The Hop Pickers Lunch - October 9th 2008
 

Hazel Andrews, Anne Blanchett, Elizabeth Ayres, Hazel Perfect	Anne Wiggins and Sandra Noel
Valerie Hayward and Gilly Bond	Jean Newport and Doreen Irwin
Susan Blacklocks and Jo-an Baxter	Helen Davis, Elizabeth Cheshire, Anne Wiggins, Jane Cheshire and Tessa Hurst
Anne Holliwell, Sally Goodall, Sara Dean, Val Bucknell Jane Brundett, and Peggy Lurcock	Sue Copland, Angela Yates, Lyn Waterhouse, Clare Davidson, Jacky Mount, Anne Gordon, Felicity Johnson, Patsy Cooper, Corena Burner and Jean Mitchell

It is always especially pleasing to welcome our Senior members and this year we were joined by Doreen Irwin (whom Dilys Lougher brought); Doreen is now Mrs Wilson-Haffenden, a famous name indeed to all who learnt how to sew in the wooden hut (poor Haffy never did understand why I was not so diligent as my mother whom she also taught).

Our stalwart, Vi Stanley, accompanied by daughter, Helen, enjoyed  'farming talk' with Elizabeth Wakeling and Sally Savage (Rosemary H. and Freda Th. you would have been well away with them!). I think our champion conversationalists must have been Jane Cheshire and Alison Furneaux; they even had to have chairs brought to them they were talking so much and that is what it is all about - friendships renewed and as everyone has the same background we can all go forward from it. It was wonderful to have two people who travelled all the way from Cornwall, Ann Holliwell who livens up anywhere she is! and Sue Copland who came all the way by bus. Amongst everyone, as all are special, we were very pleased to have Clare O'Halloran, also Norma Smyth and Caroline Riddell as ex staff members, and visitor, Joanne Stephens, our connection from school.

As before, various local Old Girls have been very generous with their help; Valerie Hayward provided some smart new ASA notices; Alexia Swatland helped with the Raffle; our two 'in-house' photographers, Brenda Crump and Jane Brundrett happily snapped away, and Sandra Noel who acted as Hostess was a great help, as always, in making people feel welcome.
The Hop Pickers' Raffle took £94, all profit as the prizes were gifts but our store is now rather depleted for next time.  
We look forward to seeing you all, and your friends, again next year.

Additional note from Jo-an 20th December 2008

Following some dissatisfaction from our 2008 Hop Picker Lunch, we have received the following letter from Joanne Stockbridge, the General Manager at The Holiday Inn:

"After speaking to various members of my team not only at the Hop Pickers public house but also the Holiday Inn Ashford North, I would like to reassure you that should you wish to come back next October for your meal then the ambience and attention to detail will be different from your last experience.
Changes will be made at the Hop Pickers public house in the early part of next year which will result in the changes I have mentioned.
Miss Baxter, we look forward to welcoming you back."

The main concerns that we raised resulted from your comments and related mainly to the personal service and presentation of the food. We shall rebook and I am sure that we shall be treated well; as usual I shall go in beforehand to check things with them but this time I shall have your comments to help (I honestly never thought to ask for hot plates last time!). The location is so good that it would be a pity if we had to change so we do hope you will all come back and we'll all enjoy ourselves.

Next Hop Pickers Luncheon

Thursday October 8th 2009, at The Hop Pickers, 12noon for 12:30pm. Details to follow.

                                                                                                                                  Jo-an Baxter

Those present