1989
As usual, the Cartwrights, Mooneys, Roberts and Sewells went to the Hilton House in January. They remember us now, not least for the noise. Remember the crowd from Coalville? There was an enjoyable quiz night at the junior school in March. On 13th May was the first riotous party; Pauline’s 40th. This was made all the more memorable by the appearance of Tarzan. Pauline still blushes at the thought. July saw the first annual Cartwright’s barbecue for the FridayNighters only. An excellent night and one that gets better by the year, though I don’t know if the rest of Parkway would agree. There was another Trivia quiz night for the Cartwrights, Mooneys and Sewells in October.

1988
Another January, another Hilton House hotel meal and the last time that Mike and Liz Barker joined in. They left Chellaston and so the Friday night drinking group was reduced to four. However, it soon went up to six as a couple of other Lawns regulars (Ged Archer and Dave Marvill) joined us. The village was now fully represented.
North – Marvills
East – Roberts and Sewells
South – Archers
West – Cartwrights and Mooneys

Chellaston still had the fun run, quiz, carnival and panto (more in later years) and most of us participated in most of them. It was at this time that Dave Cartwright was Mr Carnival and the rest of us were roped in to help. Kev took over the coconut shy for many years, being helped by John, Dave M and Chris at various stages. In June the Cartwrights, Mooneys and Sewells had a trivia quiz evening; I don’t think University Challenge had any opposition. In July, the Cartwrights held one of their many barbecues but it was primarily for the carnival crowd not just the FridayNighters.

1987
It was during this year that we finally, and regretfully, gave up with the Rose and Crown. We were fully integrated with the Lawns. January saw another visit to the Hilton House but there were not so many other events during the year. Towards the end of the year, we united against the gypsies, went to the Christmas Cracker at the Lawns and to the Roberts’ for New Year’s Eve. And Kev bought Kelvin’s car …….. would you buy a second hand car from Kelvin Roberts?

1986
The Hilton House experience was about to become a regular event and we went again on 11th January. This year the meal was much better. We also met up at the Howarth’s party in February and it must have been this event that spurred us on to arrange the first of the now famous FridayNighters parties. On 29th March, we all went to the Mooney’s for Lynne’s excellent 40th birthday party. During this year, some us joined in the Chellaston Fun Run (March), the Village quiz (May) and helped at the village carnival (July). It was also in July, that the Roberts had a barbecue for all of us. Most of us attended the Lawns Dinner / Dance at Christmas and then we went to Kelvin and Doreen’s for New Year’s Eve. This was the year that the social side of the FridayNighters really took off.

1985
On 26th January, the first real social get-together occurred at the Hilton House hotel where an extremely average meal was enjoyed by all, that is, Mike and Liz Barker, Dave and Pauline Cartwright, John and Lynne Mooney, Kelvin and Doreen Roberts and Kev and Sue Sewell. During 1985, we still went to the Rose and Crown first and then on to the Lawns later, though the Lawns was gradually becoming more popular.

1984
This year saw the first leaver. Alan didn’t usually move on to the Lawns and his presence at the Rose and Crown had been decreasing during the previous year. Early in 1984, he left the group though his friendship with the group continues to this day.

All the wives knew each other, mainly through activities related to the children. It was natural that we would all get together and the first of our many get-togethers was planned at the end of the year, though it didn’t take place until January.

1983
The Rose and Crown kept strictly to the licensing hours. In order to prolong the evening, the group would stay at the Rose and Crown for a while (appreciating the superior beer) then go to the Lawns, who were more liberal with their timekeeping. During this time, the group’s activities were purely kept to a Friday evening and the important hobby of drinking.

1982
It all started at the Rose and Crown in Chellaston. Dave Cartwright, John Mooney and Alan Dixon were regulars on a Friday evening. In the summer, Kelvin Roberts and Mike Barker started to go to the same pub, also on a Friday. In the autumn, Kev Sewell joined Kelvin and Mike and by the end of the year, the two groups had combined. Though we didn’t know it at the time, this was the beginning of the FridayNighters.