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We start with the arrival of Lord Turner of Bilston
- not simply as a matter of precedence (after all, the
Mayor was on the way) but because it
was good to see him walking in, looking fit and well
(and in a new suit, needed because he lost so much
weight!). His political acumen has not deserted
him either - he signed the Distinguished Visitors Book
as "Lord Turner" and the ordinary Visitors Book as Dennis Turner
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Then the Mayor and Mayoress arrived and signed the
Distinguished Visitors Book, with his Lordship and other
distinguished persons in the background. Kath Kiely had
presented a basket of flowers to the Mayoress on behalf
of the Club. |
| Our Treasurer, Barbara Presland, and Committee
Member Bill Pope, supervised the signing in. |
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Then into the front meeting room, where (left to right) our President,
Trevor Genge; the Mayoress, Noreen Davies; the Mayor,
John Davies; our Chairman, Alan Bickley; and our
Secretary, Alma Darby; all faced the assembled throng. |
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And quite an assembled throng it was too - it was
standing room only. |
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The Mayor gave a most amusing and apposite speech,
even including reference to Bilston's own poet,
Sir Henry Newbolt. Note that he is occupying the Bilston
mayoral chair, which we had got out for the purpose.
But he had to apologise for not wearing the Bilston
mayoral chain - he could not get past the security
system. So at least Wolverhampton is guarding one
feature of
Bilston's past! |
| After the Chairman had thanked the Mayor, the
assembly thronged out into the exhibition gallery ... |
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... and still they came. That's George Philpot
to the front and Joan Oram behind him. |
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