What a birthday party!

To celebrate 40 years of the club, there were (at least) 40 parts to the party last week. For example:

1. new colours on the gate to welcome us 
2. a sunny evening
3. tables and chairs pleasingly laid out around the lawns
4. colourful clothing all round
5. pink wine (very tasty, Marc)
6. mugshots on cards for people to aim at
7. unobtrusive teamwork from before the start to after the finish -- thank you, guys
8. lots of bunting and flags
9. lots of friendly chat over drinks and during the meal
10. guest appearance by Keith P (welcome back!)
11. plenty of balloons
12. a trophy awards ceremony
13. some hugely creative work to produce the fun and games for the evening
14. multiple courses of delicious food served with grace by the team 
15. pink flamingoes
16. a great musical background
17. a Big Golden 40
18. more chat during the games
19. at least one ridiculously bright blazer
20. and at least one very smart waistcoat
21. balls and mallets -- of course!
22. the widest centre peg ever used at HWCC in 40 years
23. beer and soft drinks
24. gazebos -- you can't have an event without gazebos, now can you?
25. a thankyou to the event team from the Chairman
26. no fewer than three founder members of the club at the event
27. the bird scarers on the fence for extra security 
28. crazy croquet 
29. a double birthday -- Richard was 57...75..77..55.. or something, that very evening 
30. so, a birthday cake with candles
31. a man with wings
32. more chat as the sun gently set
33. some sharp-shooting at the mugshots (see above)
34. excitement out of all proportion to the games being played 
35. lots of people looking so cool in sunglasses 
36. a fine new archive book (thank you, David)
37. commemorative mugs to take away
38. a 'safe home' sign on the gate to bid us all farewell
39. happy memories to take away
40. (and afterwards) calm clearing up by the event team the following morning