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he Scarborough Dining Room
at Southport Masonic Hall was transformed,
overnight, into a sumptuous ancient Venetian
Banqueting Ballroom. Lights sparkled amid
cascades of illuminated |
multicoloured ostrich feathers and drapes shimmered
in the candlelight around the stage and grand
mirror. Guests arrived in full formal dress;
all 'hoodwinked' in every shape, size and colour
of mask to make the
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The
room bedecked and ready to receive
its masked marauders!
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vision
complete. This was to be the main social
event in Southport Group's Three Degrees
Club calendar.
The Three Degrees Club Committee has been
building quite a reputation for organising
exceptional themed events over the last
four years since inception and this last
event has been, arguably, the best thanks
in no small way to the very inventive,
furtive mind and hard work of W Bro Eric
Morris, its Secretary, who continually
seems able to magic props and effects
out of the ether from virtually little
or no budget at all!
Many guests commented on the 'Wow!' factor
experienced on entering the room -
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and so a magical masquerade was had by all with
fine festive board and excellent musical accompaniment
from singer, George Starr. At one point, needless
to say late on in proceedings, one suitably
'motivated' young female dancer, on seeing the
entertainer alone and partner-less, mounted
the stage and proceeded to waltz him around
the platform to the delight of the resident
dancers!
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A
cacophony of spangles, masks and
gowns with a kneeling Eric Morris,
who arrived desperately understated
as usual!
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Pink
feather dusters, would you believe, were
the 'must have' accessories of the event;
parodying the exuberant ostrich plumes
that embellished the tables. En masque,
they were encouraged to profligate their
abundant garnishes with gay abandon on
securing male monikers to their formal
dance cards! Oh my! The grandiose, ritual
pomposity of it all!
A mammoth 'Grand Raffle' materialised
and the table 'gondoliers' managed to
secure unbounded contributions from those
present, the outcome being utilised to
sponsor the Southport Group Masonic Children's
Christmas Party 2009 which this year takes
place on Sunday 6th December. The 3DC
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is
delighted to be associated with this delightful
event; as so many of the attendees have children
and grand children, we feel the raffle was exceptionally
well supported. Thank you.
The whole event produced a healthy profit, allowing
the Club to initiate further events, leaving
an amount available to support the charities.
The hard working Committee returned early next
day, unmasked, stirred but not shaken, to restore
the room to its former elegant glory; much to
the relief of our long suffering Hall Manageress!
They were not allowed to rest on their laurels,
however, as many of the guests were demanding
to know when the next event was to occur and,
more importantly, the choice of theme? They
are already working on something to exceed even
this year's success. Watch this space!
by Paul Hardman & 'Rover'
Photos courtesy Geoff Wilcock.
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