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York Rotary Christmas lunch and entertainment 2024



York Rotary held its Christmas lunch at the Novotel on Friday 21st December, it was attended by 90 Rotarians, partners and friends.


As we mingled before lunch the Jackson 5 – 2 entertained us in the foyer, amongst the numbers they played was Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. 










A Christmas Stocking Filler stall was available, that was a popular feature and it raised in excess of £100 for the charity fund.













After lunch President Elect Paul and deputy master of music thanked the Novotel team for looking after us over the last year and he presented a gift to them on our behalf.











President Mike and Ros who are in Perth Australia joined us by Zoom to give us their Christmas greetings.  Mike said the temperature in Perth was 40C, we were not really sure whether that was preferable to the rather colder weather in York?





The Christmas entertainment was then opened by The Jackson 5 – 2, this year represented by accomplished cornet player Alan Morrison, keyboard player Alan Tonks and of course our own Tom Jackson.  The two Alans have vast musical experience and as well as Alan Morrison having played for several very respected bands they have both played on cruises around the world.


Continuing President Mike’s theme of music it was entirely appropriate that we were then entertained by the York Rotary choir, also known as the Mike Hay singers, but this year with guest conductor Paul Roberts.  The choir gave an excellent performance of four carols/Christmas songs – Deck the Halls with Boughs of Holly, Ding Dong, Rocking around the Christmas Tree and finally We wish you a Merry Christmas.  The choir had clearly enjoyed all of their rehearsals and the audience really enjoyed their performance.  To hear the choir as well as extracts from the Jackson 5 – 2 music click on the video link below.






The choir was followed by a Christmas reading of Cooking the Turkey with Wine by Darrell Hind.  The reading was delivered in a very accomplished way.  Darrell has clearly followed this recipe many times before, when I asked him did the turkey taste nice he said “I don’t know, I was far too drunk to eat it”!











The entertainment was concluded by the Jackson 5 – 2. The highlight of that was the lovely performance of Blue Spanish Eyes by the two Alans (also on the video).


The lunch was clearly enjoyed by everyone. Thank you to everyone involved in organising it and performing. Particular thanks go to Jan Dash who had the unenviable task of organising who was attending and their varied menu choices, liaising with the hotel and preparing all of the name/menu cards – these sort of things do not just happen. Thank you also to the choir for coping in the absence of Mike Hay, we look forward to hearing them again in 2025.


David Fotheringham

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