|
|
 |
FORUM – Background The origins of the Forum were based on the previous
association called FEIS. This
grouping was formed in the late 1970’s by Rod Baker and included Mike Gough,
Geoff Werrett, Dick Davies, Stuart ?? and Jim O’Neill. FEIS stood for Free Exchange of Information to Schedule, but
a feis is also a Gaelic festival of dance and the arts – not really our
intention, but we reasonably argued that no Gaelic festival would be without
beer – so that was good enough for us. The
format was a rotating chairman responsibility for deciding a venue and agenda.
One memorable meeting was when Rod arranged the viewing of some early
mucky videos in his employer’s offices in Knightsbridge.
During the show we were interrupted twice – one by the cleaners and
once by the Police, who were investigating a nearby break in.
The objectives since 2000 are:
The first meeting was held on Saturday 25th November 1995 at Guildford University – thanks
to the fragrant and gorgeous Carol Werrett.
Carol also managed to arrange a supply of tea and coffee.
In total, some 11 souls attended – Rod Baker, Geoff Werrett, Mike
Reeve, Martin
Edser, Dick Davies, Bill Barham, Phil Sansom, John Storey, Matthew Boullin, Tom
II…?
As ‘mature students’ (we never stop learning, do we?) we made use of
the Students Bar – good prices, shame about the furniture! The second meeting was also at Guildford University on
Saturday 13th January 1996 –
smaller numbers and no tea this time – Geoff had given Carol the day off.
We retired to a hostelry at Guildford Park, where the beer was pricier
than before and the furniture was worse. We then moved to the Concorde Cricket Club in Whiteley
Village - famous for it’s fridge like qualities – even in high summer.
We stayed here for many years (until about 2000, when the club moved to
Send) and as Mike Reeve was the Captain, Committee Member, Bar Steward and
Cellarman, the habit of starting on the beer at 10am started.
Once or twice we even had some food – probably on the back of the
cricket/football catering. And then we settled on the infamous Pilgrim in Dorking, where
we have been ever since. The Pilgrim - famous for its Landlord and quality of
London Pride and the quality of its cooked breakfast.
But it wasn’t until recent times that Geoff joined in for breakfast –
explaining that he ‘had it with Carol on Saturday mornings’.
In deference to the far flung member (Mike Gough), we have
held two meetings in Mike’s local – the Swan at Three Mile Cross.
No breakfast (too late) but a very interesting Landlady and great
lunches. The passing of mine host at the Pilgrim, John Bateman in February 2014 and subsequent sale of the pub has left the Forum without a 'home' and have thus become a wandering society. Members Over the years, names were added – Martyn Champion, Mike
Gough, Richard Marsden, Simon Bennett (200?), John Hughes (2007) Over the years, some names dropped out – let’s hope they
are all happy without our company! It is interesting to note that the founder members are still
members and the hard core remain the same – Geoff, Rod, Bill, Mike R, Dick,
Martyn, Mike G, Simon. In those early days – before email was as popular and
widespread as it is now, all meetings were arranged by telephone or by post –
how did we manage? Chairman The first Chairman was Geoff and he brought a structure to
the proceedings, which meant that we were all supposed to keep each other up to
date with our work situation and ambitions for the future.
Geoff also instituted the idea of ‘presentations’ on various
subjects: Bill on "what the hell handheld bar code readers were for" Geoff on the minefield of pensions Rod on risk management ?? more ?? ?? did we then have a rotating chairmanship ?? Then Rod took over the Chair and attempted to get through the
‘formal’ business by limiting each Member’s presentation to 10 minutes –
fat chance! But he did use his
Chairman’s position to ensure that he always presented last Geoff was ‘elected’ Chairman again in 2005? Mike agreed to a one year Chairmanship on July 2006 Forum Ladies Lunch Instituted after some years, in order that Les Girls could
find out what we didn’t talk about. Venues The memorable dim sum experience – where we didn’t know
what we were eating and by the time the bill arrived we didn’t care.
We were all well ratted and the bill was only £8.50 a head. The Red Lion, Betchworth Latterly our Welsh branch has hosted a 'Summer Thrash' at their estate in Lydney Obituary Sunday 9th February 2014, our illustrious host, John Bateman passed away Monday 20th October, 2014, Simon Bennett passed away after having fought off cancer.
|