Seeing one year out and another in has to be memorable and Paul’s New Year Rallies are certainly that! A memory of our first night [apart from the usual welcome with tea, coffee and biscuits], was the game of Pictionary. Divided into two teams, we drew pictures to describe a word and then guessed what the word could possibly be! I don’t think Paul will ever live down his drawing for sweet corn!

Second memory, which will stay with many for a long time I’m sure, was the “Horse Racing” put on by Dave Withington. I’ve put horse racing in inverted commas because there was only one race with horses! [This from a DVD] The others were with wind–up snails and finally six “men” playing musical chairs! The bets going on the last person to be in! You will note men also put in inverted commas, I will not say why as I’m sure you can imagine this for yourselves! We did however manage to raise over £21 for the children’s charity and there were a few other lucky winners.

Third memory: The pantomime on Thursday afternoon. We all had a great time, but I say this about Geoff Jones in particular, who was probably a little hoarse afterwards! [Yes he was one of the “horses” doing musical chairs!] Our memories stay with Geoff because he hosted Thursday night’s ‘Play Your Cards Right’, again with the odd 20p or so going to help the children’s charity. This was after we managed to consume an obscene amount of mulled wine. [Or was that just me!]

Now we are in 2005 with our first “Flag” of the year, held in the evening: Prizes going to The Wigmores for the adult competition and to Philip Hargreaves for the children’s and van prizes to others. A raffle and “Name the Gorilla” also took place in aid of the children’s charity. In all, over £112 was gratefully received by Sam Kent on their behalf. Sam was also celebrating his 100th rally along with his parents Pete and Caroline. And for our last lasting memory of this rally: hats and lots of them! Can there possibly be any room in the Jones’s van for Sue’s things!

I like going back to the site at Broom, it is behind the White Horse pub and it is a nice straight line from the pub door to the caravan, if you can’t manage a straight line then there is a fence along one side to guide you. The occupants of the seven caravans and three motorhomes which attended where treated to a weekend to remember by joint Rally Marshals June and Peter Pool and Jean and Brian Smith. Brian had erected his extended awning which stood up remarkably well to the gusty wind which blew at times, and in which we were treated to mulled wine and mince pies on Thursday evening.

The New Year festivities were held in the village hall across the village green from the site with guests including a Lyons Nippy (a waitress), Cowboys and Indians, a couple of veteran Elddis Owners, Bob the Builder, Grotbags the witch, an Arab sheik, The Grim Reaper and Gandalf.

On Saturday evening we went to see Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves in Bedford, it was a panto which I can honestly say I will never forget, from the booable baddies to the pneumatic good fairy with assorted princes, slave girls and the obligatory dame, the cast enjoyed themselves and we all enjoyed the performance.

Flag was held on Sunday evening to facilitate an early departure on Monday for those with a long distance to travel. Our New Rallier Mike Jones is a trainee vicar and led a short silence and prayer for the victims of the tsunami disaster. The Vice Chairman presented June and Peter and Jean and Brian with their well earned Marshal’s Plaques, Sue and Mike Jones with their First Rally Plaque and Caroline and Roger with their 50th Rally Plaque.

Following the formalities, the Vice Chairman’s grandson Callum won the bonus ball competition, a packet of biscuits, a tube of mints and a can of soup on the bingo (pity he is too young to do the lottery). It was a great Rally with which to close 2004 and to open 2005 well done to all the Marshals.