Social Evenings – Crayford Manor House Astronomical Society Dartford

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_text _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"]

CMHASD members David Grist and Steve Floodgate pulled out all the stops to provide a night of head scratching, puzzlement and fun. Thank you Dave & Steve for all your hard work & effort creating the quiz. It was a great night and we are all looking forward to the next one!

Chairman Gary Hunt wrote: 'Title: Quizmas, Klingons & Missing Trophies at Crayford Manor House!

On Thursday evening, 11th December 2025, CMHASD Pavilion, once again echoed to the sounds of festive cheer, competitive groaning, and the unmistakable hum of suspicious transporter activity, as the Astronomical Society’s Christmas Quiz warped off in fine style.

The evening was masterfully created and run by Dave Grist and Steve Floodgate, affectionately (and accurately) known as Eric’n’Ern, channelling Morecambe and Wise with added astronomy and fewer dancing routines. Their efforts ensured chaos, laughter, and confusion were course delivered in precisely the right orbital trajectory.

Four teams boldly went where quizzes have gone before:
The Vulcans
The Klingons
The Andorians
The Borg Collective

After multiple rounds — including space-themed LP album covers, astronomical knowledge, and a paper based round of astro celebrity images that proved some stars age better than others — it became increasingly clear that the Klingons were on a despicable, bloodthirsty mission. A significant score (best not questioned too closely) propelled them well into the lead.
Festive snacks flowed freely, fuelling brains and banter alike, while the annual Christmas Jumper Competition was convincingly won by ‘comet maker’, Debra, whose ROG creation dazzled judges and competitors alike without causing a mass extinction event.

Victory was ultimately declared: the Klingon Team triumphed (a resounding Qapla’! echoed through the hall), and the traditional annual prize of Goats’ Cheese was duly awarded. Sadly, the actual trophy was nowhere to be found, having apparently been “beamed up” by Scotty, allegedly on the orders of the Vulcans. A Star Fleet inquiry may follow. Or not…
Post-quiz celebrations involved the liberal quaffing of Klingon Blood Wine (or something suspiciously similar), cementing the evening as both educational and mildly hazardous.

For those unable to attend in person, Eric’n’Ern and Mike thoughtfully recorded a special version of the quiz, allowing members to play — or replay — the fun at home, free from time pressure, judgement, or missing trophies.
All in all, the evening was a resounding success: festive, funny, and thoroughly enjoyed by all. Same time next year — assuming the trophy rematerialises.

Live long, and prosper, set phasers to stun, and pass the cheese.'

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure="1_3,1_3,1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2109.jpeg" title_text="IMG_2109" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2113.jpeg" title_text="IMG_2113" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2115.jpeg" title_text="IMG_2115" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure="1_3,1_3,1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2116.jpeg" title_text="IMG_2116" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2119.jpeg" title_text="IMG_2119" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2122.jpeg" title_text="IMG_2122" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure="1_3,1_3,1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2126.jpeg" title_text="IMG_2126" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2128.jpeg" title_text="IMG_2128" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2132.jpeg" title_text="IMG_2132" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure="1_3,1_3,1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2135.jpeg" title_text="IMG_2135" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2136.jpeg" title_text="IMG_2136" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2137.jpeg" title_text="IMG_2137" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure="1_3,1_3,1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2138.jpeg" title_text="IMG_2138" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2141.jpeg" title_text="IMG_2141" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_3" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_image src="https://crayfordmanorastro.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/IMG_2142.jpeg" title_text="IMG_2142" _builder_version="4.27.5" _module_preset="default" global_colors_info="{}"][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

Society BBQ – 28th June 2025

3rd July 2025

| No Comments

| WebMistress

| 4:20 pm

With the support of the committee and permission of the Parish Council, a team was set up consisting of members Jo Southgate, Steve Floodgate, John Archer, Mike Rushton, James Savage and Keith Rickard to plan and arrange the Society BBQ for 2025.

On the 28th June 2025 CMHASD held it's annual BBQ and what a superb BBQ it was too - glorious weather, expertly cooked food, games galore and fantastic company all made for a great event.

The team set up from 11:45, with assembly of two gazebos (one for food/drink and the other for games), and outdoor games. Steve, Jo and John set up their respective barbecues and very soon all was ready!

After a fantastic lunch… it was time for games! Kicking off with a round of croquet, then an old school party game ‘Pass the parcel’, but with forfeits as well as prizes. It was a ‘mashup’ of charades, pass-the-parcel, film/tv/book quiz and (reverse) tag! and was enjoyed by all who played.

After tea and cakes… It was time for, pin the tail on the dinosaur! Contestants had to be blindfolded and spun around and disoriented! It was great fun and a lot of laughs were had watching members try and pin the tail on the dinosaur.

[ngg src="galleries" ids="91" display="basic_slideshow"]THANK YOU! To all the wonderful members who worked so hard to give us an amazingly enjoyable day!!! A HUGE round of applause and slaps on backs all-round! AND, thank you to all those who attended and made the BBQ so much fun… Let’s all hope there is another BBQ in 2026?

CMHASD’s 60th Anniversary Dinner

26th April 2022

| No Comments

| WebMistress

| 11:15 pm

The 30th November 2021 was Crayford Manor House Astronomical Society Dartford's 60th Anniversary however due to Covid the society was unable to celebrate at that time. Roll on to the 23rd April 2022 and we finally managed to have our 60th Anniversary celebratory dinner at The Boathouse, Danson Park, Bexleyheath.

Member Diane Clarke wrote 'From the early evening of Saturday the 23^rd of April 2022, a dinner was held at the Boathouse Danson Park to belatedly celebrate the Societies 60th anniversary.

Several members and their families came along but unfortunately our numbers were somewhat depleted due to some members and their families succumbing to summer colds and Covid.

But in spite of this we had a very enjoyable evening regaling each other with memories and tales of various Society lectures, social gatherings and outings, including our last summer barbeque. There was also talk about holding another barbeque later this year.

These photos give a flavour of the evening’s events that included a presentation from the Societies president Mr John Archer that included a look back at the Societies 50^th Anniversary meal.

As can be seen John gave his speech to an appreciative audience.

Eventually we had to leave so everybody got together for the group photo, and with the evening’s festivities coming to a close we left in good spirits.

With several members deciding to continue the evening‘s festivities at another establishment.'

Below is a slideshow of photos taken by Diane Clarke & John Archer of the evening.

The society would like to thank Diane Clarke, John Archer and Malcolm Gough for organising the event and to Diane & John for sharing their photos.

[ngg src="galleries" ids="60" display="basic_slideshow"]

2018 Summer BBQ

24th July 2018

| No Comments

| Webmaster

| 4:54 pm

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" _builder_version="3.22" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_row _builder_version="3.25" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text _builder_version="3.27.4" global_colors_info="{}"]

The summer BBQ was a great hit again. About 25 members attended and we had food for about 100! The day was very relaxed. We had a few glimpses of the Sun through our Dobsonian telescope, Anita using Baader Solar Safety Film, unfortunately there were no Sun spots visible.

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure="1_4,1_4,1_4,1_4" _builder_version="3.25" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" global_colors_info="{}"][et_pb_column type="1_4" _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text admin_label="Image" _builder_version="3.27.4" global_colors_info="{}"]

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version="3.27.4" global_colors_info="{}"]

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type="1_4" _builder_version="3.25" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||"][et_pb_text _builder_version="3.27.4" global_colors_info="{}"]

[/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version="3.27.4" global_colors_info="{}"]

[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

CMHASD 4th Anniversary BBQ

CMHASD Christmas Dinner 2014