Chatterbox 1010 - Rotary Club of Belper

Meeting – 25th October
Murder Mystery Evening
W hen the idea of holding a ‘Murder Mystery Evening’ was first mooted, the
intention was to invite either a small group of actors to play out an incident
or to co-opt members of the club into a group of thespians under the direction of
Martin Drake. In the event, neither option materialised and it was left to Sheilagh
to improvise a suitably themed evening around refreshments and to get as many
guests along to make it a successful fund raising evening to augment our rapidly
diminishing charity account.
Some forty visitors arrived at Willow Lodge and with drinks in their hands
proceeded to meet their fellow victims/investigators? The process was facilitated
by Sheilagh offering each new arrival a card with a cryptic word associated with the
world of crime stories on it and then inviting everybody to find the corresponding
partner. We were then warned that an ‘incident’ would occur at some point during
the evening and we should investigate it and attempt to associate it with some
literary work!
Suitably mystified, we were invited to partake of an excellent buffet of salmon,
assorted quiches, salad and breads followed by a return to the kitchen for a
selection of sweets and coffee. Every unusual movement or topic of conversation
was scrutinised by the assembled company as a possible ‘Incident’. Eventually, we
heard a crash of crockery and a scream from an adjoining bedroom and everybody
dashed to investigate, completely over-running the crime scene and wrecking the
opportunity for a full forensic investigation! One of our mystery guests was laid on
the bed with a bloody wound to the face and the contents of a dropped tray on the
floor with various artefacts scattered around the room. To which novelist and book
would we be led by these clues? Crime story buff Chris Lowe found both the answer
and a copy of the book in the living room – P D James ‘A Private Patient’ featuring
Inspector Dagleish. (Whoever had been assigned the role of the snoop earlier in the
evening was less successful in solving the crime!)
The mystery solved, the evening reverted to form. Dave Ashley appealed for
offers to buy a horse for the Race Evening on 20th November and Graham Wright
challenged the members by arranging to get more tickets printed. SVP Martin
reminded everybody that the Club Charter was to be held on Monday 22nd November
and that they needed to sign up for it. Presumably Graham was aware of the
threat to the pig by Peter Davies and the Sergeant-at-Arms had a night off. Finally,
Dave Ashley proposed a vote of thanks to Sheilagh, Peter and the mystery ‘victim’
and everybody enthusiastically endorsed it. The final outcome of the evening was
that the Charity Account benefited by some £400 after Treasurer David has worked
his magic with Gift Aid.
John Scotney
14