Hi Pals,

Would it be a great idea to have once a year a get together for Forum Pals?
I love to see an annual Forum dinner once a year, whats is your thoughts?

Regards,

Phil.

As long as it's not bully beef!

Real or virtual?

OK as long as I do not have to sit next to Mr B
A book stall would be nice as well

Have you ever seen how long it takes a posse of folk from the same area to get a meeting together never mind folk from all 4 corners of the world. The Ayrshire/North Staffs/South Staffs pals have had a good few Christmas meals together so it does work. If there is food available then I'm up for one

Kevin

Looking good so Far not keen on the bully Beef.

Regards,

Phil

It would have to be in the centreish of England for those from England and N.I, Wales and Ireland. You cant get more central than Stoke on Trent lol. If we include the Scots then its still Stoke on Trent because its half way to Kew or Dover. Shall I book Abu D Abi's kebab house for 4 people, I know they do lamb and chicken kebabs but not sure about bully beef kebabs.

Kevin,
You've stumbled on the next problem.
Menu.I see Fried Mars Bars being put forward, from our Kin Folk,as an example.
George

As long as the rum ration is included I see no problem

I reckon the bully beef kebab for starters, Maconochie stew with ship's biscuit for main, coffee can be served traditionally from old petrol cans before we pass the rum jars round.

Sounds good to me, provided someone will staff the field hospital.

Keith

Alternate years we could have the virtual dinner, all consuming in distant unison, with gravy getting between the keys.


Keith

I wonder how the mods think?????

I've often wondered that too....

As long as I don't have to sit next to that ghastly oik, Morse. He'll probably use the wrong cutlery, drink the finger bowl, fall asleep during my after-dinner speech (and I've cut it down to 90 minutes now), pinch the waiters' and waitresses' bums and probably try and sell everyone a signed copy of his memoirs.

Full silver service, I imagine. DJ? Stripper?

(Are the ladies invited, too?)

Me too. But not usually out loud

Am all for that if a location can be agreed.
Perhaps we could have an authentic WW1 dining experience like this.



What say you?

Mike

Having read some of the above, it might spoil the illusions of those who respect [?] the senior brethren if we were to come face to face with them.
[!]
D

In the dim and distant past, Chris Baker once suggested that we should have an "annual conference". A weekend job somewhere - with guest speakers. And, presumably, food & pi&&-up on the Saturday night. It came to nothing, but I still reckon it'd be a runner as an idea.

John

providing there's no stand to at 6.30 Sunday morning I'd be more than happy to share a good nosh up in the trenches with you lot

Jon

OR GAS, GAS, GAS during the night.........lol

Regards,

Phil

So where will be the location?????????

Skindles of course!

Well will we set a date or location??????

Like the idea of a conference have to say?

A conference would be ideal, followed by a meal.

Pals could choose whether to attend for the whole day or just the conference, or only the meal. Plenty of opportunity for formal speakers and informal chat so something for everyone.

Location, date & costs need to be worked out? An opportunity for some raising of funds to donate to GWF perhaps?

Perhaps open a thread once these have been agreed and book tickets via GWF.

Regards

Sounds good to me.

Hi Folks,
I like the idea of an annual get-together too and fair play to ww1ptepatteson for getting the ball rolling.

If this is to be expanded out to an annual conference could i suggest it be based somewhere in Belgium and in that way many of us could combine planned visits and holidays with attending?

I think that Birmingham is central enough for everyone,
I am going to a meet from a site i frequent, in Tamworth, near the M42 for motels and the network of motorways.
It is being held in a pub but they can have 100 people attend,
will be happy to check it out for the forum when i am there on 20th June if you want me to,
Mandy

Ooh, I say Matron. Do we have to dress up as doctors and nurses?

I think that if is does get the go ahead then we can expect a lot more than 100 folks, especailly if its a conference, that is unless you limit it to the first 100. Birmingham is central for the English folks but not for the travelling masses from NI and Scotland. Manchester would save those an 80 miles journey.

Maybe the whole thing should be broke down into stages,

Stage 1 Venue
Stage 2 Month, giving that we can agree on a year
Stage 3 Weekday or Weekend
Stage 4 Conference in a hotel or just a meal for loads.

As soon as we can crack stage 1 then we move on.

That's how I see we can make a success of it, if it's going to work or not.

Kevin

We had a first Forum Dinner in 2003: http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...pic=626&hl=

Any chance of it being 1st/2nd week of July, 2010, if UK, or 3rd week, if Belgium/France??


Cheers
Kim

Sounds like a splendid idea - so what if someone (could be me I suppose) posts a new "poll" thread in Forum Pals - asking these sorts of questions. It looks like up to three questions can be asked in any one "poll" thread, each with up to twenty answers. Then we could see if there is enough interest in terms of numbers.

Alan

I've long regretted the loss of the Western Front Association annual weekend seminar. It was a cracking event. I think I went to 6 or 7 of them. About 80-ish there, arrive in time for dinner on the Friday, depart tea-time Sunday. A talk on the Friday evening, several on Saturday and Sunday morning, evening entertainment on Saturday plus a decent bar. Couple of bookstalls, quiz, etc etc. Took some organising, though.

We used to hold it in a residential study centre in Abergavenny. Not the easiest place to get to but fantastic grounds and views. I always learned a lot and the camaraderie was tremendous.

It could easily serve as a model for the Forum if we wanted to go to that extent.

Sounds like a good idea Alan!

Cheers
Kim

Well I definitely would like the option of meeting up on the Western Front next year.

Just imagine a battlefield walk with us all there - it would be marvellous!

Looking forward to the poll.

A very successful dinner was held at Varlet Farm in Belgium in the early days of the Forum, magnificently hosted by Charlotte and Dirk Cardoen-Descamps.Charlotte is still a forum member. An attempt to resurrect a weekend seminar in Warwickshire, based on the WFA model that has been mentioned, fell at the first fence because of the cost.

If this idea were to be carried forward, it might be worth considering the continental option which has some advantages.

TR

Alan it seems we need a poll lol
go for it and see waht happens, dont wait for someone else just do it or we will be here all day lol
Mandy

Probably the only way forward, Alan.

But, from experience, of even getting regional Pals together, bear in mind that many folk will say it's a great idea and that they'll be up for it - and then, naturally, add in that they really mean they are up for it if it's not at the far ends of the country and/or that it's dirt cheap and/or it's on a Thursday and/or that Richard Holmes is a guest speaker. And that's before someone has gone to the trouble of doing some preliminary organisation and putting a firm proposal forward.

I am up for it.

John

Perhaps we can wear our GWF badges.....

(Ducks)

Some would replace the word 'how' with the word 'do'.

I think this is a great idea. Lets also not forget that 'Promenade' delivered a cracking seminar day a couple of years ago in Solihull with several esteemed members as guest speakers. Threre was a sizeable turnout of forum members and I'd love to go to something similar again.*

I suppose it just needs someone to grab the bull by the horns and set it up.

Can't be me though, 'cos I'm a Mod and we are often told that we can't recognise the difference between our posterior and our elbow.

(* You can read about it here: http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/i...showtopic=67488 On p.7 is a photo of the assembled crew, including the John Hartley twins.)

Well, I've bitten the bullet and added a poll question. Let's see what happens....

Well done you mad fool!

As I am From Northern Ireland I would not be able to organize the event but I would help in any way I could. A small committee would be the answer.

regards,

Phil.

Ha ha Ducks I was thinking something something similar but wouldn't have had the bottle to articulate it without a lead (I have been in hot water on here before).

I would try my best to join in with anything that does get decided as I am still completely spellbound with WW1 and anything to do with it.....SB

We do this to make it easier for folk to avoid us. Or not.

I have not been on the GWF for a few weeks ( work and all that......), so just picked this up, and think its a great idea, and am willing to give a hand from this side of the small pond.

Peter

Don't forget that there is another thread running in Forum Pals where you can cast your vote for various options regarding a proposed meal or conference

Alan

Well done Peter, So who eles????? Lets get the wheels rolling pals........

Phil

If it is a day conference may I suggest we start around mid day to enable the pals to travel from across the UK and Ireland and beyond. Also a one night stay for pals traveling afar to cut down the costs and to make it affordable to all.

We need more members to help out and take the lead!! Put your head above the parapet. LOL

Regards,

Phil

Phil

I think that Alan already has that underway with the poll here - he needs to get as many expressions of interest as possible to see if this is feasible.

Regards
Brian