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A day at the seaside...

A day at the seaside...

Frank Barretta24 Jun 2014 - 10:09
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Didn’t we have a lovely time the day we went to Lancing!

On Derby day a few Old Boys (David Leathem, Mick Powell, Eddie O’Brien, Mick Power, Scotty Macdonald and Frank Barretta) decided if he wasn’t going to come and see us then we would go and see him. It’s been about four years since Alan Webber moved down to the Sussex coast and during that time he has only managed to ventured back to see his old friends on a couple of occasions.

We left East Croydon at 11am with ominous clouds and showery rain, an hour later we arrived at Lancing station in glorious seaside sunshine. After a bit of a walk we met Alan in a local hostelry (only 50 yards from the station he said, what he meant to say, it is only 50yds from his house!).

Two men and their dog were at one end of the spacious sports bar and the seven Old Boys settled down at the other. The rolling Epsom Downs were on the TV screens with the sound muted, playing on the juke box was a slightly loud eclectic Country & Western music selection.

As the local ale flowed, new stories were told and old ones were remembered, dusted off to be regaled again. Before we knew it it was 2.40pm and the alcohol was beginning to taking effect. We decided it was time for a bit of lunch, with our food order organised Scotty went to the bar only to be told that chef went home at 2.30pm…. never mind a selection of crisps and nuts would have to do!

More pictures from the day

Soon the main race of the day upon us, it was decided that a ‘Derby Sweepstake’ was in order and with a kitty of £60 we each chose a nag. Through the haze of the ale and because he liked the colour green Alan chose the horse called ‘Far Canal’ (…I think that’s what it was called?), we unanimously told him it had no chance so let him picked again….suffice it to say Alan ended up £60 better off with his second choice!

The laughter and stories continued and another couple of hours flew by, we were fast approaching the time of our return train home. If truth be told no one really wanted to leave, but we need solid food, so cabs were called and we hit the local curry house in true Clapham fashion (no throwing rice on this occasion).

Over dinner we agreed with Alan that as long as he could get up to the Chairman’s Lunch in January 2015 we would make sure that he would get home safely. This was great news, knowing that we and other Old Boys will see him again in just over six months’ time.

As we finally made our way to Lancing station to catch the much later train home we were all reflecting on a wonderful day seeing an old friend….according to Al it was “The best time in years”.

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