Dorset Branch www.householdcavalryassociationdorset.org President The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Normanton Chairman Raymond D Peck, formerly The Life Guards Secretary and Treasurer John Triggs BEM, formerly The Blues and Royals Committee Lt Col (Retd) Mick Harding Staff Quartermaster, HQ DRAC Trevor Collett Senior, formerly The Blues and Royals Dudley Feltham, formerly the Royal Horse Guards Fred Kemp, formerly the Royal Horse Guards Brian Murray, formerly The Blues and Royals Bill Stephenson, formerly The Blues and Royals Barry Woodley, formerly The Life Guards 2007 beckoned in the 26th year for this Association and we hope and pray that we can continue in the same vein for the next 25 years. How do you improve on a year that proved as successful as our 25th Anniversary year? There is, of course, only one answer; do what we do each year, organise a jolly good do, because it’s the people who make it happen. As always there is little respite for the committee as the January newsletter, followed by a committee meeting, heralded in the New Year with a call to arms for the Spring Dinner and Dance weekend and a fist full of Winter Warmer Draw tickets. The Spring Dinner and Dance was held on the 24th March 2007. Ninety two members and guests gathered at the new venue for the Association – the Quality Hotel in Grover Road, Bournemouth, whilst 71 members stayed the whole weekend. The move from the Savoy was unfortunate but the prices and minimum numbers along with ‘sea views and garden supplements’ made it just too expensive. The Dinner was preceded by two of our Gentlemen Trumpeters, Messrs Sid Dodson and Bruce Worthy, ‘calling’ us into dinner – superb as always. The Saturday Night Dinner proved a great success with many compliments on the standard of food, portions and service, all topped by the Head Chef ‘flaming’ the haunch of beef and carving steak style portions – a stylish touch.
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News from the Associations
26th Annual Dinner Top Table Rear row (L to R); Lt Col Giles Stibbe OBE LG, Lt Col Ralph Griffin LG, Lord Normanton (President), Mr Raymond Peck (Chairman) and Lt Col (Retd.) Malcolm Torrent. Front row (L to R); Miss Rosalind Nott, Mrs Paula Peck and Mrs Isobel Torrent Dutymen; Tprs Baker and Wright
The evening’s entertainment was provided by a pianist throughout dinner and our regular disco after. With 47 people still on the dance floor at 0100 hours the night proved to be a long one. However, shortly following dinner the raffle and Winter Warmer Draw were drawn. The 1st prize of £250.00 was won by Peter Truslove, the 2nd prize of a 2 night B&B break for 2 at the Carrington House Hotel was won by Charlie Greenwood and the 3rd prize of 2 Annual Dinner tickets was won by our very own Vice-President, George Dugdale. Some 1632 tickets were sold and, after deductions, the profit went towards offsetting the costs of the Annual Dinner. Our special thanks to Tony Prynne who yet again has sold over £100s worth of tickets – magnificent effort. On 1st September the committee met at the Chairman’s house to launch the annual balloon race. This was also an excellent excuse to test the quality of the proposed wine for the Annual Dinner. With a large cylinder of helium gas, the committee and their wives launched 551 balloons on a clear breeze over Bournemouth. Thirtyseven tickets (best result ever) trickled back, most from the Isle of Wight, one from France and 2 from Germany, just North of Munich, the winner being some 810 miles from launch! The President presented the winner, Doug Preece RVM, with a cheque for £150.00 and a framed certificate, at the Annual Dinner. Our sincerest thanks to our President, Lord Normanton for underwriting the total costs of the event once more. The highlight of the year once again was our Annual Dinner, this now being our
26th, on Saturday the 15th October 2007 at the Carrington House Hotel. The Quality Hotel was completely full on the Friday night; just as well we had taken over the complete hotel! The weekend started on Friday evening when 102 sat down to an à la carte dinner, which was followed by a raffle and entertainment by a solo vocalist, who had many a couple up on the dance floor. Saturday was free for shopping in Bournemouth, walks along the beach or just relaxing in the friendly atmosphere of the hotel. Our thanks to Bill and Annie Steele again, for opening the PRI/Museum shop in the bar area! Such a convivial manner of conducting trade (and profitable too). Saturday evening commenced with the AGM, which was held at 1800 hours and presided over by the Vice-President, George Dugdale, who welcomed all to the meeting and handed over to the Chairman, Ray Peck. Following the AGM we were all coached over to the Carrington House Hotel for the Dinner. Some members had elected to stay at the Carrington instead of the Quality so prior to dinner we all met up in the Windsor Room for photographs with the two Dutymen. Our very own Gentlemen Trumpeters, Messrs Sid Dodson, George Hayne, Lez Bullock and Bruce Worthy ‘called’ us into dinner in their normal note perfect and splendid performance. Brian Murray ushered in the top table led by the Dutymen to welcoming applause, After the Grace, dinner was served. After dinner the President read out the message of Loyal Greeting to Her Majesty and Her