Page 62 - Wish Stream Year of 2016

Blenheim Company Dinner Night
OCdt Fathers
Following a testing Ex CHURCHILL’S CHAL- LENGE, which is designed to introduce cadets to unconventional warfare, Blenheim Company
were able to relax and enjoy their rst dinner night with friends from outside of the Academy. This was an event many of the Company were looking forward to as they could nally show their friends where they had ‘disappeared’ to for the last nine months and give them a taste of their military life.
The guests arrived and were hosted on the parade square in front of New College – a great photo opportunity for those new to the Academy, with the sun setting on the horizon. Guests and hosts were greeted with a glass of champagne or spar- kling elder ower as they entered the dining hall and were met by a lively band, who had dressed for the occasion. The theme was the lm ‘The Great Gatsby’ and everyone made an effort to dress appropriately, either in a fur shoal, a feather in the lady’s hair or a cane for the gents. The hall looked impressive with the pillars wrapped in gold and black and each table sported an impressive centrepiece of either a candelabra or large feath- ers of white, black and gold.
Once the guests had settled in, Miss Pitts gave a welcome speech where she thanked the band, Acoustic Jass, and introduced the char- ity we were raising money for during the even- ing, which was the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF). Maj Cackett, Company Commander of Blenheim Company, added a few words and then every- one was seated for supper. We dined on chicken liver pate, chicken in a creamy sauce with a pod medley of vegetables followed by a choco- late and orange dessert. The dinner was not a standard formal army dinner as hosts and guests were permitted to wander around the hall during courses, which many used as an excuse to keep
their glasses topped up at the bar. Lanson cham- pagne and Honeydew beer were the order of the night, keeping Medals bar on their toes.
Once dinner had nished we began the raf e and then the loud auction. There were many spec- tacular prizes, from meals and nights in glamor- ous London hotels to a commission of an animal painting, all making over £400 each for ABF. These were then followed by the more “fun” prizes includ- ing breakfast in bed to be served by the Company Sergeant Major on the day of commissioning and a bedtime story from Colour Sergeant Bull; all reaching an astounding amount for ABF. The most impressive contribution was by Mr Mohammed who spent over £500 securing take-away pizza for the mighty 28 Platoon during the two-week long exercise – Dynamic Victory, scheduled for Novem- ber. The silent auction prizes were then announced after people had been bidding on items throughout the evening. They included a signed England team cricket bat, opera tickets and a Garmin GPS.
Once the auction was completed, Acoustic Jass blasted off in full swing. Tables were deserted as those with ‘magic feet’ took to the dance oor as if they were competing in a Strictly Come Danc- ing audition.
Those with less energy (or more modest) relaxed and mingled with our guests. Everyone enjoyed a fantastic evening and in the process we raised an incredible £10,500 for ABF – a great suc- cess in all respects – well done to everyone. The organisers would like to thank the band, Acoustic Jass, for their exciting and energetic music, ESS who provided the delicious dinner and those who donated prizes for the raf es and auctions. Such a tremendous amount of money could not have been raised without them.
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