Page 70 - The Rifles Bugle Autumn 2019

Officers’ Mess
CAPTAIN GAVIN KNOX AND HIS TEAM DESERVE MUCH PRAISE, BUT IT SEEMS LIKELY THE ‘BEACH’ WILL STILL BE THERE FOR THE 2020 EDITION OF THE BUGLE!
The Officers’ Mess had a relatively quiet year up to and including Exercise ASKARI STORM and contractual issues resulted in it being closed for six months; though this did give us the excuse to try a few bottles of our very own ‘2nd Battalion the Rifles Champagne’ to celebrate the reopening. Notwith- standing the closure, events have continued apace. The bar was set high with the ‘Fall of Rome’ themed summer ball, which included gladiator fights in the Colosseum (safely overseen by our resident stage combat expert Lieutenant Tom Lagana), Roman themed food and a party North of Hadrian’s wall where the wilder tribes in the mess could really cut loose. House Dauphin and his clan certainly made the most of this before taking on his respon- sibilities as Adjutant 4 RIFLES. The Christmas ball was well attended with over 120 guests; the theme of ‘Black-tie with a Christmas twist’ was a
crowd pleaser, particularly with the subalterns who purchased the Christmas style dinner suits.
Livers-in events have included the ‘Wine and Grime’ wine-tasting night, which aimed to educate the mess on the finer points of Bordeaux and Boy Better Know, all accompanied by an excellent cheese board and some ‘wavey garms’ (clothing deemed to be à la mode by the edgier fringes of East London society). Other events in the calendar include ‘Tins and Togas’ and ‘Whisky and Western’.
Officers to Warrant Officers’ and Serjeants’ Mess before Christmas involved the typically fair games we have come to expect. A completely unanticipated and forgivable mistake by the catering department resulted in the food provided to the officers for the eating challenge being a little spicier than that which was provided to the home team. Another adminis- trative mix-up resulted in the weight categories for strength challenge being a little off balance, though the highlight of the evening was Second Lieutenant Joe Kingdon, our 19-year-old gap year commission officer, flipping Colour Serjeant Charles out of the ring. Surely any achievement at Oxford University will be eclipsed by this moment?
The mess has been going from strength to strength despite a busy schedule under the leadership of the President of the Mess Committee (PMC), Major Aaron West who handed over to Major Neil Watson, who no doubt hopes that Westie didn’t blow his whole budget at the 2019 Summer Ball; a big thank you to Major West for everything he has done for the Mess. The Summer Ball 2019 was a great success with a ‘What I did on my gap year’ theme including arrival drinks in Val d’Isere, supper in an Australian themed marquee, before moving through South America (including two distinctly unimpressed looking llamas!) and on to a Thai full moon party replete with beach and sea! Captain Gavin Knox and his team deserve much praise, but it seems likely the ‘beach’ will still be there for the 2020 edition of The Bugle!
Captain Tom Reynolds Mess Secretary
68 SECOND BATTALION
THE RIFLES
Livers in during the Wine and Grime night. Straight outta Lisburn. Edgier than a dodecahedron
Major Kilpatrick and his crew in Val d’Isere, Summer Ball 2019