Joyce's Column: May

I understand that ex NSM’s Barry Kirkby has undergone surgery recently for removal of cataracts, and I am sure all of us that know Barry would like to wish him well.  Barry was supposedly attending the recent Irish Show but due to cataracts couldn’t do it, next year we hope to see you there Barry.

It’s amazing what you find out about people and some people have a side to them you would never expect. I am talking in this case about Carnaby Gaming Machines Kevin Griffiths, in fact I have given him a new name Kevin ‘The Baker’ Griffiths, as Kevin bakes all types of cakes some of them can be seen in the photo. Apparently, he has always had a keen interest in baking cakes from a young age he thinks this comes from his Nan who was always baking cakes, pies and bread plus his uncle had a restaurant and baking went on there. He has only baked cakes for family and friends and at present he is trying to master the art of making good bread. One of the recent tasks a family member wanted was 64 Brownie Squares which turned out very well, and I will have to keep you in mind Kevin when I want a special cake or two.

Staying with Kevin on 19 July 2025 Kevin is doing a 26 mile walk in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society, the walk will be through the beautiful Yorkshire Dales   starting and finishing at Malham at small village within the Yorkshire Dales and he is confident that he will complete this walk. Alzheimer’s is an illness that seems to be becoming more prevalent these days and is a dreadful illness not just for the sufferer but for the people looking after the sufferer, so Kevin is looking for sponsorship for this walk and you can do this by donating via the just giving information given here: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/keys26miletrek

You may remember a couple of months or so back I mentioned about HC Terminals Bob Hepworth and his son Joe doing a charity bike ride in South Africa, well here we have details of how it went also a slight hitch that took place. Some 45,000 bicycles took part in the event and Bob completed 109kms in 5hours 11 minutes, and said it was the best cycle ride he has ever done with spectacular scenery and a carnival type experience.

Poor Joe didn’t make it to Cape Town as he was refused travel at Manchester Airport due to his passport being slightly damaged, he was devastated as he had so looked forward to the event. Not one to give in easily on the day of the Cape Town event Joe cycled in a group with the Brownlee Brothers round Yorkshire completing 115kms in 3 hours and 39 minutes.

Well done to both of you boys and the money raised for the African charity was just over £3700, and both Bon and Joe want to thank all who supported them with donations for the event.  

Congratulations to Bandai Namco’s James Anderson and his lovely wife Alison on celebrating their 10th Wedding Anniversary on 18 May, and they went off to Rioja to celebrate, and I am sure that much wine was drunk by them both as they were definitely in the right area for wine. Here’s to your next 10 years   together and many more years and celebrations to come.

AS I am sure you are all well aware of the new recent Northern show ARE expo held in Manchester and what a great success it was too. A vast assortment of exhibitors and certainly so much quality equipment on offer what more could one ask for? Well of course there is no point in exhibitors or equipment if there are no visitors, again these did not disappoint either, there was a constant steady flow of these not only from the UK but many Irish visitors attended the show, and John Malin from International Brand Technologies Limited  had flown in from Las Vegas to watch his daughter in the Manchester Marathon and he paid a visit to the show too.

The location was easy to get to and there were many hotels in the vicinity, and the after -show party was a great event. Hats off to Karen Cooke and her team for the great organisation of this show, and I think you will all agree when I say if anyone can organise and make a show work, it is definitely Karen. There will be some tit bits from the show in my June chat column.   

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29 May 2025

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