Tang Sou Dao Chinese New Year Party

Chinese New Year Party 2009
31st January 2009

by Master Tina Matania (4th Duan)

On Saturday 31st January 2009 at 8:00pm family and friends gathered at National Headquarters in Grays, Essex to attend Grandmaster & Mrs Loke's Chinese New Year Party.

Master Colin Underwood and Tina were there at the hall when we arrived with the food with all the tables ready. Master Underwood asked ... "So who's on door duty?" .... the answer ..."Everyone"!

L to R: Master Colin Underwood, Grandmaster Loke,
Kris Knight, Andrew Mangion and Tony White

Mrs Loke and her friend Robin had been cooking for about a week in preparation for this Party - and what a lot of lovely food we had: noodles, currys, rice, spring rolls, curry puffs, salad, gammon, turkey, sandwiches, wontons, sausage rolls, pineapple, cakes and a very special Chinese New Year cake expertly made by Tina Underwood.

Chinese New Year Cake made by Tina Underwood

We started the evening with the food and everyone formed an orderly queue - women and children first followed by the men. Then it was time for cake and dancing.

Food in abundance!

It was nice to see so many family and friends present (about 150 people in total) and it was especially nice to see so many with their children (and very well behaved they were too).

Master Goward (6th Duan) left of picture with families from Surrey

The disco was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. Well done Baileigh Mason for leading us 'Tang Sou girls' in the dancing with the latest moves.

The highlight of the evening was Grandmaster Loke's dance performance (watched and joined by an admiring crowd of kids and adults) of the classic disco hit "Kung Fu Fighting" - of course!

"Everybody was Kung Fu Fighting ... Oooo Hah!"

Thanks to Tony White and William Grove for being our superb barmen for the evening (forget Tom Cruise ... Tony & William are much better).

L to R: William Grove and Tony White on bar duty

Emlyn - well done for supporting the bar and for your high kicking performance to Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" track together with your fellow high kickers brother Dave and Sean Feltham from Reigate.

Watch out Blues Brothers ... it's Sean, Emlyn and Bill

The evening concluded after a good four hours when it was time to return home.

'DJ' in training

A BIG thank you to Grandmaster and Mrs Loke for such a superb party we will all remember for many years to come and wishing everyone a very happy Chinese New Year 2009 - Year of the Ox.

Gong xi fa cai! xin nian hao ya, zhu he da jia xin nian hao!

Here are some more photographs (below) of the evening (Grandmaster has them on CD for posterity!)

Tang Sou!

Master Tina Matania (4th Duan)
Epsom