The Christmas Lunch ’07 went with a swing with our President, Brian Blessed setting a really warm atmosphere, his exuberance is certainly catching. The Great Room was full to capacity there were one thousand and twenty TRIC members with their guests. We aim to make the TRIC Christmas Lunch a traditional occasion with Carols, turkey, mince pies, Christmas pudding, balloons, and party hats and decorations, the Christmas Lunch ’07 certainly was so Christmassy, the atmosphere was wonderful.

We had several past Presidents with us to enjoy the occasion. Roy Hudd and his wife Debbie, June Whitfield with her son in law Terry, Tom O’Connor and his wife Pat and Ainsley Harriot straight from Ready Steady Cook. John O’Neill hosted a table of his own guests.
We were pleased to entertain Sian Williams and her partner. Sian has agreed to be our next President for 2008/09 so we were delighted to see her having a lovely time enjoying the company of so many of our past Presidents and their guests. We were also very pleased to welcome David Frost he joined us for an aperitif and as a distinguished Companion of TRIC for many years it was a pleasure to see him.

After lunch we were entertained by Dara O’Briain the well known Irish comedian of many Television programmes and a regular guest on Q I. Then we were all in good voice as we sang our carols with the Salvation Army Band who have become very much part of our festivities. For many people the TRIC Christmas Lunch is the beginning of the Christmas season’s celebrations.

Another integral part of the day is always the TRIC Raffle and this year was no exception. We should like to thank the TRIC Corporate Members and Members who are always so generous in their donations to the raffle. This year we had the fabulous number of sixteen tip-top prizes on offer, our sincere thanks to you all and congratulations to the lucky winners.
The charities that we shall support this year are Help the Hospice and Riding for the Disabled. The President’s choices are Dogs For The Disabled and the Born Free Foundation. The Chairman’s choice is British Heart Foundation.

Thanks to our Chairman Howard Saycell and his wife Joan for hosting events so capably and for their support throughout the year. Thanks to the TRIC Committee for their work this year. Our thanks to all the TRIC members for their continued support. We wish you all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year for 2008.