We is just about holding our own (if you know what I mean), with respect to the monies received and paid out so far this financial year.

We now have  63  paid up members, which has contributed to the income for this year, but we do pay out about 25% of this money straight to the BMC, for all the wonderful benefits? of belonging to the BMC (Balders gets cheap insurance for his Himalayan trips).

We also managed to make a small profit at the BBQ, held at Phasells Wood, but this was only because the price was upped from £5 to £6 at the last moment.

So where do we get the money to pay for all the wonderful lecturing coming our way.  Well, this is where the rest of your subs go, plus we will hopefully make a small profit on the winter hut meets.

Therefore at the end of the financial year, if all goes according to plan, (and I forgo my winter holiday in the Bahamas),  we should break even financially, and still have a useful float in the bank.  This float is normally used to pre-pay for next years events, lectures, hut meets, etc..

One of the events happening next year (when I get it organised), is the 40th Anniversary of the HMC.  To mark this unique occasion, (that the Club has managed to keep going for so long), we will hold the Annual Dinner in Hertfordshire, on April 18Th next year, and have already booked (and paid a deposit to) the Tewin Village Hall. 

Apart from being the best sized one around, with heating, it is also just around the corner from Doreen's mum, so could be convenient to borrow the odd cooking implements, chairs, etc..

Talking about food, a Caterer has been approached, but they are still to be confirmed, to prepare the meal for the evening.  The caterers are no relations to Balders, our incumbent ex-Catering Manager.

A list of some of the ex-members has been compiled, and is available for review (from me), just in case I have missed off anyone who you would like to see there.  Unfortunately, you cannot remove the names of people you may not wish to meet again.  Just avoid them if they turn up.  Seriously though, I have names, but in some cases, not the latest addresses, to contact them.  If anyone can assist with finding the old members, it would be appreciated.

So please attend the Hut meets in droves, and we may

July 11th-13th

Two years ago it was Llangorse lake in the Brecon Beacons, this year it was Symonds Yat, and all under the watchful eye of Joe Towe, canoeing
instructor extraordinaire.

Yes, two years ago, Joe took out on Llangorse lake, an intrepid party of HMC members who wanted to try out canoeing, on a nice warm shallow flat lake.  In July this year (1997), some of these people pestered Joe to take them out on some sloping water, with some bumpy bits.

It was with this in mind that a select band of members (Albert, Phil Whitehurst, Dave & Richard Goodey), with Norman in support, found themselves in hired canoes paddling up and down the Wye, at Symonds Yat, close to Monmouth in Wales.

Here, under the experienced eye of Joe Towe, we practiced the basic strokes of canoeing, turning, breaking in and out of flowing water, slapping the water for support, and finally, against everyone's wishes, rolling over and evacuating the canoe under water.  This was our special treat at the end of the day, followed by dinner at the tents, and a few

per family had been packed.  Nice one, girls!
To be entirely honest, the "summit" was not reached as the call of a cream tea on the Church lawns (not to mention the use of a loo) proved too much temptation for Doreen who, whilst lagging behind on the upward journey, led the way down with great determination.

Scones, jam and cream were quickly devoured, whilst Keith and Sam winning a prize on the tombola stall posed for the local press.  Those Hirsts get everywhere!  Doreen went in search of a "Ladies", only to be told that the Church Hall didn't run to modern sanitation and she was advised to take her custom to the nearby pub.  No problem!

The wanderers returned reluctantly to the Wayside Inn, only to find that mine host had decided to turn off the outside water tap in another effort to dissuade any prospective campers from enjoying themselves.  However, Doreen soon got him sorted, only to be accosted the next morning for additional campsite fees, supposedly for smuggling Richard's six foot friend into her tent!

So ... be warned you campers, steer clear of the Wayside Inn at Marshbrook, near Church Stretton, and don't turn your nose up at any future male orientated "family meets".