Page 46 - The Royal Lancers Chapka 2017

44 REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL LANCERS (QUEEN ELIZABETHS’ OWN) The Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess
With yet another busy year complete, The Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess found time to enjoy some well-earned functions.
The Mess hosted the Corporals for an enjoyable games night in July organised by Sergeants Clements, McKone and White- head Junior. The year began with the dining out of Regimen- tal Sergeant Major Borthwick and the dining in of Regimental Sergeant Major Hough. After an outstanding meal in excellent company, the Mess said farewell and congratulated Captain Borthwick on his commissioning.
With no free passage to the seniors mess, the Junior Non-Com- missioned Officers of the Regiment had to run the gauntlet to gain entry on a games night hosted by the Regimental Sergeant Major. This was heavily guarded by some of the Mess heavy weights; Sergeant Pennington, Staff Sergeant Mukungunugwa, Staff Sergeant Burnell and Squadron Sergeant Major Hill, to name a few. The Corporals mess hosted the second leg in Oc- tober, where retribution on entrance was delivered. There were some hard-fought games on both encounters. Needless to say, the victors were The Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Mess with a two to nil score line.
The demands of a training year saw the Squadrons dispersed to the four winds through the summer months. This did not deter the President of the Mess Committee, Squadron Sergeant Major Weaver and his loyal committee from pulling a summer function together in the form of a Messtival; open air music, cold beers, and a hog roast all delivered in our own Woodstock of North Yorkshire. With people sat around open fires enjoy- ing music and drinking Budweiser long into the night (within Army drinking policy), a fun time was had by all. A special mention must be given to Sergeant ‘Shorty’ Short for his full face of makeup in tribute to Iron Maiden!
Exercise NORTHERN LANCER saw the Mess almost unoc- cupied other than a select few. Sergeant Major Mason (Nick Knowles) and Sergeants Martin (Mark Millar) and Caven (Chris Fredianai) responded to the DIY SOS, picking up the sledge- hammers and converting the bar area into a more practical and social environment. The upgrades included a darts board, a pool table, a Bluetooth sound system, a projector and the removal of a wall (unbeknown to the Quartermaster).
Despite another exercise for some of the Mess, straight after our foray into the Borders, there was still time to fit in a museum visit where Captain Holtby kindly hosted us before we all visited the Tower of London. On behalf of the whole Mess, the Regi- mental Sergeant Major presented the Yeoman Warders a silver statuette to put a Lancer stamp in The Yeomans’ Mess.
With the end of the year looming, the Christmas ball would see the Mess through to 2018 with a movie themed night. With another Oscar winning performance by the Mess committee, the scene was set (law laid down) by Orlaf (Regimental Sergeant Ma- jor) and it was then time for ‘Lights! Camera! Action!’ The cos- tumes were straight out of Hollywood and the acting as expect- ed. Another truly excellent evening was had by all, and we now look forward with a positive attitude to what 2018 may bring.
SW
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