Section Dinner 2025

My wife Rena and I set of just before 11.20am on our way to the Appleby Inn Hotel at Appleby Parva on the A444 for the Burton Section Annual dinner - this year by popular request it was held at lunchtime and everyone was free to pick their choice of food from the very extensive menu.
As you know Burton and its surrounding district is getting rather a reputation for pot holes and roadworks and so we thought that 11.20am start would give us plenty of time to get to our destination and do a couple of errands on the way - wrong!
From Stretton where we live we travelled into Burton, down Wetmore Rd and came to a standstill as just past Allen House we encountered roadworks no 1 - the workers must have been at their tea break as all was quiet on the roadworks themselves!
We made it through the temporary lights at the third attempt and over the Trent Bridge towards Ashby but a cursory glance right up Stapenhill Rd as we crossed the junction told me that Stapenhill Rd was at a standstill.
Never mind (I thought to myself - we are moving) but don’t speak too soon as there were three way temporary lights at the junction to Winshill just past the Texaco garage roundabout - roadworks no 2 - we past these at the second attempt and I think the workers must have been on a coffee break as all was quiet!
We carried on up past the golf course and Stanhope and noticed the traffic coming into Burton was stationary and was in fact queuing past the Chesterfield Pub and over the mini roundabout.
I was making for the Bridge Garage in Swadlincote to fill up Rena’s Mini and today just had to be the first time i’d had to queue for a pump but never mind - I thought a quick right turn back through Swad to Cadley Hill would get us onto the A444 - wrong - I was two cars back from the junction and it was obvious due to the nose to tail traffic both ways I wouldn’t be able to turn right in the foreseeable future, so took a left turn up Hill St and onto the new roundabout to Moira.
All was ok till I came to Moira Tollgate as there were yet more temporary traffic lights - roadworks no 3 - and amid the chaos and carnage all was still at the actual roadworks themselves as the workers must have been at lunch!
After what seemed an eternity (10 minutes) I turned right to Overseal and as I approached the A444 saw stationary cars and yet more temporarily lights - roadworks no 4 - but as it was further up along the road I was able to nip out after the lights and finally I was now on the A444 and soon at the Appleby Inn Hotel but it was now nearly 12.30pm.

Paul Beard had organised the Dinner and the Appleby Inn had seated us in a long row by the window where we were all given a menu which was very extensive and even though I’d planned on cod, chips and mushy peas I opted for Chicken Tikka when the waitress took my order.
She took everyone’s orders and soon the food was served and all I can say is that my chicken Tikka was delicious, actually far better than expected. The portion sizes were very generous and filling and from comments I picked up from those around me everyone was of a similar opinion.
Speaking to Paul later he said 31 members, partners and friends were in attendance and from what I could see everyone enjoyed the food and the chat. I hope this becomes an annual event although Paul may consider varying the venues in future.
After a cup of coffee and plenty more banter it was time for home and as I couldn’t face returning the way we came I opted to drop on the A42 at Measham to Ashby thern Ticknall, Repton, Willington, the A38 and yes we did encounter yet more roadworks in Repton and Willington, but it was a far more pleasant route, even though the road gangs must have knocked off for their afternoon tea break by then!
I think everyone would agree the lunchtime get together is the way forward, very enjoyable and many thanks to Paul for taking on the unenviable task of organising the event and the Appleby for looking after us. It was a lovely sunny day, no rain and in fact it was ideal biking weather, hopefully the shape of things to come. John Earp

I echo John's praise for this event. I wasn't sure if Gloria and I were going to be able to join in with the dinner as I had people coming to quote me for work at home. However, they turned up early, leaving us plenty of time to get ready and drive to Appleby. It really was a very sociable event. Well done Paul for organising. Thank you. Eddy.

Thanks to John Earp for the write up and the photographs below.