Royal British Legion Launch Party

kengro


Joined: 05/08/2008
Posts: 9

Message Posted:
01/10/2011 22:29

Terrible disapointment RBL let down by the venue The Waterfront, lots of people turned out in support of the newly formed branch for the launch party, that has taken the committee 2 years to come to fruition, some how the Waterfront management failed to feed all those that attended - even after paying 20TL - AS NON MEMBERS - they had to be refunded - at 8.45 the dining room bar ran out of EFES ,the dining room bar closed at 9.45 Unfortunately people were leaving.A shocking example for the hard working volunteers, being let down by the so called professionals. What a shame !!

MaggieAndBernie



Joined: 26/07/2008
Posts: 2012

Message Posted:
01/10/2011 23:53

Well I have to disagree! My friend & I had a lovely evening. Sat outside at the bar, very pleasant barmaid working very hard, The entertainment was fantastic - kind of Sanatra/brat pack tribute act, really good! Followed by the Shy Teds brilliant as usual! The food was excellent - chilli & rice, coronation chicken & salad. Met some lovely people and will definitely be going again!!!



Maggie

birdman



Joined: 20/09/2010
Posts: 690

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 01:01

Disappointment wasn't the word !



I arrived at 7pm and ordered a "Strongbow" ( my tipple ) I was told that there were only two in the fridge and they would be getting no more as non had been ordered! ( So much for customer care! )



I asked if there was discount for Royal British Legion membership. I was told Yes! 50 kuros off wine and 1 lira off draught beer. !( They were both still over the price I pay at any of my local haunts !)



I ordered a "local gin and tonic and watched it being poured onto ice. There was so little gin in the glass I asked for more , only to be told that she dare not put more in or she would be fired! ( I couldn't even taste the gin!) and having been a landlord I KNOW that the measure given was LESS then a local single measure in the UK. (It wasn't measured,it was GUESS poured)



I queued for 25 minutes and on reaching the front was told ALL the food is gone ! (And I was only half way down the queue!)



Having even spit and polished my shoes to attend

birdman



Joined: 20/09/2010
Posts: 690

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 01:08

like many more who attended I will not be attending many more functions if the membership are treated so abysmally by the management of the Waterfront.



Such a pity as so much work has been put into the formation of the branch by so many hard working people, only to have the launch scuppered by the greed of some to make a profit at the first opportunity!



This is only my opinion, (But so many people spoke to me tonight and voiced similar opinions.) Like me they too will not be attending in the future unless there are some dramatic changes.



Gerry Lee ( Tell it as you see it!)

skurry


Joined: 04/02/2009
Posts: 81

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 04:47

I FIND THIS SO SAD TO HEAR THESE COMMENTS AS THE STAFF WORK SO HARD AND ARE GOOD TO THE CLIENTS .

IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN PRUDENT TO HAVE A BOOKING/TICKETING SYSTEM IN PLACE TO GET SOME KIND OF AN IDEA OF NUMBERS WHO ARE GOING TO ATTEND. AS THIS WAS SUCH AN EXTREEMLY HIGH PROFILE OCCASION IT SEEMS ANOTHER GREAT OCCASION HAS BEEN WASTED.

P.S. RE GERRY HE SPENT SO MUCH TIME AND KIWI ON HIS SHOES I HOPE IT WAS WORTH THE EFFORT GREAT TURNOUT GERRY.

CarrieRBag



Joined: 23/12/2008
Posts: 1374

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 07:31

Everyone who was going to attend should have informed the committee prior to the event so that they had correct numbers for catering. This was published on here many times.



I suspect a lot of people did not bother saying they were attending so the committee, rightly, catered for the names they had, which was 160. There were many more there than 160 so that cannot be blamed on the committee. I am NOT on the committee by the way.



Also, I was in the queue and was disgusted at the amount of food some people were putting on their plates, they had to walk so slowly so that it did not fall off as they had piled it so high.



I managed to get a small amount of rice and chicken and my husband and I shared a plate (we had booked).



Sometimes things go wrong, it happens. Not life threatening.

Hippo


Joined: 02/02/2007
Posts: 2070

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 07:37

Also, I was in the queue and was disgusted at the amount of food some people were putting on their plates, they had to walk so slowly so that it did not fall off as they had piled it so high.



I cant comment on the thread as I was not there but I can imagine the scenario, greedy people, I have seen it so many times, its them that should be ashamed.

Jefferson


Joined: 17/05/2010
Posts: 360

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 08:45

We had booked and we didn't get any food. However the volunteers who spent all their evening raising money and the staff who worked tirelessly behind the bars deserve great credit.

tomsteel


Joined: 22/06/2009
Posts: 482

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 08:49

Have to echo some of the points above. Stood at inside bar in queue, barmaid ignored me and served 2 other customers who just approached the bar. Having remonstrated the fact, I was served with charm too by another barmaid. However, outside barmaid was working flat out, single handed and efficient and was good fun. Good music, good atmosphere, poor food planning - why not issue supper tickets to those who had booked when checking in on arrival and have a caterer checking food size portions? A disappointment having traveled from Bahçeli to support the opening. Drink prices were general hotels' norm, did not appear to be RBL discounted. Well done to the many volunteers who organised the event. Improvement possible.

doddies


Joined: 16/02/2009
Posts: 102

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 09:04

Carrierbag, msg6

If 160 people booked then why wasn`t they served first? How do you differentiate between those "booked" and those who chose to attend on the night and pay 20 tl?Not everyone can access the website and the article on the RBL launch did not mention "bookings" Overpriced warm Efes, shortage of glasses and kuros for change. Surely the management of the venue and RBL should have foreseen a large number would have attended this function?

jenny278


Joined: 10/05/2010
Posts: 79

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 09:26

I attended last night, throughly enjoyed the music (anyone know who they were as I'd like to see them again) Venue was pleasent and the volunteers and workers couldn't have worked harder, sadly the caterers and some guests let the evening down we were stood in the food line and didn't get any but witnessed many with very full plates, pure greed,but if they are so hungry and need to eat to excess providing they don't leave most of it on thier plates let them get on with it , their need is obviously greater than mine.

We will attend future functions and see how it goes as it isn't fair to judge on one occasion.

Good luck on the next function, perhaps the food could be served at the buffet table to stop the needy/greedy taking more than their share.

Jenny.

We left early not because of the lack of food but my husband was in tears when the beer ran out haha

CarrieRBag



Joined: 23/12/2008
Posts: 1374

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 09:27

Doddies, I think Msg 9 answered the question re how to differentiate between booked and non-booked and a caterer checking portion sizes so that everyone got a fair deal.



I think the other problems were down to the venue management and not the RBL.



It's all academic after the fact and hindsight is such a wonderful thing.



I think the RBL did well for their first function and am confident they will learn from this and their future functions will go from strength to strength.



Exemplo Ducemus

Tango1


Joined: 19/02/2011
Posts: 1151

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 10:00

Aha, Aha the Alsancak Free Loaders out in force I see again. What a disgusting bunch they all are (with respect to Alsancak people - I live there) and I know Freeloaders come from all over - it's just that they epitomize the people referred to.



Thankfully the mornings Inauguration Ceremony went off without a hitch and was quite emotional at times. Also fortunately there was sufficient bubbly to go round!!

cyprusbreeze


Joined: 20/08/2009
Posts: 91

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 10:31

Perhaps the Management should visit the Mountain View Buffet night on Wednesday. 13tl per head - loads of food even for those who like to pile high and there is always plenty left at the end of the night. No - I am nothing to do with Mountain View but have been on many occasions and never found the food wanting

Bowman


Joined: 02/05/2007
Posts: 256

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 10:40

The music was supplied by Tuxedo Junction (Rat Pack) and The Shy Teds

theoddmajor


Joined: 10/05/2008
Posts: 246

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 11:04

Hi, could I bring a little perspective here please:



The VIP Reception held earlier in the afternoon was a very moving and momentous occasion. To see the Kyrenia Branch standard being brought on parade for the first time ever in front of 150 invited guests, including the standards of both the Limassol and Larnaca branches, and the High Commissioner was a very proud moment for the committee and myself. There is nothing that I would have wanted more than to have all the membership present to witness our President thanking the host nation for allowing the branch to be formed. But these things cost money and frankly as a fledgling branch we couldn't afford it. We currently have 240 branch members and we just did not have the budget to offset the function for so many people and as a committee we didn't want to charge people to attend.

In hindsight I should have made it open to everyone as our members would have witnessed what the ethos of the RBL is all about and for this I am saddened

stubbs1


Joined: 07/08/2011
Posts: 174

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 11:09

Major,



Focus on the positives of this opp. Sounds to me like you have done a bloody good job. I'll be joining when I'm next out!! Well done to all involved.

theoddmajor


Joined: 10/05/2008
Posts: 246

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 11:18

With regards the evening function we planned for 160 people who had indicated that they wished to attend the launch party. The caterers planned for 170 but in the event our Secretary head-counted 245 people in attendance.

The branch has been 3 years in the planning and paperwork but only 3 weeks in practice. We couldn't plan anything in advance until we knew we could definitely be formed, which in reality when we got the nod was a momentous step within the TRNC.

Mistakes were made on the night and we will learn from them, but I urge you as members and potential members to please not give up on us with this worthy cause.

As a committee we will sit down and discuss future events and try to eradicate the mistakes that were made at the launch party.



I want to publicly thank both The Shy Teds and Tuxedo Junction for putting on a fantastic evenings entertainment for free as a gesture to the RBL.



In addition the management and staff of the Celebrity hotel who worked to the brief giv

CarrieRBag



Joined: 23/12/2008
Posts: 1374

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 11:21

Well said theoddmajor......you and your committee did a grand job, despite the killjoys on here.

theoddmajor


Joined: 10/05/2008
Posts: 246

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 11:23

- to the brief given, and frankly worked their butts off for the whole day and night.



the 2 representatives from RBL HQ in London who are staying the weekend had nothing but praise so please come along to our first ever branch meeting at 7.30pm on Monday evening and get behind us, maybe even volunteer to assist rather than vent your anger on here.



Thanks



Brian

Tango1


Joined: 19/02/2011
Posts: 1151

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 11:28

Msg.16 You and the rest of your Committee have absolutely nothing whatsoever to hit yourselves over the head for. The Inauguration (which after all is what yesterday was really all about) went off smoothly and seemingly effortless and I'm aware of all the work and preparation than went into it.



The evening was more of a social event and perhaps things could have been different (I'm not sure the Celebrity is geared up for those numbers IMHO and the choice of food is more or less always the same) However, there will be many other social functions and I'm sure you and the rest of the Committee will have learned from mistakes made.



You can pride yourselves on a job well done and our guys who are still out there still doing what they signed up for would have been proud of you as well.



Don't let last night hiccups spoil what was a momentous day for the north of the island!!



Congratulations.



Tango1

Schoie



Joined: 26/12/2008
Posts: 299

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 11:31

It maybe a point to go central with the venue for the RBL i.e Girnie rather than out on a flank...... sorry to hear about the above good luck next time.

yogi1


Joined: 12/06/2009
Posts: 98

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 12:00

Well, well what a pathetic bunch of moaners, if you have to get plastered and gorge yourself with food to enjoy yourselves you need a reality check. This was the opening night for an organisation that has taken years of planning, meetings and cutting through miles of red tape to come to fruition and people complain "the food ran out" pathetic. Well done to everybody that has worked so hard to get the RBL accepted here in the TRNC. Being involved in Rugby out here I know how hard it can be trying to organise anything here some people just hav'nt got a clue. So instead of complaining, volunteer your services I'm sure you would be welcomed by Bryan and then see how hard they work, or is it just easier to moan from the comfort of your armchair. Well done Bryan and everybody else involved.

Biggles


Joined: 14/06/2009
Posts: 165

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 12:11

We had a lovely evening, but there were serious errors with the catering quantities. There was not even enough food for 160, let alone the numbers that attended. Some folk were tucking in and piling their plates. Perhaps smaller plates should have been put out? When dinner plates are put out, people will naturally fill the plate. Just a thought.

The entertainment was excellent, the committee worked extremely hard, just a shame some parts were a disappointment, but hey ho, its early days I am sure the branch will be very successful!

nurseawful



Joined: 06/02/2009
Posts: 5934

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 12:14

Message 16,



Well done Brian and all those involved, sorry we couldn't attend but if anything we can do to help in the future just get in touch!



Chris

doddies


Joined: 16/02/2009
Posts: 102

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 12:49

yoqi1 msg 23

next time you go to a function, pay 20tl up front for food, drink warm beer, then find the bar has no beer, the kitchen has no food................................do not complain!

R.C.T.Man.



Joined: 27/03/2009
Posts: 746

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 12:58

Well done Brian, you & your committee need commending, we had a great night .

The bar staff outside worked there buts off to see we all got served.



There probably are a couple of lessons to be taken away from this , but as you & i know only two well no matter how much effort gets put into these things you will never satisfy every one.



once again Brian well done to all of you.

parky


Joined: 13/06/2009
Posts: 182

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 13:58

I would like to concentrate on the positives, firstly congratulations on your choice of entertainment, i have seen them both before and my wife loves Tuxedo Junction, that alone made up for the other mistakes.

i would also like to commend the girl behind the bar outside, who was a charming and worked really hard.

Tango1


Joined: 19/02/2011
Posts: 1151

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 17:13

As Msg.23 says, stop moaning for goodness sake and think of what the RBL stands for. If the only thing you can think of is your bellies when there are men and women "out there" who are being killed whilst wearing the uniform, widows who are still struggling in the UK, children of fallen service men and women who are being helped, men and women who have suffered incapacities, blindness and mental traumas, those who fall on hard times or suffer fatal illness all of whom are being assisted by the RBL. And all you can think of is 20tl of food that you didn't receive. SHAME ON YOU.

diver


Joined: 01/01/2008
Posts: 58

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 18:25

Tango1, well said, exactly what I have been saying this afternoon! Well done to all involved in setting up the RBL here, a lot of work has gone on to get to this stage and a lot of work is still needed to keep it going, lets support these hardworking people who are in turn supporting the men and women 'out there' and their dependants.

gusanova


Joined: 23/11/2010
Posts: 187

Message Posted:
02/10/2011 20:37

I am glad that the actual function went very well, wish I was there for the 'Opening Ceremony' as I respect Tradition.



But I did warn on previous posts about people who will only turn up once and stuff theirselves, Tango1 hit the nail on the head calling them the 'Alcancak Freeloaders' and I have had the misfortune to see these people in action at every other opening when they think something is for free.



Its a shame that these people ruined a good night for many who are going to be genuine members and support the RBL also the Committee would have put a lot of hard work and tireless energy into this launch so bravo and dont be dispirited, you now know what shallow people there are out there and any other functions are strictly ticket only (as per other RBLs where I have been to!).



I'm sure all will learn from this lesson and Gordon and his staff will be able to make sure that the RBL in Kyrenia will flourish and be the place to attend functions.



Be over at end of next mont

Cocklebay


Joined: 26/02/2011
Posts: 353

Message Posted:
03/10/2011 08:10

Sorry that I was not there and doubt whether I will be in the future! Lapta is too far away, please if I can find a more central location to meet the needs of the East and West would the committee at least consider it?

GinaC


Joined: 26/11/2010
Posts: 372

Message Posted:
04/10/2011 01:09

What happened is no reflection on either the RBL or the venue, they were just another TARGET of these freeloaders. I salute Tango1 for seeing it and saying it as it really is over here.



It does not matter what the organisers do, these people have no morals, they are organised and specialise in getting MORE than value for money assuming they have to pay of course. Who would see the RBL subject to such activities and losing out on their fundraising? SHAME on all that did this.

CarrieRBag



Joined: 23/12/2008
Posts: 1374

Message Posted:
04/10/2011 08:31

Cocklebay, they have to have the meetings in Lapta at the Celebrity as part of the constitution says all meetings etc have to be on pre-1974 Turkish titled land and finding a suitable venue ourside might be difficult. We live near Esentepe and will not go to every meeting but if we go, perhaps we could give you a lift and then you reciprocate the next time. Would cut it down a lot.

Jonesy299


Joined: 07/02/2009
Posts: 367

Message Posted:
04/10/2011 15:09

I was told that a local British Legion was being established in Bellapais (owner of Bellapais Gardens is working on it) - does anybody have info on that?

Cocklebay


Joined: 26/02/2011
Posts: 353

Message Posted:
04/10/2011 16:19

Re message 44 many thanks for a sensible response. My original post was on behalf of a number of friends acqaintances etc!

R.C.T.Man.



Joined: 27/03/2009
Posts: 746

Message Posted:
04/10/2011 17:14

Soon be time to wear your poppy with pride,& show all these young men & women of our armed forces that they are not fighting in vain.

Tango1


Joined: 19/02/2011
Posts: 1151

Message Posted:
04/10/2011 17:18

Msg.37 short and to the point and absolutely correct. Please draw a line under the mistakes or otherwise made at the evenings event. Our servicemen and women are what count. (and some dogs!!!)

Cocklebay


Joined: 26/02/2011
Posts: 353

Message Posted:
04/10/2011 20:59

Will be wearing mine in Whitehall! Will think of the parade in Girne, with pride!!!

doddies


Joined: 16/02/2009
Posts: 102

Message Posted:
04/10/2011 21:33

As an ex Merchant Navy seaman i also will wear my poppy with pride as i have done for many years. Many seamen gave their lives in both World Wars and the Falklands. I just hope our servicemen and women are not fighting in vain as was the Vietnam conflict.

theoddmajor


Joined: 10/05/2008
Posts: 246

Message Posted:
05/10/2011 11:28

re Message 35 - Mr Steve Abit, the owner of the Bellapais Gardens Hotel is the Vice-President of the newly formed RBL Kyrenia Branch. I can assure you that there are currently no plans to have a Bellapais branch of the RBL.



Poppies will be on sale in a large number of outlets in the TRNC from the weekend commencing Saturday 22 October. The BRS representative John Oram, who is the officially recognised Poppy Distributor for North Cyprus, and our RBL branch Poppy Appeal Organiser Steve Dickinson will be working closely together on this year's Poppy Appeal and will hopefully smash last year's collection figure for the TRNC.



Please wear your Poppy with pride in 2011, the 90th anniversary of the Royal British Legion, and none of us will ever witness 11/11/11/11 ever again in our lifetime.



We also hope that our branch members will support both the Festival of Remembrance Concerts (9 - 12 Nov) and the Remembrance Sunday service on Sunday 13 Nov at the Old British Cemetery in Girne.