In case you're not following the Facebook group, I thought I'd cross-post the annual list of diamond geezer events for 2017. The usual eclectic selection of tours, walks and talks is planned. No pre-booking is required, unless stated below, and everyone is welcome. If you came last year I hope very much we'll see you again, and if you've never attended before, maybe 2017 will be the year.
January Monday 2nd: Annual New Year Party Night, upstairs at Bromley Public Hall (it was great to see so many of you there - thanks for coming!) Saturday 7th: North of England Caucus (this year, Leeds - meet by the Black Prince statue in City Square, 10am) Wednesday 18th: Evening Lecture - The Joys of Sutton
February Sunday 5th: Masterclass - Taking Selfies In Front Of Big Ben (Westminster Bridge, 1pm) Wednesday 15th: Evening Lecture - Droning On About The Bow Roundabout Saturday 25th: Mystery Tour (meet New Addington tram stop 1pm, bring walking boots)
March Thursday 9th: Birthday Knees-up (a ride on the number 52 bus, then let's crack open the Becks in Willesden Cemetery) Wednesday 15th: Evening Lecture - The Best Places To Eat In Plaistow (sponsored by Uncle Jim's Fish Bar) Tuesday 28th: Scavenger Hunt (first person to come back with a dodecagonal £1 coin wins) tbc: Article 50 Celebration (champagne and/or absinthe will be served)
April Saturday 1st: Dangleway Open Day (come look behind the scenes and ride for free, until noon) Saturday 8th: Pedant's Subcomittee (Oneills, Earls' Court, 12pm sharp) Wednesday 19th: Evening Lecture - tbc (please bring half a dozen Creme Eggs, rather than the usual £2 subs)
May Monday 1st: Bank Holiday Walking Tour of The Bus Stops of Bow (meet at Bus Stop M, 2pm) Wednesday 17th: Evening Lecture - 7 Secrets You Didn't Know About Perivale Monday 29th: Bank Holiday Walking Tour of the Hilariously Misspelled Signs of Dalston (2pm)
June Saturday 3rd: Mail Rail Tour (exclusive pre-launch miniature train ride - 12 places to be picked by ballot) Friday 16th - Sunday 18th: Residential Weekend - Isle of Wight (all-in price £299, Blackgang Chine extra) Wednesday 21st: Evening Lecture - An Interminable Succession Of Photos I Took On The IoW
July Tuesday 4th: Hornchurch Starbucks Flashmob (bring all your friends and show them that Zone 6 exists) Wednesday 19th: Evening Lecture - Pointing at Things which Used to be Other Things in the Olympic Park Saturday 29th: Day Trip to the Seaside (warning, may be either Canvey or Bognor)
August Sunday 6th: Let's All Hang Out at the Polish Bakery Festival (Alexandra Palace, from 11am) Wednesday 16th: Evening Lecture - 21st century Tube Maps, an Illustrated History Monday 28th: Bank Holiday Walking Tour - Random Borough (watch Twitter for details from 7am)
September Thursday 7th: Grumpy Old Men's Evening (let's meet up over beer and discuss everything that's wrong with trains, 7.30pm) Saturday 16th & Sunday 17th: Open House London (see you out there) Wednesday 20th: Evening Lecture - I Bet I Visited More Open House Locations Than You #smugface
October Thursday 5th: Book Launch - 1000 Things To Do Across London (meet at the Ruislip Lido cafe, 6pm) Wednesday 18th: Evening Lecture - Open Platform (because we all really want to hear about your hobby horse) Monday 30th: The Best Bus Route For Seeing London's Christmas Lights (a bit early, but never mind)
November Friday 3rd: One Of Those Locked Room Mystery Things (Park Royal Trading Estate, 8.15-8.45pm, £35) Wednesday 15th: Evening Lecture - More Joys of Sutton Saturday 25th: Going To Cockfosters Just So You Can Say You've Been (meet at Holborn tube, 10.30am)
December Sunday 10th: Christmas Party and Quiz (6pm, Bayonet Hell (anag)) Wednesday 20th: Evening Lecture (or more likely pre-Christmas beers) (Armageddon permitting) Sunday 31st: Standing Together On A Hill To Watch Distant Fireworks (specific viewpoint to be confirmed)
