A record number of 26 members of the Oakley Holidays from the Lytham St. Annes area enjoyed a busy day of activities in Manchester on December 20th. A visit to the new indoor ski slope at the Chill Factore made for an exciting opening. Ten more experienced skiers took to the slope (which has real snow) immediately, whilst ten others formed a learners’ group with their tutor on the nursery slope.

Chris Roberts, Frankie Ball and Megan Foy displayed especially silky skills on the main downhill run, whilst Emma Leigh produced the most unconventional descent. Lucy Blundell, James and Matthew Edgar and Alex Wilson showed great promise in the learners’ group until Alex’s crash caused a hive of activity and a quick visit to Hope Hospital where he was checked over. Jenny Whitehead arrived from Crewe at this point and just missed him!

The impressive setting of the Royal Northern College of Music was the next venue as we worked on two songs under the skilled tuition of professional soprano Ella Kirkpatrick. This proved to be a demanding, but very enjoyable 90 minutes – particularly the medley from ‘Joseph’ which we hope to perform at an Oakley Holiday in 2008.

Then it was on to the most relaxing part of the day – a visit to Pizza Express in Peter Street where the setting, food and service were very much to our liking.

Lucy Whigham, Ed Nussey, Emily Wilson and Chris Roberts all returned from the hospital where they had been supporting Alex until his mum and dad arrived to take him home.

The meal gave us a chance to catch up with personal news and discuss Oakley plans for 2008.

We all contributed to one of Julian’s wacky raffles which had crème eggs, mini teddy bears and two tickets for the Chill Factor as prizes and which provided £70 for Ed Nussey to take to the hospital in India where he is working next summer.

Those in attendance were Nick Searing, Kenji King, Laura Bury, George Jolliffe, Megan Foy, Lucy Whigham, Jenny Whitehead, Henry Cox, Helen Leigh, Peter Mackay, Lucy Blundell, Emily Wilson Richard Leigh, Frankie Ball, Chris Fox, Lianne Fox, Frances Kelly, Ed Nussey, Chris Roberts, Will Blundell, Alex Wilson, Julian Wilde, Emma Leigh, Ed Bury, James Edgar, Matthew Edgar - and they voted 26-0 to go again next year.