We had a relaxing morning playing with the grandchildren Katherine and Christopher then they headed off to the Hotel to check in early so they could all use the swimming pool. We went there about 1500 and met with our German based friends Gero and Jackie and we had a good time for about 90 minutes chatting about many things then Noel had to meet the DJ and then Maitre D to discuss the evenings events. At 1800 our guest began to arrive and by about 1845 nearly all had arrived apart from one couple from Exeter who said they could not attend very late in to the event, Noel was not happy with this.
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The wine and beer was going fast and so we headed in to the large room which looked really nice and the flowers on the table made the room look very nice and so we had about six tables and a large dance floor and a DJ who was warming up. Noel had already chosen the music what to play during the dinner and they were all Noel’s favourites. Noel then welcomed all the guests and made the following speech.
“
Dear Family, Friends and in this very strange woke world, Lesbian, Gay , Bisexual, Transgender, queer Etc etc etc
Thank you all for coming to join our family in celebrating two rather important milestones in our life. The first being my 80th birthday which, quite frankly six years ago, I did not think that I would actually reach after some serious health issues. But a far more important event is that it was Jennifer and my 51st Wedding anniversary on 31st May this year and the time has flown by
When you reach the age of 80 you suddenly realise that your friends are also growing older and suffering from various ailments Unfortunately quite a few members of my family and also some very close friends are not able to join us due to in certain cases severe health challenges preventing them from travelling. Whilst some Far East friends have been unable to travel due to Covid Travel restrictions currently in place. And finally there are also friends who are away on holiday at this time and unable to join.
But I would really like to thank the friends who have travelled from overseas ( Gero and Jackie and Jerry & Mura) to join us this evening. And I'm so glad to have both our daughter Joanne and Son Michael with their respective partners Tim and Becky together with our four lovely grandchildren (Kathryn, Christopher, Ethan and two month old Archie) for joining this important milestone event.
At this point I would like you to raise your glasses to absent friends and family
The idea for this party came whilst we were in Florida and enjoying a glass of Chardonnay, but little did I realise some of the challenges in organising this event as I had anticipated that Covid would be a thing of the past and that all my friends would be fit and well, how wrong I was If we carry on like this I might have to cancel the planned event for my 100th Birthday as I feel I may or not be the only person attending ??
When it came to arranging for a location for this evening we did look at a number of locations but then Jennifer reminded me of the following .
On 30th July 1970 we attended the start of the Tall ships Race in Plymouth and on the way home after a very long drive we ended up at the Wheatsheaf Steak House on the A30 at Virginia Water for a meal and as Jennifer said she would treat me for dinner after a nice couple of day’s away with her parents, and so I sort of felt obliged to ask if she would marry me as a thankyou for buying me dinner, to be honest I was expecting an immediate reply but, all I got was Hmm ‘I will think about it and let you know possibly tomorrow.’ Oh well I thought and started to check my previous girlfriends telephone numbers..
So on the afternoon of the 1st July whilst I working in the Maidenhead, Jennifer called to say we should meet and discuss the marriage proposal and as she was based in Ashford we should meet in the middle at a pub by the river called The Anglers Rest (now called the Runnymede Hotel)…where she accepted my offer of body and soul and but of course and more importantly still, the cash .
Also another lovely memory of this place was when I was just a kid my parents would bring me together with my two sisters and whilst my parents enjoyed the beer and my sisters helping open the locks I would go fishing and so you can perhaps understand that this location does bring back some really special memories.
Well tonight I hope you will all enjoy it. We will be having a buffet and the wine, beer, soft drinks etc are all on us but those guests who require a 2002 Dom Perignon or a 1787 Chateau Margaux should start looking for their credit card.
Later you will be offered a piece of Birthday cake which has been prepared by my daughter Joanne and my daughter in law Becky. Thank You ladies…
We will try to meet as many friends as we can tonight and hope you can also hit the dance floor later.
Please send any photos of this party which would be great
Again Thank you for joining us on this special night and to my wife lovely Jennifer , Thank you for everything, I would not be here without you and I love you to bits..”
We then started the buffet and I must say it was really excellent and the side of beef had people going back for more. Once the dinner was over Noel and Jen started the dancing with one of our favourites “Savage Garden - Truly, Madly, Deeply” and then we were joined on the floor a few other guest and then to liven it up on to Le Chic and we danced the night away whilst consuming a reasonable amount of booze.
When just about the time most people had left at around 1130 some of us staying in the hotel went to the bar for a nightcap and we finally went to bed about 0130 which was late for us.
Gosh that was a really good night but the last time we shall do anything like this again as to much hard work.
