Monday 20th July

Tonight a brief meeting (at the Keys) to talk about membership. We’re always interested in new people joining Table, and try and keep a varied programme of activity to encourage new membership. So tonight we had a discussion about a few ways that we can make people more aware of Penkridge Round Table: what we do, and how easy it is to join. It’s funny how people have an image of Round Table, that is often far detached from what we really are. We’re not formal or stuffy, there are no funny handshakes. We’re just a bunch of guys who enjoy have a beer and a laugh, getting out and doing stuff socially, and doing our bit for community and charity – whilst having a good time.

Thursday 16th July: Quartz Brewery

Meet up at the Keys for a swift pint before a three-car convoy heads to the Heart of the Country Village at Swinfen and the Quartz Microbrewery, for a tour, a talk and a beer tasting. If you’ve not visited the Quartz brewery (it’s open to the public) then it is small. They also have a larger brewery at Kings Bromley, that does cask brew – here it’s all bottled beers (800 at a time), though bottles and draft was available at the bar. The bar area is right next to the brewing area, so there’s not much walking involved in the tour. We sniffed and tasted some examples of the malted barley, then sampled the four beers that Quartz brew: Blonde, Extra Blonde, Crystal and Heart. Then we moved upstairs for some food and some extra beers. Also tonight we presented Pete with a caricature we’d had done for him as an end-of-year gift, depicting various scenes and exploits from his year as Chairman. Then it was back to the village for a final pint (or two) in the keys.

Sunday 5th July: Cycle Tour Planning

Quick meeting up at the Cross Keys to finalise the plans for this year's cycle expedition taking place later this month. It’s a 3-day excursion, starting from Blackpool (after a train journey from Penkridge), and heading back to Penkridge; ending up at the Cross Keys. This year there should be 12 cyclists, with a couple of support drivers most, but not all, are tablers with a couple of extras and WAGs. This will be the 5th year we’ve done a cycle tour, and it’s always an entertaining and sociable weekend. It’s more of an outdoor social than a competitive sport – though we do like to ensure that people have done enough cycling in advance to get home!

Saturday 4th July: Party, Party

Back to Penkridge in time for birthday celebrations at Elliot’s. When we arrive the party is in full flow, the garden crammed with Tablers, WAGs and families – and most of the pig roast has gone! Several beers later and the dancing gets wilder [This Charming Man: The Smiths!].
Before too long numbers are thinning out to the sounds of Elliot playing his guitar. A stroll home, with the last few standing, and a final few drinks in the garden, before retiring to bed in the small hours.

Thursday 2nd July Orienteering

Tonight’s event is an evening of Orienteering. First ‘control’ point is the Cross Keys, and once we’re all gathered and had a swift pint we have a short car journey to Cannock Chase, where we meet up with our hosts from the Walton Chasers orienteering club. It’s many years since I did Orienteering as a student so I was keen to have this as an event this year. Not to be confused with pure navigation, Orienteering is a family of sports that require navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain (Wikipedia!).
We start with a simple trial exercise to get used to the map & compass, the meaning of the symbols and what the orange and white control points look like. Then we have a course to navigate with 6 controls, over around 2.5km (if done point-to-point). However gone are the old clicky devices at each control, here it’s all electronic, with a sensor to show you reached each control, and the time you took to get there. The guys have set us a good course with some varied terrain and I’ve worked up quite a sweat by the time I finish – in what turns out to be the winning time of the evening (at 14 minutes).
Once the guys are all in we pack up and head back to the village for a well deserved pint and joined by a few others a visit to Wing Fat's.