|
The Christmas Lunch 08 was a most cheerful event, just what we all needed amongst all the doom and gloom of the ‘Credit Crunch’. We had wondered if numbers would be down this year but to our delight, we achieved a really good number and the Great Room really buzzed.
The Great Room 2008.
|
The Salvation Army
|
Our President, Sian Williams, hosted the occasion she came with her partner. Bill Turnbull, her co presenter on BBC Breakfast, came with his wife. We were pleased to welcome Bill as he has kindly agreed to deputise for Sian at the Awards ’09. Sian may be otherwise engaged, her baby is due on 10 March 09!
President Sian Williams with Paul Woolwich
and George Stone.
|
Sian warmly welcomes everyone.
|
We also welcomed June Whitfield and her family, Ainsley Harriott, Sir Bernard Ingham and Tom and Pat O’Connor.
Past Presidents June Whitfield and Ainsley Harriott.
|
Tom and Pat O’Connor.
|
Sir Bernard Ingham past President with June Whitfield and her daughter Suzy and husband Terry Quinn.
|
Past President John O’Neill with friends
Jess Conrad and Renee Conrad.
|
The decorations, balloons, poinsettias, and a lovely Christmas tree, fast- forwarded the Great Room to Christmas, getting many of us into the Christmas spirit. Once again we had a delicious, traditional Christmas Lunch with all the trimmings. This followed the now well established Champagne Reception. The ever popular Salvation Army Band played us in to a Christmassy melody.
The Salvation Army led by Kevin Ashman
|
Everybody joined in with the carols
|
After lunch we joined The Salvation Army Band to sing a medley of well- loved Christmas Carols when we all sang in hearty voice. We then held the inevitable, ubiquitous TRIC Raffle. Here we must say thank you for the most generous Raffle Prizes which were donated by our Corporate Members and the Hotel.
Our hearty thanks and congratulations to the lucky winners.
Tim Gooch wins a magnum of champagne kindly donated by the Grosvenor House Hotel.
|
The lucky winner of a Marshall Rock Kit
|
The Raffle helps boost our donations to our chosen charities. This year they are:
Help the Hospices and Riding for the Disabled. The President’s choices are LINK and Sparks. The Chairman’s choice is the Teenage Cancer Trust.
President Sian Williams and Mary Chandler the Chairman’s wife receive
flowers from Terry Mobbs Treasurer of TRIC.
|
We then settled down whilst our past President and good TRIC friend, Tom O’Connor, entertained us in his own inimitable way. Tom’s easy, relaxed style and his amusing anecdotes and stories were just right to round off a most special occasion. He certainly set that feel good factor.
Tom O’Connor entertains us
|
President Sian Williams with Paul Woolwich
Chairman Mike Chandler and his wife Mary.
|
Thanks to our Chairman, Mike Chandler of ASTRA and his wife Mary for hosting the event so capably and for their support of all TRIC events. Thanks, also, to the TRIC Committee for their work this year.
|
