2022

Following the success of the earlier visit to the Black Box Brewery, another took place during Thursday, 10th November.

Slightly fewer attended possibly due to being in November where you had to wrap up warm.

Nevertheless, with the beer sampling, food and convivial company everybody had a great time and Austin, our Charity Steward and organiser - not one to miss out on an opportunity - raised £175 for Roger Northwood, our new masters charity

A project by SAVS - Southend Association of Voluntary Services

Denise Kent on behalf of Mind Basildon, attended Saxon Hall during Wednesday, 9th November and received a cheque for £3300 for her charity, presented by our Charity Steward, Austin. The amount covers the monies raised over the year during Paul Fields year as Master. Sadly, Paul was unable to attend due to illness.

Denise was delighted with the donation and expressed her thanks on behalf of the charity to all our members, several of which were there for an LOI evening.

Everyone agreed that the amount raised was a great achievement especially coming so soon after the 'lock down years' of Covid. Additional thanks must therefore be given to our Charity Steward, Austin for his tireless enthusiasm in organising the many events over the year.

Austin organised another Brewery visit, to this time, the Black Box Brewery in Aviation Way, which took place during the evening of Wednesday, 20th July.

Over 20 members and friends attended the event where a guided tour of the brewery was given followed by a sampling of 6 beers followed up with sandwiches and pork pie.

The Brewery opened during February and is owned and run by Mark, Tom & Chris with regular consultant Mike who gave the tour address. This was the first group event the boys had given and we in 'Albert Lucking Style' were pleased to make it a great success. You can check out their website by clicking this link https://blackboxbrewery.co.uk/

Needless to say, Austin didn't miss a trick and with a raffle together with a raffled bottle of Chivas Regal donated by Kevin Wealthall, raised a healthy £360 for our master Paul's charity Mind Basildon.

Our first Ladies Evening after the forced break was held during Saturday 4th June,

at Saxon Hall.

Our President Paul Field and his Lady Cherine were excellent hosts for a delightful evening of friendship, catching-up and letting your hair down.

The theme was Purple Reign and the evening was a well tuned event which can only be attributed to Josh Vaughan and his wife Charlie for all their hard work in organising and running the evening - a Job well done!

We must also not forget Iain MacMillan for his 'loudspeaker' voice, keeping us all in check.

Of course, there was some fund raising involved for Paul's chosen charity during his year, that being

Which raised a wonderful

£836

Our hard working Charity Steward, Austin Latham, performed his now 3rd abseil of the Southend Hospital 9 storey Tower block in aid of the

He's at it again!

In his now customary 'Batman' outfit, Austin descended with several members and friends to cheer him on.

He said that this would be his last but, who knows, it might be worth watching this space?

Austin raised £520 for the charity

Indian meal & Quiz evening

Following a long absence Paul Marshall and his wife Yvonne re-kindled their annual Indian meal with Quiz evening, held for the first time in the Maharaja Restaurant, London Road, South Benfleet. Our Charity Steward, Austin also had a hand in the arrangements as monies raised during the evening would be shared with Yvonne's charity 'Novi Survat' and our WM's charity 'MIND Basildon.'