september 2007

Whole weekend under threat.

Gerry and Ian to the rescue!

Once again I can report on an entirely successful GFS weekend which was held again in the Pavilion Theatre. The hall isn’t the easiest place to fill and the weekend was actually in doubt because our hosts, the Winter Gardens people are now insisting that we have the appropriate insurance cover to protect both ourselves, our hosts and of course the general public. This doesn’t sound like it would be too difficult a task to complete but in actual fact our President Gerry Mawdsley had to burn the midnight oil to get this sorted out and with the aid of Chairman Ian Walker the task was completed to everybody’s satisfaction and the weekend was saved.

Members from overseas

The weekend took the usual form but it is always interesting and always different as there is always someone with something a little different to offer from the stage. Members travelled from Sweden, Australia, the USA, Canada, and Ireland to be there and from the reaction of those I spoke to, nobody went home disappointed with the weekend.

The badge designer

Congratulations must go to Glynn Mitchell who won the “Design a GFS Badge” competition. The badge is now on sale in the shop and many members are already sporting the new official badge.

Annual general meeting

At the AGM on the Sunday, Chairman Ian Walker retired after serving the GFS for the last three years and one of our long standing members, Dennis Mitchell has taken over the position. Dennis has served in this role previously and the members of the GFS can be certain that Dennis is very capable of carrying on the excellent work that Ian has done over the period of his office. Also joining the committee for the first time is Tony Bunnell from Chester. Tony has been a GFS member for the last four years and is a regular attendee of the Blackpool conventions and he is looking forward to getting involved in the many tasks that have to be surmounted to ensure that the Society functions in the way that we have all come to expect.

The annual ukulele raffle

On Sunday afternoon the annual GFS ukulele raffle was drawn by raffle organizer Kathryn Pollard, assisted by Gerry Mawdsley. The lucky winner was at the convention (it is an anti-climax when the winner isn’t there although I think that it has only happened twice previously in the history of the raffle). Tom Fletcher from Sheffield was the person that fate selected and he was delighted to receive a magnificent Ludwig Wendell Hall instrument. Tom is an excellent player and will definitely get the best out of this fine banjo-uke. Our GFS shop again did good business and was (as usual) set up and manned by Dennis and Pat Taylor and Kathryn Pollard. All profits from the shop go in to the GFS coffers and are much needed what with the cost of the statue and the general running costs of the GFS. Too many brilliant performers to really single anyone out but some Hawaiian sunshine entered the room when the Tucker family (Terry, Marie and Laura) took to the stage. The Tuckers had travelled from California to be with us – fantastic! Many people work very hard to make the weekend the success it is. Our band, the shop people, cinema projectionist, door people, the numerous MC’s, concert organiser and various committee members all work tirelessly for the members, they are all to be thanked and congratulated for their efforts.

A thanks from Peter and Kathryn

On a personal note the weekend was a very special one for myself and Kathryn as it was also our fortieth wedding anniversary. Dennis Taylor presented us with gifts and a card from all the members at the end of the Saturday session and when we returned to our hotel a totally surprise party had been planned. We both had a wonderful time amongst many friends. Both Kathryn and I would wish to thank everyone who was in attendance but especially our dear pals who made it an extra special weekend.
Whole weekend under threat.Gerry and Ian to the rescue! Once again I can report on an entirely successful GFS weekend which was held again in the Pavilion Theatre. The hall isn’t the easiest place to fill and the weekend was actually in doubt because our hosts, the Winter Gardens people are now insisting that we have the appropriate insurance cover to protect both ourselves, our hosts and of course the general public. This doesn’t sound like it would be too difficult a task to complete but in actual fact our President Gerry Mawdsley had to burn the midnight oil to get this sorted out and with the aid of Chairman Ian Walker the task was completed to everybody’s satisfaction and the weekend was saved. Members from overseas The weekend took the usual form but it is always interesting and always different as there is always someone with something a little different to offer from the stage. Members travelled from Sweden, Australia, the USA, Canada, and Ireland to be there and from the reaction of those I spoke to, nobody went home disappointed with the weekend. The badge designer Congratulations must go to Glynn Mitchell who won the “Design a GFS Badge” competition. The badge is now on sale in the shop and many members are already sporting the new official badge. The Annual general meeting At the AGM on the Sunday, Chairman Ian Walker retired after serving the GFS for the last three years and one of our long standing members, Dennis Mitchell has taken over the position. Dennis has served in this role previously and the members of the GFS can be certain that Dennis is very capable of carrying on the excellent work that Ian has done over the period of his office. Also joining the committee for the first time is Tony Bunnell from Chester. Tony has been a GFS member for the last four years and is a regular attendee of the Blackpool conventions and he is looking forward to getting involved in the many tasks that have to be surmounted to ensure that the Society functions in the way that we have all come to expect. The annual ukulele raffle On Sunday afternoon the annual GFS ukulele raffle was drawn by raffle organizer Kathryn Pollard, assisted by Gerry Mawdsley. The lucky winner was at the convention (it is an anti-climax when the winner isn’t there although I think that it has only happened twice previously in the history of the raffle). Tom Fletcher from Sheffield was the person that fate selected and he was delighted to receive a magnificent Ludwig Wendell Hall instrument. Tom is an excellent player and will definitely get the best out of this fine banjo-uke. Our GFS shop again did good business and was (as usual) set up and manned by Dennis and Pat Taylor and Kathryn Pollard. All profits from the shop go in to the GFS coffers and are much needed what with the cost of the statue and the general running costs of the GFS. Too many brilliant performers to really single anyone out but some Hawaiian sunshine entered the room when the Tucker family (Terry, Marie and Laura) took to the stage. The Tuckers had travelled from California to be with us – fantastic! Many people work very hard to make the weekend the success it is. Our band, the shop people, cinema projectionist, door people, the numerous MC’s, concert organiser and various committee members all work tirelessly for the members, they are all to be thanked and congratulated for their efforts. A thanks from Peter and Kathryn On a personal note the weekend was a very special one for myself and Kathryn as it was also our fortieth wedding anniversary. Dennis Taylor presented us with gifts and a card from all the members at the end of the Saturday session and when we returned to our hotel a totally surprise party had been planned. We both had a wonderful time amongst many friends. Both Kathryn and I would wish to thank everyone who was in attendance but especially our dear pals who made it an extra special weekend.
september 2007