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BBLOC Patrons


Patrons Newsletter

November 2020

Again, a massive THANK YOU to all our Patrons, their families and friends for their continued support. These are unprecedented times, the likes of which we have never experienced in our lifetime. However, looking onwards and upwards we hope that 2021 will be a good year for BBLOC and hopefully we will be performing again.

Attached is our Patron’s form for next year, it is still at £10 for the foreseeable future. With the ever-increasing costs of putting on a show every contribution helps so we cannot thank you enough for continuing to be a Patron.

Saturday Night Fever

As you know, the Committee made the decision with a heavy heart, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to cancel our show for November, which was previously postponed from April. This was devastating for all of us as so much hard work and planning had already been put in and we were so close to being able to offer our audiences a fabulous show.

Coffee Morning

All being well, I hope to have a Coffee Morning for Patrons and Friends on Friday 9 April 2021 at 22a Cavendish Road. However, I will send out notes nearer the time confirming the arrangements. Hopefully, we will be getting back to some kind of normality by then.

Sad News

As many of you knew, Betty Potter celebrated her 100th Birthday on 15 December last year and I know some of you were able go and see her. Sadly, Betty died in March this year and she will be remembered with love as a stalwart BBLOC member and supporter for most of her life.

Also, Jean Strickland died in June 2020, she too was a Patron and supporter of BBLOC until she died.

Message from our Chairman

It certainly has been a very difficult time over the last six months or so, I think that each and every one of us have had to learn to adapt to new ways of doing things and new ways of thinking and this certainly has been the case with leading BBLOC through the crisis. I was determined from the offset that we would remain strong and fight for our future which is absolutely what we have done. Rest assured that undoing a show which was ready to perform is just as much work as putting it together. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the committee who have worked so hard throughout the pandemic to ensure that BBLOC carries on and will rise once it is safe to do so. We have regularly met through online platforms and found new and inventive ways to communicate some of which will continue. I hope to see as many of you as possible join our online AGM should you be able to. One thing that I will always be passionate about is member engagement and that has been somewhat challenging throughout this period of solitude. I have used our Facebook group to upload show photos and archive material from every show that we have ever produced in the hope that this would keep as many people engaged as possible. Please join the group if you are able “BBLOC members and friends past and present”. It’s also important in these dark times that we support each other where we can and this platform has enabled people to stay in touch. I would like to thank Steve Smith for her support in this area. So, what next. We are determined to get back in the rehearsal room as soon as humanly possible and it’s safe to do so. We will not rush as we need to ensure that we can fill the theatre before we start to work on the show. Our next planned show is “Kinky Boots” which will be sure to raise the roof on the Pavilion and come hell or high water that is exactly what will happen.

Stay safe everyone

Darren

Message from our President

Covid 19 has been disastrous and devastating for so many. My heart goes out to them, but I thank God that my nearest and dearest have avoided the worst. As I write, a vaccine is on the horizon and we are all filled with hope. The media has been largely negative but the stories and people that lift spirits during this pandemic have always been very welcome. Those in the entertainment industry has been particularly hard hit. However, for example, Matthew McConoughey called the bingo for elderly, isolating residents of a nursing home; West End success Sarah Jane Casey has become a delivery driver; Your brilliant Chairman, Darren, has regularly submitted quizzes, puzzles and hysterical footage of himself on Facebook. Myself, Sarah Stevens, Jason and Dawn Knight, Rachel Olley (Reed) and Debs France (Newey) and Atkinson have been meeting every Sunday afternoon on Messenger - that's my old BBLOC mates and I - a real tonic. My old mate, Steve, came third on BGT! Strictly is on! So is I'm a Celebrity soon!

I have little idea who actually reads this and how hard the Coronavirus situation has been for you. But I hope you can find positives beyond any heartache. Whatever floats your boat!

Simon Rawlings

Message from our Social Secretary

Although we weren’t able to have all our social events this year, we were still able to have a number of successful theatre trips to support our local theatre groups and our Chairman Darren organised a wonderful socially distanced picnic in Redhill Park in the summer, which was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.

Our Charity this year was Dorset Mind and we were very lucky to be able to have three fundraisers before we went into lockdown. These were, a pyjama rehearsal, the raffle at the Christmas Carol evening and a disco fancy dress rehearsal. Through the generous donations and wonderful efforts made by all members we were able to raise £301 for Dorset Mind.

We have one further theatre trip at the end of the year to see our wonderful friends in The Christmas Spectacular at The Pavilion this December, and we hope to be able to organise more trips in the future.

Birth

This is our newest BBLOC arrival for Sean and Lauren Hardy. Elsie Bee Hardy was born at 0:41 on 9 October weighing 6 lbs 14 oz

Elsie Bee image
Elsie Bee

AGM

This will take place online on Monday 30 November at 7:30. Included in this missive are details of how to log-on to listen to the meeting if you are able.

In conclusion, I hope you are all well and keeping safe. If you have any information on any of our past members, please let me know and I will always include them in any messages that go out. Also, our Web Designer, Andy will put the information on our Website.

Carole Gadsby - Secretary


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