New Years Eve 2011 to 2012 at the Flower of Kent

That was the best News Years Party we have ever had which played to a packed house. Most got there early perhaps to get a place in the car park and by eight there was only one table left. Peter Clarke in charge of the music played background music at first but we were in a party mood so was a request for something a bit more lively and the first of the dancers arrived on the floor, thing really started to go when an early Party Dance of YMCA was played where most of the room seemed to be up and the floor was packed it remained like this for most of the next five hours.

American Style Buffet was the order of the day with most bringing in a plate of food to share. Organisers also supplied six plates of sandwiches and even at the end of the night there was still plenty left. At nine Peter slowed the music and turned down the volume for the buffet to start, half an hour later and the dancing commenced. Molly went up and asked Peter to turn up the music, he said this was the first time he had such a request. At ten Graham and Doreen arranged two party games the first of which twenty six good sports formed a circle with their chairs and played “take the hat off the one in front”, the idea being, taking in the hat off the person in front till the music stopped and the one without a hat was out. This was followed by a dice game where you throw a six and put on hat glove and a scarf and take the wrapping off a parcel with a knife and fork. The raffle was drawn making £123 for the SSAFA charity

At eleven we went back to the dancing with all of the party dances of Music Man where even those sitting down joined in, the YMCA again. Dancing continued till just before midnight when most got up onto the floor and formed a circle. There was the Chime of Big Ben with a chorus of bangs from the poppers which had been placed on the tables. Peter then played Olde Lang Syne where those who remained crossed hands and said goodbye to 2011 and brought in the New Year. I have never seen so much kissing and hand shaking which brought out true Oddfellowship of all wishing all a Happy New Year.

At this point some prepared to go home, Peter was thanked for providing the music which he provided free of charge to raise as much as possible for the charity. We then went back to dancing which was interrupted half an hour later with a malfunction of the alarms, this was unwelcome and caused the nearest key-holder to be contacted. As I left the alarm company had been called and someone would have to stay on to wait for them. The last thing to do was to clear the tables, put away the tables and chairs and sweep the floor. By one fifteen all was cleared and only the alarm to be sorted and for Peter to put away his Disco equipment