The Dorset Dinner at Clayesmore on Saturday 19th September 1998
We came near to making fifty but six cancelled late; even so this was a decent turnout. The key lay in part to Nick Zelle's excellent "Choral event" which precede it and delivered a heap of hungry singers and audience to their aperitifs in the Drawing Room. We came hot foot from an ad hoc E.G.M. of the Society held on the grass outside the Chapel after the performance (to include non diners in the quorum). Protocol had in fact been observed in calling it under Rule 14 of The Society and the Agenda consisted of a single proposal; That the OC annual subscription should be a unified £10.00 as from 1st January 1999. Proposal carried nem con.The meal was first rate: Three courses plus cheese and "including some wine" which turned out to be an excellent Muscadet and a claret which just kept coming.
The speeches too, were of the right stuff. David Beeby can always be depended upon and delivered as ever. Keith Hall (41-47) had made a plea for brevity, so Hon Sec asked for a dem: K.R.H. found himself outmanoeuvred. he made an plea for the Dorset dinner as the main dining event of the year, but there are ten million plus in the London area. Some are OCs who would still make the trip to Simpson's. he also recalled the post-war days when Clayesmore had over twenty OCs at Cambridge alone at one time. Back at the school, we also had time to visit the Anteater in fancy dress! Vide "The Anteater Gig" elsewhere in this edition. Mike Henbest found himself on his feet taking the cabaret slot. There was much weeping and falling about at his reminiscences delivered in his quiet, dry fashion. Glad to have him aboard.
The diners ranged from two recent leavers, Sarah Hemingway and Rachel Chetham to the father of the feast John Archibald Harris who was at the School in 1937.
Finally, a list of diners so that some of you will wish you had sat next to whoever this time and so make up your minds to be there in '99.
| Dr Nigel and Mrs Salisbury | Brig J.M. Jones and Mrs Jones | Jane Bramwell |
| Sarah Baldwin and Paul Baldwin | Dr Henry Teed and Mrs Teed | Kathryn Field |
| Andrew Shaw | Alan Bradley and Mrs Bradley | Dr Alan Gilmour |
| Any Guthrie | Rachel Chetham | Robert Mash |
| Bill Farrow and Mrs Farrow | Geoffrey Phillips | Dennis Ewing |
| Jim Tilden | Anthony Prewett | Sally Hemingway |
| Headmaster and Mrs Beeby | Mike Henbest | Jane Salkeld |
| Derek Thornbury | Keith Hall | Nick Zelle |
| John Archibald Harris | Richard Mitchell | John Grant |
| Ron Smith and Mrs Smith | Dr Mike Plaxton |