Today it was off to Nottingham for the Officers Mess Dinner
Night at Chetwynd Barracks, Chilwell , as the guest of The Commander of 170
(Infrastructure Support) Engineer Group.
After changing into Black Tie in my hotel I took a 25 minute
taxi ride out from the centre of Nottingham to the Barracks .The cab driver set
me down at the entrance barrier to the Barracks , saying he was not permitted
to take me any further .
After going through security formalities, the guard then
produced a map of the Barracks, saying that the Officers Mess was a good ten
minutes walk or so right to the other end of the Barracks ! Fortunately I
prevailed upon him to drive me down to the Officers Mess , otherwise I think
that I would almost certainly have got lost , so lacking in signposts was the
Barracks , and so deserted were the roads.
I was given a very warm and hospitable welcome upon arrival
by the Commander of 170 (Infrastructure Support ) Engineer Group , and met my
“shepherd” for the evening , who is heavily involved in the water projects that
the Group undertakes overseas . It was a very useful evening in terms of renewing
contact with the Group.
The dinner itself was splendid .After pre- dinner drinks, we
were summoned to dinner in the Mess Dining Room where a long table had been
beautifully set for around 80 people ; the regimental silver glinting in the
soft candlelight . After Grace we all sat down to dinner. The Officers looked
absolutely splendid in their red jackets with blue lapels, white shirts,
waistcoats , dress trousers and patent leather boots with silver spurs . The
scene – with the scarlet, gold, white and blue set against the wood panelling of
the Mess, all softened by the flickering candlelight – had an almost Georgian
quality about it . An excellent meal followed, accompanied by some fine wines.
After dessert, we adjourned for 20 minutes and then returned to the table for
cheese and port and the speeches. We were entertained throughout the dinner by
an accomplished group of musicians.
At around 11.30pm, I bade my farewells – this time , the
Commander asked his chauffeur to take me back direct from the Officers Mess to
the hotel !
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