2019 Club

Mirror Awards

On November 28th members of the Management Team and partners attended the Club Mirror Awards held at Doncaster race course. These prestigious awards have been going for twenty nine years and are open to all types of clubs across the UK. Following a nomination from the CIU Durham Branch Secretary and a qualifying submission by the Management Team. The Big Club was shortlisted in three award categories. The club were delighted to be awarded “Turnaround Club of the Year 2019” and the team members received the award plaque from BBC sports presenter John Inverdale.

(Photo: Award Dish)

Bar 56 Opens

The Big Club strives to deliver continual improvements for the members and the new BAR 56 is the latest project delivery. The inspiration for the bars name came from the club’s archives. The club moved to Sheraton Road in 1956 and certain members were sent invitations to a grand opening. One member, Thomas William Bentley, never got to use his invitation. Thomas’ son, Percy Bentley, held onto the invitation and sixty three years later the Management Team asked Percy to come to the club, with the invite, to formally open the new BAR 56. The new bar provides members, associates and guests with a high quality environment in which to enjoy a selection of new and exclusive wines, plus a choice of over fifty six different gins.

Photos: Bar 56, 1956 Invite, Percy Bentley and Club Steward Gary Hepple)

Members Movember

Support for Alzheimer’s

During November a group of members, for the second year running, participated in the challenge called Movember. Growing moustaches for charity. For those involved it definitely invoked memories going back to the 1970’s as they compared growth rate and styles of moustache. Even colour became a talking point as in some cases there wasn’t a grey whisker in sight. When it comes to charity club members always dig deep into their pockets. This years donations for Alzheimer’s raised £580.

Well done lads . . . and lass!

(Photo: Movember top)