Druids Till I Die!!!

Druids till I die…

     Of the people on each trip, eight were present on all of the first four leading to the establishment of the ‘Druids till I die competition’. The competition is to attend the Druids trip every year – if you miss one, you are out of the competition. The last man standing wins. The idea came from the football song "I'm (whatever club) till I die" which many fans sing. We hope that this competition (which is known as a tontine) will keep the trip going for years to come.

     Only five members now remain in this exclusive club. They are Alex Morrison, Will Harrison, Mark Vesey, Jamie Hastings and Ed Marsh.

     As well as the 'Druids Till I Die' competition which will undoubtedly keep the interest of its members for years to come, we also hope to inspire future generations to visit the Druids. All members of the competion have now left Exeter University, or will do so soon - although we have many links with the place and know lots of people still studying there (as well as some who may never leave). Hopefully some group of students with too much time on their hands, or person typing random words into google instead of writing an essay will hear of our trip and follow in our footsteps. The shirt presented to us on our first trip and signed by the Druids team of the day is still in Mardon Hall waiting to be discovered by someone old enough to drive and bored enough to take his mates on a random road trip! As well as this, anyone who hears about the trip and has a free Saturday in March once a year would be very welcome. We would be very pleased if our trip expanded and brought extra supporters to watch the mighty Druids.

     Due to constant moaning by members who shall remain nameless (until their names appear below), we are experimenting with the idea of a "Chamionship", which is a posh football world for second division. This is for people who have missed some of the Druids trips but still want their contribution to the trip to be recognised. Although this in no way consitutes membership of the DTID competition, it may help them to feel better about their sorry lives! The following are listed in no particular order but feel free to try and work out who had the best reason not to attend. You might like to use "excuse difference", a cunning scheme devised by Dr Edward J. Marsh of the University of Exeter...

Andy Kerrison - Druids stalwart who has only missed one trip and claims it was due to not being informed of the date. Given that we have a website, this seems a little weak but his ongoing committment to the trip gives his claim some credibility!

JJ Moore - Has missed two trips but was captaining Exeter University's golf team on the given days (which he was sponsored to do). Has made every trip since his first appearance on the third time we visited the Druids.

Tom Barnes - Made five in a row but missed out on the sixth for some mysterious reason. Hotly tipped to do well in the competition (so much so that opponents were thinking they might have to kill him), he dropped out in a move which surprise his fellow DTID members.

Andy Mathers - Missed the trip one week before his wedding in the sixth year. While our hearts do bleed for him, it is called "Druids till I die" not "Druids till I have something better to do"!

John Sladden - Has made four Druids trips but has has moved to France (and missed a trip before he did). Hopefully, the man know as Jonty and feared for his dance moves will make a quick return to the Druids next year.

Rob Grundy - Known as Slippy, the man was a founder member of the competition but has missed two of the three post-university trips. Hopefully he will rejoin the fun in years to come.