Preloved Xmas Party

Cathy and Cathryn certainly lit up the room in their matching dresses. This was our Preloved Xmas Party which we held to raise funds for Beaumond House. The idea, instigated by John Horsfall (have to mention him early or else he'll have a sulk), was to attend the Party in clothes or items bought from the Beaumont House Charity shop, the results of which will be seen shortly. These two wonderful ladies who both work for the charity, helped us to organise it and even attended many our our wine driven planning meetings.

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The event was held at the Rodney and many thanks to Neil, the landlord, for not charging for the room and providing refreshments/food at incredibly generous rates allowing us to donate even more to the charity. Over 60 attended and there are little hints of what was to come - Mike Broadley in his flat cap and Peter with a tea cosy on his head
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Compulsory picture of our President with Marion who got into a scoring feud with Paul later in the evening. Of course our President has to "hob nob" with aristocracy (lady Starkey on his left)  - not sure what she's wearing in place of a tiara - open to suggestions!!

Remember all, or at least most, of the clothes you see in the following photos have been purchased from the charity shop. Mike, Anne, Paul and Sheila all looking far too smart. Mike's outfit seems to have come straight out of his own wardrobe and I've seldom seen Paul looking so dapper. They need to get to the charity shop more often.

Competition for the best dressed male. Verdun looking like the local squire (managed to auction his staff later in the proceedings), John trying to go back to his youth with his braces and short tie, dapper Paul with jacket casually slung over shoulder,  Mike last of the Summer Wine Broadley, Fozzie looking incredibly smart until we get down to the corduroy trousers, not sure who was  next (quite happy to edit if get informed), then Martin dressed far too smartly for any Lions Do, Ian - well what can I say - a real mix of styles (delete the word style) just a mix with a truckle on his head. Again not sure who's at the end of the line. Verdun won this category although I gather he's decided to keep his outfit whereas most of us have already taken ours back to Beaumond's.

Request - need pictures of the ladies who entered Best Dressed - which Sheila won. 
Kathy and her friend Elaine who travelled down from 'The North' just to be at our Party. Kath kept appearing in different outfits, according to John she spent nearly £200  on clothes from BH but it was  well worth it especially those pyjamas she wore at the end.

Tony did a great job as the compere for the night particularly as the whole thing was going to be an unknown quantity. But it flowed along with barely a hitch. Clearly though he made sure that he could be seen, anyone prone to migraines was asked to avert their gaze. Gill glittered but she might not be  so pleased when she finds out that Tony has now found an excellent shop for all of her future presents. 

Unexpected guests who took far too long getting ready. Georgina, Tonia, Joanna and at the end Roxy.
The only one I'm really worried about is Joanna, she looks far too attractive and comfortable in a well groomed wig. Tonia should really have had a shave although we did have keep pushing his copious back hair back inside his dress before the parade. Georgina's legs were were far too smooth to be natural and what can we say about Roxy she's even got her sash upside down. But looking red hot in her snowman dress which the other three ladies had to squeeze her into.

The final category was 'Novelty' which I thought I'd got sown up with my RAF fancy dress jacket but then out comes Ian in a genuine Clown outfit bought from the charity shop. Showstopper!!! Even Kath was put into the shade.

A fitting picture to finish with unless Lions have got others I can use, especially of the ladies' line up. It is so fitting that our ever smiling, optimistic and cheerful Ian should win 'The Best of the Best'. He obviously has another persona which I think we need to encourage. Wish he'd wiped away that big red bogey though.
​However the whole night raised about £1200 for Beamond House - WELL DONE EVERBODY!