Event
Report
2021 The Black Smith’s Arms Swainby
Report by John Gill and Sheila Mason
On the 6 June 2021 twenty six YDCCC members turned up at Applegarth car
park for our first run of the year. It was a glorious summers morning,
much better than the windy, wet weather that greeted the brave soldiers
77 years ago as they approached the Normandy Landing Beaches on this
very day. We were looking forward to a relaxing drive in the country
followed by a pleasant lunch, we were not facing a battle hardened foe
trying to prevent us landing on a small strip of beach.
I do not think any of the cars present at the car park on Sunday are 77
years old or older, although at times ours certainly feels like it! It
must have been a daunting prospect with the equipment they had. The
father of a colleague of mine landed on the beach in his tank and
managed to travel 50 yards before it broke down! He abandoned the tank
and fought on, on foot for the rest of the day. This is beginning to
sound like one of my ramblings but we should not forget them. Back to
the YDCCC run or even better I will hand over to Sheila.
How lovely to be standing in The Applegarth Carpark on a sunny Sunday
morning and seeing fifty four happy faces including Tony Pratt who had
come to wave us off and twenty six shiny cars. We were pleased to
welcome some new members—Howard and Dee Chadwick, Alan and Margaret
Graham, David and Norma Williams, Owen and Sue Robinson and Richard and
Pat Greaves.
Dave welcomed everyone and gave out the route, a gentle trip of 48
miles. Howard and Dee asked if they could follow Tony as it was their
first trip, we said it would be a pleasure and I kept my fingers crossed
that Tony was not too fast for them and my navigational skills would be
impeccable, I thank fully only failed once but we had only arrived at
the Thirsk roundabout when I instructed to go left and it should have
been straight on but arriving at The Blacksmiths Arms they forgave me.
The route took us on the outskirts of Thirsk, through Coxwold, passed
Byland Abbey and onto Helmsley which was very congested and then through
Great Broughton and heading for The Blacksmiths Arms in Swainby. The
estimated arrival time was 12mid-day and most of us arrived just before
with a small convoy arriving a few minutes late. Caroline, the land lady
had everything organised and we were seated in our own dining room,
there was much chatter and everyone appeared to enjoy their food.
Caroline had requested that only one person paid, by card at the bar ,
the money was collected in but not counted and I went and paid with my
card. I am pleased to report that the bill came to £903.90 and when
home, after a cup of tea, I counted it with a quick check from Tony,
total £ 906.70, I shall pay the £ 3.20 into St Theresa’s charity box on
our charity run in September.
Thank you to everyone who attended and so pleased that you appeared to
enjoy yourselves. Sheila Mason
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