Jono had had this one booked in the diary for the last couple of months and it was with great excitement that the following meet for 2pm at Panther Brewery, Reepham, for what would prove to be an excellent tour and summers afternoon beer......or two!!!
Jono, Easty, Wright, Tony, Mel, Simon, Nigel, Rob Copeland and Andy Stoat were all superbly hosted by Martin and Diana of Panther.
Martin kicked off the tour with a chance to sample one of his range of beers. Panther Golden seemed popular amongst the lads and so was a new brew, Panther Pink. Then the tour commenced with Martin over the next hour, giving an informative over view of the brewing process and the history of the brewery and he also spoke about his home brewing days!!
Whilst we were having the tour the boys were recharging their glasses and Martin spoke of his latest brew, Panther Ginger, which went down well with the ladies as well as Wrighty! For Christmas, Martin is making special brews of Panther Black in old Whisky and Bourbon barrels, which the boys got all excited about!
Anyway, it was then time for our 'ploughmans lunch' which was laid on by Diana. A lovely spread, included cheeses, pate, fresh cut loafs and all the other nibbles which accompany a beer so well!
Time was pressing on and before we knew it, it was 5.15pm. We said our goodbyes to our wonderful hosts and thanked them in the traditional Aylsham RoundTable manner and then it was onto the Kings Arms in Reepham Market Place. They had a good selection of real ales on, Abbot, Timmy Taylors, Panther Golden!!!! and Adnams. The boys really began to kick in hard and ordered some food to help keep a steady head on things.
Great banter in the back garden, as Wrighty slipped off the real ale and onto some Pear Jungle Juice stuff.....
The boys wrapped up around 10pm, a great afternoon, a real 'table' event and if you missed, unfortunatly you missed out!
Annually for the last 5 years, Aylsham RoundTable have visited the Great British Beer Festival in Earl's Court, London and have had a lovely time. This year was to be no exception, as with no train to catch, Jono and Jacko were not clock watching!
The day started with a Wetherspoon's traditional breakfast and a pint of Oakham Ales, session bitter. Then it was off to Hyde Park Corner, via the Tube, to take in the Wellington Arch.
After climbing the three stories, in which you get fantastic views looking over Buckingham Palace gardens, Jono done his bit for Queen and Country by waiving enthusiastically to all the open top bus tours which happen to go by whilst up the monument!
Then it was off to Earl's Court, arriving at 12.30pm, with the first port of call being none other than Fuller's. It was then onto a beer which Jono tried last year in the Lake District, Hawkshead Brewery, session ale, which went down just fine. Jacko then recommended a pint of Jarrow. Throughout the day, we managed to cover also Summer Lightening by the Hopback Brewery Salisbury and other beers which have been tried and tested over the years. But got really bogged down on the Dutch beer stand where we meet our old mate Brian serving in the same spot which he has done for the last 6 years. Brian was so shocked and overwhelmed as Jono jumped up onto the bar to have the photo taken with the legend and he also asked him to sign his beer fest programme!!!! Jono even tried a pint of 'Jonny' brewed by Brouwerij De Molen, Amsterdam.
Jacko, done his usual pork pie, pork scratching run, but it was nothing to Jono's nip to the loo, when he reappeared wearing a fezz. At this time, he really was on fire, chatting to all around him and when Jacko got lost trying to buy a 'Webster's Yorkshire Bitter' rusty beer tray and had been gone for over 45 minutes, he did not realise where the time had gone!!!!!!
Leaving the beer festival at beer festival at 8pm, yes, I think even I had had enough by this time, over 7 hours! It was off to The White Horse on Liverpool Street. Those of you who have been in Aylsham RT a good number of years, know that this is one of London's finest places for those talented young ladies, who slide up and down a pole. However, I think Jacko was more concerned with the beer choice than the 'bristols', as he noticed that Fullers London Pride was on, replacing the usual crap John Smiths smooth!
After several £1's in the pint pot it was time for home, well The Chamberlain, Fullers 'flag ship' hotel, 15 minutes from Liverpool Street station, where the boys finished on a half of Fullers Golden Pride.
Shame we could not raise a few more numbers, but still a good day out....
On the evening of Thursday 16th June, Paul Wright, Vice-Chairman, organised a visit to the MOD Police Unit which patrols around the surrounding area of Bacton Gas Site.
PC Karl Smith, was our host for the evening and presented an excellent presentation over the next 2 hours. He talked about his background, the history of the unit and the armoury that they use to deter any security infiltrations into the site.
At the end of Karl's talk the 'Tablers' were able to look, touch and hold, the array of guns and equipment, but what really got our attention was when Karl's colleague, a dog handler, walked in with a 2 year old Czech Alsatian on the leash. Karl's colleague gave us a quick insight into dog handling, as we were pushed for time, but showed us some of the skills which the dog had learned over the last 2 years.
Steve was keen to have us back some time for a dog handling session and it was refreshing to see Graham put his hand in the air, as Steve asked for a would be volunteer to act as an assailant and run away from the dog and be captured in an exercise. As Steve said, in these exercise, they will go for the arms, legs, anything which is available. They will bruise, rip muscle and tear skin, but they are only playing............
Chairman James Marks, thanked both Karl and Steve and in turn Aylsham RT thanked the guys in the traditional manner, hopeful of a return someday. Then, it was onto Lessingham Star for meal and a pint or two. Lessingham Star proved a little tricky to find to say the least, as James Marks and JT lead the convoy via the coast road, only to go past Lessingham and nearly into Sea Palling. With this, James pulled over, but only to find Kelly 'Mr President' Clarke, in a less than friendly manner, saying, 'you two idiots should have turned off on the first bend in Lessingham'. Appreciate what you are saying Kelly, but you still followed us.....
Anyway, we headed back, via Ingham and finally found Lessingham Star. An excellent selection of real ales, and a good meal, was followed by a brief meeting and before we knew it, it was 11.15pm and time for home.
For me, this has got to be one of the best 'table' evenings we have done in the last 10 years. An excellent insight into Policing around the gas site area, a nice meal and plenty of banter. Those on board last night all enjoyed it, James 'Mr Chairman' Marks, Graham 'Fido' Fryer, Paul 'I'm a Salad' East, Mel 'Sooty' Laxen, Jono 'Arse tighter than a drum skin when the Alsatian walked in' Thetford, Paul 'Vice Chairman' Wright, Kelly 'Mr President' Clarke and Alan 'Sven Goran Erikson' Wright.
The last thing for me to say is thank you to Paul Wright for an excellent night on behalf of the Aylsham RT.
Jonathan Thetford, International Officer, Aylsham RT
