As you know, we planned our Charter Night on May 17th to allow those who wanted to travel on to Cluster in Majorca later that week.

As you also know, this year’s Iberian Cluster has been cancelled and no other club seems inclined to organise an replacement event.

So Chairman Elect Peter and I have been busy, working on an alternative plan. The details are below, please consider each element and give me an indication of your interest. Peter and Sandra, plus Kathy and I plan to “do the lot”. Note that numbers are limited, so you will want to make your commitments early to be sure! 😉

Tuesday 17th May – Charter Anniversary dinner dance at the fabulous Restaurante Puerto Blanco. The cost will be around €45 a head. And newly installed National President Jim Conway is joining us with his wife, Vicky (who is a past National President of Tangent). Jim will effect the handover of Chairman from Stuart to Peter, after Stuart’s Covid imposed 2 years in office. Peter will be installed that night. As always, guests are welcome.

Wednesday 18th May – I have arranged a visit to the micro brewery, distillery and winery in Benissa. We will meet there at 12.00 for a 1 hour guided tour of the brewery followed by a 1 hour beer tasting (with a few light nibbles). Anyone who prefers can taste the wines, but I need to know in advance the exact numbers who opt for the wine. The cost is €20 a head. AND WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU CLUB TOGETHER AND TRAVEL BY TAXI!! We may well take Jim and Vicky with us in Kathy’s car to Benissa and leave it there to collect next day.

Wednesday 18th May – following the Piss Up in the Brewery we plan lunch at a suitable eatery back in Calpe. The cost will be no more than €20 a head and we will meet for lunch at around 14.30. A taxi back from Benissa will allow everyone to relax and enjoy.

Sunday 22nd May – There is a Bee Gees tribute night at Benidorm Palace. The band have a great reputation, and, as always the atmosphere of this great venue will be part of the night. The cost is just €38 a head, and this includes either a fish and chips meal or a chicken and chips meal. Peter needs an indication of numbers to know if this is viable. I have been looking at hotel options, to save driving home in the early hours (or a bus). The nearby, 4 star hotel, the Levante Club currently has rooms for £79 the night, including breakfast, on Expedia.co.uk. There are plenty of other hotel/apartment options. We will leave it to individuals to choose and book your own stay for the night. Prices are dynamic, so can go up as well as down.

There! You have it. A plan for fellowship and fun in place of the Iberian Cluster. No doubt other social gatherings will fill the gaps.

Please think about these opportunities and let me know. It is strictly first come first served. And if there are places still available (for the brewery for example) in a couple of weeks time I will start inviting loyal friends from the Costa Blanca 41 Club or other service groups.

Over to you, in continued friendship,

Andrew