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The Stafford Branch continues to meet
although only three times a year. In November, six members had lunch at the
Vine Hotel and in April, our 45th
Anniversary, eleven members had lunch at the Soup Kitchen.
Back: Margaret Fuller, Pat Pedley, Muriel
Lakin,
Joan Powell, Edie Rayner
Front: Grace Hutchinson, Joan Higgins, Dorry
Newton,
Ann Deakin, Ada Sturland, Betty Wilshaw
During the meal we had a surprise visitor
from a member of our Branch: Mrs Marjorie Seaton née Brookes who is unable
to attend meetings as she lives in Newcastle, Staffs. Marjorie has kept in
touch over the years by letter/phone calls but has never met us. It was
lovely to be able to put a face to a name and be able to introduce her to
other members.
In March five of us went to the Grand Reunion
in Blackpool. We decided to travel by train because the times were very good
and the price was right. The alternative was a six hour coach journey. We
weren’t to know just how wise our choice was. Our journey involved a change
at Preston which was supervised by ‘journey care’. The young man in charge
gathered us together to inform us that the customer lift was out of order.
To reach our train involving crossing a bridge – 22 steps up and 22 steps
down. Could we all manage the steps? Joan Higgins and Dorry Newton
definitely couldn’t but Muriel Lakin, Pat Pedley and I were willing as long
as we didn’t have to lug our cases. The young man rubbed his chin a little,
hummed and ha’d a little and said he would be back in 10 minutes. We waited.
Young man reappears and said ‘Don’t worry ladies we are moving the train
from platform * to here’ and HE DID! We couldn’t have got better treatment
if we were Royalty. There’s more. As we waited for the miracle to happen a
lady came hurrying across to us, she was rather hot and a little cross
saying ‘I was told the train was leaving from platform * and then suddenly I
was told to come back here, I wish they would make up their mind’. I
murmured ‘They moved the train for us’. Sorry Margaret W of Birmingham but
they really did move it for us.
The Stafford train movers!
Ann Deakin,Pat Pedley, Dorry Newton, Joan
Higgins and Muriel Lakin
At the Norbreck Castle we were met by the
wonderful GROTS, it should be the GREATS because that is what they were.
Talk about being welcomed and cosseted. They carried out bags, found our
rooms and kept an eye on our welfare all weekend. They even carried our bags
down again on Monday morning. Did we feel like the Royals? We certainly did!
I said the Royals, not the Royles. Our sincere thanks to everyone involved
with the organisation of the Grand Reunion – you did a superb job. If I had
to choose a favourite occasion it would be the 60s/70s Theme Night. I was
blown away by the number of ladies who embraced the idea and were a total
entertainment in themselves. So many ladies I knew but couldn’t recognize –
except Janet Lawson who was instantly recognisable much to her horror. Very
best wishes from the ladies of Stafford. to everyone who made it all
possible
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