Reports - Weekends 2021

Autumn Weekend 2021

Hosted by Northamptonshire Country Link at The Rockingham Forest Hotel, Corby.

Around eighty members gathered throughout Friday at the Best Western Rockingham Forest Hotel. As is usual at these weekends, members travelled from all parts to join in the fun - the south-west, East Anglia and Scotland to name a few. This was the first Country Link Weekend since October 2019, and it was wonderful to see people again.

Members dressed in fancy dress - the theme was super-heroes, with some dressing as comic book heroes, and others dressing as Covid 19 superheroes - there were medical staff, food bank staff, farmers, a Covid vaccinator, gardener and litter picker to name a few, and if I have missed you out, many apologies.

The lady's prize was won by Pat G from Derbyshire, the gent's prize by Vice Chairman Peter H from Nottinghamshire, and the group prize by Karen and Tony from Essex and Suffolk. Following a buffet meal, members danced the night away.

After a hearty buffet breakfast on Saturday, members departed on a variety of trips - Bletchley Park; Rutland Water, Uppingham and a local farm; Delapre Abbey in Northampton. All of the trips proved interesting and some members visited the venues on Sunday. The sun shone for us too.

Saturday evening was a three-course black tie dinner, with one man in his kilt, followed by a disco.

The raffles held on Friday and Saturday night were to raise money for the Farming Community Network (FCN); money was also raised from an auction and the sale of greetings cards. Sunday was a more relaxed morning, with members visiting a climbing wall, joining a local walk, visiting the air museum or doing their own thing.

Members gathered in the afternoon for a cup of tea and the Members Meeting. The guest speaker was Alison from the FCN - she explained to members the very different ways that FCN can support farmers and the farming community.

Charles began the Members Meeting with a minute's silence to remember those members no longer with us. There were reports from Charles, Lesley and Liz. Wendy S made a plea for clubs to put their programmes on the website to encourage new members. Phil C gave out the details for the Spring weekend in Buxton. President Nigel S asked members to think about planning a weekend for Autumn 2021.

Sunday night was a dinner and a Murder Mystery - well done to those members who stepped up to play the characters!

Breakfast on Monday morning was very relaxed, before members left to begin their journey home.

Many thanks to Claire and her team for a very enjoyable weekend, and look forward to seeing you in Buxton!