882. 05.01.96 LONDON W8 - HOLLAND PARK: COB & Sue, SAR & N, Anth. The COB got the year off to a start by convening a meeting in "JULIE�S WINE BAR" Portland Road, Sue having corrected his earlier dislike of such venues. One bottle of the House White and three bottles of Chardonnay were consumed.

883. 09.01.96 LONDON EC1 - CLERKENWELL: Sec, SAR & N, Alistair. The Sec conducted the party around some of his familiar haunts in Clerkenwell, starting at the "CLOCK HOUSE" (Greene King IPA) which as usual was nearly empty except for the clocks. Members moved on to the "OLD MITRE" where they went upstairs with some Burtons which has to be bought downstairs. Historical leaflets concerning the pub were obtained. The party moved on to the "GUNMAKERS ARMS" which was described by the Sec as "a basic local" and was judged to be full by normal standards, with at least 10 people in it. IPA again. The meeting concluded at "THE OLD MONK" where a noisy office party animated the scene, and Old Speckled Hen, nuts and food were consumed.

884. 13.01.96 LONDON SW19 - WIMBLEDON: SAR & N, BS, Sec, GR & Fiona, Anth, COB & Sue, Shani. Given that the traditional end of year meeting in Wimbledon had not taken place, and given that some new pubs had been identified in Wimbledon, a meeting was convened in the "HAND & RACKET" next to the Alexandra. The pub offers a variety of beers, and Abbot and London Pride were largely consumed. As the party turned out to be a big group, after eventually expanding into enough space to allow for a comfortable meeting, members stayed in the same place until closing time.

885. 18.01.96 LONDON WC1: Sec, BS, Oracle. "HEAD OF STEAM", Euston concourse. Unpleasantly busy, and 6 of the 9 real ales advertised not available. Bass, Dent. Inspection of the BS�s Brazilian photos. "QUEEN�S LARDER", Cosmo Place. Tiny timber-lined bar, and commendable Xmas Ale. "OLD MONK", Gray�s Inn Road. Morland + food. Felt by the BS to be a "disguised Wetherspoons".

886. 31.01.96 LONDON WC1: Sec, WPR. "QUEEN�S LARDER", as above. Felt to be too crowded, so moved next door to "SWAN", Cosmo Place. Theakstons. "Neo-rustic" traditional bar. Thence back to "Queen�s Larder" for IPA, and food, ordered with difficulty from taciturn and overworked solo barman. The former "Sun" (now "Finnegan�s Wake") was inspected and found wanting, so moved to the "LAMB" for traditional Young�s and very 1970�s traditional food counter, which was admired by the WPR. "RUGBY TAVERN", Rugby St. Fuller�s. Very end-of-evening feel, despite only being 9.30, and dreary new decor since last visited, making it seem rather outer-suburban.

887. 18.02.96 LONDON N22 - WOOD GREEN: Anth, SAR & N, BS & E & N, COB, Solange. Anth invited members to his local, the "JOLLY ANGLERS" near Wood Green Station, where four or five leisurely rounds, accompanied by food, were had, taking full advantage of Sunday all day opening facilities.

888. 29.02.96 LONDON SW1 - SOUTH KENSINGTON: SAR & N, GR, Fiona2. Members met at the Royal Geographical Society, of which the SAR and the GR are Fellows, and attended an interesting slide show about Patagonia. Following this, gastronomic refreshment accompanied by Wine was had at the Polish restaurant "Daquise" near S. Kensington Station.

889. 02.03.96 LONDON SW2 - NATASHA�S 1st BIRTHDAY: BS & E & N, SAR & N, COB & Sue, Anth, Sec, Tim, Suely, Paul & Fiona1, Simon (after the rugby), BS�s Parents and Aunt, Beth & children, Janet, Sonia, Lia, Rosemere. This multitude celebrated Natasha�s first birthday at 31 Vibart Gardens. Plenty of wine and beer consumed along with excellent food prepared by the Brazilian members.

890. 06.03.96 LONDON W1 - ROSE & CROWN QUIZ: BS, Sec, Phil, Paul, Fiona1�s brother, Rick, Phil of the Inspectors, SAR & N (not at quiz). The meeting opened in a crowded, smoky atmosphere with the Sec. suffering from the effects of his exertions in moving the Great Ormond St. archives. Phil, on being presented with a set of SLBS minutes, came out with the extraordinary declaration "I don�t really like drinking" and members were perplexed by this. Rick and Phil of the Inspectors were conducting a parallel meeting at the bar, which had apparently started several hours earlier. It is reported that the main SLBS team won the quiz, and the secondary team consisting of Phil, Rick and Phil of the Inspectors came second despite the advanced inebriation of the latter two.

891. 12.03.96 LONDON SW19 - WIMBLEDON: SAR & N, BS, Sec, Oracle, Suely. Members met for the first time at the new Wetherspoon venue the "WIBBAS DOWN INN" which is a huge place. Ryburn�s Luddite and Cotleigh�s Merlin were sampled. The Oracle removed his sock in the middle of the pub in order to maintain his toenails.

892. 18.03.96 LONDON EC2/SE1: Sec, WPR. "LAMB" Leadenhall Market. Youngs. Very busy for a Monday. "ANCHOR", Bankside. Greenall�s. Very past-its-sell-by-date meal enjoyed by the WPR in the restaurant, deduced as being traditional English food expected by the many tourists. "MARKET PORTER", Borough Market, Southwark. Full of film crew filming in adjacent 19th c. close. Very dubious Harvey�s sampled, suspected by the Sec. of containing caramel, and by the WPR of containing industrial waste. "GEORGE", Southwark. Best pint of the evening, Smillie�s March Hare from Bristol. Initially empty, but later customary influx of U.S. tourists, who seemed uncertain as to how to conduct themselves (i.e. sat down and waited to be served).

893. 05.04.96 LONDON W14 - WEST KENSINGTON: COB & Sue, SAR & N, BS & E & N, Sec, Solange, Lucilla. Members met at the "RADNOR ARMS" where, as is traditional, Everards Tiger was had. The pub was almost deserted apart from the Meeting. The COB went on a food-finding expedition at around 1400 hr., and finding it available in the "WARWICK ARMS", diverted the meeting there. Fullers beers were had along with food. A large furry dog answering to the name of Natasha was also present.

894. 10.04.96 LONDON W1 - ROSE & CROWN QUIZ: Phil, Paul, Fiona1, Tim (Fiona1�s brother) (winners), BS, Sec, Oracle (left half way through), Simon. Very late start by temporary barman, and evening dominated by high-decibel ranting throughout from extremely intoxicated Australian woman.

895. 17.04.96 LONDON W1 - ROSE & CROWN QUIZ: Phil (Setter), BS (reader-out); Sec, Oracle, Andy (BS�s colleague) - winners. Paul, Fiona1, Simon, Janet (equal second).

896. 23.04.96 LONDON WC1 - CLERKENWELL: Sec, BS, Oracle. "OLD MITRE", Hatton Garden. Friary Meux, Burton, Cider, (still �1) sandwiches. "CLOCK HOUSE", Leather Lane. Abbott, Cider (abandoned by the Oracle, still recovering from excessive Oranjeboom consumption the previous Friday). "GUNMAKERS ARMS", Eyre St. Hill. Fullers, cider (abandoned by....). Busier than on previous visits. "OLD MONK", Gray�s Inn Road. Morland, Young�s, Chicken Kiev for BS.

897. 28.04.96 LONDON SW2 - STREATHAM HILL: SAR & N, BS & N & E. Members met at the "CROWN AND SCEPTRE" where they discovered a Legendary Beer Festival to be in progress. They sampled Bank�s and Taylor Pagan�s Potion and Woodforde�s Norfolk Nog. Enilda sampled "Thirsty Camel" mineral water.

898. 04.05.96 LONDON SW16: ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING: Sec, SAR & N, BS & E & N, Oracle, Suely, Lucy, Christina, Cleuza (later). In a departure from normal practice, the AGM was held in South London for the first time, and at lunchtime, reflecting the Society�s newly found need for baby-compliant venues. The meeting took place in the "GREYHOUND" in Streatham, the Sec. arriving about one and a half hours before everybody else and passing the time watching the qualifying stages of the San Marino Grand Prix. The meeting started in the conservatory area but moved outside as the afternoon progressed. Some constitutional amendments were passed, and Lucy gave the meeting some potted inside information about mergers and takeovers in the UK financial services sector. The Oracle sprinted off to Streatham Common Station while the rest of the party partook of tea and B�rwurz (a celery flavoured liquor from the Bavarian Forests, described by Members as "an acquired taste"), in Emsworth Court. The meeting finally broke up with Members retiring to their respective abodes to eat a variety of sub-standard frozen pizzas.

899. 16.05.96 LONDON W1: SAR & N, Sec, Anth, GR, Fiona2, Cleuza. The party met upstairs at the "GLASS BLOWER"

900. 26.05.96 KENT - BEXLEY: Sec, SAR & N, Cleuza, Lia. The others were met by the Sec at Bexley station and stopped at the "GEORGE" (A Hogshead Tavern) for Lunch which consisted of various freebies which were placed on the bar and were consumed by the party and the one other customer. Then members headed off towards a park where the Bexley Archives are houses and where the Sec. had once worked. A small museum and the elaborate gardens were examined, followed by a drink in the "JACOBEAN BARN"; a medieval building turned in to a Berni Inn type place. On the way back to the station the party stopped again at the "GEORGE" to quench its thirst.

901. 29.05.96 LONDON W1 - ROSE & CROWN QUIZ: Paul, Fiona1, Simon, Janet (1st), BS, Sec, Phil, Oracle (jt. 2nd). Intensive discussion by aficionados of the first new TV "Dr. Who" for 10 years.

902. 10.06.96 LONDON EC3 / SE1: Sec, WPR, GR. "CITY LIVERY", boat moored near London Bridge. Outrageous prices charged for the GR�s round, but rediced by �1 by shamefaced barman when GR laughed aloud at what he was asked to pay. (Flat) Caffreys, & Sec�s glass found to be liberally coated with lipstick. "ANCHOR" Bankside. Pleasanter pints and prices here, seating in the tiniest of the many rooms. "GEORGE" Southwark. Locally brewed Cathedral Bitter enjoyed by the Sec., but found heavy going by the other members.

903. 12.06.96 LONDON W1 - ROSE & CROWN QUIZ: BS, Sec, Oracle, David (Metapraxis); Paul, Simon, Janet (jt. 2nd). Pub full of Oriental tourists, making conversation difficult.

904. 30.06.96 LONDON SW6 - FULHAM: COB, Sue & Ana�s, SAR & N, Anth, COB�s sister and brother in law, etc. The COB celebrated his birthday at the "WINDMILL" (Vegetarian Restaurant), where the party had use of the back room.

905. 21.07.96 LONDON SW2 - TULSE HILL: SAR, BS. Following an extensive review of the Lambeth Country Fair in Brockwell Park, members retired to the garden of the "TULSE HILL TAVERN" for a couple of pints.

906. 03.08.96 LONDON SE1 - SOUTHWARK: SAR & N, BS & E & N, COB & Sue & Ana�s, Sec, Cleuza, Lia, Solange, Richard (later to become Richard III) & M�rcia & Lily. This large party took over much of the outside terrace of the "ANCHOR" for several hours, although the tendency of women and children to outnumber members attempting to fulfil the Object of the Society was noted. The Object, however, was adequately fulfilled despite Natasha�s tendency to run off at the slightest opportunity.

907. 09.08.96 LONDON NW1 - CAMDEN TOWN: Chair, WPR, Maria, SAR & N. A visit by the Honorary Member (Poland), who was accommodated by the WPR, succeeded in reuniting three Founder Members on an historic and rare occasion. The WPR expounded the "Life begins at 40" concept by describing his change in lifestyle

908. 10.08.96 KENT - ROLVENDEN: GR, Sec, Cleuza, SAR & N. A motorised excursion conducted by the GR with navigation of varying quality by the Sec, involving unintentional tours of Bromley suburbs. After some jams on the A21, the party finally arrived at Rolvenden, one of the few Kent villages as yet unvisited by the Sec. Members partook of a generous Ploughman�s Lunch plus Harvey�s bitter at the "BULL", then observed the church from which a wedding party had just emerged. The party moved on to inspect Ellen Terry�s house at Smallhythe (NT) and returned via Gravesend where tea was served at 7 Golf Links Avenue.

909. 14.08.96 LONDON W1 - ROSE & CROWN QUIZ: BS, Sec, Tim, Suely, Oracle (1st), Paul, Simon, Janet, David (Metapraxis) (2nd).

910. 26.08.96 SURREY - RICHMOND: BS & E & N, Sec, Cleuza, Lia. "WHITE CROSS" (Youngs), on riverbank. Pleasant lunch taken outside, before party forced by shower into upstairs chlidren�s room. Thence walk along river for afternoon tea at the Coach house cafe, Marble Hill House, and return to town centre, where Enilda and Lia inspected the local shopping and the Sec, BS and Cleuza took a further drink at the "CRICKETERS", Richmond Green.

911. 28.08.96 LONDON W1 - ROSE & CROWN QUIZ: BS, Sec, Paul, Phil. No prizes. Bar full of stout and bibulous older men apparently taking a break from jazz-watching at Ronnie Scott�s club.

912. 14.09.96 LONDON SE1 - SOUTHWARK: COB, Sue & Ana�s, BS & E & N, SAR & N, Sec, Cleuza, Lucila, Anth, Dawn, Tim, Suely. The "ANCHOR" was again the venue for this large gathering, which occupied most of one of the upstairs rooms. The large Brazilian turnout was complemented by the barmaid who came from Curitiba. Natasha entertained a group of passing German tourists with her antics.

913. 25.09.96 LONDON W1 - ROSE & CROWN QUIZ: BS, Sec, Phil, Tim (1st), Oracle, Paul, Janet (2nd). Anth attended a quiz night for the first time, but failed to appear until 9.40 p.m. when the quiz was long over. He then had to drink alone as the rest of the party were anxious to go home.

914. 04.10.96 LONDON SE5 / SW9 - CAMBERWELL / STOCKWELL: COB & Sue, Anth, Dawn, Jim, SAR & N, Sec, Cleuza, Lia. The meeting assembled in the "Carrot Caf�" a vegetarian restaurant in Camberwell, where all except the Sec and Cleuza ate (they having been filled up by Lia previously). The party then moved on to the "Dome" otherwise known as the "Mambo Inn" where time was spent in the Brazilian room dancing to a variety of rhythms and drinking various types of bottled lager.

915. 16.10.96 LONDON W1 - ROSE & CROWN QUIZ: BS, Sec, Andrew, David, Richard (all "Metapraxis"); winners, Paul Janet, Bruce, Simon, Phil (joint second).

916. 30.10.96 LONDON W1 - ROSE & CROWN QUIZ: The Sec. visited the "CAMBRIDGE" for a quiet pre-quiz pint, but encountered a meeting of the WPR, Rick & Judy therein, so spent 2 hours therein discussing holidays et al before continuing to the "ROSE & CROWN" where team of BS, Phil, Oracle, Paul, Simon & Janet were joint winners. The Oracle was given a free pint of cider in compensation for the late delivery of his meal, but declined to drink it.

917. 05.11.96 LONDON WC1 - BLOOMSBURY: Sec, GR. The meeting began at the "QUEEN�S LARDER", which failed to live up to its name by having no food available, despite prominent advertising outside. After a quick pint of 6X there, members were recommended by a fellow drinker to the nearby "FRIEND AT HAND", Herbrand Street, probably the only pub within a mile radius never previously visited by the Sec. This proved to be comfortably conventional, with Theakstons, substantial sandwiches, friendly Scandinavian bar staff and an abrasively loud jukebox, which the GR intimidated the staff into turning down. The meeting concluded at the "HEAD OF STEAM" over Euston Station with Banks & Taylor sampled; the GR was taken aback to find he needed a key from the manager to use the gents.

918. 09.11.96 LONDON SE1 - SOUTHWARK: Post Lord Mayor�s Show Fireworks. "FOUNDERS ARMS" before and after in the now traditional manner. BS & E & N, Sec, Paul, Janet, Simon, Tim & Suely, Richard, Marcia & Lily. The latter then went in search of African cuisine in Clapham, whilst the rest of the party took the Chinese option in Soho.

919. 13.11.96 LONDON W1 - ROSE & CROWN QUIZ: Phil (setter), BS (reader-out), Rick, (other PRS) Phil & 2 others (winners), Sec & Tim.

920. 11.12.96 LONDON W1 - ROSE & CROWN QUIZ: BS, Sec, Phil, Simon. Full of pre-Christmas crowds, but comfortable win, despite small team by recent standards.

921. 18.12.96 LONDON SW1 - WESTMINSTER: BS, SAR & N, Sec, Chair, SOS & Val, Rick, Judy, Tim, Phil.

922. 20.12.96 LONDON W1 - WEST END: Sec, GR. The planned venue of The Crypt Cafe, St. Martin in the Fields, was found to be closed, so some 25 pubs between Charing Cross and Piccadilly were inspected and found impenetrably full, before inspiration led the GR to the "AFRICA CENTRE", Long Acre, where lager and Guinness were taken in the very ethnic basement bar, and thence food in the restaurant. The GR then waited some 40 minutes for his sweet before leaving in disgust just as it appeared.

923. 26.12.96 LONDON SW2 - BRIXTON: BS, BS�s father, SAR. A lunchtime meeting in the "HOP POLES".

924. 28.12.96 LONDON SW19 - WIMBLEDON: SAR & N, Rick, Sec, BS & E & N, Dalva, E�s relatives. The meeting convened in the "HAND IN HAND" where the SAR, Sec and Rick managed to order a drink before the party was expelled from the bar area due to the children present in its composition. The area designated for such parties being full and draughty, the party went next door to the "CROOKED BILLET" where sitting in the restaurant area was permitted.