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The Sergeants Mess Past and Present Dinner and Dance 2023

02 May 2023

GRENADIER GUARDS SERGEANTS’ (PAST AND PRESENT) CLUB DINNER 2023

Dear Members and Guests,

1. GENERAL

The President of the Past and Present this year is Mr Paul Roberts and the Vice President is WOI (RSM) Dwain Oliver. The Committee held a meeting in Lille Barracks on Thursday 09 February 2023 and the following was discussed and voted in.

2. COMMITTEE

President: Mr Paul Roberts.

Vice President: WOII (Sgt Maj) Dwain Oliver. Honorary Secretary:

WOII (RQMS) Richard Archer. Serving Members:

WOII (DSgt Designate) Gregory Mann – 1st Battalion.

WOII (CSM) Liam Swan – Nijmegen Company.

WOII (RQMS Designate) Damien Thomas – 1st Battalion.

WOII (RQMS Designate) Stuart perry – 1st Battalion.

Past Members: Mr Nigel Crowdy. Mr Carl Shadrake. Mr Nigel Turner.

Vice Hon Secretary: LSgt Austin.

3. ANNUAL DINNER AND DANCE

This year’s annual Sergeants (Past & Present) Club Dinner and Dance will be held on Friday 7th July 2023, in Lille Barracks, Aldershot GU11 2NQ

4. TIMINGS

18:00 – Pre-Drinks in the Sergeants mess bar (Champagne will be served as complimentary drinks in the main entrance).

18:30 – Guest speaker arrives, to be met by The Sergeant Major, Mrs Jennifer Oliver, Mr Paul Roberts and Mrs Kay Roberts.

18:40 – First dinner call (Drummer to sound from main bar area).

18:45 – Second dinner call (Drummer to sound from main bar area).

18:45 – 19:00 – All attendees are to make their way to the Marquee for dinner.

19:05 – Top table marches in (Drummer and Flutiest to lead in).

19:10 – Starter served.

19:40 – Main course served.

20:10 – Comfort Break.

20:25 – All seated - Desert served.

20:45 – Port placed on tables.

21:00 – Cheese boards and coffee Served.

21:10 – Loyal messages read and toast to His Majesty The King and national anthem played.

21:15 – The Sergeant Majors speech and toast to the Regiment.

21:25 – President speaks (Mr Paul Roberts).

21:35 – Guest speaker speech.

21:55 – All attendees retire to the Sergeant mess.

23:59 – Bar closes.

5. COST

The cost of this year’s dinner will be £40.00 and should be paid to the following account:

1st Battalion Grenadier Guards Ref P&P+Name

Account number – 10470838

Sort code – 16-19-26

 

Once you have made payment, can you please send the Drill Sgt an email to confirm your attendance and confirm you have paid.

James.Thompson243@mod.gov.uk> (RSVP using this email before 1st June 2023)

Gregory.Mann915@mod.gov.uk (RSVP using this email after 1st June 2023)

 

6. ORDERS OF DRESS

Serving members – Mess dress.

Past members and Female Guests – Black tie.

 

7. GUEST SPEAKER

This year the Club is greatly honoured to have Lt Gen Sir Roly Walker KCB DSO as our Guest speaker, accompanied by his wife, Lady Walker

 

8. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting will be held in the Lord Room prior to the dinner. Members wishing to attend are asked to be seated by 1730

hours.

 

9. WINE

There will be a selection of table wine to cater for all palates pre laid on the tables.

Rose Wine: Ponticello Rose 2021

Red Wine: Mount Leonard 2021 Roche de Pierre 2021

White Wine: Chenin Blanc Cape Root 2022 Les Gauvries de Romanet 2021

Port: Taylors vintage.

Each table will have multiple bottles of red and white wine pre-placed and is covered under the cost of the dinner.

 

10. MENU

Starter – Chicken and Chorizo Terrine

Main – Slow Braised Lamb Shank with Dauphinoise Potato, Chantenay Carrots and Red Wine Jus.

Desert – Salted Caramel Cannelloni.

Cheese Board – A selection of mild, strong and soft cheeses served with Crackers and Grapes.

 

11. SEATING ARRANGEMENTS

Please note that seating will consist of round tables of eight and ten and the Top table will consist of a long table.

A seating plan will be available to view at pre-drinks and will also be displayed at the entrance to the JRD hall where we will dine.

 

12. TABLE ETIQUETTE

Although this is a formal dinner The Sergeant Major is content this year that all Past & Present Members and their Guests are welcome to excuse themselves from there table if they require to use the washrooms. There are however a few exceptions, and all attendees are to be seated at the following times.

a. When a food course is being served.

b. When the loyal messages are being read.

c. When a toast is being given.

d. When the National anthem plays (be aware all attendees must stand and serving members are to stand at the position of attention). Your support in this matter is greatly appreciated.

 

13. MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENTS

A Quintet from The Regimental Band will play throughout dinner. They will also play the National Anthem after the toast to His Majesty The King and Regimental March after The Sergeant Major’s toast to the Regiment.

Entertainment will be laid on in Sergeants’ Mess immediately after the dinner.

 

14. CONFIRMATION OF ATTENDANCE

Serving members – All serving members at Regimental duty are to render there returns of attendance to DSgt Mann. Company Sergeant Majors please assist the Drill Sergeant in doing so.

Past members and Guests – Please confirm your attendance by emailing RQMS Archer or DSgt Mann if you have not already done so on the following email addresses.

Serving members Externally posted – Please confirm your attendance by emailing RQMS Archer or DSgt Thompson if you have not already done so on the following email addresses.

Richard.Archer996@mod.gov.uk

James.Thompson243@mod.gov.uk

If you have any dietary or special requirements, please annotate this in your attendance email and we will do all we can to accommodate.

 

15. FINALLY

The Sergeant Major WOI (RSM) Dwain Oliver and the President Mr Paul Roberts look forward to seeing as many of our Regiments Past and Present members along with your guests for an evening to catch up with old friends and new.

 

Archer R WOII (RQMS)

Honorary Secretary Sergeants (Past and Present) Club

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