THE SOLE SOCIETY 20th ANNIVERSARY GATHERING

By Rosemary Bailey

 This article was originally published in the December 2011 edition of Soul Search, the journal of The Sole Society

I think it is safe to say that everyone who attended the Sole Society 20th Anniversary Gathering enjoyed it.  At least all the feed back I have seen suggests so!

Roebuck Inn in Drayton, Oxfordshire

Over forty members and guests attended the event at the seventeenth century Roebuck Inn in Drayton, Oxfordshire.  The pub is run by Nick Saul, one of the Leamington Sauls, so we were all made to feel especially welcome by him and his daughter.

The society’s President, Fred Sole, opened the proceedings with a few words of welcome which was followed by an informal AGM chaired by John Slaughter in the absence of Ian Sewell.  John gave a vote of thanks to all the committee members, and noted in particular that I had taken over as Editor in a seamless fashion.  He said that although membership numbers had fallen this was a trend with all societies.

We then enjoyed a tasty (and extremely filling!) three course meal, after which I spoke briefly about what the society had meant to me over the years having been involved since the very beginning.  After this Fred proposed a toast to the society and its next twenty years which was drunk in bubbly.

Overall a great day: great company, great food with many old friendships renewed and new ones made.