Johnson delights at ‘best ever’ Merseyside Lunch

WOODEN Spoon Merseyside was delighted to welcome living legend Martin Johnson to its annual Sporting Lunch at Liverpool Football Club at the end of November. Chairman Stan Bagshaw declared it the “best ever” and with a total approaching £10,000 raised from close on 200 guests no-one would disagree. Normally billed as the Christmas lunch, the event was brought forward into November to avoid a clash of functions but retained its magnificent venue in the Legends Suite of the palatial new stand at Liverpool FC.

As usual, Ray French, former dual code international, was the MC and kept a lively programme of events on the move. Martin Johnson ensured the record attendance was kept enthralled with tales from his successful British Lions captaincy and his winning run when leading England in the Six Nations.

Comedian Bill Woolland provided the final entertainment, while two raffles and an auction completed the fundraising.

A massive thank you goes to Martin Johnson for a wonderful speech, to co-organisers David Reed and Stan Bagshaw and also to Liverpool Football Club for staging the lunch for the fourth time.

Pictured (left to right) are David Reed, Martin Johnson, Stan Bagshaw, David Matthews (Committee Member) and Ray French (seated).