THE
MAINSHEET
Spring 2010
Contents
AQSC Annual Dinner
The annual club dinner is perhaps the high point of the club’s social calendar. A black tie and posh frock do and, for once, I can report on this event having had nothing to do with its organisation.
The dinner was professionally catered in the clubhouse by ‘Food for Thought’. The menu they had prepared offered something for everyone. Starters included Smoked salmon and Prawn Cocktail or Pumpkin and Parsnip Soup or Seasonal Pate with Crostini.
The main course consisted of Supreme of Chicken stuffed with Brie and Tarragon or Slow Roasted Lamb Shank with Rosemary and Sundried Tomatoes or Portobello Mushroom with Wilted Spinach, Quinoa (don’t ask me what that is) with a Creamy Bechamel Sauce (vegetarian). All served with Potatoes and Seasonal Vegetables.
Dessert included a choice of Streusel Berry Tart or Poached Pears in Marsala Wine or Turkish Delight Cheesecake (that’s a bit different). This was followed by Cheese and Biscuits, Coffee and Mints; a very good and varied menu.
Diana Carpenter wanted something a ‘bit different’ this year and had suggested a nautical hat competition with a prize offered for the best creation. It certainly got people thinking. Nobody can ever accuse AQSC members of not entering into the spirit of the event, or maybe they just like dressing up.
The evening started with a reception drink at 7:30pm, followed by the meal at 8:00pm.
The table colour scheme for the evening was red and yellow and the old clubhouse
looked outstanding in the candlelight. Virtually everybody had designed and manufactured
an amazing array of hats which included flashing lighthouses, various boats, fend-
The meal was a huge success, probably the best ever, and the wine flowed (as it tends to do at Aquarius). Various addresses and toasts were made and then, over coffee there was a sketch suggested and prepared by Messrs Rainsborough and Knowles.
Nigel Knowles, Frank (dressed as Lord Nelson) and Rodger Wheeler and all the flag officers poked a bit of fun at current Health and Safety directives. Most of the participants had no idea they were taking part until they were handed their scripts and props immediately before the start. It went down a storm.
Anne & Leo’s raffle was as popular as ever and I would imagine made a good profit for the club.
Next Graham announced the winner of the ‘nautical hat competition’ and I’m a little embarrassed to say that I won it with my party popper firing ‘Ketch 22’.
Diana was then presented with flowers from the club and thanked for all her hard work in organising the evening; and, in fact, a huge thank you goes to everybody concerned with the dinner both on the night and during the prior preparation.
It was a grand evening, nobody seemed in any hurry to leave and it went on into the wee small hours. A classic annual dinner!
Mike (Over Easy) Baker
Photos by Mick Rogers for Frank Rainsborough
