Doggett’s Coat & Badge, Blackfriars Bridge. OEA Luncheon, 11 March 2024
Before The Storm. A Table Setting Bar None
It was a Serene Event! Participants were heard to describe “the buzz about the room” when twenty-two OEs attended the renovated Doggett’s Coat and Badge emporium for the penultimate (of 50) Old Emanuel Luncheon Club gatherings organised by the mighty Stuart Cameron-Waller. It’s been fourteen years of perfect SC-W administration whereby he has made sure that we have all enjoyed ourselves four times each year. What an amazing gift of time he has given to us for which we are all eternally grateful. His last offering will be in June and will be in Hove on the 3rd June 2024 (details soon) when he will hand over the gavel to Mr. Alex Noble who will doubtless preside for the next 20 years!
The food at D C&B excelled expectations; it really did…but what was quite exceptional was that we had all flocked there from far and wide. From Kent, from Sussex, from Surrey, from Hertfordshire, from Bedfordshire, from Cheshire and even from the suburbs of London…flocked there to hear the speech from our newly appointed, esteemed OE Luncheon Chairman for 2024, Mr Andrew Robertson. (Marlborough 65-72). He didn’t disappoint…something about “Where have the last 60 years gone? “Nil Desperandum” (ex-housemaster was present) and “Boys in dresses on stage in school productions” which fortunately he didn’t expand upon. Before you knew it, he was back to his beer and pudding…as indeed we all were.
We were pleased to welcome a most handsome new guest (as we were informed) in Mr John Sullivan. It was a joy to see him there. Of course, the sartorial award went yet again to Apples but this time in close competition from plenty of other finely attired gentlemen present that afternoon.
We are hoping that our next luncheon is bathed in bright sunshine and one that will be attended in high numbers in order to say thank you to Stu and hello to Alex. We look forward to seeing you by the seaside in Hove in June.
“Report” by AFB.