The Felons Dinner

Last Friday evening I joined  one hundred upstanding citizens of the town and sat down for dinner in the Crown Hotel on the occasion of the annual dinner of the Stone Association for the Prosecution of Felons. 'The Association for what?' I hear you ask! Well, let me explain.

In days of yore and long before a police force was ever invented, local businesses were often the targets of criminals who sought to burgle, steal and rob. So local businessmen formed themselves into associations to fund the arrest and prosecution of these felons. Then Robert Peel came up with the idea of police officers and the associations job was done. However, some associations continued to meet socially for dinner on an annual basis to perpetuate the memory of times gone by.

In Stoke-on-Trent I was once a member of the Burslem Association which, for years, proudly proclaimed itself as the oldest in Staffordshire. My father was a member of the Hanley Felons, regarded by Burslem as a young upstart! But then, a few years ago Philip Leason, Stone's best known historian, discovered an advertisement in a old newspaper of 1782 inserted by -  yes, you've guessed it - the Stone Association for the Prosecution of Felons! Several years earlier than Burslem's birth date!

So a small committee was formed and the annual dinner of the Stone Association now takes place every November in the Crown Hotel where we are treated to good food, good wine, good company and, hopefully, good speeches! This year we were not disappointed. Ian Dudson, former Lord Lieutenant of the County, gave a fascinating speech about his year in office, Ian Moxon responded in his inimitable fashion and the Deputy Chief Constable, standing in at late notice, gave us a few of the facts of life of modern day policing - such as, how to cope with £38 million pounds being cut from your budget of £200 million over the next two years? Apparantly, you freeze recruitment and retire your expensive top brass! It helps to balance the books but, I wonder, what problems will that create in future years? I don't envy them the job.

However, the Deputy Chief seemed in buoyant mood and everyone present had a great evening. Congratulations to all concerned - it's good to revive traditions, especially where it involves good food and drink!