Big Andys Scootering Site

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I arrived at Belvedere Park just after 8am thinking i was running late as we had agreed to all meet at 8 as we had a big marquee to erect for the Belvedere Park Club. When i arrived i didn't know whether to be relieved or angry as no-one else was there. I decided to use the time to put up my tent as i awaited the arrival of my fellow brewers. By 9:30 most of the early Brewers had arrived and we set about setting up the site for this weekends festivities. Myself and Brad went off to put up the road signs around the town. The first arrivals started to drift in around 10:00 and pretty soon the camp site was filling up nicely. Just after 3pm the PA system company arrived so i went down to the club to give them access to the club. Also arriving in drips and draps were the various members of the 3 bands we had on tonight. Steve Foster also arrived to set up the VFM equipment. Mr & Mrs Tony 'one shirt' arrived to set up their gear in the Belvedere room which on Friday night was to ba a Ska room. The bands in the main room had soon done their sound checks and before we knew it, it was 7:30pm and time to open up the club to the punters.  

    First on stage was Johnny from Bolton who did his soul session. Some of the band members waiting around were very impressed with him. Next up in the Belvedere room was Ghost Town AKA who were doing the first of two sessions. I went into see them play and i must admit as a late addition they were actually very good and judging by the crowds reaction they went down well amongst the many ska fans that were dancing around.

    Back in the Main room as soon as Ghost Town had there break, The Affair took to the stage, with Ian page belting out his array of quality songs that at first had little reaction from the crowd but as soon as they played Time for Action the mods in the room soon started to dance, which pleased Mr Page & company.

    Ghost Town AKA then did there 2nd session in the Belvedere, before that mad bunch, Basketcase took to the stage and sang there impressive list of punk covers, including Swords of a Thousand Men which they kindly dedicated to myself as i had told them earlier that it was my favourite all time record. They did give me a scare though when they were coming off and thanked myself for having them. I told them as they went back on for their encore that it was the Burton Brewers who had had them not just me. Phew close call, especially after the grief i've had from some of my fellow club members this week for implying they didn't do anything.

    Steve Foster, Disco Daz and Wigan Tim saw out the reminder of the night playing their usual good mix of scooterist tunes. The plan was to then retire to bed as i had to get up early to sort out the trade stalls, but unfortunately Bill from the Mansfield Monsters had taken a tumble and hurt his arm so i ran him up to the hospital. The amount of time we waited just to check in was a joke and infact i heard that other people who ended up there later in the day ended up walking out after waiting hours to be seen. Burton Hospital ought to get its act together as this is totally unacceptable. Anyway i left Bill to be seen and returned to the Belvedere to get some sleep. Fat chance of that. before i had even settled in i had to go out and tell a car full of people to turn off there radio which was booming out. It was far too loud for 4 in the afternoon, never mind 4 in the morning. I got my ear bent but eventually they turned it down and i settled back down to try to sleep.

    I arose out of my tent about 7:30 the next morning to attend to the trade stalls. Roger & Steph were also just waking up too and they set up the gate again. After i had sorted out the Stalls myself and Dawn went home for a few hours to get a break. I also needed my hand looked at as well. I had been bitten on it on Friday but when i awoke on Saturday it had swelled up quite alarmingly. I was told i really needed to go to the Hospital and get it looked at as it had swelled that much my skin had become extremely tight over my hand. Sod that i was too busy so a couple of pills later i was on my way back to the Belvedere. Mean while i had received a phone call because some bloke had arrived and wanted to set up a stall but he was not booked in so i told him he couldn't get in. He wasn't best pleased but if people don't read the adverts we put in scootering and turn up without booking then what do they expect.

    As we arrived back the 5-a-side football was under way which was eventually won by the Tony Blacburn SC/ Lincoln SC team. After the footie came the 'its a knockout' competition. This seemed to go down a treat with the crowd and it raised many a laugh as the teams competed against each other in various silly events. This was eventually won by the Pussy Galore team. All the time this was going off, Tony '1 shirt' & Pitchie entertained the crowd by playing requests for charity donations. Inside the Belvedere room Gecko were playing as well. Unfortunately i didn't get chance to see them play as while the 'its a knockout' was on they were a bit short on the gate so myself and dawn went down to help out.

    The Bands for Saturday night started to arrive so again i went down to the club to sort them out. Tonight's line up consisted of 17 black and the More Specials. I saw 17 Black play at Hemsby last year and i was very impressed by them and again they didn't let me down as they played an excellent set which seemed to go down well with crowd. The More Specials were also excellent, getting the whole room bopping along in the hot sticky conditions. Steve, Daz & Tim DJ'd the rest of the night in the main room whilst Tony & Pichie did the soul room.

    The raffle was drawn about 11pm with the main prize of a Lambretta GP200 going to John Brady from somewhere in the west midlands. Apparently he has been saving up for almost a year to buy a Lambretta and had nearly got enough to buy one. Well, he's got one now and still got money in the Bank.

    The Club Member of the Year was also voted on by the club members over the weekend. (where was my voting slip) and Mark Evison won it and looked stunned as he received the shield on stage.

    After the two rooms had finished the remaining Brewers gathered in the marquee along with a few others and as i arrived i got a big cheer, but i wasn't in the mood for socialising so i retired to my tent to get some sleep. I had a lot on my mind and knew i had to do something i really didn't want to do but recent events had forced my hand. I was about to resigned from the Brewers committee after the rally and  leave the club at the end of the year. I thought it was now time for those who criticised me behind my back to show they can do it better. I was though, during the following week, asked to reconsider. So after airing all my gripes i agreed to continue.

    Sunday morning was the start of the big clean up and for saying goodbye to our visitors. I went off round the back to clean up so i could be on my own and ponder on my decision to leave the club. I got my ear bent by the ladies bowling club because some pathetic idiot had been in the toilets in their hut and thrown paint everywhere. WHY?? The news also came to me that some thieving bastard had stabbed us in the back and despite us all working our socks off to keep you all entertained and keeping  you're kids entertained someone decided we would be better off without the bouncy castle and generator. This was on hire fro a local company and it means we have got to re-impurse them the cost of it. As i write this we have yet to study the cctv pictures but if the culprit does have a pang off guilt before we view the cctv they can ring me in total confidence and arrange to return it, But be assured though if we do see anything on the cctv we will name and shame as well as see justice done, unless it is returned. At the end of the day it is you lot that pays for it as it now means we will have to put up the prices for next year to cover the cost of it and also next year there will be no bouncy castle for the kids so you will have to entertain them yourselves. Needless to say if anyone does have any information they can contact me in confidence.

    After the clean up we had a few drinks in the club before we all sat down to dinner courtesy of the Belvedere Park Club. We then all left to retire to our long awaited beds, although my first job when i got home was to soak my feet which were agony. They throbbed liked mad and i had massive blisters on each foot, still it was worth it to see the weekend go so well.

    So can i thank all the Brewers for their help, all the bands, The VFM team and Tony 1 shirt & Pitchie. Also a very big thank you to all the staff and managers of the Belvedere Park Club.

    A very big thank you also goes to all of you that attended and were so well behaved. We as a club can only hope you all enjoyed yourselves and will return again next year.