The Friends of Robert Owen House
An Isle of Man Registered Charity, number 839
“UPDATE”
from the
Issue 36 FRIENDS OF ROBERT OWEN HOUSE October 2011
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10th ANNIVERSARY YEAR
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Here’s hoping that all our readers and families have had a pleasant summer and whilst the weather could have been better, especially for those organising the many outdoor events, which we have, each summer.
NOVEMBER 2001 saw the formation of FROH as a charity and already ideas are coming in as to how we could celebrate this achievement over the coming year. We already have a few events in the pipeline, which we are excited about.
Many of our readers will recall the excellent sell out CHARITY CONCERT held last November in Douglas. It was a great night of music and song along with a good bit of humour. Well the good news is that Peter Norris, who organised last years show has agreed to do it again supported by KEYBOARDS –R-US, Country and Western singer ANITA J George Formby look and sing alike NICK SAUNDERS plus CHRIS CORLETT singing along on guitar and PETER himself entertaining us on his Tyros 4 keyboard.
This is definitely a show not to be missed. Where else will you get all this talent along with laughter and a good sing-along for just £5. Oh, the date is FRIDAY 4TH NOVEMBER starting at 7-30pm. Tickets now on sale.
Later in the same month sees our Annual Pre-Christmas COFFEE MORNING, which will again be held from 10am to midday at the St John Ambulance HQ just off Glenclutery Road. The beauty about this venue is there are plenty of car parking spaces in and around the centre and for those wishing to go along on the bus the route No3 (which is Douglas to Ramsey and reverse) stops at the end of the drive. (Ian Cannel Court stop).
The venue can hold over 100 people and whilst we have been within a few of this figure we have not had a ‘full’ house. How about making this our 10th Anniversary Coffee Morning a sell out and full house. If you or your friends can’t make it for reasons of work or other commitments then why not sell a few tickets in advance. In fact everyone could do that, other charities, do so why not us this year? If every reader of UPDATE were to sell at least 5 tickets for the coffee morning it would bring us in over £1500…that would be terrific.
Our third and last function for 2011 will be the Annual CHRISTMAS LUNCH to be held on Saturday 3rd December at the Mount Murray Hotel.
To many of our readers this is one of the years highlights and already reserved bookings are coming in although tickets don’t go on sale for a week or so.
The FOOD is excellent and with everyone in a relaxed state of mind it is not long before the ‘flying’ balloons start whizzing around the room, crackers banging and the chat and laughter helps towards a warm and friendly afternoon.
You will be delighted to know that speeches are of minimum length. Of course we welcome our guest who have flown in from Robert Owen House that morning and after the meal we present them with our cheque for the money raised during past year.
We know the folks from Liverpool like coming over to the lunch because it gives them an opportunity to meet up again with faces from the past and to talk over old times.
Our capacity for the lunch is 100 and readers can book seats at a table so to sit with friends and colleagues. However bookings come on first served basis so we would recommend getting applications in early for this year. We will have a few surprise items up our sleeve to help the enjoyment of the afternoon.
If you have not been before then why not give it a try for this our 10th Anniversary. No dressing up, no top table, no formalities just a happy and friendly afternoon….give it a try!!!
PAST EVENTS
The popular Annual ‘WALK THE SOUTHERN’ in May has finished up raising over £2000. Whilst this event is not on the scale of some of the larger sponsored walks it nevertheless has it’s band of followers and brings us in good revenue at a time of year most wanted.
Another popular event is the ‘EVENING BY THE LAKE’ held in the Mooragh Park in July. Originally the idea behind this was to have an event where we could meet our Northern members in an informal way over some excellent food. Unfortunately the folk up North have not responded for this one event, and whilst good numbers did turn up, most came from Peel the South & Douglas. Maybe it should be reviewed.
Sadly another event, which just does not pull in the ‘punters’, is TYNWALD FAIR. The problem is that our set up team have to be on site at 7-30am and cannot leave until 5pm. That’s a long day to be on your feet. If, as in recent years the weather turns damp, especially early on in the day, then the public just do not come along. This year we took just over £200 in 8hrs, which compared to what can be taken at a coffee morning or evening event is just not worth it.
It is with reluctance that unless we can find a fresh team to man the site next year we will be giving Tynwald a rest in 2012.
A number of other fundraising ideas organised on our behalf are detailed in our ‘Donations’ section further on in this issue.