October 2021
Here is a round-up of the events from The Swan during October, 2021.
1st-3rd Oct: Oktoberfest 2021
Oktoberfest has become a tradition now in deepest Clewer. We set aside a small portion of it - namely The Swan - and turn it into Little Bavaria. We dress up the pub, we get in German biers (Rothaus Pils, Oechsner Schwarzbier and Oechsner Vier) and also German Bratwurst and the likes.
![Our bier line up](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-01.jpg)
![Inside the pub decorated up with bunting](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-02.jpg)
![Front door had an Oktoberfest banner](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-03.jpg)
![Inside the pub really looked the part - a little bit of Germany](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-04.jpg)
![We even had low alcohol biers - just to show they existed](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-05.jpg)
![The Bar all decorated with bunting and the biers and ...](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-06.jpg)
The staff also get into the swing of things with traditional hats and some even get their hair plaited. Volunteers who do our famous BBQ also dress up for the occasion. And we are not disappointed by the locals and entertainers who get involved too.
![The BBQ team](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-07.jpg)
![Guests in traditional Franconian dress](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-08.jpg)
![Harry getting his hair plaited](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-09.jpg)
![Harry and Giacomo with plaited hair](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-10.jpg)
![Giacomo puring a pint - plaited hair and traditional hat](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-11.jpg)
![Mark & Sherridan in traditional gear and beer steins](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-12.jpg)
Day 1 - the Friday - was a fabulous day interms of weather and attendance. The pub was packed inside and out. The BBQ and bar staff worked their socks off to satisfy the locals of whom their were plenty. It was great to see. At night Mark & Sherridan took to our "stage" and rocked the place.
![Mark & Sherridan entertaining the crowd inside the pub](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-13.jpg)
![Pub was packed for their session](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-14.jpg)
![Close up of Mark & Sherridan](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-15.jpg)
![Just going on "stage"](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-16.jpg)
![Our signing duo](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-17.jpg)
![Another shot of a packed pub](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-18.jpg)
Unfortunately day 2 - the Saturday - was a bit of a wash out. The heavens opened early doors and continued right through the night. It was wet - very wet - and that kept people indoors in the warth of their own homes.
Day 3 - the Sunday - was dry and people stuck their heads out and popped down for a wee Bratwurst and some of the delicious German bier. At night James Brown - who had his wedding reception in The Coach House - plaid live; a couple of sessions that were really well received by the locals. And wee Giacomo - his last night working at The Swan - plaid too.
![James Brown - playing the guitar and singing](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-19.jpg)
![The pub was packed on Sunday night for the live music](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-20.jpg)
![Giacomo with a farewell song](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-21.jpg)
![People inside the pub enjoying the event](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-27.jpg)
![People inside the pub enjoying the event](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-24.jpg)
![People inside the pub enjoying the event](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-25.jpg)
![People inside the pub enjoying the event](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-26.jpg)
Here are the posters that we used during our Oktoberfest.
![Main Poster](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-23.jpg)
![BBQ Poster](images2/events/2021/202110/20211001-oktoberfest/20211001-22.jpg)
Oktoberfest will be back next year - it is a firm favourite at The Swan. Tschüss until then!
10th Oct: Dr Bike & TVP
The Windsor Cycle Hub were hosts to Dr Bike and the Thames Valley Police at The Swan early this Sunday morning. They attended to people's bike maintenance and security concerns. Over 30 bikes were looked at during the day which shows that Windsor is getting the cycling bug. Really good news.
The TVP set up a table outside in the reasonable weather - as you can see it was a 'shirt sleeve' day - and Dr Bike were in The Coach House. Apart from the apparent bike stands and maintenance equipment, they had a full range of spare parts available for all sorts of bikes.
It was good to have the team from Thames Valley Police back at The Swan. They were security marking bikes and taking a record of them for the central tracing database that is used should someone have their bike pinched. Something well worth doing.
![Inside The Coach House was a hive of activity all day](images2/events/2021/202110/20211010-drbike/20211010-01.jpg)
![Watching the experts at work](images2/events/2021/202110/20211010-drbike/20211010-02.jpg)
![Thames Valley Police were security marking bikes](images2/events/2021/202110/20211010-drbike/20211010-03.jpg)
![The team were asked to pose for a photo, only one got the message](images2/events/2021/202110/20211010-drbike/20211010-04.jpg)
![Working on a bike in The Coach House](images2/events/2021/202110/20211010-drbike/20211010-05.jpg)
![Investigating a read tyre to decide what is required](images2/events/2021/202110/20211010-drbike/20211010-06.jpg)
![Two bikes were worked on in parallel](images2/events/2021/202110/20211010-drbike/20211010-07.jpg)
To learn more about the Windsor Cycle Hub please visit our dedicated page. The Swan is proud to both host and promote the WCH.
13th Oct: Quiz Night
Winners Haven’t a Clewer ... clearly had a clue winning with 43 points! Special mention to The Underwater Cycling Club for the most imaginative name and three teams named after their dogs (who were also present!).
![The winners - Haven't a Clewer](images2/events/2021/202110/20211013-quiz/20211013-01.jpg)
![Inside the pub was really busy](images2/events/2021/202110/20211013-quiz/20211013-02.jpg)
![Can you see 73 combatants? ... sorry quizzers](images2/events/2021/202110/20211013-quiz/20211013-03.jpg)
![All deep in thought due to Matin's excellent questions](images2/events/2021/202110/20211013-quiz/20211013-04.jpg)
27th Oct: Quiz Night
The winners this week were Hettie's Heroes who are regulars in the #1 spot.
![Hettie' Heroes](images2/events/2021/202110/20211027-quiz/20211027.jpg)
29th Oct: Coffee Morning
We were pleased to host another coffee morning to raise funds for The Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal. As usual the community came out and supported this very worthy cause both with home baking and also their own time & money. A huge thank you to all involved.
A fine spread was put on by our bakers.
![Table full of home baking](images2/events/2021/202110/20211029-poppy/20211029-01.jpg)
![Table full of home baking](images2/events/2021/202110/20211029-poppy/20211029-02.jpg)
Between ten and twelve, the local popped in and partook in some hot beverages with some of the excellent cake. Unfortunately the volunteers and bar staff were that busy we didn't manage to get too many photos. Suffice to say, we were busy! Thank you for the support.
![Rachel helping a young girl to some cake](images2/events/2021/202110/20211029-poppy/20211029-03.jpg)
![A very full bar](images2/events/2021/202110/20211029-poppy/20211029-04.jpg)
![And then more arrived!](images2/events/2021/202110/20211029-poppy/20211029-05.jpg)
If you look in the main navigation for the website, you will find a specific linke for Coffee Mornings. If this page interested you, have a wee peek at the rest of the coffee mornings we have organised. This is a popular way for the local community to donate to worthy causes.
31st Oct: Halloween
It was Halloween and gave Micky, the team and the community the opportunity to dress up and have some fun. We ahd a range of acitvities throughout the day, soemthing for everyone. Unfortunately at the start of the day the weather was quite unkind to us but we muddled through.
There was pumpkin carving for the kids who got stuck in with real gusto.
![Table full of pumpkins ready for carving](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-01.jpg)
![Mum supervising a couple of kids who are enjoying carving pumpkins](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-02.jpg)
![Table of younger customers carving pumpkins](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-03.jpg)
People managed to avoid the earlier showers and partook of drink from the bar and food from our BBQ.
![Ian and Tony at the BBQ](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-05.jpg)
![People sitting in The Courtyard - wrapped up warm of course!](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-06.jpg)
![Market in the background, we had a right mix of people some forgetting to take-off their cycling helmets](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-07.jpg)
![Drying out in The Courtyard](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-08.jpg)
The market stalls were spread throughout The Swan - in The Bar, The Coach House and underneath the shed in The Courtyard.
![Stalls under the shed in The Courtyard](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-09.jpg)
![Crafts insode The Bar itself](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-10.jpg)
![Books inside The Bar](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-11.jpg)
![And stalls inside The Coach House too](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-12.jpg)
We had a fancy dress competition for all ages, the winners were announced at 7pm by Mark & Sherridan. Our worthy winners were Connor and Dawn who were absolutely excellent in their costumes and make-up.
![Micky getting carried by an ex-President](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-13.jpg)
![Connor](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-14.jpg)
![Harry](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-15.jpg)
![The winners - Dawn and Connor](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-16.jpg)
In the evening we had live music from the fab duo, Mark & Sherridan. The lights were turned down low which created a spooky and appropriate atmosphere for Halloween.
![Mark and Sherridan](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-17.jpg)
![Lights were dimmed creating a spooky atmosphere for the duo](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-18.jpg)
![Mark and Sherridan inside The Bar in front of the fire place.](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-19.jpg)
The whole place was decked out with Halloween themed decorations. We even had smoke and a black cat too!
![Skeleton coming out of the flower beds](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-20.jpg)
![The black cat which was actually taking cover from the rain](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-21.jpg)
![The Joker coming out of the smoke](images2/events/2021/202110/20211031-halloween/20211031-22.jpg)