Chingford Area Masonic Social Gr

The Chingford Area Masonic Social Group under the guidance of W Bro Bob Urch and W Bro Tony Curtis really went to great lengths to make sure that a good time as had for everyone who bought tickets for the St Georges Cockney Night held at the Chingford Masonic Hall on Saturday 22nd April.   With the usual appurtenances of balloons, streamers and a very large balloon hanging from the ceiling, filled with streamers and red and white paper strips, which was to play a major part in the downfall of W Bro Tony Curtis by the end of the evening.   However, there was a delightful menu, to include an English Garden Vegetable soup, followed by Granny’s Mixed Grill, SherryTrifle concluding with coffee and mints, everyone were certainly filled with food to mark the occasion. All of which was consumed with much wine, followed by the Loyal Toast, to the Queen, all the Ladies, Absent Friends, and the guests. All those who bought tickets and attended really made a good effort for the fancy dress, a Pearly King and Queen, right down to the knotted hanky on the head, a traditional east sun hat, and still popular today to keep the sun off the folically challenged head if you ever venture to Southend beach on a hot sunny day, but resplendent in a pair of Union Jack shorts supported by braces, and the obligatory knotted handkerchief was our master of ceremonies for the evening, W Bro Bob Urch,
Our bar Steward, Simon Bond, was also resplendent in the traditional east end working class clothes complete with the belt and braces, not so sure about the “brown boots“!.
There were lots of activities to keep the audience in the participation mood, to include each table having to create a dance to a record designated for each table, some were easy, as would be with “Zorba the Greek, Hornpipe“, but the winners of the grand prize of a basket of 10 bottles of wine, embellished with bunches of white and red grapes, were those on the Table with W Bro Ted Page, who used their imagination dancing to the “Frog Song“, to much laughter and applause, and even the centre manager, W Bro Allan de Luca joining in the fun, were to become the outright winners by the independent judges. The evening was rounded off with dancing to various hit songs which everyone enjoyed, and the traditional east end sing-a-longs not forgetting the dancing to the “Lambeth Walk“.   There were almost fifty raffle prizes donated by various members of the CAMSG group, to include a Television, DVD player, copious bottles of wines, cordless jug/kettle, clock and of course the “cuddly toy“.    The raffle raised £340.
A lot of effort had been put in for this function to be successful by the organisers, everyone who attended did enjoy themselves and went home at the end of the evening certainly having a good old east end style knees up and celebrated St. George’s Day in true style……however, back to the downfall of W Bro Tony Curtis, this was at the end of the evening, when it was time to burst the very large balloon, and although he was equipped with a long rod with the obligatory pin, he still could not reach the balloon, and in order not to disappoint everyone with the anticipated “bang” he had to leap up and attempt to burst the balloon at which he missed and fell, although in much discomfort, he managed to burst the balloon on the second attempt, much to the applause of everyone.   Unfortunately, W Bro Tony has fractured his foot, and found out a few days after that he had also fractured his wrist, and has both his ankle and wrist in plaster, but despite all that he is in good spirits…….and on behalf of everyone at the Centre and the members of the CAMSG we certainly wish and hope that you make a speedy recovery.
W Bro Bob Urch stated that “a Good Night was had by all, and he has since received may calls saying how much fun people had, the meal was of good standard, and the staff were a credit to the Hall.   Thanks to everyone for their support and help on the night”.

article by W Bro Allan de Luca

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this page last updated 18 July 2007