Page 64 - MERCIAN Eagle 2022

Officers’ Mess
From hosting the Brigade Commander, cheese and wine nights, a Messtival in the pond, HMS Belfast for the last supper, the odd dinner night here and there, and supper under the gaze of Mount Kenya, it has been a memorable few months of activity for the Officers’ Mess of the 2nd Battalion.
To commemorate the amalgamation, 2 MERCIAN hosted an Officers’ dinner on 16 Jun 22. Invitations were extended to all those officers who had ever served with 2 MERCIAN, along with a number of members of the Worshipful Company of Bowyers.
On a balmy June evening, 117 guests descended on Central London. The public were treated to the unusual sight of the Officers’ Mess, dressed in black tie, carrying the colours and silver across Southwark to furnish the reception area on board HMS Belfast.
The dinner itself was excellent, an exceptional standard of music provided by the Countess of Wessex’s String Orchestra, fantastic food and service provided by the
HMS Belfast hospitality team and some raucous conversation on the tables.
Alongside the meal, there was a raffle held in support of the Mercian Regiment Benevolent Charity which raised £930, Adjutant 2 MERCIAN being particularly pleased with the electric pink drinks flask he won.
The opportunity to bring together so many old faces was long overdue, so conversation (amongst other things) flowed well into the night. The night also gave opportunity for many to meet for
the first time, especially forming links between the Company of Bowyers and the Regimental Family.
A hugely successful night. Whether rekindling friendships of old, retelling the same stories, or just being part of a Mess function again, it reinforced the requirement to do this regularly. With 1 MERCIAN now in the driving seat, and a commitment to carry it forward on the last Thursday of October every year, we are confident that we have set the precedent.
Hosting Comd 4 Bde at a dinner night in the Officers’ Mess
HMS Belfast Dinner – The Last Supper Belfast Dinner – Reception drinks onboard HMS Belfast
Officers’ Mess – deployed
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Cpl Club
Since returning from Cyprus the
2 MERCIAN Cpls Mess has held several functions. The first of which was the new RSM’s dine in held at Ribby Hall Village, the RSM’s dine in was a great opportunity to get the Cpls mess back together
after the battalion being on different commitments whilst deployed in Cyprus. It was also a good opportunity for the new RSM to meet the battalions JNCO’s.
Later in 2021 we had the winter ball; the winter ball was also held at Ribby Hall Village. This was a good social event with soldiers’ partners invited, and a 3-course meal, before moving into the function room where a DJ played the rest of the night.
In July 2022 we had the Summer ‘22 ball held at Dalmeny hotel. The theme was Pre-Millennium, this was a great
way to celebrate the 2 MERCIAN Cpls mess and our last mess function before our amalgamation. Not your traditional formal mess function, we had a fancy- dress competition with a prize for the best dressed. There was also a Hog roast and live bands for everybody to enjoy. The prize for best dressed won a free night in the hotel. This went to Cpl Barber-Riley and his partner Rebecca who came as Wayne & Garth from ‘’Wayne’s World’’
I would like to take this opportunity
to wish all JNCO’s of 2nd Battalion The Mercian Regiment good luck in their new Battalions.
THE MERCIAN EAGLE