HIBC Report for July 2016 By Bruce Mowatt HIBC publicity

What a fantastic evening at the HIBC annual BBQ on 9th July, fine weather, all entrance tickets sold before the event, good entertainment, plentiful supply of food, reasonable priced drinks, and positive feedback from our party goers. To achieve this required Club members, friends, and relatives to toil untiringly for most of the proceeding week, and from very early morning on the day of the event to turn Northney farm into the Islands top party venue. The transformation of the large barn to a night club with ample seating and tables, including bars, stage, sound equipment, and lighting was outstanding. The cooking of the Burgers and Sausages including the spit roast was outside the barn with ample room for additional tables and chairs including side stalls. The dance area’s where quickly filled with happy dancers when the Abba tribute band performed the well-known Abba songs on stage. The D.J. Malcolm Drew ensured that the music continued late into the night. The raffle was well supported, with many prizes being claimed on the night. The reward for all the hard work and support is that the income from this event will enable us to continue running the HIBC community bus and support other worthwhile causes on the Island in the coming year. The club committee would like to thank all the supporters and helpers; we know that without their contribution this event would not be possible. A big thank you to Stan, Mary, Tim Pike, and family for allowing us to once again hold the event at Northney farm. Our chairman Brian Smith stated, that the commitment throughout the year by club members to ensure that everything goes smoothly at the BBQ is truly impressive, as this is not just a mental exercise of organisation, but also quite a challenging physical one. I know that after the ‘clear up ‘we must have all felt like a lie down in a darkened room, I know that I did, but the satisfaction of knowing what we have achieved made it all worthwhile. Thank you to all the businesses and residents of Hayling and the surrounding areas for their attendance and support.

As mentioned last month the club would like to present additional awards for the best male and female Drama students. The new trophies will be in the form of a Janus drama mask in glass. The awards ceremony took place at the College on Friday 15th July, the winners are: – Wally Eagan Award for enterprise went to Harry Silver / Geoff Foot award for Sport went to Owen Lewis / Denis Doney award for male Drama went to Lucas Bradshaw / Dennis Collins award for female Drama went to Lilly Gray. Congratulations to all the award winners from the club

Along with other local organisations the club has contributed towards the refurbishment of the Hayling Island sea front skate park. The aim is to ensure the facilities are improved and updated before the school holidays.

I have been looking through the early club records and thought following statement would be of interest: -During 1965-1966-1967, the club went for strength to strength. An average of £700 a year was raised by members, and spent on the welfare of the needy in Hayling. A new Chairman was elected by the members every year, and the outgoing Chairman presented with an engraved Puter Tankard as a gesture of thanks from the members for his leadership in a most worthy cause. The first 3 Chairmen, were Bob Green, Alec Brenan and Will Venton in that order. Throughout this period the club arranged regular coach outings to beauty spots, and continued to support the annual holiday of some 20 needy people, enabling pensioners to enjoy a week in the Isle of Wight, among other places.

In over 50 years the club still promotes its original intentions, and will continue to ensure that proceeds from events and activities are used towards the running costs of the Hayling Island Community bus, and other deserving local causes.

We are always looking for additional members to join our club, and if you feel that you would like to be part of the team, and help towards the fund raising activities, and join the social side of this club, then please talk to a club member or contact the Recruitment officer at recruitment@hibc.org.uk.