The Park Club, Cleveleys, was a perfect seasonal setting for members of Thornton and Cleveleys Chapter No.3854 and their guests. The main banqueting room being tastefully decorated for Christmas and a round table layout allowed casual conversations and later the entertainment, to be extremely well orchestrated.
The December meeting of this popular Fylde Coast chapter is usually brought forward to the second Tuesday due to the chapter’s normal fourth Wednesday being too close to Christmas Day.
After a very brief business meeting upstairs in the chapter room, expertly led by Mark Tomlinson, first principal and his co-principals, companions and their guests made their way to the bar area and festive board. At the same time, 12 of the North West’s finest bandsmen, making up the Chorley Silver Band arrived at the Park Club ready to set up and then entertain their audience.
During the first two courses of the sumptuous three course Christmas meal, the Chorley Silver Band under the charismatic leadership of conductor Alistair Greenhalgh played a set of background easy-listening tunes which created a very pleasant seasonal ambience. During and following the dessert course, the song sheets were handed out and many of the all-time Xmas favourites were sung loudly and sung in tune!
Alistair suggested that each table adopted one or more verses of the 12 Days of Christmas which proved somewhat challenging to some, but all in all a fabulous way to bring in the Christmas seasonal spirit.
A Chorley-raffle was skilfully managed by Roger Jones, the charity steward, and a superb amount of £240 was raised which will go to support the local foodbank during this Christmas and New Year period.
Mark Tomlinson thanked everyone for their attendance and support of the event which he felt had been richly enhanced by the Chorley Silver Band with their musical and fun input to the evening.
Report and pictures by John Topping.