ANNUAL SMOKE CONCERT

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 79, Issue 7100, 29 August 1949, Page 4

ANNUAL SMOKE CONCERT

TE AWAMUTU-UNITED FOOTBALL CLUB SUCCESSFUL AND CONVIVIAL EVENING The annual smoke concert of the Te Awamutu-United Football Club held in the Oddfellows Hall last Saturday night was a very successful and convivial evening. Mr Bob Mandeno presided and opened the evening by proposing the Loyal Toast and welcomthe visitors. Apologies were ic coved from Messrs L. Truscott, J. G. Yates, C. Winchcombe, J. C. Ambler, T. R. Johnson, J. D. Law, A. E. Bryant, A. Halliday, Pat Cavanagh and W. Clarke. Mr Les Spence took the piano for a community sing, the first feature of the evening, which was heartily joined in by the more than sixty members and visitors. Mr J. Dalton also took a turn at the piano. The arrival of “Nudger” Cucksey at about 9.15 was heralded by voice honours and hearty acclamation. Mr Bert Taylor gave two items, a song and a mouth-organ solo. Mr Winston Daniels was the proposer of a toast to the Te Awamutu Rugby Union which was also acclaimed by voice honours. Mr Bob Sinclair, president of the Union, replied to the toast for what he said was the third occasion. He congratulated the club on their fine performance during the season and wished them success in further competitions to be held before the year closed. He especially mentioned the third grade team which this year had been playing against older and more experienced players in their grade. Their performance reflected credit on their coach, said Mr Sinclair. He also commented on the administration and the very strong Management Committee which had been working during the season. There were .29 teams in the Union this year, he said, and next year it was hoped to have seventh grade teams playing in the Union. He commended the proposal of instituting a Junior Management Committee at the next annual meeting to facilitate the better handling of all the teams concerned in the Union.

Mr Nudger Cucksey rendered the next item the chorus of which the whole gathering joined in, “The Boys of The Old Brigade.” Mr Les Spence then led at the piano for the song “Mother Mac Cree,” which was also sung by everybody present. Mr Karl Rusden gave an exhibition of sleight of hand and magic which was thoroughly enjoyed and was one of the leading items of the evening. Keith Tippett proposed the toast to kindred clubs, which was replied io by “Shark” Melrose on behalf of the Old Boys Club, and Mr Lindsay Young for the Pirongia-Rovers. Mr J. Dalton proposed the toast to the Referees, which was taken as replied to as there were no referees present. Les Spence gave a convincing ventriloquist act with the aid of his doll named Charlie. Mr Rusden also gave another exhibition of his sleight of hand before the evening closed. Mr Bob Mandeno issued a vote of thanks to the artists and to those who had rendered impromptu items such as humorous stories. He apologised for Mr Gordon Pollard who was to have played the piano for the evening but was Unable to attend. Thanks was also given to Mr N. V. Middlebrook, patron of the club, who supplemented the supper with delicacies. Mr Les Spence replied on behalf of the artists.