Past Chairman Peter’s post hot off the press.

The recent medieval themed Aalten visit Saturday evening dinner at Ox Pasture Hall turned out to be a splendid, if somewhat chaotic, evening out. After a little light prinking at Chairman Charlie’s abode, your humble correspondent arrived in time to hear Table Chairman Dave Robinson deliver a speech detailing the understandable difficulties of organising such an event with only 6 members. The Aalten table is a little more fortunate with 15 members. 41 Club mustered 8 members and their significant others for the evening, although Dominic and Nicky Grunwell were accompanied by members of their family, and a visiting Dutch family. The acoustic medieval band played throughout, which left me wondering when they might get around to plugging in. Judging by the reception this comment received, this was something they had clearly heard before! So far the only thing that wasn’t medieval was the bar prices, which put a dent in several wallets. 

The meal for the evening was enjoyed, and then after that the band insisted that all should do some medieval style dancing, an invitation that was enthusiastically taken up (by most).

After enjoying this, we got to the start of the ‘entertainment’ we had been promised. Scarborough Round Table’s presentation was a sword in the stone fantasy (well in this case not a stone, but a barrel), with the sword finally being released by the Aalten Chairman. The Aalten effort was difficult to decipher, being the visiting tablers lined up dressed in boiler suits, wearing enormous wooden clogs. They then proceeded to stomp the clogs in an increasingly frantic fashion. What did it all mean? Haven’t a clue. Anyway, the Aalten Chairman then delivered his speech, which was enthusiastically received. He then presented an enormous single clog, which presumably will now reside in the back of someone’s garage. Incidentally, I did notice that Charlie came home with a pair of the regular size large clogs, which he has promised to wear at the next 41 Club meeting (stomping optional).

Owing to alcohol being taken, this description only bears a passing resemblance to the actual evening, but you get the general idea. Overall a fun evening, and hopefully the whole weekend has nicely set up the next visit of the Scarborough Table to Aalten in a few years’ time.