Club Christmas Gathering – 10th December 2025

Report by Armen Kanikanian

The club gathered in festive spirit at Pear Tree Park Bistro on 10th December 2025 for the annual ESM Christmas Dinner. With more than 40 members and friends attending, it made for a warm evening to celebrate the end of another strong year of running and club activities.

Pear Tree Park Bistro, our chosen venue for the night, is a new café located right next to our headquarters at the Perivale Athletics Track, practically our new neighbour. Wanting to keep things local and support a new business in the community, we were delighted to hold this year’s dinner there.

One of the highlights of the evening was the draw for the club’s allocated London Marathon 2026 place. A single name was drawn, and against all odds, Malcolm Woolsey emerged as the lucky recipient. Given that he had just organised the Perivale 5 only three days earlier, it was a delightfully ironic coincidence. With just over four months until marathon day, he will need to start some serious training soon.

The evening also featured a fun and festive quiz, expertly run by our Chairman, Tim Hannah, who crafted the questions and kept everyone entertained throughout. Laughter and good-natured competition filled the room as teams battled for the win.

The event was organised behind the scenes by Peter Flewitt who, although unable to attend on the night, ensured everything was in place for a seamless and enjoyable evening. The dinner highlighted the club’s friendly spirit and enthusiasm, leaving everyone in high spirits as the year drew to a close.