Warrant Officer's and Sergeant's Mess
And before you knew it, it was half past eleven at night, even without the whisky, and everyone having had such a good laugh.
With no appointed Mr Vice, Deputy Wing Warrant Officer Tony Bird stepped up to the plate (no pun intended) to "entertain " while the VIPs left top table. What we saw had to be seen to be believed. One handed juggling. Genius.
And so ended the SECOND of the Mess Burns suppers. About 40 guests (again) though a different mix to last year, and still everyone had a grand night out.
Thank you all.
Phase one - we were never going to trump the six minutes the meeting lasted a few years back, but all the necessary was achieved, with success, in only twenty six minutes this year. And everyone happy.
Phase two - the annual ritual humiliation of the Officers over a range of pub games. Well, it was actually a close run contest, spread over skittles, darts, cards, Jenga, car driving, pick-up-sticks, dominoes, connect four and a large buffet which we could not finish, so donated the last nine thousand calories to the ladies and Gentelmen of Taunton RAFA.
The raffle went well, and a good spread of winners for the "Bring a prize Raffle" which several confessed to be a means of losing unwanted Christmas gifts; out of which came a contribution for the RAFA Wings fund of twenty five Quid.
The evening had a lovely "buzz" to it - lots of networking, chatting, and furthering the cause of happy "Cadetting" in Devon and Somerset. Maybe we won't bother waiting a full year for the next one.
The Mess held its' inaugural BURNS SUPPER.
There were 42 guests to say farewell to WO Tony Pillar and his wife Zoe. They plan to drop by every now and again, especially with Ten Tors Looming.
Burns night dinner.
To say that I was nervous about my first Mess Dinner would be a slight understatement - I was terrified! I arrived at the hotel faced with lots of people I don’t know, looking very scary in their mess dress uniform everyone seemed to know everyone and I didn’t have a clue!!! Luckily WO Tonks had asked who I would like to sit with so I was on a table with all the ‘newish young people’ which was good, for some of them it was their first night too which put me more at ease!! The people I was on the table with were so much fun; I was in hysterics for most of the night. Another first for me was the lovely haggis, though the amount of food they gave us could have fed an army!! All the tradition was a bit scary, I was terrified that I would do something wrong and end up buying everyone a drink, though it was very nice. Mike Boyle was amazing when he did “The address to the Haggis” speech, I couldn’t understand most of it but it was still good!!! The other speeches were very good, not long and dull like most speeches but very funny with lots of jokes included. The male vs. female speeches by WO Jane Tonks and WO Woods were very good and WO Pillar’s goodbye speech by WO Gary Tonks was also very good, with lots of props involved!! All in all it was a good night and would definitely do it again!!
Sgt ATC Laura BLACKBURN
Formal Mess Dinner for Battle of Britain.
The 2006 event had almost 80 guests and was free to mess members. Guests of honour have included the Wing Commander, Regional Commandant, and would have included the Air Commodore from Cranwell had he not retired early!
Quiz Night
In the standard "Pub Quiz" format, just a great opportunity for a laugh amongst friends, and raise a few extra pounds to go into the charitable fund.
"Bring Your Boss" Night
An evening of "pub type" games. We challenge the officers to a range of games including Skittles, Darts, Cards, draughts, and suchlikes. There IS a trophy, and to date the only name on it (three times) is the WO & Sgts Mess (The Officers are yet to win!)
Clay Pigeon Shoot
An excellent morning shooting at one of Somerset's finest Clay Shooting ranges over a WIDE range of disciplines. Followed by lunch, all of which was subsidised by the Mess.
Jubilee Challenge
For 2006 The Mess was approached to help with Staffing for the Jubillee Challenge on the Saturday of Ten Tors at Okehampton, Dartmoor. The Mess provided a team of staff to help with walkers of varied disabilities, by providing safety cover as they completed walks across Dartmoor ranging from ten to twenty miles. The mess have been invited back to provide similar assistance again in 2007.
