End of Season 1998-1999 to Avallon France

My own, rather dim, memories of the Avallon Tour follow. It was toward the end of the season that I was ambushed by both Maurice C and Jacko to get me to go on the tour. I rather expect it was just to help balance the books rather than a deep seated desire to see me with them for a while – especially as I decided to take along with me my Air Horn that I bought in a drunken stupour at the France England game in Paris not too long before…

It must be said that the air horn did not survive a second day whilst on tour – a matter of deep regret to me alone.

The journey down there all started bright enough witha brisk coach down to Dover, the ferry and then back on the coach in France. It was as we neared and entered Paris that the driver’s lack of knowledge became apparent.

All sorts of comments were unhelpfully delivered by the throng and we lost around 3 or 4 hours circling in Paris before finally getting on the right road again.

There were serious rebellious mutterings about what we should do with the driver but these soon dissipated when we arrived. The driver was called Paul BTW.

I think we then had a reception at their President’s house (Michel?) and then back to the bar. The Saturday was all games and drinking and one night we were at a hunting lodge (The Retreat I called it in the photos) and it was in the middle of a dense wood/forest.

I remember leaving my digital camera in the lodge (might have been pissed) and fortunately Kev the Klaw yomped back to get it for me otherwise we wouldn’t be seeing these here

Sme people in the photos who have passed. Richard Jenkins – Jenks to all; and Charlie Quantick. Happy Days