Each year my Rotary Club (Rotary Club of Elthorne Hillingdon) celebrates our President’s year in office with a function. It’s accepted practice that at this event the President is recognised; and he/she in turn recognises the achievements of the club during the year and is then generally treated to some sort form of gentle digging. This year was no exception with the added twist that the evening also doubled as my 62nd birthday party. Within the hallowed halls of Northwood Golf Club, decked for the evening with Watford FC banners and featuring a fantastic golf bag birthday cake, Past President Terry Ruby was generous in his acclamation of the way in which I've led the club in this year and I recognised that the considerable strides the club has made are thanks to the sterling efforts of the Club Council and indeed all the membership. And then the fun started! In my younger days I was noted for having a passing resemblance to Benny from Abba (although I insist that as the years have gone on I now look more like Bjorn); I've also been noted for having attention to detail, particularly in matters administrative. It was thus entirely fitting that I was treated to an extraordinary rendition of the never-to-be-repeated (hopefully, Ed!) “Admin King” (to the tune of Abba’s Dancing Queen) by Rotarians Terry Ruby and Mark Grimwade abetted by Jean Heard and Anji Katz.
And then we got on with the professional entertainment. TV regular Dr Richard Wiseman used his professional skills as both a psychologist and magician to bamboozle and educate his audience in the science of Mind Games.
All in all, it was an evening not to be missed, to the delight of the entire assembled company and their slightly overwhelmed President. There are more pictures on the club's website on this page
(Photos by Alex Lakey)
