With a reputation second to none in the provision of the highest possible quality of services to British citizens visiting the Federal Republic of Germany, the Director of Music to the Otterburn Society, Alastair Scarborough was delighted to be elected to the office of Treasurer of the Otterburn Society for 2014/15.
On his election, the DoM’s remit was to enable members of the Otterburn Society to enjoy the best that his adoptive homeland of the FRG has to offer during thier annual conference.
Despite agreeing that it was inappropriate for Otterburn XXIV to be held in Otterburn, it was acknowledged that some of the long standing traditions of the society should be observed.
The DoM considered a number of cities to host the Society Conference and there was much speculation as to which candidate cities might be considered and why.
Most obvious was Otterbach, a municipality in the district of Kaiserslautern, in the Rhineland-Palatinate, which lies about 3m north of Kaiserslautern.
Mr Slack took an early opportunity to visit the village of Otterbach on behalf of DoM.
Mr Slack’s view was that the members might find the village “too quiet”, particularly those members for Scotland who have become accustomed to enjoy a particular type of entertainment on each Friday of Otterburn.
There are no casinos in Otterbach !
After much deliberation, Mr Scarborough announced to members that Otterburn XXIV would be held in Hamburg in northern Germany, a port city connected to the North Sea by the river Elbe River and, coincidentally, about 20 miles from his home.
The Advance party arrived on the Thursday of Otterburn to reconnoitre the city to pave the way for the main body of members who had postponed their arrival in Hamburg until the Friday.
Mr Beck and Mr Firth quickly found a suitable venue for refreshments and were joined by Mr Jordan and the Treasurer early on the Thursday evening.
One of the factors that persuaded the DoM to choose Hamburg over other candidate cities had been the excellent Christmas market that is held each year in the Rathaus and the surrounding strausses.
After a number of hours enjoying local refreshments, members were very pleased to sample their first bratwurst of the weekend in the Rathausmarkt, which had been preceded by an agreeable selection of gluhweins as aperitiefs.
Accommodation had been arranged by the DoM for the members close to the centre of Hamburg and members were able to retire on the Thursday of Otterburn, confident that Otterburn XXIV was going to be a conference to remember.
| The Friday of Otterburn is traditionally spent enjoying some intellectually stimulating activity, a hark back to the days when members were received at the Department of Agricultural Engineering Porter Building at The University of Newcastle upon Tyne.Members enjoyed a very pleasant stroll by the canals of Hamburg together and eventually found themselves at the Museum Ship San Diego.It was noted that the engine rooms of some vessels can be a sometimes claustrophobic and challenging places at times. |
Members enjoyed a traditional lunch of Bratwurst with sauerkraut before returning to the heart of the city for an evening’s “relaxation”.
By the Friday evening a full complement of members had arrived in Hamburg, including famed inventor of the “Otterbach” syringe, Jeremy JR Featherstone, Mr Wandul Swack and Chairman of the Otterburn Society, Karl Beattie.
It has to be said that Mr Beattie looked decidedly pale on his arrival, having travelled to Hamburg on the autobahn with Mr Fwack at the wheel !
Despite this, an excellent dinner was enjoyed by the members in a traditional bierkeller.
On the Saturday of Otterburn, members travelled 19 miles north of Hamburg to the 19th Century Schloß Tremsbüttel venue for the thirty fourth annual gathering of the Otterburn society.
Andy “MQ Jordan was delighted to discover that Schloß Tremsbüttel is located in Holstein !
Mr Beck was similarly impressed !
Schloß Tremsbüttel provides everything neccessary for a succesful Otterburn Society gathering.
In particular members were please to note that the schloss bosts is own lake and a (permanent) smoking pavillion.
| Chairman Beattie took up his position behind the Chairman’s lectern and welcomed members to Hamburg for the thirty fourth annual conference of the Otterburn Society.Presentatins commencedin the Schloß Tremsbüttel conference centre. Otterburn presentations are traditionally of a high standard and this year’s were not to disappoint.The titles of members‘ prsentations were: |
Chairman Beattie:
”Political figures I have loved”, the Chairman’s opinion of a number of political figures including those who share his views and those who do not, and at least one who shares his bed!
Mr Firth: ”The economics of renewabe energy projects. ”, a discussion on how financiers assess the viability of large scale capital projects without wanting to understanding technical risk and opportunity.
Mr Beck: ”A recent trip to Australia and Malaysia.”, John’s update on how a visit to see his daughter in Australia resulted in a family move to Kuala Lumpur.
Mr Featherstone: ”My latest invention – recycled furniture”, famed inventor of the Otterburn syringe’s most recent contribution to the world of innovation, and a very practical use for a Champagne crate, a coffee table !
Mr Jordan ”Talk Talk”, Andy’s discussion of the challenges faced by internet service providers in getting the internet to those in rural locations.
Treasurer Scarborough ”Healthcare on the Rhineland”, The DoM’s discussion on the challenges facing BAOR.
Randall Slack ”The Hunday tractor collection”, an account of Paul Rackham’s disposal of the famous Hunday collection of historic tractors and farm implements.
Members were very impressed with the strength of German toggies. Unusually high pressures were atained by all members and impressive inflations were achieved.
Following presentations, members dressed for dinner in their traditional attire, and met in the comfort of Treasurer’s ”Presidential“ suite for Champagne.
The Director of Music, Treasurer Scarborough had used his Office to arrange for members to share in his passion for music. The DoM had arranged for each cource of dinner to be punctuated by performances of pieces from well known operas, by a delightful soprano. Members found these arrangements most agreeable.
The thirty fourth annual general meeting of the Otterburn Society was held in the privacy of the Treasurer’s suite.
| Chairman Beattie brought the meeting to order at 22:30 hrs. and presented the Agenda.In his opening remarks, Chairman Beattie expressed his sincere appreciation to the Treasurer for organising a highly successful and memorable Otterburn. Chairman Beattie was indeed lavish in his praise.The Treasurer humbly acknowledged that Otterburn in Hamburg had turned out a lot better than he might have expected! |
The formal business of the meeting followed.
Apologies
The Chairman called for any apologies for absence. It was noted that Mr Daniel F Woods was not present. Big dick Tarn was also not present, having been unexpectedly called to London on business. Big dick had, however, agreed to pay a substantial forfeit which members were pleased to accept.
Accounts
Mr Beattie asked for the Treasurer to present the statement of income and expenditure for the year.
Treasurer Scarborough is used to presenting unpalatable figures and had not qualms about informing the members that the accounts showed a deficit for the year, a not unexpected situation.
Despite this, Mr Scarborough was bullish about his position and brushed off any suggestion that the situation was reminiscent of the great coffee deception of ’81. !
The accounts for the year were reluctantly accepted.
Election of officers
Mr Beck was pleased to nominate Mr Featherstone for the office of Secretary to the society. This nomination was seconded by Mr Firth.
The motion was carried unanimously.
In light of his recent acceptance of a post in Malaysia, Mr Firth was pleased to nominate John Clandestine Beck to the office of Treasurer to the Otterburn Society. This nomination was seconded by Mr Scarborough.
The motion was carried unanimously, on the condition that the newly found tradition of convening in the country of residence of the Treasurer for their annual conference would be observed. Members were greatly looking forward to a weekend in Malaysia in November.
In observance of tradition, the retiring Chairman Mr Beattie nominated the retiring Treasurer and Director of music to the Otterburn Society, Alastair Scarborough to the office of Chairman.
The was no need for this nomination to be seconded and the motion was passed unanimously.
Forfeits
The executive committee having performed faultlessly throughout the year, no forfeits were considered necessary.
AOB, Special resolution.
The subject of the Otterburn Society Web pages was raised and in particular, the apparent absence of a recent update containing an account of the extremely successful Matfen conference of 2014, organised by Mr Beattie. Chairman Beattie was quick to come to Mr Firth’s defence and congratulated Mr Firth again for the splendid work he continues to do in maintaining the Otterburn web pages and expressed his confidence in the Director of Communications. The Chairman was unanimously supported by the members in this respect and Mr Firth assured the Chairman that the website would be updated promptly.
In light of the excellent work carried out by the DCPA, it was proposed that the DCPA should be exempted from forfeit in perpetuity, for any matters relating to the late publication of the Otterburn web site. This proposal was unanimously agreed.
There being no further business the members retired to a more comfortable part of the (newly elected) Chairman’s suite to enjoy further Champagne.
