A visit to Owd Nell’s etc.

Phoenix had an enjoyable outing on 21^st August as Geoffrey reports:-

“After what had been a glorious week a party of 35 from PHOENIX set out on a rather damp and gloomy morning for Owd Nells and Barton Grange Garden Centre at Bilsborough. 

Owd Nells was a little disappointing but a bee line was made for the coffee shop. 

Some walked along the canal to see the beautifully decorated houseboats – and feed the ducks! 

We moved on fairly quickly to the wonderful garden centre of Barton Grange.  This seemed to be joy unspeakable for the ladies as they seemed to come away with many bulging bags of shopping.  Some were seen tucking into the ample lunches on sale and later into very large scones with jam and cream.  This was a good day out and time together and one lady was heard to declare this as her  '‘best day out ever’. 

We came home in sunshine with the request that next year we go somewhere a little further afield.”

It sounds as if a good time was had by one and all!  Well done for organising it Geoffrey!

(Oh!  if you are wondering who the gentleman is that is sitting in the middle of the group, apparently that is Eddie Topping!  He opened the first Barton Grange garden Centre in 1963, just down the road from where Phoenix has gathered, in Barton.)

The Phoenix Christmas Party 2012

Following the communion service in church, those who came to Phoenix, on Wednesday 19^th December, were treated to a splendid Christmas lunch complete with crackers and paper hats.

Replete with soup; turkey and all the trimmings and Christmas pudding,

the odd party goer fell asleep - but most enjoyed the excellent entertainment 

provided by Julie Ann and some of her pupils –

Harry, who, amongst other things, opened the show with Merry Christmas Everyone;

and Sue, who changed the mood with Holy Night;

Sue was followed by Laura 

and finally Lucy.

The highlight for me was Lucy and Laura’s rendition of Feed the World – which moved me to tears.

The whole ensemble was greeted with much applause when Margery got up to thank them all at the end.

I must mention that the singing was interspersed by excellent recitations from Jane and Margery herself.

Thank you Margery for all the hard work you have put into organising Phoenix this year.

Phoenix celebrates Christmas 2010

On Wednesday 15th December Phoenix celebrated Christmas. They began as usual with a short communion service in church. However, even this felt special this month in the light of the Christmas Trees! [See blogs below for more information about the Christmas Tree Festival]

After the service everyone went through for Christmas lunch. The hall and tables were seasonally decorated and we were even supplied with crackers!

The food was delicious – soup; Turkey, roast potatoes and vegetables; Christmas pudding (or trifle); coffee, mince pies and brandy cream!

After the meal everybody thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment provided by Julie Ann and three of her pupils.

The three extremely talented pupils were Harry (who provided the Aaah! Factor), Lucy (who was cute and whacky) and Sue (who provided elegance and gravitas).

Throughout the programme Harry sang “The Little Boy Santa Forgot”, “Who Will Buy?”, “My Two Front Teeth” and an animated version of “Les Poissons”.

Lucy’s contributions were “Let it Snow”, “The Christmas Song”, an hilarious rendition of “Honey Bun” from South Pacific and “Rockin’ Around The Christmas Tree”.


From Sue we heard “Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again”, a tear jerking interpretation of “O Holy Night”, “Have Yourself a Merry Christmas” and “I could Have Danced All Night”.

To give the singers a rest Julie played a “Christmas Rag” part way through the programme. This had 7 carols cleverly hidden within it and we were encouraged to try to spot them all!

Julie was followed by Jane reading the side-splitting story of “Rindercella and her two sigly usters”. The moral of the story was “If you go to a bancy fall and you want to have a prandsome hince lall in fove with you, don’t forget to slop your dripper”. Possibly you had to be there to fully appreciate this (certainly my computer is having a hissy fit as I type it! However, Jane, with her dead pan delivery, had us practically falling off our chairs we were laughing so much!

Marjorie also slipped in an amusing anecdote or two.

The finale to the entertainment was White Christmas and “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” sung by everybody.

Well done every body who worked so hard to give us such a fantastic time.

A BIG THANK YOU to Christine, Jane and their team of helpers for the meal; to Julie Ann, Harry, Lucy and Sue (+ Jane) for the first class entertainment and an EXTRA BIG THAN YOU to Marjorie for all the hard work she puts in all year organising Phoenix which is much appreciated by all who attend.

If you are free on the third Wednesday in the month why not give Phoenix a try? Each month it starts at 11.30 a.m. with a short communion which is then followed at 12 noon by lunch in the hall and a speaker or activity at 1.00 p.m. Anyone is welcome and, although most people do, you do not have to come to all three sections. You can just come to the bit(s) that suit you. For more information phone Margery on 01704 566 120. She will be delighted to hear from you.

Phoenix Celebrates Christmas (14th December 2009)

On Wednesday 14th December, the last Phoenix of the year took place. It began, as usual, with a short Holy Communion Service. This was followed by a delicious Christmas dinner which was enjoyed by 57 people. The session ended with a "sing-along" led by Julie-Ann Carr and four of her pupils. A good time was had by one and all.


At the end John Cotterall and Margery Tasker were falling over themselves to offer a vote of thanks to Geoffrey who is stepping down as organiser of Phoenix at the end of the year. Of course, Geoffrey thanked the ladies who had worked so hard to provide the meal and also Julie and her pupils.

Margery will take over the organisation of Phoenix in the new year; so, if you are free on the third Wednesday of the month, at anytime between 11.30 a.m. and 2.00 p.m., why not go down to the church hall and support her?

(Holy Communion 11.30 a.m.; Lunch 12 noon; Speaker 1.00 p.m. - you will be welcome at any or all!))

Thanks to John Feneley for the photos.