Last week’s gathering acknowledging Le Tour, was a great success.
Upwards of 40 people turned up at Brian Woodward’s home which he had generously made available for the event.
Brian, together with Chris and Janice Rowley had spent time getting things ready, including the naturally fired barbecue, and people turned up with all sorts of exotic and tasty foods and drinks, many of which had a French or Yorkshire connection.
Alan Beecham had transported his keyboard, amp and speakers all the way from Arnside to provide a seamless, musical background with a predominantly French flavour. Dave Wills gave us an interlude on his guitar, which he had brought, at phenomenal expense, all the way from Oxenholme.
In addition to the festivities, we had Special Guest, Mike Dagley, presently the Coordinator of Volunteers for Sustrans. Mike mingled with the group, telling us about progress to establish the Morecambe Bay Cycleway Project, which may involve KDCS people trialling aspects of the route during a period to be arranged later this year. Mike was very pleased that he had made contact with KDCS. It is important that we align with Morecambe Bay Partnership, SLACC and AtoG on cycling projects to have input and give strength to acceptable proposals. Although Mike will shortly be made redundant, we hope to continue the link with Sustrans through Nicky Wingfield.
As the evening progressed, the atmosphere became more convivial, and it was noticeable that Chris, manning the hot barbecue, acquired an increasing ruddiness to his cheeks - unless it was rouge? Alan was resplendently attired with beret and cravat, as a matelot of the sort you regularly see frequenting the bars of French fishing villages. Others, who had managed to get a glimpse of Le Tour in Yorkshire were proudly showing off their colourful red spotted caps, yellow T-shirts and other memorabilia. There were one or two ladies whom I did not recognise at first. A number of people asked me how news of our event could have filtered through to the shadier arondissements of Paris...........Alors! The wonder of t’internet!
Once again, thanks not only to Brian, Chris, Janice, Alan, Dave, not forgetting Jo and Jamie who loaned us the Barbecue, but also, in the tradition of the Leeds City Varieties, mainly Yourselves!
And finally! As the result of everyone’s generosity, the figure raised for Marie Curie Cancer Care is £260. Many thanks to you all. For a small group, this certainly exceeds expectations. Chris has deposited the money in the Marie Curie Account and I am forwarding a copy of this email to Alison Currie, the local Marie Curie Fundraiser for Lancashire, Cumbria and the Isle of Man.
Kind Regards
Andrew Judson
KDCS Chaisehomme
