The 1969 Annual Dinner
By Jock Orr
This year, for several reasons, the Club Committee decided
to change the venue from the Cave Man in Cheddar to the Wookey Hole
Restaurant. The result was a sell out,
and upon the date arranged, approximately 150 people descended upon the
restaurant and proceeded to generate that special blend of B.E.C. conviviality
that guarantees the success of any occasion they attend, wherever it may be.
Most of the diners announced their satisfaction with the
catering arrangements, layout of tables, quality of food, access to the bar;
and commented favourably on the more intimate atmosphere engendered by the dim
lighting. But, as usual, speed of
service, the performance of the wine waiter, depending on, it would seem, where
you happened to be sitting, provoked an element of complaint within the general
cordiality of the occasion, accompanied by protest over the price of 25/-.
In fairness to the restaurant management, the cost of
preparing, organising and staffing an event of this kind is not quite the same
as providing an ordinary day-time meal service to the general public. Very few, if any, establishments will provide
a dinner at standard prices and include several hours use of the premises into
the bargain! In short, the price is for
the function; and not just for the Dinner.
On a more cheerful note, the Pete Franklin Show gotr an
enthusiastic reception from the audience, who joined in the last chorus and
expressed their appreciation with typical B.E.C. Gusto. Alfie Collins lyrics were great! Zot Harvey, John Riley, Barry Wilton and
Oliver Lloyd gave outstanding performances as the leading characters.
Having by now become elevated into a mood of jovial
sociability, everybody supplied everybody else with liberal quantities of
brewers lubrication and proceeded to the main business of the evening, while
the Hon. Sec. took up his customary stance on a table and blared his voice
across the heads of the assemble company cajoling all present to support the
nefarious activities of Barry The Artful Cadger Wilton who was busily filling
up his hat with money.
Later on, the Hon. Sec. was observed chatting to various
people about the acquisition of a set of priceless photographic prints, and the
Artful Cadger was up at the bar negotiating further contributions out of change
from rounds of refreshments. Their
combined efforts and the generosity of the subscribers brought in a collection
for the new Belfry fund much to the surprise of the Hon. Treasurer and the
A.G.M. Chairman (Sett) who both expressed their delighted satisfaction with the
response from the Club members. To round
off the evening, and at the invitation of Alan Thomas, many people returned to
the burned-out shell of the Belfry and held a farewell barrel-party-cum-wake
which continued with due ceremony and honour to the memory of the old shed
until the early hours of the morning.
Altogether, one of the most successful BEC dinners ever, and
one which will set a high standard for the forthcoming season! And last, but by no means least,
congratulations to the ladies for their decorative and charming company.