November as always was dominated by preparation for the Bunfight, our annual ceilidh dance featuring a ‘spot’ which we spend much of the year talking about and November practising for. This year we got the main idea quite quickly, though we had to ditch the original plan involving scooters when it became clear that ‘suitable for children up to 6 stone’ was for a good, weight related reason. Shame though, as John was demonstrating very effectively the comic potential of 3rd degree carpet burns during practice.
Despite some advance concern about reduced attendances, when the Bunfight eventually happened (Sat 30 Nov) it proved to be just as successful as ever. The theme for the night was ‘The Underground’, and as usual this was open to a number of misinterpretations. We had a variety of London Underground stations, including several Angels, some underground workers, and a couple of WW2 Underground Resistance members, straight out of an audition for Allo Allo (its a popular light entertainment programme, Jerry). Our traditional band for the evening, Phungus, also sported ‘Mind The Gap’ T-shirts though why they were so concerned about an overpriced clothes retailer we never did find out.
The first spot of the evening featured BB in ‘normal’ fancy dress gear performing ‘Jolly Jockey Sticks’ particularly badly, even by our own pretty low standards. But eventually it was time for the second spot, and after enduring Tim spinning out the Irish bingo as long as he possibly could (Tim, if you are ever called on in the future, remember to try to wrap it up just before people have lost the will to live rather than after), it was time for our 633 Squadron spot. Now, its not easy to describe this except to say imagine a number of over excited schoolboys running around a room in vague formation with their arms stuck out pretending to be aeroplanes and making plane-y noises, done to the accompaniment of a stirring brass band version of ‘633 Squadron’.
Once the main music had finished, with us on one knee, arms outstretched, the opening strains of ‘The Dambusters’ started up. Now of you’ve ever listened to this, after a stirring opening with cymbally bits, it goes into a particularly camp bit of tune, which seemed just right for a mincing, prancing sort of step by which to exit. As we came off, it seemed inconceivable that such a pile of old tosh would merit calls for an encore, but (helped in no small way by Hugh Crabtree) we were duly summonsed back to do it again. We had taken the precaution of handing out lots of party poppers for the second time through so as we came to the bomb-y bits, we were duly poppered. Ah well, another easy-to-prepare spot to add to the repertoire. Now, what about next year?
This year, the Bunfight fell the day before the Wokingham Winter Carnival, so the very next day (Sun 1st Dec) we were out again on the streets, ably supported by Jane and Gareth, subjecting the denizens of Wokingham to some of the very finest entertainment to be found anywhere in the vicinity of Woolworths on that particular day. We also took part in a much shorter procession than in previous years, though we did have the usual bit of trouble with a goat. Still, better than that bloke with the cloak, eh?
And December finished off in its usual style, with the Xmas meal at the Hideout followed by the St. Thomas’s Day performance on Sat 21st Dec in Wokingham Market Place, joined again this year by Gareth who for once did not have his post company dinner Xmas hangover, which in previous years has made him forget some of the tunes. This year he forgot the tunes for completely different reasons. Yvonne had also done a great job in getting some advance publicity for this in the local press, though it has to be said that despite this we were not overwhelmed with spectators. Still, their loss was the pigeons gain.
And so on to 2003, where will no doubt be soon be more tales of fun, laughter, joy, comradeship, and great performances to be told. And some of them could even be about us……