GB VETS ENJOY A FUN WEEKEND IN YORK
2-4 NOVEMBER 2012.

Stuart Gray, who had a posting in the Army to Strensall, suggested about ten years ago that the VC of GB get ourselves invited to the Wigginton Squash Club just outside York. He said the club had an excellent Chairman called Nick Clifford, who, he was sure, would be delighted to host the matches.

Well, we took this advice and it became an annual fixture for five or six years. Then came a bit of a lull, but we invited ourselves again this year for the weekend of 2nd – 4th November.

Wigginton has the same Chairman, Nick Clifford, who again organised a superb weekend for us. Nick and his wife, Sheila, hosted Nigel and Jane Belle and Tom and Di Hendry; Nick organised the Friday night match and then they both sorted out the catering for our evening meal.

VC of GB were delighted that we managed to get four of our ‘northern members’ to play for us – Tommy Elves, Adrian Wright and his son, Martin, who has recently  become a member, and John Shaw, who joined the Club on the Friday night! Our other player was John Woodliffe.

Wigginton Squash Club is a joy to visit. It has four courts, good spectator facilities, plenty of room for watching ‘big screen’ football and spacious bar areas for eating - and a spot of thirst quenching! The members support the club well and make visitors feel very welcome. We spent some time in York on the Saturday morning – including a great hike around the City walls and a visit to the wonderful Minster – and then played another match in the afternoon.

Play was great fun and all the games were well-matched – but results indicate we will need a training session before we go again!

On the Saturday night the Cliffords took us first to the characterful Guy Fawkes Inn – did you know he was born there? – and then to the Assembly Rooms for a great Italian meal. There must have been a couple of hundred diners there, but service and food were superb.

Nick had kindly organised a people-carrier to get us there and back – good move!

John Woodliffe

For the record, the results were: