This evening saw the team holding its 39th Annual Team Dinner at the excellent venue of Dunscar Golf Club, Bolton.
Organised by team member Alison Yates and her husband, ex team member Geoff Yates, the evenings’ meal and after dinnner entertainment attracted 58 guests. Those attending included our Call Out list and Support Group members along with their partners, ex team members, parents of team members and team supporters. Amongst our guests were Peter Ellwood and his partner Alice who had journeyed down from their new home in Wray, Lancashire.
Following the excellent meal, proceedings commenced with our annual formal awards, conducted by our Team Leader Garry Rhodes. The Stanley Award for the Most Promising New Team Member was presented to Steve Nelson, who joined the team last year, for his enthusiasm, dedication and commitment to the team and his ready willingness to help out at whatever task is asked of him.
The Howard Hill Memorial Tankard Award for the Person or Persons Making the Greatest Contribution to the Team over the past year, was awarded to Team Member Chris Tennant, for his tremendous involvement in taking on board the fundraising efforts of the the Team, alongside his already busy post of Catering Officer and for acting as the liaison member between the Callout List ’Operational Team’ and the support group membership.
With determined raffle ticket sales headed up by our sales team of new team members and with some superb raffle prizes, including 4 x Cricket Match Tickets at Old Trafford, donated by Steve Nelson and a large number of thermal bob hats, donated by Julie Moody – with thanks to the Chill Factor / Extreme Cool (the new ski slope next to the Trafford Centre), bottles of wines and spirits, the raffle raised an amazing £189 on the evening.
A very special (and surprise) award was made to long serving (and founder) Team member Alan ’General’ James, with regards to his part in the successful rescue of two children who were swept out to sea, on Crosby Beach, last September (2006).
Alan, along with his partner (and now wife)Di, were enjoying a walk on the beach, when they realised that the children had become cut off by the incoming tide and were at risk of being swept out to sea.
Along with another man and aided by a passing woman, Alan swam out to sea and together with the other two, rescued the two children.
Being the modest person he is, only our Team Leader was aware of this courageous action, that is until tonight !
Hazel Kennedy, a Support Group Member, organised a very funny Team Member Photography competition, with the winning entry submitted by Dave Healey of Team Member Craig Lamb, gaining Dave an inscribed trophy and a pint off Hazel for Craigs readiness to submit himself to the photographers gaze!
Next years Team Dinner, is our 40th Anniversary Year, is booked for Friday 16th May 2008 oncemore at Dunscar Golf Club.
