NEWS/BLOG

The 2019 Christmas Dinner - dining in style!
Posted on Saturday, 4th January 2020

This has always been the most popular event of the year, and 2019 was no exception. Happily, the Oriental Club had been willing to make their main drawing room available to accommodate our large contingent, but this proved no barrier to preparing and serving a truly excellent traditional style meal. As can be seen (left) the overall impression was of a very fine banqueting room. As it was not possible to remove the grand piano, we were seated at separate round tables, but this seemed only to enhance the sociable atmosphere!

The 2019 Christmas Dinner - a toast to continued success!
Posted on Saturday, 4th January 2020

With coffee at the end of the meal, and a captive audience, the Organiser (on left, standing) customarily gives a brief outline of how the Society has fared in the current year, and indicates some of our plans for 2020. He pointed out many successes, particularly the increase in events held in private clubs, and a record rise in membership. Future plans include a visit to Macedonia, and to Belvoir Castle for dinner and music with the Duke and Duchess of Rutland, together with a ‘black tie’ dinner at the Savile Club on St. Valentine’s night.

The 2019 Christmas Dinner - everyone a winner!
Posted on Saturday, 4th January 2020

Always last - but definitely not least - of the evening’s festivities is the fabulous raffle. This year members surpassed even their previous generosity, both in contributing a huge array of good quality items, and by ‘forking out’ unstintingly to buy tickets. The Internet has thankfully freed us from having to charge membership fees (and thus having to collect them) but has left this as our only source of income. The raffle is also a lot of fun, and in the picture, left, Ramesh illustrates the incomparable joy of winning a prize!

Mingling with the Military
Posted on Sunday, 29th December 2019

Another of our popular recurrent fixtures is the annual dinner and social at the Victory Services Club near Marble Arch. We met this year on November 29th, and enjoyed an excellent 3-course meal in the Club Dining Room. Afterwards we congregated in the spacious bar (see picture, left) and chatted until late in the evening. The club caters for members of the armed forces and their families, but even the least military among us would be impressed by the relaxed and civil atmosphere at this excellent establishment.

Putting on the style
Posted on Sunday, 29th December 2019

For some of us, the last Monday in November means the Banquet of the Bakers Livery Company at the Mansion House, the residence of the Lord Mayor of London, and thus our donning white tie and tails, or else black tie and DJ. Indeed one of our number sported a silk top hat, which happily on our walk through the City streets occasioned no stir - always a good sign. This, our fourth invitation, was taken up by a pleasing mixture of new faces and old hands. The atmosphere inside the building being as amazing as the decor.