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Photo's now included. If you were there prepare to be exposed.
Volksparty 2002 (The Return)
You can always tell when Volksparty is near. The house is full of raffle prizes, shoe boxes (Wheres the cat? Whoops I just buried it under that sack of boxes.) and funny hats. This year, we added to the pile, long range flying balloons, a light up waist coat and a computer full of the best in music.
For the first time Air-cooled Disco was to be fully computerised. Instead of searching for CDs, in the murky darkness, a click of the mouse would bring boogie tunes to the reveling masses. However, first the record library had to be loaded into the machine and this took several long sessions, with late nights, in front of the keyboard.
Ten, nine, eight...The countdown to the big night was on. The tickets had been sold ages ago so that was one thing less to worry about. I remember when we first started our party night, not that many years ago, how we used to tout tickets door to door to get the required number of bums on seats. Now the event is fully subscribed well before the New Year.
At last, the big day arrived. The roadies assembled at Glen Isla to load, transport and set up the gear at Dunnikier. Many thanks to Eddie, Sam, Stevie, John F and Liz for lending their bodies. Also Joyce & John (Shorts) C, for lending their lungs and decorating the room with balloons. Its amazing that they had any breath left after hauling a ton & a half of raffle prizes up the stairs to the Dub Dance Hall.
Once all the gear was in place, a few minutes with plugs, leads and sockets gave way to quality sounds vibrating the time aged timbers of Dunnikier. Sweating roadies were refreshed with a thirst quenching pint and Barry, our car mad host, took time out from refurbishing his Porsche 356 engine to sustain us with several plates of sarnies and sausage rolls.
With all the hard work over it was time to head for home and prepare to party.
A few hours later we were back at Dunnikier all ready for action.
Soon the room was filled with merry members dressed in their finest. Sorry I didnt recognise you with your clothes on. What a contrast from the normal VW attire of T shirts and weather proof wellies.
The party starts.
By 7.30 all were armed with full glasses and a supply of megga flying balloons. The first few bars of Bryan Adams Summer of 69 set the party underway accompanied by the high pitched scream from three foot long Zeppelins in full flight. Half an hour of toe tappin tunes lured energetic bodies to writhe on the dance floor while our sexy sales girls prized loose change and notes of the realm from punters in exchange for fist fulls of raffle tickets.
Just after eight (and not a box of minty confectionery in sight) the music ceased and a hushed audience waited for the first of the traditional ceremonies to begin. The first item to be given away was a lucky ticket prize for being brave enough to submit yourself to the rigors and possible embarrassment of attending our annual bash. The number drawn matched the ticket held by Marjory Law who was duly presented with a suitably decorated bottle of Moets bubbly beverage.
Now it was time for the exposure of members successes or failures during the 2001 season. Golden Globes? Oscars? Nah. None of these can hold a club tent candle to the Official Kingdom Vee Dub Club Sammy Awards.
Sam had, most generously, found and donated some very smart looking Oscar replicas. These had been renamed Sammys and were to be presented, along with a certificate, to members who were guilty of outstanding achievements.
The noteworthy winners were as follows.
The Hill Climb Award...
Harry & Helen West. For attempting to get the Winnebago up to Glen Douglas on a club outing last year. Breaking down halfway up. Getting stuck and eventually rescued by a farmers tractor.
Harry examines his 'Sammy Award'
The Human Coffee Machine Award.
Joyce Jack. For taking responsibility for the club tea urn. Storing and keeping it clean so it is always ready for the next event. Making cuppas in the club tent and supplying all visitors to the club stand, at Freeport, a warming coffee.
Joyce remembers all those cups of coffee
The I cant find my way Award.
Stevie Simpson. Because he can go both ways. (This is an in joke for all those who were in the convoy on the way back from Callander). Stevies comments while in the train of dubs kept us helpless with laughter all the way home, and for many days afterwards. We thought his unfortunate choice of words should not go unrecognized
Stevie 'I can go both ways' picks up his prize.
The Dub Destroyer Award.
Ian (Honeyman) Troup. For two burnt out vans and one blown Diesel engine. The strange thing is he looks back & laughs at these unfortunate events, taking them in his stride like a true Vee Dubber does. Watch this space for news of more exiting explosions.
Ian (The Honeyman) recieves his reward for 'Destroying Dubs'.
The Monster Miles while Flying the Club Flag Award.
Paul & Eddie Bremner. For traveling the length & breadth of the country, in their trusty bay, to attend shows through the UK They also proudly display (In Huge Aerosol Paint Letters) Kingdom Vee Dub Club and Vanfest or Bust on the sides of their camper for all the world to see.
Paul & Eddie, back at Dunnikier, after their season of travels.
The Sexy Spanner Award.
George (Snowy, Nigel) Donnachie. For helping many distressed club members to fix their vehicles and finding them that illusive spare part. George is always the first to bury his head in an engine bay and Ive even seen him put his glass down to pick up a spanner. Now that is a problem which really needs some urgent treatment.
Unfortunately both George & Gracie were unwell on the night and unable to come to Dunnikier and collect their awards in person. However these will be passed on to them and we will dish out the appropriate embarrassing remarks when we see them at the next meet.
I would love to print some of the cheery comments which could be just about made out amongst the cheers as these prizes were awarded. Unfortunately this is a family publication. You will just have to make do with your imagination,
Sanity soon returned and more music kept the dance floor busy until the Come to the Cookhouse Door shout told all that the buffet was ready for a full on assault. While the munchers munched the workers were busy folding raffle tickets for the monster prize raffle. Andy the Archbishop and John F set the raffle off at an astounding pace and managed to distribute all the fifty plus prizes to the lucky winners in a record 37 minutes. This takes some effort as in previous years the draw has encroached into dancing time by over an hour. While all this was going on the ace dee jay took a brief rest to recover his breath and struggle in to his unique flashing waistcoat.
Rick models his 'Flashing Lights' waistcoat.
At last the dance floor was clear of cardboard and the dancing could continue until the next scheduled prize break. The Dunnikier timbers were again tested to the limit by a massive, many footed, monster thumping its way from wall to wall. A good selection of weird headgear fought for ceiling space with a barrage of flying rubber along with streamers from cracking party poppers. Oldies and disco classics as well as a few slow smoochie numbers kept decrepit limbs on the move until a welcome break for breath took us into the last presentation session.
Jim & Jean Walkinshaw from the S.V.W.O.F. (To be held at Biggar, See the Whats on Pages) had very kindly donated passes for this years event as extra Volksparty prizes. The numbers for these were now drawn. The lucky winners were.. Kris & Sharon Wright (VIP Day Pass), and Pam & Gerry (VIP Full Weekend Pass). Many congratulations to the winners and thanks again to the S.V.W.O.F. folk.
To round off the ceremonies, Marjory presented the club with its new official mascot. He is a very special hand made VW enthusiast complete with tools, hat and the very necessary K.V.D.K. coffee cup. Watch out for Mr. Fix It at all future club meetings and events. He will be taking pride of place on the club stand and watching over the goings on in the club tent. Thank you very much Marjory, he is quite superb and must have taken ages to make.
His first official duty was to supervise the re-start of the Disco. This he did in great style before taking his place beside the lights and microphone.
Marjory introduces Mr Fixit to the members.
And so the band played on. Well, the computer chugged on, relentlessly pumping out digital decibels through the swaying speakers. Yes folks, the floor was taking such a pounding that the speakers were swaying wildly from side to side as the floor bounced to the impact of many feet. Thank goodness for modern technology. With all this movement even CDs would have jumped and vinyl record would have been totally unusable. At one point I heard one dancer ask if the floor was smaller than last year. I can confirm that the polished surface has not shrunk by one centimeter. Its just that there were more folk on it than ever before.
Bob & Joyce Nicholson in action on the Dunnikier dance floor.
Finally the clock caught up with us and it was time for the grand finale. We raised the roof to the impressive sound of Runrig and Loch Lomond before the customary close with the British National Anthem. (Flower of Scotland). All together now...Oh flower of Scotland. I think they must have heard us in North Berwick.
And so ended Volksparty 2002
John 'Shorts' Coffey shows off his booby prize.
All that remained was the weary ride home (Apart from those lucky folk who were enjoying a night of luxury by staying on at Dunnikier).
The next day the roadies returned to dismantle the gear and transport it all back to Glen Isla Road until the next time.
A very big Thank You is due to all who worked so hard to put this party on, all who so generously donated raffle prizes and to all who came to enjoy themselves and support this important event.
When all is tallied up we will have made well over 200.00 for the club kitty by enjoying a great night out. Cant be a bad way of raising funds. Here's to next year.
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