Friendship Club celebrate in style

Royal Florist Arranger Dawn Hartnell with Queen Nolene White. Photo courtesy June Warren.

The Martinborough Friendship Club pulled out all the stops to make their celebration of the Queens 60th Jubilee the best of occasions.

Most attending made the effort to embrace the occasion by dressing up in very fine attire and even the most modest went to the effort of wearing strings of beads and tiaras.

Some wore complete ensembles of hats, gloves and fascinators, others wore their clan kilts and jackets while the convenor dressed as Her Majesty. The Beefeater of the day was Anne Egerton who called for all to stand and sing God Save The Queen.

The ‘Queen’ then delivered her speech followed by Thelma Feist saying grace and lunch being served.

Following lunch, and while the kitchen was being taken care off, Joan Gibson read a description of what it was like being in the Abbey during the Coronation sixty years ago.

The Beefeater then called the people who were to be invested by the Queen:

Connie was invested Supreme Club Catering Convenor, Super Soup Maker and Ruler of The Kitchen.

Dawn was invested Royal Florist Arranger, Soup and Cake Contributor.

Shirley was awarded the Order of Merit for Services Rendered , Soup and Cake maker and Place Setter.

Barbara was bestowed the honour of Club Trustee and Soup Maker.

Margaret was awarded the highest Merit for Distance Travelled and Supreme Cake Maker.

Joyce was Nominated as Chief Door Keeper and Name distributor.

Noeline was recognised for her long term effort as Phone Team Manager.

Joan received An Order of Merit as former Convenor, and current Club Trustee.

Christine was recognised as being one of the club’s youngest members and a member of the phoning team
Glad was bestowed the Highest Honour of being a Regular Supporter and Phone Team member.

The afternoon concluded with the singing of Land of Hope and Glory led by Dawn with everybody joining in with enthusiasm. The afternoon was great fun and showed that those in their Golden Years are capable of making the effort to enjoy themselves.

Anyone is welcome to the Club meetings which are held on the last Monday of each month at 1.30pm in the Presbyterian Church Hall. $3 for home made soup buns/scones and slices with tea or coffee. Currently Andy Sutherland and Jack Egerton are the only men members. The club is most grateful to these men who set up and take down the tables for each meeting.