FINAL WORD
SALES SUCCESS
Speaking with old friends HG Wells once said, “What really matters is what we do with what we have”. He was an honoured guest speaker of the Society of Old Friends in 1918. Today, as Old Friend Steve Harrop interviews president Steve Robinson, and committee member and the society’s head of recruitment, Ian Buckley, these words clearly have a remarkable resonance today
O
Over the 112 years
Then we held a Christmas Clachan
since the Society
with a difference – and the difference was
of Old Friends was
the talented Jon Culshaw. For 45 minutes,
formed, in a small
Jon enthralled around 150 members,
pub off London’s
family and friends with his extraordinary
Steve Robinson Committee Member, Society of old Friends Go to dealersupport. co.uk to listen to the full TUNED IN interview.
Regents Street, its mission has been - and
repertoire of impressions. Unsurprisingly,
continues to be - to encourage good
‘The Donald’ and Boris Johnson featured
fellowship and camaraderie among its
strongly, as did Frank Bruno, David
physical events soon, beginning with
many members and guests.
Attenborough, a few James Bonds, various
a Summer event in July, a London
football managers, a hilarious Michael
Clachan in September and, on 14th
be hosting two guests nights, one AGM,
McIntyre, a booming Brian Blessed and a
October, we are planning to hold our
and four or five smaller, informal meetings
tribute to the inimitable Terry Wogan.
autumn dinner with a very special guest
In any normal year, the society would
known as ‘Clachans’ held in London and the Midlands. But this has been a year unlike
After that fabulous December evening, the society decided to try
speaker - Gyles Brandreth. It has been a truly extraordinary year
something totally different and, in
and, as the society returns to physical
February, organised a Magical Spring
events, the popularity of this inclusive and
Clachan with the excellent magician
accessible virtual format will be something
lockdowns, eliminated any opportunity
Lee Smith. Again, the virtual event was
to consider for the future.
for the physical socialising that has always
supported by more than 100 attendees
been a fundamental cornerstone of the
who were treated to a remarkably
be proud that, despite the turbulence
society’s calendar.
microscopic scrutiny of the trickery and
of the last 15 months, the society has
slight-of-hand of a masterful magician.
continued to add new members - and
any other. The pandemic, and resultant
The committee decided to try a virtual Members’ Gathering and AGM
Most recently, 54 members attended
in September, and we were delighted that
the 2021 Members’ Gathering and
nearly 50 members participated, and took
AGM in April.
obvious pleasure of being ‘together’!
Hopefully, we will be returning to
HG Wells would, undoubtedly,
hopes to welcome many more. To discover more about the Society of Old Friends please have a look here: http://thesocietyofoldfriends.co.uk/
www.dealersupport.co.uk JUNE 2021 [47]
