Otterburn XXVIII

A traditional reception,  hosted by the Director of Communications & Public Affairs,  was held to welcome members back to the north east of England on the occasion of the twenty eighth annual conference of the Otterburn Society.

Excellent canapés,  personally selected by the DC&PA,  were served.

Members later proceeded to enjoy the comforts of the city of Newcastle upon Tyne.  A variety of venues were attended and for some,  it was a late night !

Saturday morning was difficult for at least one member.   Despite numerous attempts to rouse him,  members decided that it would be probably much kinder to leave Karl to rest,  and to leave him to join members at the conference in Otterburn later in the day.

Cpt Beattie appeared "shocked and dismayed" to discover that he had been abandoned by his fellow members and had no means of making the journey from Jesmond to Otterburn.  

Karl was comforted and assured that his fellow members couldn't have possibly really left for Otterburn without him and he settled down to enjoy a hearty Northumbrian.

It soon became clear though that he would have to make emergency arrangements to get to Otterburn. 

On the sure knowledge that an excellent forfeit would result and much to his great relief,  The Director of Fine Arts was picked up from the residence of the DC&PA by a small group of quietly smiling members.

^  A gentlemen in dress appropriate for the comforts of the town.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^  Route taken by the members of the Otterburn Society, 

from the Percy Arms,  to the Otterburn Tower Hotel.

^  Percy Arms Hotel - An excellent lunch of soup & sandwiches

Arrangements for the annual conference of the Otterburn Society are traditionally made by the elected Treasurer to the society.   Chairman Scarborough was well positioned to mentor Mr Flack in his role as Treasurer,  having unusually,  held the post for the previous 2 years.

In the weeks preceding the last weeks in November,  concern had been expressed that there was a danger that the traditional conference of the Society would not take place,  Mr Flack taking a very much "hands off" approach to the organisational detail.  

Despite this concern,  a reservation had indeed been confirmed at the Otterburn Tower and members arrived at the natural home of the society, on the Saturday afternoon,  having enjoyed the traditional lunch of soup & sandwiches at the Percy Arms.

On their arrival however,  members were disappointed to note that the terrace of the Tower did not display Pearson Engineering's latest IED defeat device and were further disappointed to find that a smoking pavilion had not been erected.

 

Despite the lack of smoking facilities,  Our Honourable Chairman Scarborough opened the conference by warmly welcoming the members there present to their twenty eighth annual gathering.

The Chairman was particularly pleased to welcome Daniel F Woods and Nick Jemmet back to Otterburn after just a short time away.

 

   

  

^   Statistical data - Milk Quotas

 

^   The Director of Fine Art,  Karl Beattie made a most entertaining presentation relating to his occupation in London.   Despite the obvious stresses of his position,   he was able to enlighten members to the some would say unique form of compensation he enjoys.
 ^  Daniel F Woods made an entertaining speech with a couple of good agricultural jokes   

 

   ^  Mr Firth made a very entertaining presentation on how the nation's financial crisis could be solved. He explained how DPT (disproportionate gains tax) is set to curb "profits" "earned" by short term trading in equities.

   ^  Chairman Scarborough talked about how the people of Malawi have benefited by the Otterburn Society's generous donations to the Nchima Trust.

^  Jeremy Featherstone talked enthusiastically about a document numbering system developed by his company.

^  Treasurer Flack showed a video of vehicles crashing on ice in a tunnel !

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

^   Members express their enthusiasm for the quality of a presentation !

 

The Annual General Meeting was chaired by the Chairman  A Scarborough Esq.

First item on the agenda was apologies for absence.  The Treasurer informed the meeting that he had not received any apologies for absence !

The agenda had a number of resolutions that were all unanimously passed.

It was decided that a traditional gift to the Nchima trust would be made again. 

Conscious of the wish to encourage the educational efforts of the Trust,  it was decided that the society should donate specially commissioned Otterburn Society Pencils ! 

Mr Scarborough agreed to procure and distribute an appropriate quantity of Otterburn Society pencils as soon as practicable.

The accounts1 for the year ending 2008 were unanimously accepted.

Mr Jeremy Featherstone was elected Treasurer of the Otterburn Society.

"Mad" Mike Hall was re-elected Secretary of the Otterburn Society

Following a very successful year in office,  the retiring Mr Scarborough was relieved to be able to nominate Mr Flack for the office of Chairman of the Otterburn Society.

This nomination was unanimously approved and Mr Randall Flack was elected Chairman of the Otterburn Society.

Their being no further business,  the members turned their attention to the serving of the Champagne.

1.  Subsequent to the meeting the (unsigned) Accounts for the year ending 2009 were prepared and filed in the society archive.

 

 

 

The Champagne was provided by Mr Scarborough.  

The serving of Champagne continues to consume members. 

 

 

^  The disgraced inventor of the Otterburn Syringe,  Jeremy Featherstone with retired Chairman Scarborough (red suit)  examining the stress raiser prior to execution of le sabrage ,  with fellow Champagne cognoscenti, Nick Jemmet and Big dick Tarn

 

All that remained that evening was to enjoy the fireworks and roast beef sandwiches,  and look back on the pleasures of the weekend !

The Sunday of Otterburn started well with an excellent Tower breakfast.

Members were interested to inspect the refurbishment of the new bars at the Tower.

As members strolled across the terrace it was agreed that it would be appropriate for the Society to have a flag,   a Standard or Colour to hoist high over the ramparts of the Tower for the duration of Otterburn.

Chairman Flack agreed that this was an excellent idea and further agreed to procure the same for the Society.  The director of fine arts agreed to design the standard.

 

 
   

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