Two Certificates of Honour presented to SE Region Members
At the SER Dinner Dance, 21st January 2023, A certificate of Honour was presented jointly to Coren
and Alan Moore for their many years of service in a variety of roles to the Surrey DA and to the SER Region, as RYLO’s and Alan currently of Vice Chair to the Region. The picture (left) shows the Club’s Prestigious Certificate of Honour being present by the Club’s Hon. Treasurer Steve Harris, to Coren and Alan, accompanied by their two children.
At the same Dinner Dance Event Jill George was presented with the Club’s prestigious Certificate of Honour by Steve Harris (Club Hon Treasurer). Jill (pictured right) has been recognised for her many years of service to the Motor Caravan Section of the Club. Jill was appointed to the executive of the SE Region Council, as Secretary in 2012, the Role in which Jill has held for over 10 years and continues to serve. (More details coming soon).
The Circus came to Hole Park
The SER 75th Anniversary Meet, was held at Hole Park, Rolvenden Kent once again this year but this time, in the Lower Field where access is via
the Hole Park Estate Main Gates. The site Opened Thursday 18th May. The Theme for the Weekend was “The Circus is in Town” which provided a great many innovative ideas for the Organising Committee to pursue.
Most DA’s in the SER Region helped to field a team of enthusiastic members to run the SER Anniversary Meet, with Alan Moore, Chairman of the 2023 Anniversary Meet Committee. Trevor and Doreen Pilbeam took on the role of Chief Stewards and welcomed every new arrival with a copy of the Weekend Programme and all essential site facilities details and local information guides. The team of assistant stewards made sure everyone was escorted to their pitch and helped by guiding their Units into place.
Thursday: Welcome teas and coffee were served in the “Big Top Marquee”. Table football in marquee. Bingo and Quiz which ended with some music played on a ‘boom box’ in the small marquee.
Friday: The Holed Park Gardens were open to visitors and participants at the Meet were given a ‘two for one offer’ on the cost of entry. The welcome teas continued in the Big Top. Early evening a talented Circus Performer demonstrated the art of juggling Fire battens and some amazing Fire Eating in the Arena. (see the Picture Gallery for images from the weekend) The evening entertainment in the Big Top was a progressive rock/thrash band ‘Phat Gandalf’, which proved to be an acquired taste for some. During the interval the Chairman of the Region Alan Armstrong welcomed everyone to the 75th Anniversary Meet and declared to Meet ‘Open’.
Saturday: The Circus Performer returned to challenge children and adults alike with many games in the Arena. Plate Spinning, juggling with balls or Clubs, Hola Hoop spinning, tight rope walking, Stilts and Diabolo (juggling a spinning top on a cord). The inflatables were very popular with the young children while the Adults and Youth took part in the Boule and Horseshoes competitions.
The Region’s RYLO’s Alan and Coren Moore hosted several Youth games based on the National Youth Rally Challenge ‘The Austin Trophy’ The tent pitching competition proved to be the most challenging of all the games.
The afternoon’s entertainment included the Fancy Dress parade based on “the Circus is in town” theme. Lots of great outfits worn by both Children and Adults. Alan Moore was dressed as the “Ring Master” to supervise the weekend’s events. The Youth challenged the Adults to a ‘Tug of War’ in the arena. Three or four rounds were fought but not sure who eventually proved to be victorious.
Saturday evening in the Big Top we were treated to a very versatile and talented 5-piece Band “Resonate”. Their playlist had something for everyone, old and young alike. The evening closed with most of the audience on their feet, dancing the night away.
Sunday morning the 75th Annual General Meeting of the SE Region was held. The agenda was quickly dealt with and was followed by the Open Forum, where members voiced opinions and asked questions of the Region Councilors. A last-minute presentation was made to the winner of the Theme and Pennon Design competition for this year’s meet, Jenny Croney. This was followed by the Closing Ceremony presided by the Region’s Vice-Chair Alan Moore. The working party crew were invited up to the front and received a great round of applause from the members. Jenny also announced that Booking Forms for the Region’s Annual Dinner Dance at Eastbourne would be live on the Region’s website shortly. The theme for next year’s 76th anniversary meet was announced and will be “Teddys’ bears picnic”. The Grand Raffle Draw was the much-awaited finale of the meet.
The weather stayed dry with plenty of sunshine but just slightly spoilt by a persistent and chilly North East wind.
The image to the right is of our Club Vice-Chair Jane Read (left) and the Club’s News Reporter and Photographer Rosie Clack-Walsh, who very kindly provided many of the images of the Event, for the Gallery < Click here to view the Gallery >
Jenny and Dave Croney
Following the Executive Committee and Staff Directors attendance at Region and Section AGMs earlier this year, they have now produced a Q&A document that you might find useful.
To view a copy, please email
webmaster@southeasternregion.co.uk
Unfortunately the PDF document cannot be viewed on line.