Every year during October the club hold their annual fancy dress night.  We have always found that October was a good time for everyone to let their hair down, put on their dancing shoes and enjoy themselves.  Originally, many years ago the event was a Halloween party but developed over time to a fancy dress free for all. 

This time of year the main diving season has all but drawn to a close, our weekends are free, and as consequence the ‘no heavy drinking before diving rule’ and the required clear head on the Sunday morning could be ignored and forgotten about for once. 

These nights are held for two reasons, the first and main reason is it’s an important social get together and second to help with the fundraising.  The fancy dress night is also an occasion to get some of the non-diving partners and friends down to the club for a bit of social mixing.  

On a personal note, as far as my husbands family (the Brown’s, although Ray is a reluctant participant) are concerned dressing up seems to be in the blood.  Dave the Diving Officer thinks we herald from an age of travelling thespians and all have mirrors front lit with bulbs like a stars dressing room back at home. 

The fancy dress night is planned well in advance and is eagerly anticipated, with some of us working on our costumes throughout the year.  Tickets are designed and made by Paul, one of our divers (with an artistic streak) and distributed throughout the club. The food is planned over the previous weeks and we are all asked to bring something along on the night, this is boosted by a prepared buffet.  To enable us to have a raffle, members are asked or should I say actively encouraged to bring a prize, usually a bottle of wine or spirits, but anything is welcome. To finish the preparations the members of the club sets out the tables and room on the day of the event.  

Historically these nights are very well attended and are a boost to the moral of the members and fund raising activities of the club.  The fancy dress night of 27th of October 2002 proved to be no exception. 

The night starts early for us donning our costumes and make up, applying the false beard (my husband Malcolm’s not mine) and practising the walk. This year I was a highwayman with thigh length leather boots and tricorn hat, Malcolm was a sea dog with admiral’s jacket, Breton shirt, sea boots and corn pipe.  

The evening starts at 7.00pm with the taxis dropping off the first of their charges, the Taylors’ - Olive, Neil and Paul traditionally arrive first and man the door. My group also likes to be early and we enjoy watching the ‘costumes’ arrive.  

The effort and planning people put into the costumes is evident as the room begins to fill.  Most people spend time designing, making and assembling their own, and this is borne out by the range of costumes worn.  A quick look around the hall takes you from belly dancers, sultans, schoolgirls, highwaymen, pirates and clowns.  Then there are some pirates, wenches and witches, fakirs and Arab princes, soldiers, sailors and super heroes as well as others.  Finally, not forgetting Carl in his tight fitting green Lycra dress, well my green Lycra dress actually, false boobs, high heels and wig! 

Everyone enters into the spirit from the moment they don their costume, and begin to take on their character and live the part. The room lights dim, the drink and banter flow in equal quantities, ‘flash bulbs pop’ and everyone relaxes into their rejoicing. 2002 saw around 80 people attending the event, the room looked and felt full. 

The party in full swing and the DJ is playing the latest hits triggers the sale of the raffle tickets.  Two of the girls, Geraldine and Brenda visit every table, and most people generally buy a strip or two. With the ticket sales over, the buffet is opened, (as usual there is too much food, we always ensure we have 2nds) a little gentle queuing and soon all are fed and happy.  Trying to keep the momentum of the evening flowing - we move straight into the raffle draw. The ‘double B’s’ Ray and Ian Brown take the stage and the mike and offer a little light-hearted banter along with the raffle. These two have managed the raffle for many years and know how to make it flow.  We generally have around 20 to 25 prizes so most tables see someone winning something.  A bottle is generally held in reserve for the best Fancy Dress costume, this year however we got carried away and forgot to award it!  After the raffle the party moves on, the dance floor is full and most people are swinging their legs and doing their stuff.  Inhibitions from earlier in the evening are gone, the free flowing drink, the costumes and characters and general feeling of ‘lets have a good time’ all add to the beat as the party swings.  

All too soon the evening draws to a close.  The disco winds down, the good nights are said, the taxis arrive and it’s all over until the next one! 

The following morning sporting bad heads and left over make up its back to the hall for a little light cleaning duty.  

You may ask, was the night a success? Well ask anyone who has been to one of our fancy dress nights if they enjoyed it and they will give you a resounding ‘yes! when’s the next one’.  For me the planning is already underway!