MEMBERS EVENING & BUFFET

The March meeting started our 10th Anniversary celebrations & they will continue with planned events for the year.
Chairperson Bridget outlined plans for a garden party, walks around Wisbech & Peterborough & a visit to Burleigh house. She also mentioned our Family History Day on September 17th which we shall try to make special. Kevin Rogers was there to take the names of people wishing to go on the Wisbech walk. We then found that the speaker had failed to show up, so a quick reorganisation of the evening was needed.
There were already many photos of our school days & holidays brought in & displayed by members & they caused quite a bit of amusement –especially seeing members in there ‘cossies’ !
The book stall was manned by Ann Burton.
We then proceeded to the bar & buffet & were soon enjoying good food supplied by members & drinks supplied by the Society. Also of note was a beautiful Anniversary sponge decorated with the Society tree emblem & miniature dolls in clothes of various occupations. This was made by member Ann le Fort, who cut the cake toward the end of the evening.
There was a written quiz & soon people were seen conferring & exchanging ideas as to the answers.
Bridget then asked if anyone would give a short talk on Holidays. Member Maureen Nicholls entertained us with her job as a Wages clerk in a holiday camp with employed many Spanish Staff.
Not understanding Spanish & realising that many of the staff had similar surnames she decided to make life easier for herself by giving each Spanish member of staff his own number starting with ‘numero uno’ this system apparently worked very well. She also mentioned some of the ‘goings on’ that occurred but would not elaborate on them. She also mentioned that staff got bigger meals than the holiday makers.
Bridget spoke of a holiday to the Orkneys where she & Peter arrived by plane which landed in a cow field. They were there to search for family grave stones .Not knowing anyone, they wondered how they would survive the day on a very small island, when the friendly natives appeared, took them in hand, & gave them a memorable time. Bridget said they arrived on the Island alone & left with friends & new found family members waving them off.
The next meeting is on April 28th. Mike Petty will be speaking to us about Fenland Family History on computers
[Barbara Holmes]