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The Coach and Horses, Norwich
Seventh Meeting at The Coach and Horses, Norwich - November 21st 2009
  
The Essex Beardsmen host our first regional meeting of The British Beard Club
in the fine city of Norwich, Norfolk. Over to Charlie:
The Coach and Horses is a Victorian town pub
The Coach and Horses is a Victorian town pub
  

quotesSATURDAY the 21st saw Frazer, Mo and I drive to Norwich for the 7th meeting of The British Beard Club; its first East Anglian gathering. So keen was he to sample the fleshpots of the fair city, that young Master Henry Scragg had travelled up the previous evening, staying overnight with his stepmother, and father; more of whom later. As we did not let the train take the strain, we arrived at the chosen venue with plenty of time, parking at the very front of the pub.

Chalk Hill Brewery provides a fine selection of ales
Chalk Hill Brewery provides a fine selection of ales
  

From the outside the Coach and Horses is a fairly unassuming Victorian town pub, although things are slightly different within. The pub is now open plan, although retaining a very traditional theme, with a reasonably sized conservatory/extension at the rear, and it was within this, that a large table had been set aside for our gathering. The other non standard feature of the pub, and one of its main attractions, is the brewery housed in an area adjacent to the conservatory. This, the Chalk Hill Brewery, provides the fine selection of ales our party were to sample heavily later on, the Flint Knappers Mild being particularly fine.

After a short time, we were joined by Nigel, like me a craft brewer, and the latest Essex Beardsman. After a necessary replenishment of ales, we slipped into “shop talk”, to the occasional bemusement of Mo, and Frazer. Further boredom was prevented by the arrival of the ebullient Brian, a local Norwich member, and then Matt Pitts.

The ebullient Brian
The ebullient Brian
  
Matt Pitts
Matt Pitts
  
Craft Brewer Nigel
Craft Brewer Nigel
  

As well as being a thoroughly nice chap, Matt is a highly talented artist, and you can see his beard-related artwork at www.matthewjohnpitts.blogspot.com

www.matthewjohnpitts.blogspot.com
TBBC Artwork by Matthew Pitts
  

On the left is an example of Matthew Pitts' artwork created specially for The British Beard Club.

Game pie? What game pie?
Game pie? What game pie?
  

By now the pub had started to fill up, and so we placed our food orders at the bar. The game pie seemed to be in order, and very fine it was, too. There was one slight drawback, in that the puff pastry was of such an explosive nature that much de-crumbing of the beards followed.

Whilst eating, Henry, Linda and Dave Scragg arrived, Dave clutching a small recording device, with the aim of conducting brief interviews of our party, for BBC Radio Norfolk. The gist of the questions being the ups, and downs of being bearded, and the history of our (T)BBC. Once upon a time bearded, Dave is under pressure to rejoin the fold, especially by his son, who suggested that he shouldn’t post his interview piece until he could fully appreciate Beardedness again.

Frazer tells Dave Scragg his beard storyCharlie's turn at the mic
Frazer talks to Dave Scragg of Radio Norfolk, and then it's Charlie's turn
  

One of the reasons that this date had been picked was that Norwich City Football club were not playing at home, otherwise the pub would have been far too busy, and noisy for us. Unfortunately for us, we had not reckoned on the English Rugby squad losing to the All-Blacks that day. Equally unfortunate, was the fact that our table was sited beneath the largest TV screen, in the pub. Being stout of heart, we carried on, despite the alternate whoops, and groans, well mainly groans and did not let it distract us from the serious business at hand. This mainly took the form of a constant stream of four pint pitchers arriving from the bar.

Guy and Frazer raise their glasses
Guy and Frazer raise their glasses
  

The last of our party to arrive, after a horrific journey, was Guy. Not only had he suffered the vagaries of the weekend rail timetable, but also an unexpected delay due to an incident on the line. Although late to arrive, he set to the ales with gusto, endeavouring to make up for what he had missed.

After about three hours, Mo, Frazer, Nigel, Henry and myself decided to depart; Mosie having the joy of driving all of The Essex Beardsmen home, Bless her kind hearted tee-totalness! We left the others deep in (shouted) conversation, after all agreeing that the next regional gathering could take place in Chelmsford, county town of the former Kingdom of ESSEX, the time and exact date yet to be determined.

Best Bearded Regards
Charlie, Frazer, Henry and Nigel
The Essex Beardsmen
Essex Beardsmen logo quotes
Here are some more photos taken by Frazer Coppin, Mo and Charlie Saville.
Charlie and FrazerFrazer, Matt, Henry, Charlie and DaveCharlie, Dave, Brian and NigelMatt, Henry, Charlie, Dave and BrianHenryGuy and Frazer
NigelNigel and Mo SavilleMattBrianHenryGuy
Click a thumbnail to enlarge or play as a SLIDESHOW

Photos on this page are Copyright © 2009 Coppin, Saville and The British Beard Club TBBC