THE MYSTERIOUS IT

The Mysterious IT

---by---?????

In the early years it was custom that the award of the Pikehand and its associate scroll was the domain of the life time President Nick.C. This role was religiously guarded by him. The selection of who would be the next recipient fell to the President, Vice President Bryan and the current holder of the our Trophy based upon information that was only known by them. Nick and Bob (then current holder) lived quite close to each other at the time so they spent many hours in pubs working on who would be next in line for the trophy. They had astounding fun. One evening they had decided on Lyn for sacrificing her flat to the benefit of Piking. Armed with a draft scroll they returned to Nick and Val's house. Settling with cups of tea Val asked, "Have you decided who it will be?" Nick said, "Lyn." Val objected sensing that Alan and Sal would be upset. The funny thing was, how after so much work in the pub, Nick calmly srewed up the scroll and dumped it in the waste bin. Bob nearly wet himself.

Soon after at another pub meeting, much to Bob's surprise, Nick suggested that Bryan should award the trophy and scroll to next recipient. His thinking was that Bryan had been apathetic. After all he had conned us all into believing he had a full record of events at the previous Pike week end. Nick thought it would be a good idea, and Bob fully supported it, particularly if Bryan presented the award to the next recipient; HIMSELF. He would of course be unaware who he was presenting to. All Pikes would enjoy the JUSTIFIED SURPRISE when he found it was him. Nick undertook to produce the scroll and between them they could organise how it would happen.

N & B spent some time working on an idea for secrecy from Bryan. If the hand and scroll were inside a sealed box he would only find out once the box had been opened and the scroll read.

Later, in Piking tradition, it occured to Bob that the time was ripe now. Rightly or wrongly he suggested to Bryan a double whammy! After all Nick had been zealous in procreation and that was also worthy of the award. So the intrigue began. As agreed with Nick Bob would provide a box that fitted the trophy. He also produced with Bryan a scroll and placed it in the hand in the box. So Nick was set-up BUT!!

The task of persuading him that he should present the hand was essential for the ruse to succeed. In fact it was quite easy on the basis of the pride of Pesidential precedence. To highten the surprise Nick was to open the box and, with ceremony, invite Bryan to remove the scroll from the hand and read it aloud. At the XVI dinner the deed was undertaken. In eagre anticipation Nick opened the box and invited Bryan to read the scroll for, "Prolific Piking," Nick.C. not yet available. Nick's change of expression and surprise were really something to behold.

Bryan felt that a great burden had been lifted from him over his failure to povide the much expected, "Bury Minutes." He thought it was an episode that was done and dusted. However, he was mistaken and has been plagued by his failure ever since. He bears the burden of the enduring legend of the "Bury Minutes." You'll find Bryan in Bury Weekend and at Legends and elsewhere on the website.

Minuting failure has never since achieved LENGENDARY STATUS though many have tried.

At this point you could be wondering what has this to do with IT?