When we received our letter of invitation to join the exclusive T club, we naturally accepted and went to our first meeting at Fortnum and Mason, London in the newly refurbished Queen’s Jubilee Tea Room in May 2012.

It was a splendid yet overwhelming occasion where we met all the other members of the club in fantastic surroundings. We were given an exclusive tour of the store and then down to the wine cellar, where we toasted with champagne and finally an exquisite three course lunch.

We are very proud to be members of this exclusive club, and after traveling to Huddersfield to John Brooke and Son Holdings Ltd in 2013 for their annual meeting, it was then our turn to host the event, so on the 19th May the exclusive Tercentenarian Club came to Bridport for the very first time.

We met at The Avenue Restaurant for lunch, then everyone took to the floor for 10 minutes to describe their past year in business, good, bad or indifferent.

Then it was down to the shop at West Allington where we gave a brief history talk about the business and Ruddie our head sausage maker, gave a sausage making demonstration. This enthralled and entertained the thirty-two strong audience, before a couple of the group, Alex Durtnell and Simon Hoare tried their hand at sausage making, this really was entertaining with sausages produced of all different shapes and sizes!

We had a great day, enjoyed by all members, but what we found most pleasing was that only one of the thirty-two present had visited Bridport before, and they all commented on what a lovely town Bridport was and how lucky we are to live here – well, we know that! We were greatly touched by the lovely emails and hand written letters of gratitude from the members for the marvellous day.

We look forward to the annual meetings as we have met made new friends from different walks of life, from all over the country.