekend. After 20 years of holding Branch gatherings in Scarborough the decision was taken to bring the Branch Reunion back to our spiritual home of York where the foundation for the North East Branch was laid way back in 1978 when the York (Eboracum) Group was formed under the stewardship of Maj (Retd) Jack Mansi; WO2 (QMSI) Alec Spoors and WO1(SMI) Ron McNeil. From casual Friday afternoon gatherings in Ye Old Starre Inn and Betty’s Tearooms in York, the interest grew sufficiently to hold the very first reunion dinner in September 1978 and from this humble beginning the York Group (later to evolve into the North East Branch) became the first recognised regional Branch of the Corps Association.
The 2022 Branch Reunion gathering took place over the weekend of 25th/26th March at the Park Inn Hotel in York with 90 attending the Friday social evening to enjoy a two-course buffet and fundraising raffle followed by the formal Saturday Dinner with 100 members in attendance. The numbers would have been greater had not 14 members been forced to cancel due to positive Covid tests. It was a pleasure to welcome Lt Col (SMAA) Jason Hughes and his delightful wife Geri to their first North East Branch gathering and to my knowledge this the first time that the SMAA had attended for the whole weekend. Jason was looking remarkably fit and well considering he was recovering from hip replacement surgery in December. Also, in attendance were the Regimental Secretary Lt Col (Retd) Gary Jones along with his lovely wife Sandra, though sadly this was to be the last Branch function that Gary would attend in his capacity as Regimental Secretary following his decision to retire after 9 years in the role.
The informal Friday social evening provided the ideal opportunity for people to circulate and catch up with friends old and new. The two-course buffet meal was excellent and the bar staff were kept extremely busy. Dave Smith had once again come up trumps with a fantastic selection of donated raffle prizes with a value well in excess of £1000 which resulted in £440 being raised from the raffle to go into Branch funds to be used for the benefit of the members. Amusingly, one of the last prizes to go was the P&O Travel Voucher. I wonder why?
Under gloriously sunny skies the Saturday morning activities got underway with the Annual Branch Golf Competition and the ever- popular Crazy Golf Competition, whilst others ventured out into the hustle and bustle of the great city of York which has so much to see and do.
The Annual Branch Golf Competition was held at the Forest of Galtres Golf Club in Skelton. Initially 20 players were confirmed for the competition but this was reduced to 16 through some positive Covid tests prior to the event. Amongst the Covid casualties were Mary and Rae Rutherford who had agreed to run the competition on the day, but thankfully Dave Huffen stepped into the breach at short notice. By coincidence, Dave is actually a member of the Club so was the perfect substitute with his local knowledge of the Club and its course.
The golfers enjoyed the most glorious weather on the day and were thankful that the course was not too undulating with some forgiving fairways. There was the usual mix of some earnest competitive golfers and those who take the game a little less seriously who simply enjoyed getting out for a game in the early Spring sunshine. The competition for prizes was extremely keen with 8 of the 16 golfers scoring 36 Stableford points or more. Mick Gannon and Alec Porter tied for second place both scoring 39 points but, ultimately, it was Alec who took the overall runner up position on countback. Alec had only returned from his holiday in Florida the day before but there were no obvious signs of jet lag as he also took the longest drive and nearest the pin prizes. The overall winner and 2022 North East Branch Golf Competition Champion was Keith Howlett MBE who played some sublime golf
Crazy Golfers Pete & Lesley Harburn, Margaret Wignel & Harry Barrow
throughout the day and was rewarded with an astonishing score of 47 Stableford points. Our hearty congratulations go to Keith along with our thanks to Dave Huffen and to the Forest of Galtres Golf Club for looking after us so well.
The Crazy Golf Competition took place on the Slingshot Course at the excellent Puttstars complex in York with 26 players displaying some questionable putting skills. The competition was brilliantly managed by the ever enthusiastic and ebullient Geoff and Shelley Chapman whose superb organisational skills ensured that everyone thoroughly enjoyed the occasion with much fun being had by all. The Tarmey Family dominated the top of the competition scoreboard with one of Mick’s sons, Stephen, claiming runner up spot after a ‘putt off’ with Geoff Chapman whilst his other son Ashley picked up the winner’s trophy. The adorable Lesley Harburn claimed the dubious honour of winning the ‘Duffers Putter’ Award for the lowest score.
On to the Saturday evening festivities and, whilst the AGM was taking place, members and guests gathered for complimentary pre-dinner drinks before moving to the main function room for Dinner. Once again, the two Dave’s (Smith and Warburton) had pulled out all the stops and the room and setting looked absolutely spectacular. Looking out at everyone gathered in the room with every person happy, smiling and chatting away makes you realise
Geoff Chapman – Mr Crazy Golf