3rd July 2009

Dear all,  

So - what do you need to bring???

Most importantly - yourselves - with partners/wives/husbands/lovers, and children.... It is a day out for the whole family...

Dress very casual, for an extremely informal garden party...... hopefully very hot and sunny...

There will be draft lager and ale, plus vin plonc, cider, and soft drinks available, on a help yourself basis (but feel free to bring along any drink that you really fancy with your picnic - and do remember bottle openers and corkscrews)..

On the subject of food, there will be a hog roast available and a large gas barbecue so you can cook any food you bring for yourselves - so please bring all you need for a family picnic and self cook BBQ as well..

Although there will be some plates and cutlery/glasses - please bring whatever you need for your own group so that the supplied stuff can serve more as an emergency backup...

Please bring any outdoor games - footballs, frisbies, bats and balls, badmington racquets etc. - there are large open spaces in the adjoining field for the kids (well maybe not just the kids!!!) to enjoy themselves...

The family will have a 9 metre by 21 metre marquee in place which will offer protection from the sun (we have not ordered any rain of course!!) and will house the jazz band, plus a photo wall, and the self serve bar with fridges etc.. Lots of ice will hopefully be available too... There will be trestle tables on which any shared food items - salads - quiches - deserts etc. can be placed - so please feel free to bring along a dish of your speciality offering if you feel that way inclined...

There will also be a limited number of garden chairs for use, but please bring any camping chairs/tables picnic blankets etc for your own use

There will be special mobile toilet and washing facilities brought in for the day as well...

Car parking will be no problem - on grass - and there will be clear signposting to direct you from the roadway...

If you know Gordon and your life was touched by his presence - please come and help the family and Gordon's friends celebrate the life of a good man and close friend and colleague to many of us...

See you there...

John Willis

PS. There may even be some form of flying tributes during the day....!