9th-12th-Lancers - Year 2001 - Page 0039
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| Regiment | 9th/12th Lancers |
|---|---|
| Year | 2001 |
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REGIMENTAL JOURNAL OF THE 9TH/12TH ROYAL LANCERS (PRINCE OF WALES’S) 39 The Officers’ Mess ince the move to the palatial quarters of Schloss Bredebeck, the Officers’ Mess social activity engine has gone firmly into overdrive. The windy building site of Swanton Morley is now but a fleeting memory and the offi- cers have capitalised on the hosting potential of their new and much more salubrious surrounds. We now live in the finest Mess in the British Army, for goodness sake! The Main Events List for the year kicked off with an atmospher- ic and most enjoyable Ladies’ Dinner in March. This was followed by a Polo tactics and training weekend in April where civilian instructors came to pass on the finer points to interested officers, and in some notable cases, their wives. In early May, the bulk of the living-in officers found themselves carousing until the wee small hours at the SCOTS DG Polo Ball in Fallingbostel and were well looked after. The hereto good relationship between the two Regiments remains intact - despite the best efforts of some! Maintenance of the Mess has been a high priority this year with much redecoration, carpeting and renovation. The fountain outside the Mess has been refurbished and now sends a jet of water skyward in a most satisfying manner, though it has not yet been stocked with fish. However, the adjacent lake has been stocked with trout and now mem- bers of the newly formed Bredebeck Flyfishers can be seen Capt RusseH enjoys the gardens of Sch/ass Bredebeok ‘? ; WW stalking the bank and wading the stream, brows furrowed in concentration as they pursue the ‘finny prey’. In May the traditional Cavalry Memorial Parade and Service took place in London’s Hyde Park. The whip being firmly in, it was attended by as many officers that could be spared. The OCA turnout was also very good and the lunch that followed proved beyond doubt that the RAF Club has finally put its gastronomic house in order. Several local pubs, such as The Australian and the Grenadier, also saw healthy takings on the day. Also in May, the Mess hosted its second Polo Ball in Germany in aid of the Hunt and Polo Fund and a substantial sum was raised to help the Regimental Polo Team compete over the coming season. That same month, the Regiment presided over the Garrison sponsored Queen’s Birthday Parade Cocktail Party and Beating of the Retreat. Around one hundred local German dignitaries were lured into the Mess with the promise of free pop and were fed and watered at the Brigade’s expense. Hopefully the supplier of the dubious sekt on offer will not be approached again to bid for next year’s event! The evening also allowed the Mess to usefully meet many of the Brigade staff in comfort rather than on the top of a rain-sodden hillock “somewhere in Germany”. June saw the Mess again at play with a Regimental Dinner Night attended by the Chief of Staff 1 (UK) Armd Div and the Mess welcomed back the C Sqn Officers from their exer- tions in Kosovo. On the last weekend in June the Mess host- edits Summer Ball with the theme of“Going Underground”. Much fun was had both readying the Mess and in the evening itself though the PMC never again wishes to hear Mr Preston’s rendition of “Mind the Gap”. All the officers are to be congratulated on the event’s success and the chefs in par- ticular are to be thanked for setting new standards of food preparation and presentation. In July the Mess was delighted to host, as part of the Mons Moy celebrations, a number of Old Comrades including Major General Mike Swindells and the redoubtable Bobby Collins to name but a few. On the Saturday night, the All Ranks Ball and Beating Retreat was very wet but nonetheless enjoyable. Overall, the Mons/Moy weekend was a great suc- cess and from the letters received subsequently from the OCA, it is clear that the older members of the Regiment enjoyed themselves and the Mess looks forward to hosting them again in 2003. Sadly, the BATUS commitment will preclude a repetition in 2002 of what all agreed was a great weekend. Sch/ass Bredebeok , Chnstmas 2007 |
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