Overview
Nottingham's regular events offer something for everyone, with golf, a boat trip on the Trent, a gentlemen's evening, a presence at the Hillhead Quarry Show, and the always sold out Christmas Lunch.
The Branch has done exceptionally well recruiting members and for three years running held the Lighthouse Trophy which is awarded to the Branch which shows the best recruitment figures. This singular achievement was due in the main to the efforts of David Griffin.
At the 2007 AGM on March 7th Chris Balls, Chairman of this busy branch for the last ten years, stepped down in favour of Alistair Bow. Alistair runs local company Thomas Bow – City Asphalt Ltd. Taking the vacant Vice Chairmanship is Edward Pollard.
Chris Balls continues as a member of Notts. Committee whose make-up remains much the same, Peter Greaves is Treasurer, Robert Skinner events organiser, and Sid Dilks, Welfare Officer.
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Events 2009
Nottingham Branch A.G.M. will be held at the Novotel, J25 M1 on Wednesday March 11th start time 7.30pm.
Our intended presence at the Hillhead Quarry Show is, unfortunately, a non starter!
The organisers have postponed the show for twelve months.
www.hillhead.com
The Summer Boat Trip & B.B.Q. on the River Trent is on Sunday July 5th. Contact Peter Greaves T: 01623 458354
M: 07943 502590
The annual Golf Charity Challenge, followed by the Gentlemen’s Evening, is at Mickleover Golf Club, Mickelover, Derby on Friday, September 18th.
www.mickleovergolfclub.com
Contact Robert Skinner 01332 204144.
Our very popular Christmas Lunch will be on Friday December 4th at Nottingham’s Crowne Plaza Hotel. Contact Robert Skinner
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Branch News
21/01/09
Notts Christmas Lunch
Nottingham’s Events Organiser Robert Skinner reports that fortunately the credit crunch had no effect on their ‘Sold Out’ Christmas Lunch. This has long been a very popular event and the venue, Nottingham’s Crowne Plaza, always does justice to our Xmas crowd of members and guests. Once again their ballroom was filled with our tables. Our lunch enjoyed a great mix of construction people - young and old - with many attending for the first time, among them more than a few ladies. Surely good signs.
The final touches to a great set up – our room is ready.
Music, provided by master of the keyboard Baz, accompanied our crowd as they busily networked before lunch. Below is just one shot of old and new friends getting together.
Our pre-lunch crowd did a lot of networking
And then the press into the dining room which was, as last year, filled to capacity.
Our full house. 400 members and guests
ready for our Chairman’s Grace.
Given the current gloom, attendance at the magnificent Crowne Plaza exceeded the expectations of Nottingham Branch committee, as did the monies raised for our Fund - the total topped £20,000,
Past Chairman Chris Balls and family made a considerable, and much appreciated, contribution to our auction, whilst ‘first timers’ Empire Scaffolding’s determination to mount winning bids did much to increase our total.
A notable item was a spectacular model crane donated by Terry Payne. Terry, now retired, was formerly employed by crane hirers GWS and Initial, and his detailed minature saw the hammer go down at £2,500.00.
Vice Chairman Ed Pollard and Events Organiser Robert Skinner
look well pleased with proceedings.
Top quality entertainment came from comedian Tony Jo, who gave us forty minutes of very funny stories. Tony was ably supported by our professional Master of Ceremonies Mr. Geoffrey Harris. Between them they kept everyone in the room in good spirits and contributed hugely to what was universally agreed to be an excellent event and a great start to Christmas..
One of the many traditions of our end of year and Xmas events is ‘The Cheque Presentation’. Welfare Officer Sid Dilkes, to the left, was on the receiving end of Nottingham’s contribution to our Benevolent Fund – £18,000, made by Chairman Alistair Bow; lurking in the background the guy with the big grin is Tony Jo, our entertainer.
The all important cheque - £18,000 for our Fund
Our Christmas Lunch was sponsored and supported by many local and national companies, in particular The Construction Index and Total Reclaims Demolition, and to them grateful thanks.
In spite of the chaos brought about by our greedy and incompetent Financial ‘Services’(!) Industry, our Notts. Committee have confidence in the resilience of our members and their supporters – The Crowne Plaza is again booked for our next Xmas Lunch. Make a note: December 4th 2009 is the date. Construction Index will again sponsor the event.
Note: For up to the minute local news see: www.nottinghamlighthouseclub.org
29/10/08
Annual Charity Golf Challenge
Good golfing weather for our day at Mickleover, The winning team, H. W. Martin (B team) on the 18th green.
Once again we struck lucky with the weather, slotting our Golf Day into early October to avoid the wet months of our British Summer! Mickleover Golf Club provided us with excellent facilities and hospitality for this year’s event.
Even with a few casualties from the “credit crunch” we had some new companies supporting the event and Groundforce-Shorco took up the main sponsor’s position.
The winning quartet – H, W, Martins (B team), Mark Sludds (far right) had the best card of the day.
The winning team, which included the best individual on the day with 42 points! - Mark Sludds - was HW Martin (Traffic Management ) Ltd. The best pair were also from HW Martin’s, but this time, the “A” team were Gerry Crerand and Harry Johnston.
John Camm and Robert Skinner.
A long time supporter of The Lighthouse Club, John Camm of Camac Coal took second best on the day with 38 points, narrowly beating Dennis Hill as he took the prize for nearest the pin on the eighteenth.
H. M. Chambers and Partners team with two nearest the pin winners - Ross Reece-Evans next to the banner and Dennis Hill, far right.
The usual “nearest the pin” competition had an added twist as we also included a nearest the pin on the second shot to the eighteenth green. Both prizes went to players from HM Chambers and Partners team - Dennis Hill and Ross Reece-Evans.
A special thank you must go to Mickleover Golf Club for providing a great course, great food and a great deal for the Charity, and not forgetting our sponsors Matthew Montague - MMA Design Ltd, Groundforce-Shorco and J C Balls and Sons.
Looking forward to next year, when, given all the positive comments, it is very likely we will return to Mickleover Golf Club!
Mickleover. A course this good deserves another visit!
Robert Skinner.
Social Sec. Notts. Branch
5/9/08
River Trent Cruise
Pete and Julija Greaves’ ‘Trip on the Trent’ last July was the usual fun cruise for the big crowd of construction people who boarded the Nottingham Princess.
Although this time they didn’t have the benefit of their customary cloudless sky, nonetheless there were long periods when the Ambre Solaire was a needed precaution.
Vice Chairman Edward Pollard & Chek Whyte
collecting his raffle prize
Three hours on the river gave plenty of time for Julija’s lively raffle for a host of donated prizes and for consumption of Jenny Maxwell’s liberally rum laced Caribbean Cake.
(l. to r.) Julija's sister Lidija, Cake Baker Jenny Maxwell, Julija, M.C. Edward Pollard
Branch Vice Chairman Ed Pollard acted as our M.C. and good music came from the Nottingham Princess’ resident D.J. Organisers Pete and Julija were particularly pleased this year by the strong showing of younger people who turned up for this family & friends event, a fact that confirms our Trip on the Trent as a firm favourite on our Nottingham Branch events calendar
Pete Greaves with a group of young ladies in the party theme
Next summer will see our 10th outing on the river Trent and Pete is already making plans with the Nottingham Princess that will give our day a special theme. Pete says there is an open invitation for other branch members to get involved, the more the merrier!
Grateful thanks to our main sponsors: Lafarge, Sanmet, Steelphalt, Mertrux, TC Harrison JCB, Lambett Car Sales & Chek Whyte Industries. And special thanks to cake baking Jenny Maxwell from EAM Building.
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Meet the
Team...
Branch Chairman
Alistair Bow
01159 244 555
Branch Treasurer
Peter Greaves
07943 502590
Welfare Officer
Sid Dilkes
01754 765107 (H)
Golf/Function Organiser
Robert Skinner
0133 220 4144
Branch Website
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