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The Old Portmuthian Club - founded 1885

OP Club Home  > Forthcoming Events  > Sydney Luncheon Table  > 25 October 2005 Report

 

Forthcoming Events

 

Sydney Luncheon Table

25 October 2005 Report

October is the month of decisive battles of which Trafalgar 25th October deserves its prominence. 21st October was the 590th anniversary of Agincourt and 7th October was the 434th anniversary of Christian Europe’s salvation at Lepanto. Interestingly, in terms of the number of participants, Lepanto was the biggest sea battle since Actium and the largest until the Battle of the Coral Sea in 1942.

Our group celebrated the 200th Anniversary of Trafalgar on 25th October at the Royal Automobile Club in conjunction with the Royal Naval Association and the Imperial Services Club. It was a splendid evening when we, wives and companions dressed up. We wore medals on our dinner jackets and the ladies wore long frocks. Bill Main sported a splendid collection of World War 2 medals, Ted Downer his medal for service against the Mau Mau in Kenya, and me for my time in Cyprus, where I can remember attending the 150th celebration of Trafalgar. I cannot recollect having achieved anything other than the previous event that deserved such recognition: our cooks were a bit dodgy. There was no decadent European Political Correctness at the dinner. It was us against the Frogs. None of that reds or blues or whatever terms the effete of the Old World use.

Unfortunately, your correspondent was so carried away by this great celebration that he forgot to bring the camera. Instead we have to make do with a record of the names of Bill and Joan Main, Ted and Valerie Downer, Brenda and Barry Woods, Stuart and Vencie Gardiner, Val Long and Tony Walker-Powell. Sadly, a few months before this celebration, Val’s husband, Martin, was felled by a fairly severe stroke. He is still in a Nursing Home. Those Old Portmuthians who were at school with Martin Long will be relieved to know that he is making some progress.

The next 4 meetings are on Tuesday 21 February, 9 May, 15 August and 14 November 2006. Gap year students, backpackers, distressed gentlefolk and others who may be short of a bob in Australia should not be deterred by the thought of an unsought expense; I am sure we can work something out.


A Walker-Powell (1939 - 1950)
bandp@triode.net.au

 

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