It really was tremendous to see so many people at the Soirée on Sunday evening.  On behalf of the Committee, I’d like to thank all of the AMRA and Friends of AMRA members who were able to be there. It was particularly nice not just to welcome members of long standing, but also those recently joined. It’s fantastic to see the evolution AMRA is going through, not just the increase in membership and the growing number of younger people but also as one of the newly joined members has volunteered to join the committee. We hope you all enjoyed your evening and look forward to seeing you at a forthcoming event.

Most of AMRA’s activities revolve around social events and the Soirée is usually the highlight of our social calendar. As ever with an occasion on this scale, there are many people who have worked very hard in the preparation and the delivery of the event and I’d like to thank, as far as I can, each of them for their contributions without which we couldn’t even have contemplated the Soirée.

No less than 15 people prepared the food, all of which was superb and they are:

Ruth Katz, Daphne Hill, Viv Boormann, Yvonne Ryan, Clare Bass, Pam Pattenden, Brenda Standen, Daphne Peile, Sue Cutler, Susie Hogben, Janet Down, Gail Viney, Linda Boston, Caroline Bryan & Sue Dixon. Sue was also the prime mover in making most of the arrangements. I am very grateful to all of them for presenting us with such a wonderful array of delicious food.

Lots of other people helped with the planning, preparations and clearing up and they are:

Richard Dixon, Sue Cutler, Clare Bass, Caroline Bryan, Martin Cutler, Sue Dixon, Linda Boston, Gail & Paddy Viney & Janet Down. A great big THANK YOU to all of them and of course to anyone I’ve failed to name who also helped.

Naturally, we thanked our entertainer, Robin, who provided the perfect musical back drop to our nattering and chattering and I will write to Abingdon School to thank them for allowing us to use their boathouse again.