Valentines Rally
Hose Village Hall - 13th to 15th February 2009
Marshals: Andrea and Ian Pilgrim and Lisa and Paul Hickling
Report and photographs by Jackie Carlile

I think a few of us wondered if this rally would take place with the amount of snow that we had on the Thursday evening but by the time Friday morning came the roads were clear!! 34 vans, including visitors from Derbyshire, attended the rally at one of our favourite venues Hose Village Hall.

Friday evening we were all treated to burger and chips by Paul and Lisa to celebrate their son Sam's 18th birthday. There was also a birthday cake myself and Sam Yeomans as we also celebrated our birthday this weekend.

A battle of the sexes quiz took place with the ladies narrowly beating the men and the night ended with a disco.

Saturday evening we were served with a lovely three course meal (the home made potato and leek soup was fantastic!) and then there was the valentines raffle. The tickets could only be brought by the men for their ladies and there were five mysterious envelopes and also a present that was already wrapped and came supplied with batteries.

After the raffle had finished the five men who had picked the envelopes and the winner of the mystery parcel had to open their prizes in front of everyone. Lorraine Austin watched Lee open the mystery present and was relieved when it was revealed as a torch - well what else could you think it was!! Mick Yeomans opened his envelope which revealed that the marshals were delivering a fully cooked english breakfast to their van at 9.00 a.m. the following morning and John Guest's envelope revealed a free weekend away to either Collingham or Trentfield Farm!!

The other three men Martin Smith, Ian Storer and Darren Pilgrim opened their envelope to find that they were competitors in a contest and would have to serenade their wives!!!

Martin was the eventual winner but everyone was a good sport and joined in. The evening finished off with a disco run by Daniel - thanks to all the marshals it was a lovely weekend.

Richard with some of his team members.	Gill and her team deep in thought	Some more different members for Gill!
Will these do any better Richard?	Our question masters deep in thought.	A nice surprise for Sam celebrating his 18th Birthday.
	Don't give up the day jobs!!	Ready to start serving!
And then there is the washing up!!	The teenagers relaxing after the meal	The Wrinks enjoying themselves!
Oh dear the mike is in Ian's hand again.	All waiting for the raffle to start.	You can have any raffle prize mate!!
Ready to open their envelopes.	Martin - please don't give the day job up!	Rene and Renata it was not!
Ian serenading Dawn!	I really am tired but am going to stop up!	Our old favourite the mimic man
Ah - dancing with my mum!	Now the room is rocking!!	You can always guarantee these two will get up!