1999
Again, we started the year with the pantomime in January then in February we celebrated Cyril’s 90th birthday with champagne in the Lawns. Cyril was made honorary president of the FridayNighters and, despite its light heartedness, it was something that he was proud of. The Chellaston Players also did a play in April, which some of us attended. Early May saw a party at the Roberts. Later on in May, we celebrated Pauline’s 50th with a quiet get-together at her house. There may have been the occasional glass of wine but I’m sure it would have been a sober affair. It’s a frightening thought that it was 10 years ago that Tarzan was invited to her party.

In July, the Mooneys, Roberts and Sewells went to the Kedleston concert. This was made famous by John’s renditioning of The Dambusters. Early August saw Amy Sewell’s 18th birthday and a large party at Coopers in Weston. It wouldn’t be a party without the crew so we all attended on this hot day and joined in with the celebrations. After years of threatening to go drinking “down-town” for a change, we finally got round to doing it in October. The drinks flowed but, looking round at our fellow drinkers, we did feel a bit old (or, to be more accurate, very old). The year finished at the Lawns on 24th December and the Cartwrights on 31st December. This last party was a rather posh do at the Dave and Pauline’s as it was also the Millennium Eve. As Kev was working in London, Cyril escorted Sue S to the party. Black tie, posh frocks and tiaras were the order of the day. A superb evening.

1998
Again the year started at the Roberts, this time to celebrate Doreen’s 50th. Another theatre trip to Birmingham was organised in March, this time to see Buddy. Our favourite barbecue was in July shortly followed by a trip to Kedleston and the outdoor classical concert. Only a few went this year but it was so good that it has since become a firm favourite in the FridayNighters calendar.

Autumn saw a very sad event in that Sue and Chris Harrison split up. It was as unexpected as it was disappointing. Both have gone their separate ways and both now have new partners. They are considered associate members of the FridayNighters and Sue H regularly attends parties, despite the distance to travel.

The third theatre trip, and possibly the best, saw us back in Birmingham watching Blood Brothers. It was absolutely superb. Also in October, we went to a disco night at the Rolls-Royce Welfare club. As every year, we all went to the Lawns on Christmas Eve and the Roberts hosted the party on New Year’s Eve, Brilliant, as ever.

1997
The year started with a quiz at the Roberts and was then quiet until June when there was the Cartwrights barbecue and Kath’s 50th birthday party. In September, the Harrisons arranged a theatre trip to the Hippodrome in Birmingham where we saw Les Miserables. Very good. October saw Dave Cartwright’s 50th with the usual riotous party.

It around this time that two associate members joined the group on a Friday evening at the Lawns. First Cyril Homer, the grand old man of Chellaston, started drinking with us. Despite being in his late 80s, he could stand for the whole evening (despite one group member, a good forty years younger, having to sit down at times), keep up with our rate of drinking, always stood his round and was never short of a story to tell. In short, he was one of us. The second associate was Mick Malpass. Mick was known to most of us, especially those with a British Rail background. Mick has also added another dimension and is welcome.

For the past few years, most of the FridayNighters have been going to the Lawns on Christmas Eve. Some of the more alcoholic inclined of us also go to the Rose and Crown. This year was, I think, the first year that everyone went. It was an excellent start to Christmas. On December 31st, the Sewells hosted the New Year celebrations.

1996
The first get-together of the year, not counting every Friday evening, was Lynne’s 50th in April. June saw Dave M’s excellent 50th party and in July we went to Dave and Pauline’s barbecue.

So, what happens on a Friday evening, as well as drinking. First we’re boring as we always stand in the same place. We block one of the two aisles and get annoyed when anyone tries to walk past. Well, it is our territory. The blokes stand nearest to the bar as they’re the ones who do the buying. There used to be bets on when one of the wives would go to the bar but that’s stopped now as no-one has ever seen it happen.

We usually start in two groups; male and female. This is not necessarily planned but certain topics prohibit male involvement; subjects such as medical matters (female), cooking, kids (now grandchildren), clothes and local gossip. The men talk about more manly things such as ……… well, anything except medical matters, cooking, kids (now grandchildren), clothes and local gossip. Sometimes we split into smaller groups but by the end of the evening, we always combine into one large, noisy, rowdy group.

Conversations vary. For many years, we enjoyed a good argument. If politics was ever mentioned then red Kev and fascist Pauline would be guaranteed to be in opposite corners. TV programmes and football are also a good subjects for debate and regularly get a good airing. All too often, we fall back on old stories and the “good old days”. At least two of our number (John and Ged) can remember when there were at least 483 cinemas in Derby. If things go quiet then Kelvin (“why let facts get in the way of a good argument”) just has to say something, anything, and he will start an argument. God knows how he manages to sell anything at work; none of us believe a thing he says. The two Daves are good for advising us on Derby County. One of them never goes (and wouldn’t go “even if you paid me”) and the other only goes if he can get a free ticket. Sue S, a season ticket holder for most of her life, just get ignored. Well, she is a woman.

In December, the Mooneys and Sewells represented the FridayNighters in the village quiz. On New Year’s Eve, the Archers became the first FridayNighters to be grandparents. We are now, collectively, grandparents to five. This was a relatively quiet year for parties.

1995
This year’s annual meal was in February at La Scala. Excellent meal though the post-meal entertainment / nightclub was somewhat dubious. Early May saw another trip to Butlins, this time back to Skegness. It started with a long walk during which there was an episode involving John, Dave C and a camera. Later, we had a game of rounders on the beach. There was also the obligatory walking, swimming, snooker and table tennis. The evenings were shows (Tom O’Connor was brilliant), drinking and dancing. However, the most repeated story involves Kath doing what she always told her lads not to do; go to the fair after drinking alcohol. The result was predictable!

This was the year that a rather unfortunate trend was started; by Pauline Cartwright. Friday drinking is traditionally an occasion for male bonding. Without putting too fine a point on it, wives were not welcome. However, Pauline was not to be put off and she was shortly joined by Lynne and Doreen. It wasn’t long before Jean and Kath joined in. By the end of the year, the two Sues were occasional attendees. It must now be admitted (though reluctantly), that they did enhance the evening.

Jean’s 50th party was in May and in June we went to see Magic, a Queen tribute band, at Trentham Gardens in Stoke. A slow start to the concert but excellent by the end. The annual barbecue was enjoyed in July and in October the FridayNighters entered a team in the village quiz. The result was not recorded! Kelvin’s 50th in December introduced the practice of posters being place on lampposts around the village and on the Parkway island. His party, a few days later, was not quiet and there were a few sore heads next morning. Again, the Marvill’s hosted the New Year’s Eve celebrations.