By John Fortgang
If any reason were needed to write for your Newsletter you would have been
given it by being invited to the annual party, which took place at the Parish
Hall on the 15th December. Sixty favoured people, all intimately connected
with this journal, gathered there to be plied with the finest wines and gourmet
dishes to ensure that they would jolly well be writing again this year, otherwise
they won’t get any more invitations.
We were delighted to bestow
upon David Burgess the ‘Contributor of the Year’ award, now
made real and lasting in the shape of a silver salver, and it was particularly
rewarding to do so personally, as David and Penny were able to attend for
a short time to enable this to happen. David is clearly much recovered and
his old self.After having drunk said wine and devoured said dishes, those guests who were still conscious were treated to a moving piece of passionate poetry, deftly delivered by one of the editors, by way of warm-up for the main feature, a tour de force by David Jones who got non-stop laughter by having a go at everything and everybody and had his audience yelling for more. Skilful interviewing teased out of him the fact that he had once shared a platform with the Princess Royal, so dealing with us was probably child’s play.
A very successful evening, thanks to those members of the committee who organised it so well. And remember, you could be part of it this year; all you have to do is string a few words together.
Ode to The Lee Newsletter
By Anon
By Anon
| They don’t come much better Than The Lee Newsletter Thanks to the editorial team. I’ll run through their names And their various games And I think you’ll know what I mean. There’s Paul Apicella A popular feller But if he wants you to give him an ad He won’t be a jester He’ll bully and pester Until you are driven quite mad. And Andrew Burnett Usually tied to the net Is a wizard at making words fit. But if there’s too many And you can’t remove any, You’ll feel as if you’ve been hit. And photographer Rigby Who’d like his pictures to big be Is out snapping everything gaily. But they have to be squeezed, Into small spaces teased, So he’ll never be like David Bailey. And Barnaby Usborne Is really no greenhorn He controls the affairs of the parish. Day in and day out He’s out and about Without him life would be nightmarish. If you want to visit Trish Swain You must walk down a lane And whether foggy or rainy or sunny Midst the birds and the bees You’ll find Trish up to her knees Making barrels and barrels of honey. Though Jen Ogley is new To the Newsletter crew Already we know all about her. And monthly we bless This keyboard princess We know we’d be quite lost without her. |
If you’ve wondered who etches Those picturesque sketches For walkers and bikes round the Lee, Then join in the crowning Of Elizabeth Browning Without whom quite dull they would be. And now we praise she Without whom there’d no days be When the finished newsletter arrives. She sets all hearts a throbbing Does our dear Viv Robins She’s greatly enriched all our lives. But it would be a desert Without any adverts There wouldn’t be much milk and honey. Even though we may choose To spend it on booze Please do keep giving us money. Yet the hard work of all Would be nothing at all If no one agreed to distribute.. Without your long walks There’d be no popping of corks To you we wish to pay tribute. But in spite of these stalwarts Tis really the efforts Of all our guests with us tonight If you were not willing Our sheets to keep filling We’d be here all alone getting tight. So now that we know How much that we owe To these people with whom we are blest I offer this toast And am happy to boast That The Lee Newsletter is best! |