We almost ran out of Pimms!

By BrianC
August 9 2004

Way back last April when I learnt there was no Henley 7s this year my initial thought was - Good I get a year off. Several people however indicated that, rugby or not, they still wanted to do something by the river this year.

There is also the fact that we currently have squatters rights on Fawley Meadow, something we will lose if we give the riverside barbeque a miss for even one year. The machinery was set in motion.

To be frank, with the Fat Blokes the week before and the LISC barbeque the week after we were unsure if we should go ahead with this. The final decision was only made the Monday beforehand after Annette had touched a number of people up for money at the Fat Blokes and having checked the weather forecast. In the end it turned into a very special day indeed. 

Saturday 31^st July saw absolutely perfect weather for such an event. People started to gather at about 11 at which time I found the Pimms supply on the boat rapidly declining. Three one-liter bottles of the stuff disappeared before you could say ‘I’ll have another one’. Relief came in the shape of Reading_Glasses with a couple of gallons of this years mix, ‘Pimms Mister’. I don’t know what was in this year’s concoction but it was, shall we say, powerful. It was very well received by all those who partook of it, myself included.

The morning went past in a flash. Before I knew it the dips and warm pita bread were doing the rounds and we were ready to sit down to lunch. At this point I must say a special word of thanks to MulledWineMarie. Whereas I, and I suspect many others, would have been happy with disposables and eating the food off our laps she was having none of that. Some thirty-five of us sat down to a table with white tablecloths and flowers on it, eating with proper cutlery and from proper plates. Especially given the location and the logistics involved, it was a class act.

There is no way to describe the food other than that it was superb. Rob has to be the best barbeque chef this side of Pretoria. Everything was cooked to perfection. The salads that came out of MWM and Melon’s field kitchen were better than many I have had in expensive restaurants. Quite simply I don’t think I have ever had a better barbeque meal be that at home, in a restaurant or even at one of the previous Henley events.

For me the afternoon was mostly taken up doing a series of river trips. Most of the time supervising some of the younger members of our family at the wheel. Eek and JoeV sat on the riverbank strumming their instruments and a number of people started on rounders, egg and spoon racing, etc. On one of the river trips we positioned Eek and JoeV on the front of the boat and set off up the river. The reaction this got was fantastic, most notably so when we stopped the boat outside a packed riverside terrace at the Angel on the Bridge pub. Whilst most of the drinkers there probably had no idea of the origins of ‘I’d rather be a Paddy’ they seemed to enjoy it, we sailed off to a round of applause.

As evening fell the barbeque was cranked up again and the dozen or so of us who were left had another stupendous meal. Before I knew it the day had passed. As I hit bed somewhere around midnight I vaguely remember the sight of JoeV attempting to put a tent up. Some things never change.

Sunday saw us together with Giles, Colin, Big Stu and Dave head up river to Reading. Those of you who are familiar with this family will not be surprised to learn that two of those four were female. We floated up river on a supply of Pimms and champagne.

It was Big Stu’s birthday. He had made the mistake of letting his good friend Giles know that he wanted it kept quiet. Giles duly made sure that at every lock, where there was a crowd gathered, a rendition of happy birthday was started. Rage Against the Poteen also played it as we walked into the Allied Arms. True friendship.  

As ever the AA was a genial place to gather, a place to meet friends old and new. I didn’t stay too long; the weekend’s alcohol toll was starting to tell. There was also the fact that I wanted to get the boat to a quiet mooring away from Reading city center. From what I understand things carried on long into the night.

The Saturday barbeque, as well as being the best value meal(s) money could buy, managed a surplus of £52. This is being donated to the Nasio Trust. This is a young charity, working with orphaned children in Kenya, and has been chosen as The Craic Charity of the Season 2004/5. I’ll tell you more about this in a separate article.

There is a whisper that Henley RFC will not hold a summer sevens tournament again next year. That the cancellation of this summers event was more to do with the Army 7’s at The Stoop than the redevelopment at their ground. If this is the case it is a shame.

Last year, with the Henley and FB 7’s on the same day and a hundred to feed, I found everything a bit too hectic. This year, with a smaller gathering, it was blissful.

Those of you who were not there missed a real treat.