Linda and I had not been to the Southern Lunch before, and I doubt we will be allowed to return in future. It seems they always have sunshine and are able to enjoy ‘afters’ getting a tan. Not this time!

Prior to this at Peterborough for the B.M.F. rally we had rain and hailstones, having been told “we always have good weather”. I am pretty sure that we have got the blame for the change in both  instances so I hope we get the funding for the museum before the year end so we don’t have beg to be allowed to go again.    

Actually we hadn’t gone to Bournemouth’s Connaught Hotel to run a raffle or any other fund raising but to say thanks to all the regular members for their generosity already. So many donations have come from this part of the country we felt that it was an opportunity to show our gratitude. Of course we took donation forms just in case anyone had not received same through the post. Besides this the profits from this, as with other venues, goes to the WSRA fund in order to carry out the good work helping our less fortunate colleagues.                 

The huge task of organising an event of this magnitude comes as no problem to Merv Hannam. He lets his lovely wife Sheila do it all. He reckons she’ll be able to do it without his instructions if she keeps in practice. Well that’s what  he told me!

I was delighted to see Danny Dunton arrive with his son Lee on a big chain. Sorry I mean Danny was wearing ‘his chain of office’ as befits a man of his position. The grin disappeared from my face when Danny remembered he had lent me a fiver in 1954 and said he felt it was time I paid it back. What a memory! And guess who! Sheila Biggs! Jackie Biggs wife who had come for a visit from Australia and included

‘Southern Lunch’ in her itinerary. I was really pleased to see her until I realised she doesn’t look any older than when I last saw her. After that I started to go off her, and consoled myself by thinking ‘well she used to be nice’! Truly great to see you Sheila!

Super stylist Gote Nordin was there too. I believed him when he said he had walked here from his home in Sweden. Jesus! I thought. He couldn’t fool me for long though because I know the Mediterranean doesn’t freeze over between here and there.

They told me I had won the super painting of Gote leading Ken McKinlay at West Ham, but the truth was that when I kept putting my hand up to leave the room they had decided I was bidding. So I have ‘won’ this fantastic painting by Peter Billingham and never did get to ‘leave the room’. By now I’m beginning to realise why the rest of the WSRA committee had previous engagements.

And still the wine kept coming! Alan Brett and Bobby Croombes must have been ashamed of us all. They didn’t say so but I know they wouldn’t have come all the way from Spain to be part of it. Vic Gooden? He just kept smiling wisely as though he was thinking ‘You aint seen nothin’ yet’.

Freddie, Ian and, from Oz, Eric Williams were there and I just could not believe my eyes at the antics of this trio. That quiet former World Champion? What a performer at the ‘after dinner’ command performance at Buck- Hannam Palace. I must not say too much now just watch for the release of my book

Lovely gesture by one our real veterans Charlie Cheshire. He made a donation to the Museum Fund and also delivered a donation from his neighbour Gwen Clark. Gwen said Charlie didn’t coerce her as he only hit her the once. Thank you both.

President Elect. I was told to keep someone really elegant, a proper gentleman, a man of high moral standards, strictly teetotal, for the last few words. And, I was so shocked when I heard some blurred words “Hey Barclay! That’s my Bl---y beer you’re drinking”

Dear Jack Geran! ‘Dear’? Asked his wife. He’s not dear, he’s expensive. As Jack himself made quite clear to me the ladies just do not appreciate our qualities. He asked me not to spoil his image, so I’ll just say he was great to talk to.

Brian Crutcher! Blimey! Like most of us who saw him ride I never thought I would meet him. What a rider! I never thought I would be amongst so many of the talented Speedway riders that were here today, so feeling a bit inadequate I told them I was an international ice skater. Linda and I were truly privileged to have been present at the Southern Lunch. Ours thanks to all who were there.

 George Barclay