On Wednesday 28^th April 2004 The Redbridge Marquetry Group became 25 years old.

To acknowledge the event, the RMG (Redbridge Marquetry Group) played host to a veritable cornucopia of illustrious marquetry luminaries. Pat and Derek Austin (the current President and Chairman of the Marquetry Society) came all the way from New Quay in Wales to join in our revelries. Another participant in our celebrations was that most famous of marquetarians Alan Townsend from the Chelmsford Group, Alan’s pictures are legendary and he has been a Rose-bowl winner so many times that we have lost count! And, we really must give our special thanks to Ernie Maxey and the Bexley Group who travelled over from Kent to join in our celebrations, they made it a wonderful evening, and then, of course we really must not forget Derek Townrow who used to attend the original London Group meetings with our Alf Murtell, (and Ken Daniels, and Derek Austin) it was a real pleasure to greet him again. There were so many old faces who turned up for our 25^th anniversary that it would almost be impossible to list them singly, so we will offer all of them a collective “Thanks ever so much” for coming along and making our 25^th anniversary celebrations such a success, it was so wonderful that we’re now looking forward to our 50^th anniversary with every anticipation!!!

So, let us try to give you a little literary flavour (in as much as it’s possible to put the occasion into words) of the evening’s events, here goes:

We Redbridge Group members all arrived at our rooms about an hour or two earlier than our usual time in order to set everything up ready for the arrival of our guests.

Sandwiches were freshly made, savouries arranged and laid out, cakes, pies, fruit juice and wine were also set out ready, and, we even had a Samovar available for those who favoured its delectable contents (it’s actually a tea urn really!) there certainly wasn’t going to be any hungry or thirsty folk at our Redbridge festivities! Our raffle prizes were also something special for this occasion, not only did we have many really desirable prizes, there was also a special second raffle with prizes of “wodges” of M & S vouchers available for each attending group.

Our first guests to arrive were Pat and Derek Austin, who just had time to make their greetings to the RMG members, when all of a sudden our rooms rapidly filled with the arrival of “coach loads” of more of our guests from Bexley, etc, luckily we have plenty of parking space available at our location, so those who came in their own transport were able to park their vehicles with complete safety.

Once all the hello’s and greetings had been made and everyone had settled into their seats it was time for our “Cabaret”. We were entertained by “The Illusions” a magical duo who, in one of their superb illusions, amazingly appeared to “be-head” our group’s President, Alf Murtell in full view of everyone, and then when the Magician’s glamorous assistant disappeared into the cabinet and was promptly sliced and divided in half, then re-appeared intact, we were all left in astonishment at how such a thing was achieved.

Our Vicky Zammitt took part in the “rope trick” and is still trying to work out how the rope she cut into little pieces re-assembled itself in front of her very eyes. And then, the trick we all thoroughly enjoyed was when the Magician asked our Chairman Roy for a bank note and Roy had no other option than to open his wallet and let the moths out! Roy took out a “ten bob” note (surely they went out of circulation over twenty years ago? Web Master) the Magician then made it disappear, this trick caused Roy great consternation because he really loved that ten bob note!          

After everyone had been entertained with the cabaret it was time to indulge in the buffet and to participate in “Roy’s quiz”. Now this brings me to an important point, as we can guess, you will have all been wondering what topic “Roy’s quiz” would be covering this time. Well it was along the lines of “take five sheep bleating and place them in the middle of a fence and what have you got?” answer “a five bar (baaahh!) gate” groan, groan! Awful isn’t it? 

Where, do we wonder, does he get these quizzes from? Do you know, they seem to have taken on a life of their own and have now become legendary in marquetry circles, we at RMG couldn’t have an event now without a “Roy’s quiz” it would almost be like losing a limb, it just wouldn’t be the same! It’s become an institution so, well done our Roy!

After the buffet and quizzes we got down to the raffle and presentations. Once again the raffle favoured everyone with equal generosity and everyone seemed pleased with the results.

Presentations, gifts and thanks concluded the evening’s celebrations, and we think we can say that every one of the participants went home that night with a smile on their face and a “full up” feeling in their tum’s.

We hope you find the accompanying photos manage in some way to convey a little of the heady and pleasant atmosphere of that evening. Please enjoy them.