Golden Eagle Reunion

Well that was some night wasn’t it!! Multiple trips down Memory Lane, some attendees carrying a couple of extra ounces, follicly challenged ex-regulars, or a grey streak here and there and all with a story or two to tell. Anyway, that’s enough mention of the ladies who turned up. What about the fellas? Of course I’m only joking ladies. Great effort of you all to turn up. Turn up? Turn up for what? You will have guessed from the title of the post that I am in fact talking about a Golden Eagle Reunion.

Well, to be precise, it should be labelled “Golden Eagle Reunion Part 2” as the first one was held in 2014. But as this website wasn’t about in 2014, hence the title “Golden Eagle Reunion.”

Let’s see if we can relive the relived again shall we.

Golden Eagle Reunion

Oh, before I get too bogged down with this post, you can read about the first Golden Eagle Reunion HERE. Some outside observers might have called the first get together symbolic, spiritual, meaningful, thought-provoking and poignant to put just a few labels on it. Very good, but mind you, not those of us that attended. I and most other attendees just called it a right good old p*ss up. Great company, great stories, great laughs and a thoroughly brilliant night.

So, how did “Golden Eagle Reunion Part 2” measure up? Well, no big surprise, it also turned out to be a right good old p*ss up. Great company, great stories, great laughs and a thoroughly brilliant night. Rinse and repeat really.

The first thing to get out there really is to say a big thanks to all those that turned up and made it such a great night. Not unsurprisingly, most attendees were Chester or near locality based. But fair do’s there were some very notable efforts from ex-regulars from further afield. So I take my hat off to those that came from Crewe, Halifax, Chichester, Caergwrle, Wrexham, Deeside and Little Sutton. Well done folks.

Golden Eagle Reunion Part 2 – Why Now?

As mentioned above the first get together was in 2014. So, why have the second offering now? And why have one at all? The first answer is to mention why have one at all. Quite simply, those of us of a certain age will well remember that the Golden Eagle was the best pub in town in the late 70’s through to 1986. Today’s regulars may say it still is. But for our “gang” up until 1982, the Eagle was brilliantly run by a couple called Mike and Anne Sims. They were excellent licensees. After they left in 1982, it was well recognised that they would be a hard act to follow.

But their successors not only followed the act, but took so many people’s social lives to a whole new level. That is no exaggeration. The Morgan family who ran the pub between 1982 and 1986 were, as I said on Saturday in my tribute to Senior Morgy (John Morgan Senior), pub royalty. That’s probably the best way to describe them and the impact they had on their regulars.

Let me stress that this is no reflection or criticism of any previous or subsequent licensees. It’s just that the Morgies were the best at what they did. And boy, could they run a pub and could they throw an event or a party!! Of that there is no doubt.

So, the idea to have a reunion is obvious really. To relive, if we could, those great days. And, it was felt, that a sizeable gap of 8 years from January 2014 to last Saturday (29th January) was a long enough time span to sort out another one. But also………

Morgy Senior Tribute

The main reason for the reunion though was so that we could pay tribute and raise a glass to John Morgan Senior. For regular readers of my website, you may well remember that Morgy Senior sadly passed away last September. You can read a tribute to Morgy HERE.

It was great therefore to welcome so many of the Morgy family to last Saturday’s soiree. A big shame that David and Keith and their families weren’t able to make it, but I’m sure they were there in spirit. Without a doubt, star of the show, was Morgy Senior’s wife, Mary. You can see from the photo below that Mary was so well enjoying herself as she was surrounded by the Morgy family members present. And, of course, she got to see some old friends for the first time in so many years. That was brilliant to see and it was brilliant to have a good catch up with our “Little Lady.”

But of course, another huge reason the night itself was such a roaring success was because of the ex-regulars.

Golden Eagle Regulars

When you get the right mix between licensees; staff and customers, a pub can be such a potent and powerful part of our lives. No surprise then that another big reason for the Eagle’s popularity back in the day was the atmosphere and the interaction between the regulars. To quote a well used cliche, it was like a big, happy family. No other way to describe it really. There were some really great characters who were regulars for many years.

For a pub that was so popular and so busy you would have thought that ‘incidents’ would have been quite common. Especially if copious amounts of sherbet had been consumed. But not so. The clientele were so closely linked and in tune with each other, I suppose the pub sort of policed itself in a way.

And overseeing events were initially, Mike and Anne then more than ably followed by the Morgies.

Last Saturday saw in the region of 65 to 70 ex-regulars appear at various stages of the night. Some of the exchanges were classic. As someone said to me, “where’s Ginger Eddie, I thought he was coming?” Many will know that Eddie was not only a regular, but he was also one of the best local footballers in Chester at the time. Without any shadow of a doubt.

My reply surprised the fella who was seeking out Ginger Eddie. “Eddie? He’s here. You’re standing right next to him!!” I’m sure Eddie won’t mind my pointing out that since those Eagle halcyon days, the Ginger thatch is no more. It’s a gonna. The passing months saw such a change in Eddie (and so many others) that he wasn’t instantly recognisable to this particular guest.

The quizzing looks went on quite often for so many during the events. Anyone else remember Junior Morgy having black, curly hair? – a la the Old Trafford cricket trip photo below. Morgy is front row, extreme right. (NB: Photo taken courtesy of Ted Dexter [RIP] who happened to be passing by, well lubricated shall we say. Cue loads of requests of “Ted, can you take some photos please.” Top fella).

And as Junior Morgy pointed out to me, people only recognised me because I was wearing the same jumper I was wearing from back in the 80’s. As if!! The 80’s!!! Try the 70’s JJ!! It was a bit tight mind you. Surprising how much a jumper shrinks when you don’t wear it for a while.

All In All A Great Night

I think it’s fair to say, the Golden Eagle Reunion Part 2 was a roaring success. Thanks to all those that put in an appearance. And also a big thanks to current licensee, Martin, and his excellent staff for looking after us so well. You all did modern day Golden Eagle proud. Small point though. What happened to the chips?

I had a brilliant night. So many quality catch ups with so many very interesting characters.

So, the big question is – when’s the next, Golden Eagle Reunion Part 3? That decision is very much up for debate. Some of you will know that there is a “Golden Eagle Reunion” Facebook page. You can find it HERE. I realise that not everyone is on Facebook but actually I contacted most of the old regulars by way of good old fashioned phone calls and texts. Join the discussions on Facebook if you are on there. Or, message me via the contact section on this website page. Or even better still, for those that have my number, call or text me. Let me know if a 3rd is a good idea? Those I spoke to on Saturday were in agreement and were more in mind of every year, or every two years. Over to you folks.

I hope those that turned up had a good night. And I hope it was an enjoyable night for the other Eagle visitors on the night and for Martin and his staff.

Thanks again folks and another special thanks to the Morgies and another massive tribute to the legend that is John Charles Morgan.

Chester Lifestyle Blog Posts

Thanks for reading my latest blog post – Golden Eagle Reunion – and many thanks for visiting my Chester Lifestyle website. It’s very much appreciated. To see all of my other blog posts on a variety of topics then head on over to HERE.

And in case you aren’t familiar with the Golden Eagle, or are maybe from outside of Chester looking for a Staycation option, then check out the Golden Eagle HERE.

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