NUMBERS attending the Awre and District Horticultural Society Christmas Poultry Whist Drive have dwindled so much that it has been decided not to continue with the fine old tradition.
But that didn't stop a determined rump end (or maybe the parson's nose?) getting together for one last hand and a laugh about old times.
Leslie Baber of Etloe recalls: "Many, many years ago there were two whist drives a month in the village hall, one for hall funds and one for the church.
"As time went by the horticultural society took over the week earmarked for the hall whist drive, and from this liaison sprang the Christmas Poultry Whist Drive."
Mr Baber and his wife Margaret were MC and caterer for the event, with much help from the ladies of the village.
Leslie said he had many happy memories of the event, including the time Percy Cotton, stationmaster at Awre Junction and one-time churchwarden, was sent over to Mrs Tom Cadogan to see if he could borrow some mustard to go in the ham sandwiches.
"As he did not come back I was sent to find him. Then neither of us got back because Mrs Cadogan was plying us with whisky! They rang the hall bell and we knew we were in trouble."
In recent years Geoffrey and Mark Fisher have been running things, but now with the decision to end it Leslie wants to thank all the helpers who have made it a success over the years.
"They were very happy times indeed," he said.