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THE BLACK COUNTRY MEMORIES CLUB

Teapot

28th February 2007

AGM & Tea Party

Holy Trinity Social Club

Teapot

Our Annual General Meeting for 2007 was, of course, a business meeting;  but while everyone was assembled we thought we should have a tea party as well,
gathering together what we could remember about tea and all its associations in the area.  

Getting ready to receive members for the AGM and to renew subscriptions:  Bill Pope, John Elwell, Alma Darby and Trevor Genge. Bill Pope, John Elwell, Alma Darby and Trevor Genge But of course the vital thing was tea.  David Fitzgerald-Plummer is all ready to start dispensing the cup that cheers.  David Fitzgerald-Plummer
a display of photos of recent meetings Reg had a display of photos of recent meetings and a wide selection of things associated with tea such as tea pots, tea infusers and tea caddies. And he had photos of local tea shops And he had photos of local tea shops, tea dealers, works canteens and other things associated with tea locally.
Frank Sharman had brought along locally made things associated with tea, including what he insisted was the largest collection of copper kettles ever displayed in one place (well, ever displayed in Bilston, anyway ... or, maybe, ever displayed in the Holy Trinity Social Club.

copper wares, there was a cast iron kettle by Holcroft and a huge and decrepit japanned papier mache tea tray
In addition to Sankey and Beldray brass and copper wares, there was a cast iron kettle by Holcroft and a huge and decrepit japanned papier mache tea tray, which could be from either Bilston or Wolverhampton.

And nearby there was a display of tea caddy spoons from the Angeline Johnson collection.

opper wares, there was a cast iron kettle by Holcroft and a huge and decrepit japanned papier mache tea tray
Henry Metzger Henry Metzger was showing his videos of past meetings and playing background music suitable to tea parties and AGMs. Alan and Isobel Bickley are ready with useful advice for Reg Aston "Almost ready, if only I can get this xxxx camera to work".  Alan and Isobel Bickley are ready with useful advice for Reg Aston.
. George Philpot and Sandra Aston
George Philpot gets ready for the meeting in his own inimitable way.  Sandra Aston gets ready for a quick dash in the opposite direction
the office tea lady, complete with scarf and fag  Megan Fitzgerald-Plummer
For tea, you need waitresses.  We were somewhat alarmed by the office tea lady, complete with scarf and fag.  So we got rid of her and replaced her with somebody a lot more respectable, namely Megan Fitzgerald-Plummer
. Barbara Presland  Kathy Kiely
And, of course, Barbara Presland and Kathy Kiely are amazingly respectable waitresses
.   
Alma Darby; Further respectability is provided by Alma Darby; but the Head Waiter is another matter.  Of course, he didn't do anything - he just waited (for others to do something).The splendid aspidistra (with hydrangea highlights) and the whatnot it is on were kindly brought along by Sylvia Griffiths. Frank Sharman

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