The March meeting saw a return to the Az Turkish restaurant on Columbus Ravine after an absence of several years. Our Catering Officer John had arranged an interesting 2 course meal starting with a range of small plates featuring various Turkish dishes followed by what appeared to be a Turkish version of moussaka crossed with a cottage pie and a choice of chips or Bulgar wheat washed down with copious quantities of Turkish beer or for the poseurs wine.

The meeting was well attended despite the somewhat inclement weather with 23 members in attendance together with Phil Green a guest of Mike Whitely who gave assurances that he had no connection to Top Shop or Dorothy Perkins. Steve Slade had also invited a guest but he (the guest that is) failed to make an appearance.

After the meal and having welcomed the guest Chairman Dominic invited the officers present to give their reports starting with Simon Lockley wearing his Charity Night organiser hat. Simon started his report by misidentifying Simon Bull as the first person to buy a ticket for the Charity Night. An easy mistake to make when you are also called Simon! With the numbers due to attend the event on 5 December forecast to exceed 100 it should be a good night and all in a good cause.

Secretary Mike reported that he was pleased that the Treasurer and Catering Officer were in attendance to relieve him of the duties he had had to attend to at the Trafalgar Night meeting in their absence. He also gave advance notice of his intention to give members formal notice of the proposed induction of James Denton into 41 Club at the meeting in January.

Not willing to let the implied criticism of his recent globe-trotting exploits to go unanswered the Treasurer Iain asked the Secretary for his views on the constitutional changes recently proposed by National.

Sports Officer Darren provided a report on the attendance of 9 members at the Scarborough Rugby Club on 26 October for lunch followed by a very entertaining game of rugby resulting in a victory for the home team against the previously undefeated league leaders. Darren went on to ask members for a show of interest in attending a similar event at Scarbough Athletic in the new year.

The Catering Officer reported that the meeting in January would be a celebration of Rabbie Burns complete with piper and address to the “great chieftain of the sausage race.” Members were asked to note that the meeting was on 23 January which was the 3^rd Thursday of the month and that the dress code was black tie.

The meeting closed with the usual toast to RTBI.

Last season the match chosen by our Sports Officer Darren was played in the bitter cold and resulted in another loss for Scarborough who were on a long losing streak and provided little to enthuse the crowd especially the non-rugby fan.

This year Darren excelled himself choosing a sunny afternoon and an entertaining game of rugby which resulted in a well-deserved victory for Scarborough over the Regional 2 North East Division leaders Rochdale who until the game had had a 100% record for the season.

It was disappointing that only 9 members from 41 Club and Farts were in attendance for the game requiring Darren to reduce the number of tables booked from 2 to just 1.

The lucky 9 arrived in time for a pre-lunch drink (or in some cases more than one) in the bar followed by a 2 course roast dinner and more drinks.

Perhaps as a sign of things to come Darren won a bottle of 80% proof Russian rhum by rolling a £1 coin closest to the said bottle during some post-lunch fund raising. Those brave enough to sample the bottle contents reported no ill effects apart from a lack of feeling.

It was then onto the club house balcony for the main event. It was not a particularly auspicious start with Scarborough losing a player to the sin bin within the first 10 minutes and spending the first quarter of the game penned in their own 22.

Surprisingly for what by the end was a high scoring game the first half hour of the game was scoreless with each team scorning an early opportunity to kick a penalty in the quest for a try scoring field position both without success. The lack of an early score rendered most estimates of the time of the first score used as the tie breaker in the President’s Poser wildly inaccurate.

Somewhat against the run of play Scarborough scored the first try of the game and despite the obvious ball handling skills of the much vaunted opposition remained ahead until the final whistle. Whenever Rochdale scored Scarborough responded with a score of their own finishing with the last 2 tries of the game to secure a comfortable and well-deserved victory 33 v 20 at the end. A difference of 13 points. Unfortunately for one of our group who had guessed a points difference of 12 in the President’s Poser someone else won the £75 prize money on offer on the tie break!

Thanks to Darren for organising the event which was enjoyed by all who attended even the non-rugby fans. Hopefully this will become an annual event.

41 Club Rugby Correspondent

Trafalgar Night Meeting

In a postscript to the report on the Trafalgar Night meeting when it was stated that the promised port failed to appear a reliable source has now disclosed that there was a bottle of port but that it failed to reach the second table.

Chairman Dom welcomed 25 members to the first meeting of the 41 Club year held at the Crescent Hotel on Thursday 19 September.

Following consumption of the Crescent Hotel’s staple menu of vegetable soup, boeuf bourguignon and sticky toffee pudding the Chairman’s Introduction was brief albeit described by one member as Churchillian. It only became apparent later that the member was not referencing the former prime minister!

On the conclusion of his opening remarks the Chairman invited Secretary Mike to give his report. After some boring information about the number of members in the Club etc. in the absence of the Treasurer Iain the Secretary raised the issue of the Charity Box noting that the increased use of payment by card meant that fewer members had change to put in the box reducing the amount available at the end of the year to donate to the Chairman’s chosen charities. Members were invited to forward any suggestions as to how to deal with this problem to the Treasurer for his consideration.

The Secretary’s report was followed by a report from Catering Officer John who filled in the gaps in the schedule of meetings for the remainder of the year:

• 17 October – Trafalgar Night to be held at the Yacht Club with a talk from former 88 Tabler Nick Taylor;
• 21 November – Turkish Night to be held at Az;
• 5 December – Charity Night to be held at Scarborough Rugby Club (please note that this an opt in meeting);
• 23 January – Burns Night to be held at Restaurant 1909 at Scarborough TEC (black tie optional);
• 20 February – Chinese Banquet to be held at TOPS (please note that this is with partners);
• 20 March – Visit to the RNLI Lifeboat House with a talk by former 41 Club member Colin Woodhead followed by a fish and chips meal (venue to be confirmed);
• 17 April – AGM at the Crescent Hotel (with a new menu promised!); and
• 13 May – Tapas at La Roca.

After a reprise of the enjoyable sporting events held over the summer Sports Officer Darren reported that following the success of last year’s event he had again booked 2 tables for lunch at the Rugby Club followed by a home game against Rochdale on Saturday 26 October. The team’s results this season are mixed having lost at home to Bradford Salem in the first game and won away to Malton & Norton in the second. Further details to follow.

Under any other business Mike W mentioned a charity ceilidh to be held at the Scalby Memorial Hall on 15 November for the benefit of SPARKS one of the Chairman’s nominated charities for the year.

There was a further reminder from the Secretary of the White Rose Dinner to be held at Cave Castle in South Cave on 11 October with anyone interested in attending invited to contact Immediate Past Chairman Charlie.

The meeting closed with the usual toast to RTBI.