"On March 6th 2007 , wow 12 years ago , I ventured to the Masonic Hall in Eccles for a Spice Preview Night, having been recently divorced I was looking for something to help my Social Life , although heavily involved with The Lions Charity Organisation ,I need something for ME , I watched and listened to the presentation along with quite a few others who were there and quickly came to the Conclusion that I was going to give it a Whirl , my main interest was to get back into Badminton on a Social level , I chatted to John Weatherbed and signed up there and then . The very next night I went to the Local Spice Pub meet in Leigh where I met Wilf the volunteer coordinator and some really friendly people who were all excited about an Easter event at Centre Parcs ,Penrith , listening to them I then decided to Book on it ( not knowing about Fancy Dress element) When I learned about the Fancy Dress I hesitated ,not being a FD fan , but after again chatting to John in the Spice Office I bravely went ahead That was one of the best Decisions i ever made What a week end of Fun and Activities I had , Great Villa mates who I had never met before the Friday made me welcome and although there were hundreds of Spicers from all over the Country I never felt OUT of place , people I met on that very first week end I am pleased to still be able to Call Friends after 12 years of fun One of the first things I realised was that Spice was a National Club , and I promptly started to venture out all over the place doing events all over the Country and meeting lovely people with just one goal , ENJOY LIFE , again strangers became friends and some of them even began to venture up North to that there Manchester , indeed I think I have done events with every Group over the Years . What are my favourite events ? well I loved the CP week ends and the It’s a Knock Out has to be my favourite ,what fun at Nottingham CP much missed , Dragon boating was another great week end under Canvas , I have done Ski holidays , Chill out Holidays , Summer Holidays , numerous week ends away in Bunk Barns , YHAs all great experiences and meeting so many lovely people , I have flown a Helicopter , Flown hands on a Light Plane , Driven a Tank ,indeed done so many things I never dreamed of doing. Met singles who went on to get Married and shared there special days , shared Special birthdays , indeed one of mine was made very Special by the people who attended it and a very Special Gift that I received that I will Treasure . Spice and the People I met had a massive influence on my Life , people who knew me before I joined Spice noticed a massive change in me , I was back enjoying life ,looking forward to week ends away , meals out , crazy events , and holidays with Like Minded People So when I look back to that decision in March 2007 and Event number 1 I realise just how lucky I have been to Share so many Special moments with so many People , now over 500 events later I am still enjoying Spice and everything that it Offers its Member If there is anyone out there looking for something to Enhance their Social Lives ,Give Spice a Try , that’s what I did and I have never looked back, Thank you Spice and all the Staff who work so hard to find things for us to do , and a big thank you to all you Spicers who have made the last 12 years amazing ."
Tom from Manchester