Caravanners Activities ICFR Rally, Bridlington, May 8th to 13th 2014 The Discover Bridlington Rally set in the wonderful grounds of the Thorpe Hall Caravan Park was organised for ICFR (International Caravanning Fellowship of Rotarians) by our very own members Tony Wakefield and David Smith together with their wives Elizabeth and Maureen. This was their second year at this venue and as last year s event was hailed as such a success they had to pull something off this year to make the event one to remember for our visiting Rotarians, wives and partners. For those who don t indulge in the enjoyment of caravanning you may think that pulling a caravan halfway across the country is mad and we should all be shot at dawn? How wrong you would be. At an ICFR Rally we have the opportunity to meet up with fellow Rotarians exchange stories, as we may not have seen them for some time, and enjoy not just the fellowship but the delights that these rallies can throw up. During our stay at Thorpe Hall we enjoyed meals taken with fellow Rotarians in the marquee on site that was so carefully erected a day before the event, by not only our rally marshals and their wives but Sam & Wendy King and Peter & Angela Pimperton. Visits into Bridlington and a tour of the Harbour and its museum were also arranged amongst many other things designed to keep us all amused.
The highlight of the rally was without doubt the Friday night s evening entertainment at Rudson Village Hall, which for one evening only was turned into A Journey on The Orient Express, with traditional meals provided at every port of call. Our entertainers for the evening were Angela Pimperton who commenced the evening with the train departing from London and who after the National Anthem lead the audience through songs such as The White Cliffs of Dover and The Lambeth Walk before the train arrived in Paris. Our entertainment in wonderful Paris was provided by Elizabeth and Tony Wakefield who performed a comedy sketch about a Yorkshire man in France and Not knowing the Lingo after which Elizabeth serenaded Tony with Under the Bridges of Paris The audience meanwhile tucked into French bread sticks and pate. After Paris the Orient Express travelled onto Italy where Peter Pimperton, in a straw boater and striped top, pretending to be a Gondolier, welcomed everyone to his
beautiful city of Venice with a few stories about his gondola, his wife Angelica and his little bambino Pietro Pimpertoni before leading them in song with That s Amore following which the audience enjoyed a fine meal of lasagne. Our journey continued onto the beautiful city of Vienna where we were introduced to its sights and sounds by Herr Tony Wakefield, who in turn introduced is to a very strict quizmaster in Frauleine Maureen Smith, who instructed the gathered audience that anyone not completing the quiz may experience PAIN! (Ooo err) From the delights of Vienna we moved onto Athens which was introduced to us by a Royal Guard, David Smith, in suitable regalia who after a brief description of Athens showed a brief film of the Royal Guard performing their marching ritual outside the Palace. David then introduced us to his cousin Stavros Tony Wakefield and between them they performed the Royal Guard Marching to the delight of an enthusiastic audience. Tony, David and Angela Pimperton then entertained the
audience with their version of dancing to Zorbas Dance A meal of olives and Feta cheese with bread followed. The Orient Express then rolled into its final destination, Istanbul, which was introduced to us by a delightful Belly Dancer, Maureen Smith, who explained that anyone requiring a Hookah was out of luck as no smoking was allowed on the premises. The quiz was also concluded at this point and then as a special treat the audience were entertained by the Two Tommies. David Smith and Peter Pimperton, both dressed as Tommy Cooper gave the audience quite a few laughs with an array of one liners from the great man himself.
A great evening was had by all and the hard work put in by the entertainers, catering staff and not forgetting our Stationmaster, Brian Marchant, who marshalled the Orient Express with great professionalism into every foreign station that we entered. The remainder of the week at Bridlington saw the caravanners visit a stately home, take lunch at a local hostelry and then enjoy a final meal at the Bridlington Links Golf Course before all departing the following day. Peter Pimperton. New Chairman for District 1220 ICFR The ICFR is the International Caravanning Fellowship of Rotarians a number of Retford Rotarians are members. Congratulations to our David Smith who became the new District Chairman at the ICFR Christmas Lunch on the 24th November 2013, which was held at the Portland College, Mansfield. The lunch was well attended by over 40 members present and the meal was excellent. Many thanks to Maureen Smith for making all the arrangements for the lunch. We all wish David the best in his new role and feel sure we will see him at many of the ICFR Rallies in 2014. Peter Pimperton