Welcome to the Metro Club House!
Well, as it’s the month of May, we’ve two Bank Holidays to revel in. Happy days! My virtual patrons will be even more joyful than usual. As those more observant of my regulars amongst you will have gathered, we celebrated Metro’s 40th birthday at the end of April. A great time was had by all, and Roy even gave me a spin around the dance floor! But do keep it a secret; he made me promise faithfully not to tell Kathy! So delighted was I with it, (the party that is, not Roy’s dancing - I’m still nursing my sore toes) that I took time away from serving behind the virtual bar to write a little article about it. So here goes...
On the evening of 27 April 2013, 171 Metro members and their family and friends, gathered at Lords cricket ground to celebrate the great occasion of Metro’s 40th birthday. The event was organised faultlessly by the Lords team, and for the heavily subsidised price of only £35, we were treated to a pre-dinner drinks reception, a delicious 4 course meal and a disco. After dinner a raffle was drawn, which raised an amazing £1000 for the club. We would like to thank all of those organisations and individuals who donated prizes. Apparently Roy Smith, our Chair, drew a lucky ticket and won some luggage. I’m looking forward to hearing where he’s now planning to take Kathy for a well earned break!
Throughout the meal, we were hugely entertained by three guest speakers who kindly joined us for the evening. Our President and former Test Match Special producer, Peter Baxter, and Barry Johnston, son of our first President Brian Johnston and of course of one of our two current Vice Presidents Pauline, regaled us with priceless anecdotes from the cricket field. Then, Mike Brace, our other Vice President explained what Metro meant to him, underlining the importance of Metro’s volunteers, and the great sporting achievements of its members.
After dinner, I grabbed a word with Peter and Barry. Peter said “I was delighted when I was asked to become Metro President after the untimely death of Johnners. I was so pleased that the honour was being bestowed on a member of the Test Match Special team for the second time. This meal is a shining example of Metro in action. It’s not only very successful, but also immense fun. People in Metro just get things done and enjoy themselves along the way.” Barry told me: “My father would have been so proud that Metro has reached its 40th anniversary and has achieved so much, growing from just a bunch of like minded mates interested in sport into a club in which so much is achieved, and which is still continuing to grow. Bring on the next 40 years!”
Well with writing like that, it’s not surprising I’m serving virtual pints rather than covering glitzy and glamorous events! So, before I leave you to lament what in my imagination could have been a fantastic journalistic career, I’ll leave you with a little story of Brian Johnston’s, which Barry delighted us with on the night:
“A classic television moment occurred at Headingley in 1961 when the camera panned in on the Australian fielder Neil Harvey.” Barry said. “Johnners had to think of something to say quickly and came out with: 'There's Neil Harvey standing at leg slip with his legs wide apart waiting for a tickle!'” To read more about Johnners, and to enjoy more gaffes and giggles like this, visit his official website
Opening Doors To 40 Years Of Sport
On the evening of 27 April 2013, 171 Metro members and their family and friends, gathered at Lords cricket ground to celebrate the great occasion of Metro’s 40th birthday. The event was organised faultlessly by the Lords team, and for the heavily subsidised price of only £35, we were treated to a pre-dinner drinks reception, a delicious 4 course meal and a disco. After dinner a raffle was drawn, which raised an amazing £1000 for the club. We would like to thank all of those organisations and individuals who donated prizes. Apparently Roy Smith, our Chair, drew a lucky ticket and won some luggage. I’m looking forward to hearing where he’s now planning to take Kathy for a well earned break!
Throughout the meal, we were hugely entertained by three guest speakers who kindly joined us for the evening. Our President and former Test Match Special producer, Peter Baxter, and Barry Johnston, son of our first President Brian Johnston and of course of one of our two current Vice Presidents Pauline, regaled us with priceless anecdotes from the cricket field. Then, Mike Brace, our other Vice President explained what Metro meant to him, underlining the importance of Metro’s volunteers, and the great sporting achievements of its members.
After dinner, I grabbed a word with Peter and Barry. Peter said “I was delighted when I was asked to become Metro President after the untimely death of Johnners. I was so pleased that the honour was being bestowed on a member of the Test Match Special team for the second time. This meal is a shining example of Metro in action. It’s not only very successful, but also immense fun. People in Metro just get things done and enjoy themselves along the way.” Barry told me: “My father would have been so proud that Metro has reached its 40th anniversary and has achieved so much, growing from just a bunch of like minded mates interested in sport into a club in which so much is achieved, and which is still continuing to grow. Bring on the next 40 years!”
And Finally
Well with writing like that, it’s not surprising I’m serving virtual pints rather than covering glitzy and glamorous events! So, before I leave you to lament what in my imagination could have been a fantastic journalistic career, I’ll leave you with a little story of Brian Johnston’s, which Barry delighted us with on the night:
“A classic television moment occurred at Headingley in 1961 when the camera panned in on the Australian fielder Neil Harvey.” Barry said. “Johnners had to think of something to say quickly and came out with: 'There's Neil Harvey standing at leg slip with his legs wide apart waiting for a tickle!'” To read more about Johnners, and to enjoy more gaffes and giggles like this, visit his official website
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