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Phyllis Court Club

Club News October 2014

CASINOROYALE NEW

YEAR’S EVE PARTY!

CLUB EVENTS

OJ’S SOUL BaNd MOTOwN TriBUTE

PrEViEw

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Club MerChandise ProduCt list exPanded - PerfeCt Gift ideas

This autumn we see the arrival

of some new products available

for Members to buy at the Club.

The first, which have already proved

to be extremely popular are the

Lauden Chocolates. These are fine

handmade chocolates produced in

England. A box of 12 is £10.00 and a

smaller box of 5 is available for £5.00.

To read more about the journey of

Lauden take a look at their website;

w w w . l a u d e n c h o c o l a t e . c o m

Finlay’s arrival is also due at the

Club very soon, he is just going

through his final fittings for his

Phyllis Court Club knitted jumper.

On arrival he will be available from

Reception for £25.00, and will make

a great addition to any family as

well as a superb Christmas present.

new MeMber welCoMes

The Club welcomes the following

Members to the Club who have

joined this year:

John Ingram

Gavin Jackson

Kevin James

Michael Jamieson

Susan Jamieson

Moira Keys

Colin Kidd

Olive Larkey

Annie Lathaen

Christopher Lawton-Smith

Edward Lemon

Alan Lindsay

Irene Lindsay

Jalal Mansour

Suzanne Mansour

Anthony Mead OBE

Donald Mitchell

Lorraine Mitchell

Kyle Monie

Oliver Myers

Malcolm Naish

Anne Naish

James Nash

Philip O’Donnell

Michael O’Shea

Sarah O’Shea

Ben Pamplin

Eva Pamplin

Sandy Paterson

Graham Pedersen

Lesley-Ann Pedersen

Sarah Pickess

Joseph Plumb

Peter Rankin

Rosalind Richards

Jennifer Sanderson

Sue Sharland

Jane Sharples

Edmund Shirley

Phillip Smith

Claire Smith

Sara Smither

Sylvia South

Ian Sparrowhawk

Paul Spelman

Richard Stanton

Elizabeth Steventon

Oliver Symons

Malcolm Talbot

Clare Talbot

Brandon Thomas

David Thomas

Richard Truelove

Jane Turner

Simon Watson

John Watson

Eileen West

Caroline Whittaker

Sarah Wright

Inside this issue

Staff Q&A

Page 4

Forthcoming Events

Page 6-7

Interest Groups

Page 9

Page 3

Miss Moneypenny at the desk

Roulette Table

Martini’s shaken not stirred

Chips down at the blackjack table

Fantastic 007 themed cabaret

Die Another Day dinner

Cool DJ

Dance amongst the scattered diamondsWE

DN

ESD

AY

31S

T D

EC

EM

BE

R

Watch out for Odd Job!!

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Club bedrooMs

Attending Club events? Save the

drive home and stay in one of our

luxury bedrooms starting from only

£175 per night on a Friday and

Saturday. Contact Reception on

01491 570500 or

rcpn@phylliscourt.co.uk to

check our availability.

Visit www.phylliscourt.co.uk to

view our individual

styled bedrooms.

staff - inside View

eMMa wilson

head reCePtionist

You’ll find me…. usually at the Club reception.

I can help you with...anything that you need, if I don’t

know the answer straight away I will

certainly find out for you.

My favourite Club cocktail is… a refreshing Elderflower Fizz.

Previously I have worked at…Claridge’s, Cliveden House and The

Vineyard.

On my days off you’ll find me… either with my family, at the gym or

sitting in the sun.

My favourite Orangery dish is…definitely the omelettes with salad.

I wanted to work at

Phyllis Court Club because…I wanted a change from a hotel

environment and a new challenge!

Don’t tell anyone but…I wish I could hibernate in winter as

I really dislike the cold, but strangely

love the snow!

leon Marks

CaterinG oPerations

You’ll find me… often in the Members Bar or in the

Club Lounge.

I can help you with… anything under the sun (sun you

hardly see in England)!

My favourite Club cocktail is… The Tom Collins, a refreshing gin sour

that is an excellent drink for warm

summer days .

Previously I have worked at… Cameron House, Gleneagles and The

Queensberry in Bath.

On my days off you’ll find me…Exploring Henley as I have recently

moved here or keeping active at the

gym!

My favourite Dining Room dish is… the Beef Fillet has to be my top

choice.

I wanted to work at Phyllis Court Club because…it was love at first sight...the location

is exquisite. I believe there is a lot

of potential in the establishment. I

feel very privileged to be given the

opportunity to work at the Club.

Don’t tell anyone but… I love Chocolate Cake and I can

consume a whole cake in one sitting!!

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seCretary’s reView

This autumn edition of Club News has

once again been produced in-house

and congratulations go to Abigail

Lamb, Clare Morris and Emma Forster

for the energy and enthusiasm

which they channel into each

issue. This team, along with Shirley

Cunningham, has also devoted much

time over the summer to revising

the Club websites and the weekly

In Touch bulletins which are now

better delineated for use on tablets

and smart phones – do take a look!

As ever there is much going on

in the last quarter of the year,

culminating in the Christmas and

New Year celebrations. Details of

the key festive events are set out on

pages 6-7, including some refreshed

formats for the Club Christmas dance

and the New Year’s Eve celebrations.

My recommendation in the last

edition for Members to attend the

King’s Singers concert in October was

well heeded with a full house enjoying

a scintillating performance just for

us. In a similar vein, may I commend

to you the Motown- themed buffet

supper dance to be held in the

Ballroom on Saturday 21st December

and the Casino Royale dinner dance

party to be held on Wednesday

31st December – New Year’s Eve!

Before then, the Open Meeting

will be taking place at the Club on

Thursday 13th November to report

to Members the Club’s situation six

months on from the 2014 AGM. Into

2015, the Proposers’ Dinner will be

held on 29th January. This occasion

is to celebrate Members who have

acted as Proposers for new Members

joining in 2014, and the prize draw of

their names allows re-imbursement

of the winner’s 2015 subscription.

The big achievement for 2014 has

been the redevelopment of the

Grandstand which we now know

as The Riverside Pavilion. Since its

completion we have seen the new

facility used for numerous occasions

for Members’ private parties, Interest

Group events and by external users.

Quietly taking place at the same

time has been the less well-heralded

renovation of the Club Room. It is now

lighter and brighter, showing off the

magnificent ceiling and refurbished

oak panelling. It is also now the home

of the Club’s important paintings

and pictures, brought together for

the first time in one area where

they are part of the Club’s history.

The portraits of Sir Bulstrode and

Lady Whitelocke take centre stage

flanked by two of the Club’s Regatta

prints by Paddy Page. Captain

Finlay is now back in the heart of

the original Club house and the two

oil paintings commissioned by the

Club to mark its centenary in 2006

are in place either side of the folding

doors leading to the Dining Room.

The other recent project which

is proving useful is the meeting

room space for Members’ use on

the first floor of the Club house.

Four Committee Rooms exist.

Aston, Peppard and Sonning are

ideal for meetings, and Rotherfield

is set aside for quiet use by

Members who wish to do work

on their lap-top or tablet devices.

Bookings are co-ordinated by

the Events Office. Refreshments

can be provided in the

rooms as and when required.

The weekly e-mail bulletins

from In Touch will keep Members

informed of progress on all fronts.

PCC Charity Action Group

Christmas Fair

Saturday 8th November

10am - 3pm

FUND RAISING FOR THAMES

VALLEY AIR AMBULANCE AND

CHILTERN CENTRE FOR

THE DISABLED

So far this year the CAG has raised

£15,200. A very pleasing sum of

money for the charities.

It is hoped that the total will

exceed that of 2013.

Club Room renovation and paintings

Staff Views

Graham Owen (Club Secretary)

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Thursday 13th November

PCC Open Meeting

6pm - Open Meeting in the Ballroom

7.30pm - Dinner (if pre-booked)

Dress Code: Smart Casual

The Club’s annual Open Meeting is an opportunity to

update all Members on the running of the Club and

future plans. All Members are welcome to attend and

can book via Reception for dinner after the meeting.

Friday 28th November

Classical Concert & Dinner with the Ensemble of St

John’s Smith Square with the OSJ Voices

7pm for 7.30pm

In the Ballroom

Dress Code: Black Tie

A popular event last year and the final classical dinner

concert of the year is The Ensemble of St John’s Smith

Square together with the OSJ Voices who have

returned for a special Christmas concert. Comprised

of highly experienced chamber musicians who have

performed both nationally and internationally, their

Chamber orchestra was founded 45 years ago by

conductor John Lubbock and boasts some of the

most exceptional musicians in the country. They have

performed all over the world including Carnegie Hall in

New York, the Berlin Philharmonic Hall, the Royal Albert

Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall and Royal Festival Hall.

Saturday 6th December

Chairman & Council Christmas Drinks

12pm Reception

Dress Code: Jacket and Tie

The Chairman invites Members to join him and the Club’s

Council for a festive reception in the lead up to Christmas.

Sunday 7th December

Winter Afternoon Tea followed by a performance of

‘Swan Lake’ at the Kenton Theatre

Afternoon Tea in the Balloom at 3.30pm

Swan Lake at the Kenton Theatre at 5.30pm

Dress Code: Smart Casual

A very special Winter Afternoon Tea based on the

classical ballet ‘Swan Lake’ a tale of pure magic. Members

and their guest will then stroll over to the Kenton

Theatre to watch the fantastical production by Ballet

Theatre UK. With over 120 costumes this is set to be a

spectacular treat!

eVent PreViews - saVe the date

All events can be booked from 6 weeks in

advance at Reception:

Tel: 01491 570500

Email: rcpn@phylliscourt.co.uk

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Saturday 20th December

Children’s Pantomine Red Riding Hood

2.30pm in the Finlay Suite

Dress Code: Smart Casual

A fun filled Chaplin’s pantomime of Little Red Riding

Hood where children will be transported to the magical

wood to meet Little Red Riding Hood and all her friends.

There will be sing-a-long songs, adventure and audience

participation. Hear the children roar with laughter and

shout as they warn Little Red Riding Hood not to enter

the woods alone!

There will be a visit from Father Christmas too!

Saturday 20th December

OJ’s Soul Band Motown Tribute Dinner and Dance

7.30pm for 8pm

In the Ballroom & Finlay Suite

Dress Code: Smart Casual

The UK’s finest Soul and Motown Band will be treating

Members and their guests to a fun night with tunes from

artists and bands such as the Four Tops, The Supremes,

Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin and Stevie Wonder. Big

hits from Jackson 5 and The Commodores will get

everyone up and on the dancefloor!

Wednesday 24th December

Christmas Eve Carols and Supper

7pm for Carols in the Ballroom followed by supper in

the Dining Room, Thames Room and Orangery.

Festive Christmas Carols and Supper with the PCC

Singers. Enter into the festive spirit and come along to

this much loved event in the Christmas calendar. Enjoy

hot mince pies and a glass of mulled wine to firmly

embrace the Christmas atmosphere!

Thursday 25th December

Christmas Day Lunch (two options available)

Christmas is creeping upon us once again. Family feast

to organise? Feed and delight your family at Phyllis

Court Club. Our chefs will do all the hard work whilst

you relax and enjoy getting into the festive spirit.

1. Family Christmas Day Lunch in the Ballroom, sittings

at 12.30pm, 1pm and 1.30pm.

Dress Code: Smart Casual

A festive lunch ideal for families hosted in the Ballroom.

The Finlay Suite will be transformed into a children

friendly festive space with games and screening of

Christmas films. Activity sheets will also be available.

2. Dining Room sittings at 12.30pm, 1pm and 1.30pm.

Dress Code: Jacket and Tie.

Alternatively Members can enjoy treating guests to a

wonderful Christmas experience with all the trimmings

in the elegant Dining Room.

Thursday 1st January

New Year’s Day Brunch

Sittings from 11am - 2pm in the Ballroom

Dress Code: Smart Casual

Come and enjoy a super New Year’s Day Brunch at the

Club to welcome in the first day of the year whilst you

relax and ponder on your resolutions for the year ahead.

eVent PreViews - saVe the dateForthcoming Events

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ProGressinG onwards

In his article the Club Secretary has

referred to the important events

happening in the Club year and the

major projects completed and in train.

We will give full details of these at the

Open Meeting on 13th November.

Now that we have received planning

permission for the Health Club we

have started work on Phase II. This

involves a complete re-appraisal of the

commercial and financial viability of

the project in preparation for putting

to Members at a Special Meeting a

proposal to build the facility. I must

emphasise again that Council will

not put any proposal to Members

unless confident of its financial

viability and that it is in the best long-

term interest of Phyllis Court Club.

You may recall that earlier this year

new membership cards were made

available to all Members. These are

smart proximity cards which can

be used for a number of different

purposes. Initially they were used

as a direct replacement for the old

cards in paying for purchases in the

Club house. Once the majority of

Members had collected their new

cards we moved on to the next phase

– access control to the Club house.

This meant that initially, at certain

times of the day, access via the main

door and the disabled entrance was

gained only by using a membership

card. The times when this system

is operative will gradually be

extended. I do not feel this will cause

inconvenience to Members since the

Club Rules require Members to carry

their membership card at all times,

and it will eliminate the perception

that non-members can simply walk

into the Club and use the facilities.

Albeit somewhat early (although the

cards are in the shops) may I wish all

Members a very happy Christmas

and a prosperous new year!

reCiProCal Clubs - at hoMe & abroad

The New York Athletic Club

The New York Athletic Club was

founded in 1868 in order to bring

structure to the nascent world of

amateur sport. In its journey through

the ensuing decades, the NYAC

has evolved to become an athletic

powerhouse, globally renowned in

sports such as wrestling, fencing,

judo, water polo, rowing and track

and field. The Club has magnificent

dining room facilities and offers

guests 187 overnight rooms, many

with breath-taking views of Central

Park and midtown Manhattan.

The Carlton Club

The Carlton Club was founded

in 1832 and continues today in a

beautiful Georgian clubhouse in the

exclusive St James’s area of London.

It is an attractive and exclusive venue

for lunches, dinners, receptions,

meetings and conferences with

twenty four bedrooms.

PCC Charity Action

Group

Murder Mystery

Evening

Wednesday 26th

November

7pm start

Can you solve

the mystery?

Limited

availability

BOOK TICKETS AT RECEPTION

Barry Hardman (Club Chairman)

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Interest Groups

understandinG your interest GrouPs

Wine CircleWe would like to encourage you to

come and join our friendly interest

group dedicated to the light-hearted

pursuit of the pleasures of wine!

We aim to:

• Expand members’ knowledge of

wine and wine making.

• Increase members’ confidence

when buying or choosing wines.

• Enjoy good food and company

while exploring new wines.

The annual subscription is £10,

and we offer members a variety of

wine-related activities, including:

• Wine Tasting Dinners at PCC,

often presented by Masters of

Wine.

• Annual themed Gourmet Dinner

with special wine tasting.

• Visits to popular wine regions in

the UK and overseas.

Computer Section We promote involvement and

understanding of Information

Technology. Presentations, training

courses, computers, tablets, iPads

and visits are all in our programme.

Main Meetings consist of monthly

non-technical presentations in the

Ballroom where topics have included,

Fusion power – is it possible?; You

Tube; Social Media and Computer

memories.

We run interactive meetings on

topics such as iTunes and also

training courses for Beginniners

and Intermediates on a range of

IT software. Visits have included

Culham Fusion reactor and

Harwell and Bletchley Park.

Fee: £10 (all events, except visits,

are free to section members).

Please visit www.pcccs.co.uk for

more information.

Rowing Club This is the premier recreational

rowing club in the Henley area.

Our aim is to create fun and

build friendship by rowing on

this most beautiful reach of the

Thames, which includes The

Henley Royal Regatta Course.

About half of our members learned

to row as novices here, thanks

to the free coaching provided by

experienced members. The other

half rowed a decade or 3 ago and

have refreshed their latent skills.

The majority prefer sculling (with an

oar in each hand), a minority sweep

rowing. We have an elite competitive

squad who row at local events.

Our boats include quads, doubles,

and single sculls and training boats

for novices.

The considerable benefits of rowing

include fun, creating friendships,

improving aerobic fitness, posture

and emotional well-being.

For more information please see

www.pcrowingclub.net, contact our

Membership Secretary, Dawn Plant

at dawnplant@hotmail.co.uk or pop

along for a coffee at 10.30am on a

Saturday and say hello!

For more information on all the Club’s Interest Groups please visit www.pccmembers.org/membership_interest_groups or visit the ‘Member Login Area.’

Charles Tollitt drone photo with Computer Section Members

Computer Section Presentation

Rowing Club enjoying coffee

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CounCil MeMber Profile: dr Peter read

Dr Read was brought up in Surrey

but has lived in Berkshire since 1971.

A medic by training, he met his wife

in hospital when she was training

as a Theatre Sister. Dr Read spent

a lot of his working life in industry,

mainly the pharmaceutical industry,

clinical research, and then general

management.

He brings to Council a broad

experience of different businesses,

both from the health industry and

public sector, an understanding of

what makes people tick, knowledge

of the local area and in his own

words, “I’m a people’s person. A

club is about the people, Members

and the people that run it. I have a

strong commitment to that and a

strong commitment to staff training.

A club is only as good as its staff.”

What made you decide to become a

Member of Phyllis Court Club?

My wife and I have been Members

for 15 years, we decided to join

because of the wonderful position

the club had. We were living in the

area and it offered superb facilities.

It certainly has not disappointed us.

What Interest Groups are you a

member of and what do you get out

of them?

We both belong to a wide range of

interest groups including Probus

which I was chairman of and most

actively invovled in. Other groups

are classical music, jazz, theatre,

arts appreciation, computer section,

wine society, and the golf society.

What has your role on Council

involved?

Mainly the responsibility for the

strategy of the Club. The long term

view and goals that we want to

achieve in maintaining this Club as a

successful thriving organisation that

delights its Members and makes the

most of the wonderful facilities we

have. This has involved the Health

Club as we believe the success of the

Club will come from the continuity of

its activities but also from refreshing

its Membership by providing the

sort of facilities that the Members

want and require to attract them

to join the Club. The Riverside

Pavilion was part of the strategy to

optimise the Club’s facilities. Being

able to use it all year round and use

both floors was an important part

of utilisation of the facility here.

What do you enjoy doing whilst at

the Club?

I enjoy the Club

for its wonderful

s e t t i n g ,

a t m o s p h e r e

and ambience.

Interest Group

activity also

enables travel

away from the

Club particularly with the Theatre

Group which is very enjoyable. I

love sitting in the wonderful Club

Bar overlooking the river or on

the Terrace if it’s a lovely day, (the

Club provides newspapers and

other reading material) If I were

here for the day and the timing

were right I would have breakfast

in the Orangery and lunch in the

Orangery is also very good. In more

recent times since the new Riverside

Pavilion has opened we have come

here in the evening for Dining on

Thames and have been very proud to

bring guests here for evening meals.

Gladly they have been as impressed

as both myself and wife have been.

How have you contributed to the

Club whilst on Council?

Continuing success of the Club, both

in terms of the wonderful facilities

and the attention that is paid to the

grounds is very pleasing. Planning

permission and the completion of

the Riverside Pavilion provided great

satisfaction and we finally managed

to secure the freehold to the

Paddock which was something the

Club had been trying to do for almost

30 years so that was a highlight too.

Please tell us three reasons why a

Member should join Council.

1. Commonality & Purpose - We

all have a common interest

in maintaining this Club.

2. Very enjoyably to engage

with a group of people with

Page 11

Member Profile

commonality and purpose with

a positive view of what can be

done and what can be achieved.

3. Finally for me it’s been fun and I

have enjoyed working with fellow

members of Council to provide

a sounding board for the Club

Secretary, the staff and Members.

Have you visited any of our

Reciprocal Clubs and if so which

ones?

I have visited many in London

such as The Hurlingham Club and

Lansdowne Club. This was as part of

the working group researching clubs

with similar facilities to those we

would be looking to provide for our

Members in terms of the Health and

Leisure facility. They were extremely

helpful and co-operative. We have

an extremely good relationship

with a number of our reciprocal

clubs which we value greatly.

What is your

favourite Club

event of the

year?

My favourite

without doubt

is the Classical

Concerts and the

Yehudi Menuhin School earlier in the

year is a real highlight for me.

What event are you looking forward

to the most in the next few months?

I love the atmosphere around

Christmas and the New Year Season

and will be attending the Carol

Concert at the Club with the PCC

Singers.

When you are not at Phyllis Court,

what do you do outside of the Club?

I have a large family along with a

big garden which occupies my time!

What would you say to anyone

thinking of joining the Club?

I would recommend it very

strongly. I think the health and

leisure facility would make a huge

difference to the attraction to

the Club including my own family.

Also the Interest Groups provide

a very special and, as far as I know,

unique opportunity for people joining

the Club to participate actively in

such a huge variety of interests that

they might have. In doing so they not

only satisfy their own interest but

also meet other people who have

similar ideas and thoughts. That in

itself generates a great atmosphere

which we all enjoy. IG groups are

such a success for us. A fantastic

example of this is the Rowing Club

where many Members have joined

PCC purely because of the wonderful

Rowing Club. It is magnificent that

the Interest Groups are run by

the Members for the Members.

MeMber Gets MeMber!

Don’t forget any Members who propose new Members to the Club will be invited to the exclusive Proposers Dinner this coming January 2015.

At the dinner there will be a prize draw for all the proposers and the lucky winner will have his/her Membership re-imbursed for 2015!

If you know anybody who might like to join Phylls Court Club, don’t delay, start proposing today!

To obtain a Membership pack please contact the Membership department:01491 570510 or email abigail.lamb@phylliscourt.co.uk

Page 12

kitChen bake off - try this at hoMe

Head Chef Tarik Ramjaun’s Butternut Squash and Orange

Loaf Cake with Orange Frosting

The arrival of large and heavy

butternut squash in the kitchen

is a gentle reminder despite the

warmth of the September days, the

nights will soon be closing in and the

days becomming noticably shorter.

Squashes, which are a member of

the gourd family (including marrows,

melons and courgettes) are native to

the Americas, taking their name from

an Indian word meaning ‘something

green.’ Here is a quick and easy recipe

to make an autumnal treat making use

of a much loved seasonal ingredient,

the butternut squash. The recipe

requires no mixing machine and just

a few basic pieces of equipment.

Look out for this cake as part of the

afternoon tea cakes this autumn.

Cake Ingredients: • 150g of self-raising flour

• 1 teaspoon of baking powder

• 0.75-1 tablespoon of ground

mixed spice

• 0.5 teaspoon of ground ginger

• 120g of caster sugar (preferably

golden caster sugar)

• 2 large eggs (beaten)

• 130ml sunflower oil

• 150g of baked and mashed

butternut squash

• 1 orange (juiced and zest)

Frosting Ingredients:• 100g icing sugar

• 30g of orange juice

• zest of one orange for extra

flavour and punch

Method

1. Prepare the butternut by cutting in

half and removing the seeds. Sprinkle

the halves with a little brown sugar

and wrap in foil then roast on a

baking tray in an oven at around 180c

for approximately 30 to 40 minutes.

When soft remove from the oven and

scoop out the flesh, mash with the

back of a fork.

2. Sift together the flour, spices and

baking powder in a large bowl, stir in

the sugar.

Make a well in the middle and add

the eggs, orange juice, zest and

oil. Stir until the mix resembles a

smooth homogenous batter. Add the

butternut and mix well.

3. Spoon the batter into a lined loaf

tin approximately 7cm x 20 cm x 9 cm

(or another cake tin but remember

to adjust cooking times) and bake for

35-45 minutes until a knife inserted

into the centre of the cake comes out

clean. Allow the cake to cool for 15

minutes and turn out onto a wire rack

to cool before icing the cake.

4. For the frosting mix all ingredients

together adding more icing sugar if

the liquid is too runny. Spread over

the cake.

Phyllis Court Club

Club News is produced and

published by Phyllis Court Club,

Marlow Road, Henley-on-Thames,

Oxfordshire, RG9 2HT

T:01491 570500

www.phylliscourt.co.uk

Editorial Contact for Club News is

Emma Forster

Marketing Executive

T: 01491 570514

E:emma.forster@phylliscourt.co.uk

Prepared mix ready to be placed in the oven

Cake cooling for 15 minutes pre icing

Icing spread over cake and orange zest sprinkled over the top

Cake ready to be enjoyed!!