The North-West called and The Ramblers answered in style! The weekend promised much and our hosts for the weekend Norman & Cynthia and Martin & Winnie certainly did not disappoint laying on an absolute treat with all the warmth and welcoming style The Maiden City is renowned for. Having settled in Quizmaster Murphy decided to test our knowledge with a nautical themed quiz for which he deserved reduced-rations and a night in The Brig! Launching questions we couldn’t Fathom he tied us up in Knots and more than a few of us were Cast Adrift and All-at-sea! In the end however Billy McBride proved his sea-legs and led his team to victory. Keeping with the nautical theme The Latecomers got an honourable mention and won the smallest oar I’ve ever seen. It could reasonably be used in an emergency as a wooden spoon but perish the thought! Max Bygraves (or Norman Willis to give him his official title) then swung into action and hosted a “Singalonga” including a rousing rendition of Sailing by Rod Stewart as we relaxed and chatted into the evening.
Saturday was the main event and with the weather set fair Happy-Ramblers headed off on foot or bike to enjoy the many sights, sounds and wonderful smells of the Maritime Festival. The atmosphere was brilliant and had a real international flavour with many different accents overheard and various tour groups also enjoying the sights and walking the famous walls. Derry/Londonderry was gleaming and fully deserving of its 2023 best kept title. The Guild Hall was looking particularly marvellous and really is a crown jewel that the locals are rightly proud of. All manner of international cuisines were on offer at the festival but you simply can’t beat the taste of home and so it proved in more ways than one as Norman & Cynthia and Martin & Winnie along with family members Craig & Lesley laid on an exceptional spread of local meats at the members BBQ that evening. Sacrificing their festival this team of family & friends worked all day and provided a wonderfully tasty high point to the weekend that was appreciated by every one of the members. They truly deserved the standing ovation that came their way. With a quick costume change Norman threw off the chef’s whites, donned his DJ outfit, and gave us a great selection of his music as we danced the night away. There was line dancing of course and more than a waltz or two before Norman reminded us of the area’s “Legenderry” musical history as he raised both the decibels and the roof with a rousing rendition of Teenage Kicks before bringing us gently back down to earth with the serene lyrics of The Town I loved so well. A great night was had by all and capped off by the ongoing generosity of members through the raffle which contributed another £257 to our Defib & First Aid fund.
Sunday came round and we gathered as usual for Coffee & Tea to wash down yet another selection of tray-bakes and fruit loaves before David led us in resounding thank you to our hosts and their superb efforts all weekend. With consummate hosts to thank for everything this was a brilliant event, and we are fortunate to have such a great city and a brilliant venue in Foyle College on our calendar not just once but twice. With a return trip at Halloween our members will surely be in for another treat. Until then spare a bit of sympathy for Yvonne & I as we attempt to follow up in 3 weeks in The City of The Seven Towers. Ballymena here we come!!
Gary & Yvonne, Peter & Jurgen