From: 147 Spring 2018
Author: Howard Crapper
By all the generous and welcome comments, this years Annual Dinner was well received. It was a pleasant evening weather wise and an easy drive to Kirtlington. The large car park and warm welcome makes this Club Room a great favourite.
Beautifully decorated in festive style the tables were complete with Christmas Crackers. The bar quickly dispensed pre dinner drinks before we were called to order. Our Chairman had taken the precaution to bring a huge gavel hammer and he used it to good effect to introduce our guests. Theses included The Lord Mayor of Oxford: Cllr Jean Fooks and our Sheriff: Cllr Altaf Khan.
We were also fortunate to welcome The Right Reverend Robert Wilkes, recently retired from the position of City Rector, and his wife; he led us in Grace before the four course Dinner which was expertly served. There was a varied menu which hopefully appealed to all tastes. It was great to see such friendship and buzzing conversations on all the tables.
During and after the meal, we all had a copy of this year’s Oxford Quiz. Designed to keep all diners amused and focused on Oxford. I was amazed to find the Freemen and women from Gloucester knew who officially opened the Donnington Road Bridge in 1962 - that was until I noticed they were viewing Google on their mobile phone! The answer was Viscount Hailsham, formerly known as Quintin Hogg.
Toasts followed the reading of the remarkable letter from Buckingham Palace which wished the Freemen a memorable Dinner. Replies came from the Lord Mayor and the Sheriff. Many thanks to everyone who so generously supported the Raffle.
Our thanks to our Hon Entertainment Secretary, Bryan Keen, for arranging the Dinner. He really is quite an expert at this and I know he researches every aspect. Fond memories indeed.