Wisbech Business & Professional Mens Club - 2012

  • December 2012 AGM


    40 members attended the Wisbech business & professional men's club annual general meeting held at Mendis Wisbech on Wednesday December 12th. The following officers were elected for the year 2012/13: Chairman Derrick Holmes, vice chairman Phillip Tolley, secretary David Bruch, treasurer Stuart Warren, press officer Peter Dennis, speaker finder David Hodgson. Committee members Michael Bates, Phil Davis, Roy Duff, Robin Harnwell, Brian Kierman, Colin Perkins, & Richard Wilson. 

    The chairman's joint charities for 2013 will be Bob Champion cancer charity & Scotties little soldiers charity. The first club meeting will be held on Wednesday January 9th 2013 when the year’s programme of events will be discussed. 

     

    November 2012

    40 members were entertained at Mendis, Wisbech, by TV Comedian star of New faces, The Comedians, and with Johnny Vegas In Ideal, Mick Miller.  Mick as a younger man was signed as a footballer for Port Vale by the late Stanley Matthews but later went into the entertainment business. Last year he appeared at the Royal Command Performance. He had members in fits of laughter with his good clean jokes. 
    He was thanked by Peter Dennis who reminded him that he also appeared in the early 1970's at the Isle College Wisbech for one of the many successful BRS Dances. Chairman Derrick Holmes inducted Nick Baines as a new member to the club and announced that George Roberts one of our founder members was in hospital and members wished him a speedy recovery.  Mike Swann a former club Chairman was also welcomed as a guest for the evening.

    The next meeting is on December 12th which is the club Annual General Meeting.

    September 2012

    Derrick Holmes Club Chairman welcomed 46 members and guests to the club's special Ladies Night at Mendis Wisbech. On September 7th members visited Adnams Brewery in Southwold followed by dinner. 
    The entertainment for the evening was supplied by Liverpools current top comedians Gary Skyner and Pauline Daniels performing a modern day take on "Battle of The Sexes". Their adult performance had all who attended in fits of laughter. They were thanked by club member Robin Harnwell. 
    The Annual Golf Day at Tydd Golf Club is sold out .Teams will be entertained after the event by Aaron James a national sports impressionist. 

    Mick Miller a top TV Comedian featured on New Faces, The Comedians, and now on TV with Johnny Vegas in Ideal will visit our club on November 14th

    The next meeting will be held on October 10th with Wine Tasting from Adnams Near Holkham. 
     

    August 2012

     

    33 members attended a visit to Tiger Racing in Wisbech when owner Jim Dudley gave a first hand knowledge presentation on what is involved in the process of a specialist vehicle production. 
    Each member was given a booklet and photograph at the end of the tour.Mr Dudley was thanked for his hospitality.

    A further 11 members and guests then had dinner at The Rose & Crown Hotel making a total of 44 persons. Rosemary Farralley owner then gave the members an insight in what has now been achieved through many hours of hard work and investment at the hotel. Members were most impressed at the major improvements made throughout also congratulating the owners of producing a first class meal and
    service. The first function to be held in the Trumpet Room at the hotel is on Friday 14th September when a 50's/60's  night is being organised.

    Derrick Holmes Chairman inducted two new members into the club these being Michael John Harper owner of Popular Nurseries at Emneth and Michael Etherington Branch Manager at Kett Auto Paints Ltd.

    A decision will be made as to whether the Ladies Night planned for September 12th will go ahead. 
    A waiting list is now in place for our Annual Grand Ball to be held on Saturday October 6th.

    The date of the next meeting will be on Wednesday September 12th when the venue will be announced in due course.

     

    July 2012

    John Abbott created a watercolour of 'Harecroft Bend' in front of Wisbech Grammar School during the evening.  He then gave a very informative talk on the method used to make use of the materials which are used.  He is to donate the finished picture for the raffle on September 12th. and was thanked by member Brian Kett

    June 2012

    Derrick Holmes Chairman welcomed 28 members and guests to the June meeting held at Mendis, Wisbech. It was announced that 48 members will be travelling to Horning to board The Mississippi River Boat with a meal and entertainment on Friday 15th June.  A tour around Adnams Brewery at Southwold is arranged for 7th September. 


    The Annual Grand Ball to be held on October 6th has once again been sold out. A weekend in London has been arranged for Saturday& Sunday 8th & 9th December when members and friends will stay in a hotel overnight and attend the London Show Singing in The Rain followed on the Sunday for shopping and sight seeing.

    The guest speaker for the evening was William Cox who for most of his life owned Crab Boats and was a member of the Cromer Lifeboat. He gave many tales of the sea and said today to purchase a crab boat would cost in the region of £20,000. He gave details on how to catch both crabs and lobsters and the different methods of cooking them.  With regard to the lifeboat only 1 man is employed full time with all other members of the crew being part time and volunteers.  Today the lifeboat can be manned by both male and female members. He was thanked on behalf of the club by former Chairman David Bruch.
    The next meeting will be held on Wednesday 11th July when the guest speaker will be Howard Newton form The Cambridgeshire Fire & Rescue.
     

    May 2012

    Derrick Holmes Chairman welcomed 56 members and guests to the May meeting held at Mendis, Wisbech.  Special greetings went to David Cox returning after a long and serious operation and Cyril Hinkins a former member on a visit from Australia.

    The next outing will be on Friday 15th June on The Mississippi River Boat from Horning which will include a 2 course meal and entertainment . Over 50 members and friends have booked this event.

    The speaker for the evening was Peter Carter the well known wildlife figure from the Fens. His subject talk was on the history of poaching which dated back to the 1800's. He illustrated the various animals that were poached and the types of traps and methods over the years that were used.  Peter during 2012 will be appearing once again on national television with several TV stars. He also has filmed a programme for Japanese television and was most surprised to see his voice dubbed in Japanese which he found most amusing. He was thanked on behalf of the club by Michael Bates. 
     

    The next meeting will be held on Wednesday June 13th when the guest speaker will be Richard Leeds from the Royal Lifeboat Institute based in Cromer.
     

    April 2012

    On Wednesday April 11th at Mendis Wisbech Chairman Derrick Holmes welcomed 37 members and guests to the April meeting. It was announced that 50 members and wives  are booked to attend a private tour around Sandringham House followed by a meal at the Ffolkes Arms Hillington on Wednesday 25th April. 
    Rick Wilson announced that 14 teams have entered this years Annual Golf Tournament to be played on September 20th at Tydd Golf and Country Club. This will be followed by a carvery meal and entertainment by Aaron James. Bookings are now well under way for this years Grand Ball which again will be sold out at Wisbech Grammar School on Saturday October 6th.

    The guest speaker for the evening was Buster Chapman owner of both King's Lynn Speedway and Football Club. Buster years ago was speedway rider and took over the Saddlebow Stadium many years ago. This year he hopes the team will finish in the top 4 places of the Elite League. He told members many stories of his life and events involved in the sport of Speedway Racing. When King's Lynn Football Club went into administration Buster and his family took over the club and have invested substantial money into the ground making it one of the best facilities in non league football in this country. The club is hoping this year to achieve promotion ,Buster also stated that the club has good finance control and gave brief details on how it is being run on a sound footing. He was thanked on behalf of the club by Terry Hawkins.

    The next meeting will be on Wednesday May 9th when Peter Carter  will be returning to the club to speak on the subject of Fenland Poaching.

    March 2012

    Gordon Sherry
     

    Derrick Homes Chairman welcomed 33 members and guests to the March meeting held at Mendis, Wisbech. During the evening it was announced that 120 people will be attending the Chairman At Home function on Sat March 17th at The Wisbech St Mary Community Centre.  The date for this years Grand Ball was announced, this being Saturday October 6th at Wisbech Grammar School. Cards are being sent to members David Cox & George Roberts recovering from illness. Tributes were paid to former Chairman Mick Walker who died recently. 


    The guest speaker for the evening was Professional Golfer Gordon Sherry best known for winning The Amateur Championship in 1995. Gordon holds the record for being the tallest golfer to play in the US masters at 6'8". He turned professional in 1996 born in Kilmarnock Scotland. Gordon in his playing days played with both Tom Watson & Jack Nicklaus when he produced a famous hole in one.  In 1995 Gordon played in the victorious Walker Cup team at Royal Porthcawl against a young Tiger Woods . Many stories were told on the night of his playing career with famous stars such as Clint Eastwood & Shaun Connery. 
    He was thanked on behalf of the club by member Terry Roughton. 


    The date of the next meeting is Wednesday April 11th when the guest speaker will be Buster Chapman owner of both King's Lynn Speedway & King's Lynn Football Club.
     

    February 2012

     

    Cheque presentation to Age uk and Meningitis Trust by past chairman David Bruch.

    January 2012

    Derrick Holmes welcomed members to his first meeting as Chairman at Mendis Wisbech and outlined his functions for the coming year. On 17th March at The Wisbech St Mary Community Centre he will be holding his Chairman At Home Evening featuring top Beach Boys Tribute Group Gidea Park with Special Guest former bass guitarist of The Hollies Eric Haydock and a disco together with a Hog Roast. 
    To celebrate the Queens Jubilee on 25th April members are invited as special guests to tour Sandingham House, Church & Museum followed by Dinner at The Foflkes Arms, Hillington. 


    On Friday 15th June a trip has been organised on The Mississippi River Boat from Horning inclusive of a 2 course meal and Entertainment. In addition provisionally on 7th September a tour of the Brewery and Distillery at Adnams Southwold followed by Dinner has also been booked. 
     

    The Grand Ball scheduled for October details will be announced in February. The Chairmans chosen charities this year will be SERV Emergency Services and The Wisbech Cancer Group. 
    Speakers have been booked for entire year at Club meetings and include Gordon Sherry Golf Amateur Champion in 1995 and a member of The winning Walker Team in the same year. 
    Top TV Comedian Mick Miller, Peter Carter the famous Eel Catcher to name a few.

    The speaker for the evening was David Parrish from SERV Norfolk. SERV is a charity that was formed in 1981 in Surrey and is a charity that delivers Blood and other important items for hospitals out of hours normally on emergency call outs. All drivers on their motorbikes do this free of charge as there is no funding from the Government. Although this is a national charity The Norfolk Branch has only been formed for just over a year and has a 12 man committee and 50- 60 trained motor cycle riders. Each county has to rely on their own fundraising and this year The Wisbech Business & Professional Mens Club have decided that this important service will be one of our charities. The speaker was thanked on behalf of the club by member Tim Gower.

    The next meeting will be held on February 8th which will be a presentation evening to the former Chairman's two chosen charities.