Friends of the Blues

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

It was great to meet so many Friends of the Blues yesterday. Some for the first time and others returning from a far. For the winners there was little matter of whether their chosen player would score. Four went for Josh and two for James, so that is four people into the pot for the £1,000 draw. James is going to score lots of tries but yesterday he will be remembered for a big hit! He was very close though.
There were more new joiners yesterday. Thank you to them. Next draw will be for the London Scottish match.

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

The FoB update is that various people are enjoying curries, beers and shopping trips as a result of the first home match. The guess the crowd competition started with a lower gate than most estimates, for the first week.
We have four people who backed Josh Bassett to score, successfully through to the £1,000 draw. There are 11 home games & normally five winners each week. If half are successful over the season those people are down to a 1 in 25/30 chance of winning the money. Not bad odds.
We still have that splendid holiday in Scotland to draw as well.
We have had more joiners this week which is great. I am very pleased to say that the fund crashed through the £20k per annum income level prior to the first home and is still rising. So a big thank you to everyone. To the members and to the prize donors. Together we are making a difference.

Bernie McGee · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 1486 Location: Bedford

Howard, if you have all of these joiners is there any chance they could build a covered terrace out of wood?

Sundowner · Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 109

RBurton · Joined: 14 Jul 2005 Posts: 693 Location: Milton Keynes

Think you hit the nail on the head there.

Bernie McGee · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 1486 Location: Bedford

Thank you both, you are both chips off the old block.

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

Bernie, you remind me of Mr A.D.Curtis at school, asking the Captain of Fencing if he could nip round to his house and creosote his new wattle.
Anyway, I digress. I am off to Wales for the Tour of Britain, so Matt Rawlinson & I have conducted an early draw. Mike Rayer will not be picking the side till later in the week, but we are close to sorting the prizes. This weeks winners are.
Nigel Bennett- Who will be match ball sponsor and will receive a signed ball
Nick Martin- picking his prize later.
Andy Whitehouse- International tickets for England v France
Gordon Mitchell- No prize -just choice of player.
Jane Roberts- Choice & she has accepted 8 pints of Brains @ The Cricketers.
Well done all.

NB.The Nick Martin above, is not the former Captain of Bedford & England, who was a man mountain and one of the few players to have played in an England team that has won in South Africa & New Zealand.
Andy Whitehouse is the ex-Bedford openside with 280 appearances the 16th highest of all time, of whom Nick Martin his skipper said "he is our rock"
Gordon Mitchell was the first man to hear Hey Jude when Paul McCartney sang it to him in his home and then the Oakley Arms in Harrold, before he recorded it later that week.
Nigel Bennett is Nigel Bennett and Jane Roberts is in The Cricketers getting the beers in.

Sundowner · Joined: 13 Jul 2009 Posts: 109

Trav - next you'll be telling us you didn't record "Why Does it Always Rain on Me !!!!"

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

Yesterday four more FoBs were successful in getting through to the £1,000 draw. That is eight in total now.
They were Jane Roberts & Nigel Bennett who chose Ben Ransom whilst Nick Martin & Gordon Mitchell were successful with James Stephenson.
Nick Martin chose the three course meal for two at The Embankment Hotel as his prize. Enjoy Nick.

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

I have five winners for the match against Nottingham on Saturday.All get to choose a player to score a try to get them in the £1,000 draw.
They are as follows.
1. Miss Dimbleby of Rushden. We don't have full details as she is a member from the old scheme. She is this week's match ball sponsor and will get a signed ball.
2. Brendan Burke. A popular winner! He gets a choice of the prizes and gets to select a player to score. It had to happen.
3. Jim Beaumont. Richly deserved as he has given the fund £100 of vouchers at Debenhams and Waitrose. He gets a choice of prizes and a player.
4. David Owen. 8 pints of Brains in The Cricketers seems appropriate to this Welshman.
5. Barry Tucker. Player choice only.
I will be in contact with all winners once Mike has picked his side.

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

Prize Choices and Player Choices.
I am still waiting on Miss Dimbleby & Jim Beaumont. If you live near Jim can you pop round tell him to get in touch.
David & Helen Owen who are at Parc y Scarlets for the big match tonight (Live on BBC2 Wales 7.00pm) have gone for Josh Bassett. They are travelling back for the even bigger match at GR. Good drills.
Barry Tucker one our FoBs from Cambridgeshire has gone for Ben Ransom. Barry is dining tomorrow in the Marquee with his family. Enjoy.
Meanwhile good old Brendan Burke has chosen to dine at the splendid Embankment Hotel for his prize. He is going to make a last minute choice on his player.

Good Luck to all the Bedford fans who are taking part in the annual Extra- mile cycling event which commenced today. They are are cycling to Luxembourg and back this year over three days. £1 million has now been raised by this event over the years. They will be hanging on the twitter feed tomorrow afternoon for the latest scores.

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

Sue Dimbleby has been in contact and is going for Josh Bassett. Sue operates the scoreboard, and it is worthy of mention, that she is one of quite a number of Blues match day staff, stewards and others who put some or all of their pay back into the club through FoB. Fair play.
Where are you Jim?

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

This morning I tracked down Jim Beaumont at his Putnoe HQ and he has gone for Ben Ransom too. That means two for Ransom and two for Bassett, with Brendan Burke biding his time.
Jim has chosen to take up the kind donation of FoB Bob Eaton. Bob is the bearded wonder ex-referee who perambulates in the wheel chair in front of the stand. Bob has paid for a meal for four at Nos's Nosh. It is very appropriate that Jim has this prize as Jim himself gave us £100 of shopping vouchers.
Through this scheme Bob and his pals also became sponsors of Ben Cooper and I know Bob is really enjoying his contact with Ben and watching his progress.
So thanks to Bob and Jim.

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

In those closing minutes as Brendan Burke stepped & wriggled in a desperate attempt to cross the line I thought to myself. If he scores, even though he's picked Neil Cochrane, I will put him through to the £1k draw. No one would complain.Come on Brendan!
Heart ruling head as normal.
Well he didn't and I am afraid to say he is out, but with the consolation of a meal for two at the Embankment Hotel.
If Ben Ransom hadn't scored no one would have been successful. Barry Tucker and Jim Beaumont must have been well chuffed.
So good luck to them. In total, after three games, ten are now in the draw.
I was asked on Saturday, if entry was now closed to the scheme. The answer is certainly not. This is just the beginning. I had many enquiries and much interest and hope many more will be able to join those who are already contributing to the fund.
It was great to meet so many members on Saturday, including Ann Beal our Jersey winner who is looking forward to meeting the Mike, James, and other players at the weekend.

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

I am very pleased to be able to announce that FoB has a fantastic new prize for our Christmas Draw- with great thanks due to FoB member Paul Ibbott.
Monarch airlines have donated two return fares from Luton or Birmingham to a choice of many destinations. Monarch fly to the Canaries,Turkey, Egypt, Greek Islands and they are offered as are the Ski resorts via Grenoble and a host of major cities such as Milan, Rome, Barcelona & Venice that Monarch have as premium destinations.
The winner gets to choose where they want to go. So thank you Monarch Airlines for your genorosity.
Add the 3 night break at Portsonachen Hotel, Argyllshire to that draw and we could have some very happy members going into Christmas.
If you add these prizes to those on offer on match days members are enjoying a very good chance of winning.
If you are in the fund please enjoy the possibility of winning at Christmas. If not please consider joining from £7 per month.Down load a Form from this website.
Thanks Paul. Top man.

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