Social Summer

My penultimate 'Chat' is hockey-free and if you flatter me by reading on you will rightly conclude that I'm banging on again about the social events I've already advertised in previous weeks. Sorry!

I need hardly say (but I will!) that these events are important for the club both socially and financially so your support would be most welcome. If you have already bought your ticket(s) or indicated your support I am pleased to give you a big 'thank you'.

So here goes. The events are as follows.

Strawberry Luncheon (Sunday 21 June, 12 Noon)

This year we return to Ivy House, Alburgh by kind permission of Malcolm and Sue Blackham for what I always say (and mean) is one of the most enjoyable events in the club's social calendar. The event is once again being masterminded by David Alexander (Tel: 01508 530237) and Daphne Beckett (Tel: 07850 709297) to whom I am very grateful. Tickets are £10 (adults), £5 (children 7 to 12) – with children under 7 free – and are obtainable from David or Daphne so please give them a call if you have not already done so. For members and club supporters who have never been I can assure you that we get far more than just strawberries for our money!!

Summer Ball celebrating the club's 50 years at Weybread (Saturday 4 July)

We are fast approaching our target of selling 300 tickets for this prestigious event but a few more singles and couples could still be squeezed in so please contact Jose Tibbenham (01379 854160) if you would like to come. An enormous amount of hard work is being put in organising this event with Jose, Philippa Taylor, Tracy Reeve and Mary Wright leading the way and I am very grateful to them. Strictly in the line of duty we spent part of this week's meeting tasting the wines to be served!

Jazz On A Summer's Afternoon (Sunday 5 July in the Ball marquee)

A picnic while relaxing to the cool sounds of the Dixie Jazz Bandits, one of East Anglia's leading traditional jazz bands – what better way can there be to enjoy a summer's afternoon?! So please bring your picnic and be entertained by the foot-tapping and high quality Dixieland jazz of 'Suffolk's favourite stompers' at this event which is being organised by Harleston Lions, Scouts and HMHC. Gates open at 3.00pm (licensed bar) with the live musical entertainment commencing in the marquee at 4.30pm. For tickets - £10 adults (accompanied Under 18's free) - please phone Mike Withinshaw on 01379 852002 or me on 01603 506925. NB. Profits from this event go towards the cost of the annual Fireworks Display following which in 2008 all three organising groups received £1500.

HMHC Golf Day (Thursday 13 August 2009)

This will be the seventh Golf Day organised by the club at Bungay GC and entries are invited in teams of four in men's, ladies' and mixed categories. The entry fee is £100 per team for which players (who must have a handicap certificate) get a round of golf, a carvery luncheon with sweet and a chance to win prizes. What more could one ask for?! The event is limited to 26 teams. Please give me a call on 01603 506925 if you would like to enter a team for this very popular event which during the last six years has raised over £7500 for club funds.

Thank you if you have got this far having read all of the above! I hope you will be able to support at least one of the events. You will be very welcome.

NB. Annual General Meeting – Thursday 18 June at 8.00pm in the clubhouse.

With kind regards and best wishes to all HMHC members and supporters.

Mike Denham Tel: 01603 506925 E-mail: MDenham975@aol.com 11/6/09

Thanks, 'highs' and events

I thank all officers, committee members, team captains, coaches and managers of the Club for all their hard work during the past few months in what was an outstandingly successful season and I show below some of the 'highs' while overlooking the few inevitable 'lows'. They are listed in no particular order and I apologise in advance for any serious omissions!

· Men's 1sts win East League undefeated and by 11 points and gain promotion back to the national league after an absence of eight seasons.

· Ladies' Development and Ladies' 6ths also win their leagues with promotion for the latter.

· Ladies' 2nds, Ladies' 4ths, Men's 2nds and Men's 5th finish as runners-up in their leagues and also gain promotion.

· Ladies' 1sts win Division 2 of the national indoor league.

· U16 Girls win national indoor title.

· U13 Girls have a remarkable season winning eight Mini events including the East Championship before finishing in third place in the national finals.

· U11 Boys have an encouraging season winning three Mini events.

· U9 team make their debut in the YAZOO National Youth Hockey Festival.

· Men's 1sts retain their place in the Premier Division of the national indoor league.

· Club hosts very successful East minis for second successive season.

· Cherry Seaborn plays for England U18s and Philip Cobbald for England Veterans (Over 45s).

· Superb website again kindly sponsored and maintained by Nigel Bedingfield of www.WaveneyValleyBlog.com

· Excellent and invaluable support also received from all our other sponsors.

Congratulations and best wishes to:

· Richard Smith and Sophie Robinson on their wedding last Saturday.

· Frances Taylor on becoming overall champion in the handling classes at the Suffolk Show last week parading her calf Streamlet Shottle Beauty.

I may have mentioned before (!) the following events to which you are cordially invited:

· Thursday 18 June – Annual General Meeting (Clubhouse, 8.00pm).

· Sunday 21 June – Strawberry Luncheon, Ivy House, Alburgh (by kind permission of Malcolm and Sue Blackham). Tickets are £10 (adults), £5 (children 7 to 12) – with children under 7 free – and are obtainable from Daphne Beckett (Tel: 07850 709297) or David Alexander (Tel: 01508 530237).

· Sunday 5 July in the Ball marquee - Jazz On A Summer's Afternoon. Bring your picnic and relax to the cool sounds of the Dixie Jazz Bandits. Gates open 3.00pm. Tickets £10, accompanied U18s free – please contact Mike the Mender (Withinshaw) on 01379 852002. This event is being organised jointly by Harleston Lions, Scouts and Magpies HC.

With kind regards and best wishes to all HMHC members and supporters.

Mike Denham Tel: 01603 506925 E-mail: MDenham975@aol.com 2/6/09