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 shop. Good business for the PRI and members alike with and the Household Cavalry wristbands moving fast 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. The Chairman thanked Committee Member Dudley Feltham for all his work and tireless support to the Association as he retires after 15 years on the Committee. He is succeed by Lt Col Malcolm Torrent who is well known to members. 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 Ambassador Suite for photographs with the Dutymen. Lt Col (Retd) Mal colm Torrent, late DOM of The Band of the Life Guards, sounded Mess Call and that started off the evening proper. Once the top table were welcomed and after Grace from Fred Kemp, our very own Gentlemen Trumpeters, Messrs Sid Dodson, Lez Bullock and Bruce Worthy roused the appetite with a fanfare ‘Call to Battle’ which was, as ever, note perfect and an absolutely splendid performance. Throughout the dinner, diners were entertained by a strolling ‘fiddler’ in the form of Hugh Billington; ex-BCM RHG/D who put more than a smile of faces. Due to family illness the President was unable to attend so the Chairman announced the message of Loyal Greeting to Her Majesty and Her gracious reply and proposed the Loyal Toast. He then introduced the Guest of Honour who then spoke with feeling and honesty about the Household Cavalry, explaining the state of play and outline of the Helmand deployment. He concluded with a toast to the Household Cavalry which was roundly joined. Comdr H Cav, Col Toby and Mrs Browne also delighted in joining the event and we were further honoured with Maj Will and Katie Davies SCOTS DG representing the Windsor ‘chapter’ – he being the OC D Sqn HCR. Trevor
28th Annual Dinner and Dance - Top Table
Rear row: Lt Gen Barney White-Spunner CBE, Col Toby Browne LVO, Mr Ray Peck, Maj Will Davies SCOTS DG, Mr Thomas Messel Seated: Mrs Serena Browne, Mrs Paula Peck, Mrs Katie Davis, Mrs Pepe Messel Tpr Okiusu-Mehsah LG Tpr Carling RHG/D
Collett then presented on behalf of the Association a framed set of Household Cavalry blazer and cap badges to Mr Ken Robins, the proprietor of the Quality Hotel, in recognition and appreciation of the support the hotel has given us. The Secretary then took front and centre and rambled on about the HCOCF auction. Five items went under the hammer and all sold as follows: 1. A Coca Cola bottle opener and 10 litre Paderborner bier – Carl Murray £90 2. Two bottles of Waterloo Bier in a pine box – John Finnie £180 3. Cased set of 10, 20, 30 and 40 year old port – John Finnie again £300 4. Household Cavalry drum table – Len Knox £550 5. Household Cavalry girondole – Len Knox again £1900. And John Finnie agreed to buy the second girondole for the same price of £1900. To top the monies up we had donations from Miss Jo Smith £20, Vic Sturrock £50 and Harry Maplesden £122. Our thanks to all who took part and to Thomas and Pepe Messel who most generously designed, hand crafted and then presented at no cost the girondoles – a truly super gesture. Again thanks to John Hawley for the last drum table – in total over two years they have raised £1050 for the fund – cheers John. A total of £5050 was handed over to the Regimental Secretary for placing the charity funds. Prior to and after the dinner, the author Peter DeCosemo, ex-LG remount rider, was present signing and selling his new book, the novel Led by the Grey which is based on the Mounted Regiment. Peter has most generously donated the total sales money of the first 200 hard back copies of the book to the Household Cavalry Operational Casualties Fund. Both the hardback and paperback editions
112 ■ News from the Associations
sold well and it all helps the charity too. To round the year off we held our Christmas Lunch at the Quality Hotel on Sunday 20th December. This was a traditional fine dining affair and included a most entertaining pianist Simon Page who introduced two guests, Jack and Ella Jordan, (grand-children of Member John and Marie Hawley), who entertained us with a Christmas song to the delight of all the 42 attending members and guests. The Annual Draw was a feature of the lunch and was drawn with the aid of Jack and Ella. Third prize of £100 was won by Lila Jones, wife of Nick Jones; second prize of £200 was won by Member Brian Hoare – he who won first prize last year! The first prize of £300 was won by Lt Col (Retd) Mick Harding who found the winnings most useful due to recent relocation into the Windsor area. Lila and Nick Jones donated the prize to the HCOCF as Lila felt this was great cause and she had won second prize once before – nice lady! All winners were members and it was good to see the prizes staying in the ‘family.’ Thanks to all who took part and help us pay for the annual dinner and we waddled off from 2009 into the winter sunset in a most content mood. While as an association we may seem to spend a deal of time ‘meeting and greeting’ and ‘drinking and dining’ – yes we do, for there is pleasure in reunion and memory – but we have not forgotten those Household Cavalrymen who have and are serving in operational theatres around the world – our thoughts and payers are with them and especially to the families of those taken from us be it operationally, by illness or the march of time. We now look forward to 2010 when we will maintain and improve, with the support of the members and our dedicated and hard working Committee, the very best traditions of The Household Cavalry.