Newsletter 9 - November 2021
AMRA CHRISTMAS PARTY
at the RUGBY CLUB at 7:30pm, 10th Dec. 2021 (after the AGM)
At Christmas, play and make good cheer, for Christmas comes but once a year.”
It’s my favourite time of the year and this year’s AMRA Christmas party will be a festive affair of music, dancing, seasonal finger buffet, and good cheer… especially from the bar, so don’t forget your cash!
Santa will be giving out the raffle prizes so please make sure you bring a beautiful gift as all proceeds will go to Maggie’s at the Churchill Hospital, who give support to people diagnosed with cancer and their
families. Please feel free to give the raffle gifts to any committee member in advance or ask one of us to collect it from you. Thank you.
Rodd, the musician from the summer party, will be playing some festive music for us to dance and to let our hair down. Singing along is optional!
Please let Laura know if you are planning to attend for the catering team to have the correct numbers. amra.social@yahoo.com
Ho, Ho, Ho!! Laura
From Delia Evans, Chair of AMRA
Did you all know that we are living in one of the oldest towns in England? And that we initially were part of Berkshire? Those of us who joined Kevin Goodman’s, ‘Walk and talk: history of Abingdon’ learnt a lot as we met outside the museum before taking a walk around the most interesting parts of Abingdon with plenty of anecdotes along the way. Many thanks to Kevin for the hard work that he put into a very interesting afternoon.
I don’t know about you but I do feel that, despite the disadvantages of the past 21 months, we have become a very cohesive and supportive community, with almost 100 members to date. Long may it continue! We are hoping that the ‘Carols round the Christmas tree’, organised by Fisherman’s Wharf each year, will be happening on Christmas Eve this year at 6.30. This is an opportunity to support one of our chosen charities.
Thanks to everyone who has sent in photos for our calendar competition. We have twelve stunning photos of the Marina and surrounding area taken throughout the year. The calendar will be on sale at the Christmas Party for a bargain price of £5.00 – a great present for those 'difficult to please' people!
A page from AMRA’s 2022 calendar
Some of you may have notice diesel slicks on the surface of the marina. Gary, from the commercial Marina, has been in touch to remind AMRA boat owners about care with auto bilge pumps – apparently they should not be used. Of course, the slick could also have come from boats that call into the marina or from a discharge in the river. However, please make sure that we are all aware of the problem and that none of us are culpable!
Don’t forget that you can follow all news of our forthcoming events on our website (www.AMRAUK.org) kindly run for us by Phil Edmonds) and on our Facebook page run by Claire Heald.
With best wishes for a very happy Christmas and a full and fruitful New Year to you all.
Delia
Other events planned
Memory Tree, 1st December - 12th January
This year we are organising a memory tree. Tie a ribbon, some tinsel or add a bauble to remember someone who has passed, a friend you miss, or family who you are unable to see this year. The tree is situated on the land in between West Quay, South Quay and Peep-o-Day Lane.
“Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection.” - Winston Churchill
New Theatre Oxford: 9 To 5 -The Musical
Wednesday 19th January 2022 at 14:30.
Tumble outta’ bed and stumble to Dolly Parton’s rip-roaring musical, direct from 5-star reviews and sold-out audiences in the West End! AMRA have managed to secure group seats to see this wonderful matinee musical to brighten a gloomy January day.
Tickets are £24:50 each (a £5:00 ticket price saving). There are limited numbers so to avoid disappointment, please let Laura know if you are interested as soon as possible on amra.social@yahoo.com
Book Club coming soon…
Watch out for updates for a new book club starting in the New Year.
We hope you have enjoyed this year’s social events and we are looking forward to seeing you at one of next year’s exciting activities.
Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy New Year from the AMRA Social Committee