Archive Page 2

Our State President Joan McCulloch retires from the job after four years.

Joan who comes from Carlisle England has been State President for four years taking the reigns from Shirley Miller
In her time in this office Joan saw major changes in Tennessee with the loss of the Rugby Chapter but the start of the Centre Court Chapter in Knoxville and also the St. Georges Chapter in Seveierville.

In a meeting held at Joan's home she was presented with a Dogwood Tree by the State Board on behalf of both chapters.
This tree will give pleasant memories of her time chasing around Tennessee on State business, attending National and District Conferences and generally seeing to the State business.

The tree will be planted in a prominent position in Joan's woodland back garden.

Joan is succeeded by Diane Jones who was the 1st Vice President. Diane can be seen standing to Joan's right.

Our Christmas Tea in 2008 was held in the Faith Lutheran Church in Farragut and was attend by over 90 guests.

The Hall was much larger than previous years and was very suited to our annual occasion.

Our ladies and husbands worked hard to dress the hall up in a festive manner which was very well appreciated by all our guests.

The food served was all typical British High Tea Fayre and made by the ladies of the Centre Court Chapter
Sandwiches were a mix of:
Egg and Cress , Coronation Chicken etc

Pastries consisted of:
Sausage Rolls, Quiche etc

The Cakes were:
Shortbread, and mini delights

The enterainment this year was provided by the Madrigal Singers from Webb School. They sang a collection of Old English Carols and were a huge and instant success with our guests and organisers. What a lovely sight in their traditional costumes and the sounds of young voices raised in beautiful harmony.

Once again we held a fashion show provided by Judy Gardner from the Silk Purse Boutique. As in previous years the ladies thoroughly enjoyed the show and were extremely impressed with the clothes the models wore. Judy had a stall set up which did very brisk business at the end of the tea.
For more information on the Silk Purse contact Judy on (865) 584-2221

Centre Court Member Joan McCullooch hosted a Halloween Party at her home in 2009.
The party was well attended with over three quarters of the Chapter attending. All party goers were asked to carve and bring a Jack o' Lantern and a competition was held to judge the best ones.
All guests dressed up as can be seen in the photo below and once again the best costume was judged by Joan and her husband Jim.
Winners for this were Diane Jones and Doug DeWitt husband of Melanie.
Unfortunately the weather was poor, with heavy rain until around midnight but that did not dampen the party atmosphere. Joan and Jim feel that this party will be a regular event in the Centre Court calendar

Approximately forty eight DBE members and guests braved a cold night to celebrate the return of Bonfire Night to the DBE in Tennessee's calendar.

Previously Bonfire Night had been held at the home of Shirley Miller and her Husband in Sevier County.
This year the re-introduction of Bonfire Night was held at the home of Sandra and Fred Anderson.

The event proved to be very popular, with more guests attending than had been anticipated.

The day started off cold with threatening snow and sleet but in the end it cleared up for the evening, even though it was bitterly cold. A good Chimenea fire and a gas heater kept the outside revellers warm before the fire was lit.

The Ladies of the Centre Court Chapter provided Sausages, Chili, Beans and Jacket Spuds to warm everyone from the inside. To wash it down was Hot Cider, Hot Mulled Wine and Hot Chocolate followed by Bananas with melted Chocolate and Cookies.

The venue was ideal as Fred had just built a large Fire Pit and Patio in his garden. The husbands built a bonfire into the new fire pit and immediately after supper everyone congregated on the Patio to see the lighting of the Bonfire.

With the Bonfire burning away in the background a suitably attired Phil Perkins gave a stirring overview about the origins of the Guy Fawkes celebrations and told everyone that this celebration still takes place throughout Great Britain, so our evening was being mimicked in many places. As the narration closed he told people to be on the lookout for the ghost of Guy Fawkes as he would sometimes appear if the situation was right.

Just then a figure bearing an old oil torch was seen walking from the woods and reciting the poem,

Remember, remember the Fifth of November,
Gunpowder, Treason and Plot.
I see no reason why Gunpowder and Treason
Should ever be forgot!

The ghost of Guy Fawkes (Joan McCulloch's husband Jim) then wandered aimlessly through the woods until captured by a band of brawny onlookers and taken to the fire.

To the chants of "burn him, burn him" Guy was ceremoniously burned at the stake in true Guy Fawkes Night fashion.

Music then burst forth into the evening as a spendid fireworks display was put on to the delight of all the revellers.

The evening finished with groups of guests sitting around the Bonfire and the Chimenea and generally enjoying the camaraderie.

The event was an unqualified success and is sure to be a regular date on our calendar.

Well done to the organisers of the evening and especially Sandra and Fred Anderson!