Club Journal December 2016 The magazine for all CIU members 75p Dransfields CIU Charity Raceday raises over £3,000 for Union’s Education Programme INSIDE... Editor’s Letter . 2 Club News . 3 CIU Racing Club. 9 Club of the Month . 10 HQ . 14 Club Outings. 18 21 Pictured, left to right: Jonjo Sanderson, Chief Executive of Wetherby Racecourse, presents the cheque to Union President George Crossword . Dawson CMD, Union Vice-President John Tobin and Union General Secretary Kenneth D Green CMD The 2016 Dransfields CIU Charity Raceday Raceday Handicap Hurdle which was run saw over 1,500 club members from all over over a distance of three miles and won by CIU National Quiz the country enjoying a fantastic day out at 11/2 shot Lough Salt. Regional Heats dates Wetherby Racecourse in Yorkshire on Chris Haley, Managing Director of race Saturday, November 12. sponsor and CIU Preferred Supplier of The venues and dates for all the Dransfields With the racecourse and its caterers, CGC gaming machines, Dransfields, said: “It was a CIU National Quiz Regional Heats have now Events, each donating £1 to the CIU pleasure to support this annual CIU event been finalised. Education Programme for every Union and catch up with so many of our friends member attending, the grand total raised from Union clubs.” ● North East - North Biddick Club, reached a princely £3,080. George Dawson CMD, Union President, Tuesday, January 17 “We were once again delighted to welcome added: “Dransfields CIU Charity Raceday is CIU members to their annual Raceday,” said one of the highlights of the Union’s calendar ● South East - Epsom Common WMC, Wetherby Racecourse Chief Executive Jonjo and it was great to see over 1,500 of our Wednesday, January 18 Sanderson. “There was a fantastic members supporting this annual event. atmosphere in the CIU marquee and I hope “In addition to an entertaining day’s racing ● South Wales - Rogerstone & Bassaleg all those who attended enjoyed a quality and the chance to meet old and new friends, Social Club, Wednesday, January 25 afternoon of racing as well as top Yorkshire this day helped to raise funds for the Union’s hospitality.” Education Programme with over £3,000 ● Lancashire - Lamberhead Green WMC, There were seven races on the card, raised this year. Thursday, January 26 including the Dransfields CIU Charity “We are grateful to Wetherby Racecourse and their caterers CGC for making this ● Yorkshire - Crigglestone Workmens generous donation, as well as for their time, Club, Tuesday, January 31 effort and help in putting on such a great day. ● Midlands - Kenilworth Sports & Social “We’d also like to thank John Smith’s for Club, Sunday, February 12 their generous beer offer and their continued support of this CIU event. To enter a team for the Regional Finals, “In addition, we must express our please call Redtooth Ltd on 01246 813 713 Dransfields Managing Director Chris Haley (centre) hands over the gratitude to Dransfields for their continuing (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) or email: trophy for the Dransfields CIU Charity Raceday Handicap Hurdle support of this event.” [email protected] www.wmciu.org.uk EDITOR’S LETTER EDITOR’S LETTER Welcome to the December edition of Club These events will be highly entertaining for Journal. the participating teams, whether you’re a As we approach the end of another year, group of dedicated ‘quizzers’ with your eyes Union clubs can look back over the last 12 on the title or just want to get your mates months with no little pride as they reflect on together for a fun night out. how much they have contributed to their Entry costs £10 per team. Each team must local communities throughout 2016. have four members and all must be 18 years Whether it’s raising money for charities, old and members of the club as well as allowing local community groups to use holders of Associate Pass Cards. their facilities for meetings or providing For all the dates and venues of the Regional leisure activities and entertainment for Heats, please, see page 4 of this issue. people of all ages, CIU clubs continue to be If you’d like to enter a team, please call the The club recently celebrated its 70th a positive influence in our society. organisers Redtooth on 01246 813713 (Mon- anniversary and, as you’ll see from the article And none of this would be possible Fri, 9am-5am) or email them at: on pages 10-11, is in fine fettle with a without the hard work that is undertaken [email protected] flourishing business model which is working week-in, week-out by the army of volunteers Elsewhere in this issue, we put the extremely well for them. up and down the country who keep our spotlight on Union Vice-President John Have a great festive period and I hope you clubs running – be sure to raise a glass or Tobin (see page 14). enjoy the issue. two to these unsung heroes this Christmas! John recently received his 50-year Special Looking ahead to the New Year, the 2017 Award and in the article gives Club Journal Dransfields CIU National Quiz competition readers the benefit of his huge experience as gets underway in January and February with a champion of both the Union and its clubs. Regional Heats taking place in the North East, Meanwhile, December’s ‘Club of the South East, South Wales, Lancashire, Yorkshire Month’ is Bishopthorpe Sports & Social and Midlands. Club in York. Stephen Goulding, Editor CLUB JOURNAL CIU CIU Editorial Panel 253-254 Upper Street London N1 IRY Tel: 020 7226 0221 Fax: 020 7354 1847 George Dawson CMD John Tobin Kenneth D Green CMD E-mail: [email protected] President Vice-President General Secretary Website: www.wmciu.org.uk Editor Stephen Goulding John Baker John Batchelor Geoff Blakeley CMD Carol Goddard E-mail: [email protected] NEC Member NEC Member NEC Member NEC Member Club Journal is published by Alchemy Contract Publishing for the CIU 59/60 Thames Street, Windsor, SL4 1TX 01753 272022 Dave Gravel CMD Sid Hicks Philip Larkin Chris O’Neill CMD Tel: NEC Member NEC Member NEC Member NEC Member E-mail: [email protected] www.alchemycontractpublishing.co.uk For editorial, contact [email protected] For advertising, contact [email protected] The views expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the publisher Ken Roberts CMD Bob Russell CMD George Smith Geoff Whewell NEC Member NEC Member NEC Member NEC Member 2• Club Journal NEWS JAMES ORD RECEIVES HIS LONG SERVICE AWARD OBITUARY John Watts NEC member and former CIU Parliamentary Liaison Officer Carol Goddard writes: It is with sadness I write to inform you of the death at the age of 69 of John Watts. John was the Conservative Member of Parliament for Slough between 1983 and 1997. He joined the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Non-Profit Making Members Clubs in May 1985, James Ord of Netherton Social Club (Northumberland Branch) received his Long Service Award at a introduced by Greg Knight MP (now ceremony held on November 5. Pictured (left to right): Billy Stoker (No.4 Division Executive), David Sir Greg Knight). Fish (No.3 Division Executive), Joe Lumsden (Club Chairman), Ann Ord (Jim’s wife), James Ord (Vice- John became joint Vice-Chairman of Chairman), Alan Hardy (Branch President), Dave Richardson (Branch Secretary), Ronnie Young (Club Treasurer) and David Clough (No.5 Division Executive) the APPG in 1989 and in 1990 became the joint Chairman alongside Labour 13,000 MP Lawrence Cunliffe. South Wales club raises £ for charity in six years John was subsequently appointed Minister of State for Transport and Cwmaman Workmens Club in Aberdare, a due to this ministerial position member of the South Wales Branch, found he needed to resign his joint recently presented a cheque for £1,000 to Chairmanship. Sadly, not long Rowan Tree Cancer Care, a local cancer afterwards John suffered a brain support centre based in the Cynon Valley. haemorrhage. Members of the Club Committee and He was instrumental in numerous club members decided some six years ago to ways for bringing about include in their regular Saturday night advantageous changes for all CORCA entertainment sessions to run various clubs. draws, raffles, etc and dedicate the sums Pictured: Receiving the cheque for £1,000 is the I kept in contact with John and his raised to a specific charity. Rowan Tree Cancer Care Centre manager Rhian family over the years at Christmas Dash flanked by Cwmaman Workmens Club Once the target of £1,000 is reached, a Committee Members (from left to right) Gary time with a card and news of the special presentation is arranged and the Edwards, Dennis Thomas, Glynn Evans, CIU, receiving a note or card in cheque is presented to a representative of Malcolm Williams and Mark Lloyd. return. the respective charity. The process continues Fundraising has begun again and the next Consequently John’s wife Sophie and a new charity is then selected. chosen charity is the organisation which recently sent me a card with the sad Since 2010 the club has raised a staggering trains Guide Dogs. news of his death and “thanking me £13,000, helping various good causes The Secretary of the club is National for being part of his life”. including Help For Heroes, Cystic Fibrosis Executive Member for South Wales and Notes over the years kept John Society, children’s hospitals, etc. Monmouthshire Ken Roberts CMD. informed somewhat about the CIU and I hope we never forget the work Huntington WMC hosts prestigious darts competition and help these former (and current) Members of Parliament undertake Huntington WMC in York welcomed a “It was a well organised event and I never on our behalf.