On 22 January 2016 the splendid oak panelled Long Room of the Honourable
Artillery Company was filled to capacity by 180 members and guests attending the
New Year Luncheon of the London Hardwood Club.
The event started with a drinks reception featuring cask ale and the launch of a
new club tie which was well received with more than 50 being sold.
Lunch was followed by the President’s speech in which Robert Morgan made
reference to the excellent range of speakers that had contributed to the success
of the bi-monthly meetings of the Hardwood Club in 2015. Three of the speakers
were present at the lunch and they were warmly applauded. The President also
called for members to support the WWF Forests Campaign and for al sectors of
the timber industry to unite in the common interests that we share. In his last year
as President, Mr Morgan thanked the committee for their excellent support over
the three year term and announced that David Howard had agreed to stand as his
successor.
Entertainment was provided by Sid Dennis who, in addition to amusing everybody
with his jokes and scrap metal dealing anecdotes, surprised the audience with his
bugle style playing of a rubber pipe and funnel!
The raffle was sponsored by sixteen member companies who had provided a
£1,600 fund which was used to purchase an excellent range of prizes. Ticket sales
raised £2,680 which was divided equally and donated to the TTBS and The
Alzheimer’s Society.
Lunch was followed, as tradition dictates, by a visit to Bangers where many
guests stayed well into the evening to round off a most enjoyable day.