Reports and photographs of recent MRA events
Click photographs to enlarge
MRA Summer Lunch
Saturday 31 August 2019
Nearly 50 MRA members and friends gathered at Little Broom for a most splendid lunch. Before we sat down, a tremendous amount of work had to be done in preparation. Paul Hughes, our Chairman, gave lengthy and amusing thanks at the beginning of lunch but it is worth repeating these for those who were not able to be there on the day.
Jeff Hawkins masterminded the tents, first unpacking and colour-coding each of the three tents so every single toggle and pole was sprayed with a white, blue or red flash. On Friday afternoon, John Ricketts transported the tents from Tony Sumner’s garage where they are being stored. Jeff organized the Team of Helpers who turned up to erect the three tents. Everyone there either helped erect the framework, hang the sides or toggle here there and everywhere. The same helpers then rolled out the tables from Brenda Russell’s stable, and carried the chairs from the same place. Bottles of beer supplied by Antony & Sally Root were gratefully received by the Tent-upping team.
The three new tents assembled into one.
On Saturday morning, many of the same Team of Helpers plus more arrived to decorate the tents. Chair covers were supplied by Graham Golby, the china and cutlery and glasses came from a variety of places and the tables were laid.
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Beautiful flowers were provided on each table, and on the serving tables and bar by Lesley Hawkins and Sally Root.
Shortly before one o’clock, people began to gather. Glenn Scarborough master-minded the bar and everyone was welcomed with a glass of Prosecco. When we were seated, Paul Hughes made his speech, first thanking Brenda Russell for allowing us to hold the lunch at Little Broom. He welcomed four new MRA members: John and Sarah Sutton (Byrig) and Melissa and John Lee (The Green Cottage, next to the other Lees). He also paid tribute to the lunch’s sub-committee of Lesley Hawkins, Mark Lutman, Sally Root and Glenn Scarborough. And finally, with our mouths watering, he thanked Susie Harris and her team. We weren’t disappointed: the food was delicious, masses of it, and all washed down with excellent wine or soft drinks.
The next morning, the wonderful Team of Helpers reconvened to reverse everything we had done before – unpicking the tables, storing them and the chairs back in Brenda’s stable, then untoggling all the sides of the tents then, finally, dismantling the framework. It was certainly quicker coming down than going up! Thanks are due to Marilyn Fisher and Helen Donovan for ensuring that all the coloured toggles and poles etc went back into their right bags. John Ricketts bore the bagged tents away to Tony’s garage where they were duly stored – until the next time.
Maugersbury Tennis, Fun & Games
held at Park Farm
with thanks to John and Tiana Ricketts
on Sunday 18 August 2019
The day started with the traditional Wimbledon Comes to Maugersbury Tennis Tournament – the rain just about cleared away but the wind proved testing. The winners were Jane Scarborough and Melissa Lee – Melissa and John Lee are renting The Green Cottage, the house Michael and Barbara Lee have built next to Upsilon House.
In the afternoon, there was croquet, badminton, table tennis (very testing in the wind), soft ball and ... and then rounders! Some of us oldies hadn’t played rounders for sixty years.
It was a great afternoon, full of the promised fun.
The Maugersbury Dog Show & Picnic was held on Sunday 2 September 2018
This was the first Maugersbury Dog Show and we were most grateful to Helen Smith of the Blue Cross’s charity shop in Stow for judging the classes; excess proceeds from the afternoon were donated to this excellent cause. Children, adults and dogs all had a wonderful time on a warm and sunny afternoon, and the events were watched and applauded by picnicking family and friends of the contestants.
 The Maugersbury Dog Show |  The dog show field |
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 Winner of Dog Most Like OwnerGeorge O'Kane & Archie |  Obstacle RacePaddy with Sizzles |
 Jenny and Freckle |  Brenda and Cara |
 Guess who, Owner Most Like Dog |  Winners of Veteran classTony and Freckle |
Burns Night Dinner held in St Edward's Hall, Stow-on-the-Wold on Saturday 2 February 2019
