The Arrowgroup

The Journey Begins

The following is to be read in the style of a 1890's gentleman's magazine.

In the summer of 1987 the Arrow Group at that time consisting of four gentlemen made it's annual excursion. The destination on this occasion was the ancient royal spa resort of Scarborough in that fine county of North Yorkshire.

The four gentlemen were these: Mr. Stuart Bestwick esq., a senior official under the employ of Messrs Morley and Kemp, garment makers; Mr. Christopher Clark of the banking house of Westminster; Mr. Nicolas Wright, of the British Broadcasting Corporation and Mr. Mark Swinson once of the immediate grocery provisions industry but presently employed in the trade of bonemeal suppliers.

Day One: Saturday

The excursion employed the use of the latest mechanically propelled Volkswagen charabanc which was piloted by the very capable Mr Clark esq. Nottingham was left in the early morning of Saturday that being the first day of the weekend on which the excursion was to take place. Not withstanding the inclemency of the weather the Humber Bridge was reached by noon on the same day. Mr Swinson, an enthusiastic devotee of that most recent pastime of the moving kinematics picture was sufficiently enthused to halt and take several studies of this astonishing piece of man's technical endeavours over nature. Further excellent progress was made so that by the early afternoon the spa town of Scarborough was reached and all four of the young rakes were disposed to perambulate the fine promenade taking in what they would of the excellent environs and amenities.

Unfortunately the region afforded them no prospect of satisfactory domicile, they having elected on the commencement of their excursion to pass the night under canvas in the manner most recently adopted so successfully by the late Lord Shortarms of Tomkiss at Rorke's Drift, prior to his regrettable demise at the hands of 10,000 bloodthirsty savages.

The conclusion of this unsuccessful forage into the accommodation business was that a further excursion was required to the adjacent resort of Bridlington whereupon the natives of that locality proved more easily satisfied as to the good intentions of our four intrepid adventurers and they were offered provision to pitch their canvas in that area.

The erection of this temporary accommodation proved most wearisome in the first instance, the wind and weather being a meddlesome adversary. However success was eventually achieved and our heroes later made recourse by foot to that part of Bridlington imbued with alehouses. Needless to state, much imbibing and quaffing produced in them a not unpleasant effect. The fillies there on exhibition were to be much admired; more so the later the evening became, in proportion to the ale consumed. A most interesting entertainment!

As one must imagine the return perambulation was fraught with logistical difficulties, the chief of which was to remain in a roughly perpendicular manner long enough for the journey to reach a satisfactory conclusion; to wit, return to their canvas domicile. Under alcoholic influence much difficulty was experienced, with organs of vision deficient and speech impairments notable. These imperfections were overcome however and order was restored as the assembly settled peacefully into sonambularity.

Day Two: Sunday

These fine gentlemen arose from their slumbers the next morning, removed the canvas and very soon repaired to the centre of the town once more for a light meal in the English breakfast tradition. It was after this that an entertainment was sought of a relaxing and yet exciting nature, with a visitation to a parlour of amusement containing both mechanical and optical devices proving desirous to all. Mr. Swinson, ever keen to mechanically capture such notable events was on hand with the new wonder kinematics apparatus so that these scenes may be appreciated again by use of the magic lantern and astound all at a later juncture.

In the order of time this exercise ceased and onward transportation to the seashore was enabled under the able auspices of our pilot, the esteemed Mr. Clark Although the vicissitudes of the weather proved considerable, Mr. Swinson and Mr. Clark took the waters of the North Sea for a period of that healthy exercise of natation. How refreshing this proved to be! For their compeers, Messrs Bestwick and Wright, these waters were not to their liking, they being content to observe at will the bathers from a safe and dry distance a little way from the beach. Such a disappointment!

A little time had passed and light refreshments were sought before it was deemed necessary to return to our home town of Nottingham after our weekend's diversions.

And so, for the greater part, it was all over. The intrepid group had taken much pleasure from this sojourn: indeed so much so that a plan evolved which would see them the next year in travel to the furthest reaches of the kingdom, to Newquay in Cornwall.