Pete Alner, Bryn Jones and Ben-Murray Brown (pictured left-right) set off for the South Downs on Friday morning and braved the steep snow banks. Our intrepid adventurers battled through freezing fog and white stuff that was 10” deep in places to test their outdoor adventure skills to the limit. Three men in their wet weather gear, which is usually reserved for sailing, took sledges and wakeboards and revelled in playing in the fluffy, cold mounds.  

Cobnor staff instruct all sorts of outdoor activities, from kayaking to mountain biking, under all sorts of weather conditions and this was excellent practice for more adverse times; it wasn’t just an excuse to play, honest!

Here’s the proof:

It was time for dressing up and again and I was fearful that I wouldn’t be able to don my dancing feet after all that walking in heels at Goodwood, but after a bit of pampering at the hair dressers I made a miraculous recovery!

The whole gang were soon there, Pete and I arrived first and had a good chat with Pete’s Cobnor colleagues (one of which revealed that he owns seven brief cases- the mind boggles!) Then Jeremy and Ben arrived with their lovely ladies Celine and Lucy. We found a nice big table just outside the marquee (close enough to duck under if the heavens opened) and near enough to the log fire to ward off that approaching autumn chill.

There was much merriment from the Chichester Design table as we revelled in dining from a burger van while dressed up to the nines and built up the confidence (in glasses of wine) to throw some shapes on the dance floor. And let me tell you that a certain Monsieur who was insistent that he does not do dancing was up there shaking his stuff with the rest of us!

Big Boy Bloater and his band provided some sterling entertainment and Disco Dave filled in the gaps with some eclectic music (and eclectic jokes). Ben and Lucy even managed to bag themselves a crate of beer in the charity raffle, so all was good.

Everyone had a ball and it was a lovely opportunity for the Chichester Designers and their other halves to let their hair down at a local event and raise money for charity in the meantime.  Who could complain about good rustic food, good local booze, good music from a local band and, most importantly, good company? Ben and I complained a little about the giant mosquito bites we gained though!

Kate Lassetter

www.chichesterdesign.co.uk