Liz Harris

Tuesday, 7th June, was the first Tuesday in June. The monthly RNA Oxford Chapter lunch is always held on the first Tuesday of the month at The Victoria Arms, Old Marston. But not this June!

In the week that would be ending with the birthday of Annie Burgh, pillar of the Oxford Chapter, and long-time friend and mentor to writers published and unpublished, we decided to break with tradition and take the lunch to Annie, who now lives near Cleveden.

Annie at the last Ox Lunch before she moved away

As you’ll see from the few photos below, the weather approved of our decision, and the sun shone down on Annie and Billy’s lovely garden.

Annie talks to Maggi Fox & Rebecca Leith (sitting), Carl Pengelly, Bev, Julie Roberts & Catherine Jones (standing)

Catherine Jones, Katie Carr, Gilli Allan chat while waiting for others to arrive

Jean Buchanan (sitting) and Catherine Lawless

Maggi Fox

Billy waits for everyone to sit down

Julie Roberts (standing) with Maggi Fox & Jean Buchanan (sitting)

Bev, me

Gilli Allan, Jean Buchanan

Bev and bottle, Julie Roberts, Katie Carr and Catherine Jones

Chatting, a glass in hand

Food!

Carl Pengelly, Catherine Lawless & Catherine Jones at the buffet

Rebecca Leith, Maggi Fox, Catherine Jones, Julie Roberts, Billy, and Catherine Lawless wait while the others get their food

At the table

You can’t have special lunch, in a birthday week, without cake! Katie Carr organised the cakes, which were iced with icing covers of three of Annie’s books. Each cake was a different flavour. Not only did they look amazing, but they were absolutely delicious.

The cakes!!

Annie with Katie Carr

Annie, Katie Carr and Bev, who’s getting ready to pour wine for our toast

Crowding round to look at the cakes

I shall leave you now with a last glimpse of Annie and the cakes, on what was a really lovely occasion. I hope you’ve enjoyed the few moments I’ve been able to capture here, with the aid of Julie Roberts and Carl Pengelly, who kindly added their photos to mine.

May the coming year be a healthy, happy one, Annie!