As usual the event provided a varied evening’s entertainment with song poetry and prose, serious or amusing but always entertaining. As usual the ‘pints’ side of things was provided by our bar, an excellent supper was provided by Marie and her helpers, and our own, local talent kept everyone entertained, interspersed with merry tales and continuity from John Barkle our compere.

It is especially gratifying that so many original poems were read and we are grateful to our own village poets, and to the Portway Writing Group for producing these. This is one event in the village without a raffle, instead we had our customary Limerick competition the judging of which created much amusement, as did the reading of the winning entries.

In the past I have ended this account with the winning Limericks, but this time I quote the poem by Christine Ellen with which we started the event. Christine, and her husband Walter, long time members of Footlights, started Poets and Pints numerous years ago. We were all greatly saddened this year by the loss of two of our long standing members, Christine and John Berry, and we thought it especially appropriate that the evening should commence with one of Christine’s poems, read by Walter.