Coming Events 2007
A formal committee meeting has been arranged for Thursday March 8 at p.m. at the White Hart, Okehampton.
Contact Tony Green 01823 481111
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Branch News
Ladies Night at Langstone Cliff
25/03/08
A few words from Tony Green whose efforts brought about the revival of South West Branch.
Nearly 200 guests partying until 5.00 a.m. helped put the fun into fundraising and contributed to raising in the region of £8,500 for our Fund at our recent Ladies Night dinner & dance held at the Langstone Cliff Hotel at Dawlish Warren.
With much talk recently in the Construction Industry about the rejuvenation of the South Western branch of the Lighthouse Club, members of the branch committee, Mike Philpott (Chairman) Rob Bennett (Secretary/Treasurer) Susanne Furse (Welfare Officer Devon) David Jeffery (Welfare Officer Cornwall) Adrian Brady and Luke Furse felt it was essential to raise the club’s profile in the region, and this Ladies Night was the result.
Our dinner and dance followed several months of hard work, partly because it was the first to be held for several years, and saw a return to its traditional venue. Rob Bennett commented “The response has been brilliant, all the rooms in the hotel are booked, and we are spilling over into guest houses in Dawlish itself”.
On arrival guests found themselves greeted by the sight of the dining room decked out in blue and white club colours, with even the drinking water glasses being blue. Also, each lady received a red rose.
Langstone Cliff gave us a blue and white theme to the ball room.
The evening started formally, Grace being said by Ralph Wilson, Honorary Life Vice President. Next, special guests Tony Green, from the National Council, Club Administrator Jane Lowry, and former branch Chairman Gilbert Fowell, were introduced. Reminding everyone of the importance of the club’s fundraising activities, chairman Mike Philpott read a letter of thanks from the widow of a construction worker who had received essential financial help. Mike also formally received a cheque for £2,050 from Speedy Hire’s (Western Region) Adrian Brady who made a speech, as many people remarked, “right from the heart”. A large donation was also received from Andy Williamson (AWCS Ltd.) Launceston.
Despite a last minute panic, when the booked comedian cancelled at short notice, the evening’s proceedings moved along at a lively pace thanks to compere Mark Jenkins and his three lovely lady assistants – Katie, Claire and Lucy. A variety of fun games such as Irish Bingo and ‘Yellow card/Red card’ yielded prizes of £100 and a magnum of champagne respectively to tables filled by an array of local businesses. One of the biggest cheers of the night was reserved for Julian Bussell of Bussell Plant, who was given a 40th birthday cake decorated with a Lighthouse.
A fine array of sporting memorabilia (and a jar of pickled onions!) awaiting the auction.
After a scrumptious dinner the fundraising theme continued with a sporting memorabilia auction. Donated items included football shirts signed by Ronaldo and the 1966 World Cup England Squad, a rugby ball signed by the Cornish born England Captain Phil Vickery and boxing gloves signed by the ever charismatic Frank Bruno. Less sporty, but attracting much enthusiastic bidding, was a large jar of pickled onions. Strangely, this was later spotted taking centre stage on the floor of the disco, being danced around! A superb raffle, with many prizes donated by the attendees raised even more money.
Speaking after the event, Susanne Furse summed up the committee’s feelings about how much the dinner and dance meant to them and to the Lighthouse Club as a whole. “We’ve had brilliant support from so many people and their companies - Bussell Plant, David Jeffery & Co Ltd., Devon Plant Services, Finning & Co. Ltd., Gilpin Demolition, Hays, Holt JCB Ltd., K & J Plant (Contractors) Ltd., Luke Furse Earthmoving Ltd., M & M Plant (Devon & Cornwall) Ltd., Morris Leslie, Plant & Engineering Services, S. E. L. Clarke, Speedy Hire, and Volvo have all had tables here tonight. Furthermore, we have had many pledges of future help, including a golf day this summer. I am sure we have laid strong foundations for the South Western region of the Lighthouse Club. It was wonderful to see so many of the younger generation who are involved in construction businesses at the dinner.”
Susanne Furse is presented with a well deserved bouquet by Chairman Mike Philpott
Tony Green added “the branch has been in the doldrums for several years. The evening was a resounding success not only for money raised for the Benevolent Fund but also for the wonderful friendship and warmth generated by the people there. I am confident that it bodes well for the future of the South Western Branch”.
The dinner and dance is set to become an annual event again, with the 2009 event already pencilled in as Friday 13th March. Already many people are saying “more of the same in the future please!”
10/10/07
At a committee meeting held on October 3 Mike Philpott took on the Chairman’s role and with a branch bank account now set up Secretary Rob Benett has added acting treasurer to his secretary job.
Adrian Brady was charged with cleaning up the Cornwall branch members data base adding telephone numbers and email details where possible. Rob and Phil Rowe will do the same for Devon. The aim is to gather sufficient support to revive the once popular Ladies Night.
Two Sportsman’s Evenings featuring Frank Bruno and arranged by Speedy Hire will give an opportunity to spread the Lighthouse Club word. Committee members will be there.
20/8/07
Council Member Tony Green continues to be active in our South West Branch area.
In June he was invited to the Chartered Institute of Builders AGM in Plymouth to give a presentation on our Club, its aims and objectives. An immediate result was four new members and the possibility of holding events jointly with C.I.O.B.
Tony travelled to Bodmin with Vice Chairman Mike Phillpott to receive a donation from Alfred McAlpine (see Donations page).
Later he went on to Truro where he gave a presentation to the local Round Table on the aims and activities of our Club.
Yet to be announced is the date of a Golf Day where Speedy Hire will be sponsors and co-organisers, and Tony has hopes for two Lunches, one in Devon the other in Cornwall.
South West now has a Secretary - Rob Bennett 01752 255007.
The White Hart Meeting
21/2/07
South West gets going again! Newly volunteered Vice Chairman Mike Philpot (l.) accepts a ‘start up kitty’ from Trevor Goodman of Speedy Hire (Western).
The hard work put in by National Council member Tony Green paid off when a dozen interested members turned up at the White Hart Okehampton on February 7th.
The outcome of the meeting was that Mike Philpott volunteered for Vice Chairman, a welfare Officer for Devon, (Mrs. Susanne Furse), was appointed to join long serving David Jeffery who covers Cornwall. Tom Biggins and Adrian Brady volunteered as committee members to represent Devon (Tom) and Cornwall (Adrian).
Trevor Goodman, area director for Speedy Hire came along with ‘start up money’: a contribution to the branch of £1,000.
All of which goes to show that one industrious member actually covering the ground can achieve a major turnaround in the Club’s fortunes in very short order!
Reviving South West
5/1/07
National Council member Tony Green has taken on the task of reviving the Club’s fortunes in the South West. Tony lives in Taunton and thus knows the area, and he certainly knows the Club, he is a long standing member of the Western Branch committee.
Contact has been made with the local managements of Speedy Hire and GE Capital Plant, both of whom have promised their support and our Benevolent Fund still has David Jeffery acting as welfare officer in Cornwall. On the strength of this Tony has arranged a meeting to take place at THE WHITE HART HOTEL, Okehampton on Wednesday 7th February 2007.
Naturally Tony will be delighted to hear from any one who can help to get what was, only a few years ago, a very active Branch up and running again.
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Meet the
Team...
Branch
Chairman
Mike Philpott
01752 843291 (O)
01803 782612 (H)
07976 089091 (M)
Branch Secretary
Rob Bennett
01752 255007
Welfare Officer (Devon)
Mrs Susanne Furse
01409 211470
01409 211283 (F)
Welfare
Officer (Cornwall)
David Jeffrey
01673 881233 (O)
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