Page 102 - Mercian Eagle 2014

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Maj Harry Porteous, Mrs Liz Prophet and Maj Bob Prophet
included Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for Worcestershire, Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Holcroft, The Colonel The Mercian Regiment, Brigadier Andrew Williams, The senior Belgian Consul in London,
M Pierre-Yves Dumont, Alderman Mme Sabine Vanderhaeghen
and M Patrick Baert who represented the Mayor of Zonnebeke,
the modern Belgian Municipality which incorporates Gheluvelt,
Mrs Julia Brotherton, granddaughter of Major Hankey, Chairman
of Worcestershire County Council, Councillor Pamela Davey, The Mayor of Worcester, Councillor Alan Amos, Mr Robin Walker MP (Member of Parliament for Worcester City), a number of serving officers of The Mercian Regiment and many prominent citizens of the County of Worcestershire. The list read like a local Who’s Who but it represented all walks of life in the County and showed the enormous support which the old and new regiments command despite the lack of formal regimental representation in the County.
Guests were greeted by Pte Derby and by a re-enactor in World War I uniform and ushered into Lower Hall for a welcoming drink. The call to Dinner was sounded by a Musician of The Royal Logistic Corps Band and 170 guests climbed the stairs to The Assembly Room. All took their seats at tables named after an officer or soldier of the Battalion and Hugh Richards said Grace. Brussels Pâté
(‘2nd Worcestershire re-entered Belgium on 15th October 1914
to join the heavy fighting in the Ypres Salient’ according to the Battalion War Diary) was the delicious starter followed by slow- cooked Boeuf Bourguignon with creamy mash and local vegetables (‘We had an early lunch in anticipation of having to start off at any moment – hot stew and rum’ recorded Capt Bowring in 1914) and
Brig Pat Hargrave, The Mayor of Worcester and Mrs Amos
Chairman of Worcestershire County Council, Councillor Pamela Davey, and Lt Col Pat Love
Mrs Mandy Starkey-Smith, Maj Jim Featherstone, Mrs Lyn Clarke and Lt Col Ivan Clarke
Museum’s hard-working (and now to be hard-drinking..?) volunteers. History does not relate how Mary managed to descend two floors with her wheelbarrow; perhaps she didn’t: perhaps she is still there drinking her way through it...
The evening finished late but it had all been worthwhile. Money had been raised through the purchase of the tickets and through the raffle but, above all, public awareness of the Regiment and of the plight of the Museum in Worcester were raised as never before with the hope that many guests will now support the Museum’s appeal for funds. The organising committee are to be congratulated on their strenuous efforts and the guests are to be congratulated on their anticipated generosity.
The wine was excellent and, after the Loyal Toast and message from Her Majesty...
the meal finished with Worcestershire apple and pear crumble or cheesecake with local plum compote (‘As they deployed, some men found themselves on the edge of a field of turnips: one of those came in useful for dessert’ noted
Pte Robbins). The wine was excellent and, after the Loyal Toast
and message from Her Majesty in response to the declaration of Loyal Greetings sent previously, the Lord Lieutenant introduced
Sir Hew Strachan. His speech, entitled “The First World War: Commemoration or Celebration” to a hushed and attentive audience was brilliant, entertaining and logical, leaving everyone wondering what the answer was! The Colonel of The Regiment responded and thanked Sir Hew for his insight into War.
At each place on each table was an envelope into which each guest was invited to put at least £10, record his/her name and sign the envelope for Gift Aid purposes. The envelope was the Raffle ticket. The prize? A wheelbarrow of some 60 bottles of drink! The winning ticket was drawn by the Junior Officer present, 2Lt Guy Peters, son of Sqn Ldr John Peters of Gulf War Tornado Down fame and the wheelbarrow of drink went to Mrs Mary Weager, one of the
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