2005 Annual AQSC Dinner
The first Aquarius SC annual dinner that I
ever attended was held at a pub on the Staines Road. Later, after a
couple of poor experiences at venues, the dinner transferred to the
club house but everything required had to be hired or brought in. Now
we have acquired all the crockery, cutlery, tables, chairs, linen and
wine glasses needed and only have to hire-in the caterers.
The dinner itself has gone from strength to strength and this year
demand for tickets outstripped capacity with some forty-eight members
and guests being accommodated. Lyn and I missed last year's
dinner because we were in India but this year our timing was a little
better and we joined everybody else on the evening of 19 November to
enjoy this year's bash.
The organisation of course started months earlier with Diana, our
Social Secretary contacting "Food for Thought", who did the catering in
2004, and agreeing a date and requesting menu selections.
Rodger Wheeler meanwhile quietly set
about acquiring the table wine. The week before the dinner it was
becoming apparent that we were likely to be oversubscribed. This is
unfortunate because obviously we would like accommodate everybody who
wanted to come, but, the club's only so big. It's for this reason that
we always encourage people to book as early as possible and we do give
priority to members over guests for as long as possible.
On the prior Wednesday Joan, George and yours truly set about clearing
the clubroom, washing all the table wear and bringing in the tables and
chairs and scrubbing the galley from top to bottom.
On the Friday a small army of helpers, including Diana, Peter, Nigel,
Richard, Linda, Rodger, Joan, George, Stuart laid up the tables and
took care of the hundred and one things needed for the following day.
Saturday was fairly quiet with only Diana and Pete going down in the
afternoon to let the caterers in, but by 6:30pm, early arrivals started
to take care of the last minute arrangements and by 7:30pm the
clubhouse was filling up fast.
Those gentlemen that have them always wear dinner jackets; well we
don't get too many opportunities nowadays. Everybody, especially the
ladies, looked great. Having only seen people in sailing gear for much
of the season evenings like these are a real opportunity for members to
get dressed up and is probably only surpassed for sheer 'glam' by the
Ladies Night held at the club over the last two or three years around
Valentine's day. Now that is an eye opener as anyone who went to last
years bash will tell you!
I thought the dinner was great. Trying to serve forty-eight covers in
the confined space of our galley is no small undertaking but "Food for
Thought" managed superbly, despite the door to our old cooker deciding
to take the annual dinner night not to shut properly.
The dinner was followed by an excellent raffle organised by Bob Sumners
and Janet Edwards. The evening continued with dancing until late. I
think we left at around 2:00am'ish.
My thanks to everybody who worked hard to make the evening a real
success and particularly Diana Carpenter who planned and organised the
event. Nice one Diana!
Mike (Over Easy) Baker
