The Cheats Christmas Lunch and Games Afternoon that was run on Sunday 14th December was fully attended, it must have been known how good the food would be, and how competitive the games would be that followed lunch!

30 adults sat down to a three-course Christmas Lunch that was beautifully prepared and presented by Chefs Nigel (Ramsey) Knowles & Linda (Delia) Wheeler, and served by the 11 Junior Members who acted as expert waiters to each of the four tables.

The waiters - picture by Frank Rainsborough

The serving of Christmas Pudding and Mince Pies was preceded by each table singing a Christmas Carol, suitably applauded or otherwise by the other three tables, with the final rendition proving to be the clear winner!

Family Games Team Leaders

Cheats Christmas Lunch 2008 - Frank Rainsborough Updated 15Dec08

After lunch the tables were cleared away and the Games, organised by Hanna Lunniss, commenced. Five Teams, each with a Junior Member Team Leader chose their adult helpers/hinderers, and each Team selected a Team Name which was posted onto the scoreboard which had been prepared with a list of the five games that each Team would compete in, against each other Team. Bowls, Air Hockey, Darts, Bar Billiards and Jenga. (And many thanks to Simon Lunniss who brought in the Bowls and the Air Hockey, and to Nigel, who brought in left over off-cuts from 42 X 42 mm square pre-machined oak stair case spindles; these made excellent Jenga components!

Competion in each game was fierce, and scores began to notch up, but after the officials had posted each Teams result, when the officials backs were then turned, a certain amount of adjustments were seen to be being applied to the scoreboard. It seemed that some competitors had assumed that the title of the Lunch gave prior approval to such adjustments, but an enquiry established that actually, the word CheaTs Lunch was derived from what was cooked at the inaugural event years ago, namely, Chicken not Turkeys!

The winning Games Team, by a very honest margin, were the Chocolate Frogs, so appropriately, their prize was the award of a box of chocolates. (Hmm, now thinking about it, is that suspicious?). There was also a yard of ale (well soft drink) to be drunk by the team.

The day ended with the sharing all round of those chocolates, and tea and mince pies, and a heartfelt vote of thanks to Linda & Rodger Wheeler, Tony Hopkins, Stuart Schafer, Helen & Don Barnet, and Pat Irving who worked so hard to prepare and organise what was a thoroughly enjoyable and great value event.