The last Court Dinner of the calendar year bears the traditional and somewhat Dickensian title of Fathers and Sons. This conjures up the image of a Yuletide-bedecked, snow-bound Hall where proud fathers, leading citizens of the City, trudging in from their counting houses in Mincing Lane to introduce to the Company yet another boy from their burgeoning family.
Times change. Since Lord Luke was Master, some ten years ago, the dinner has not been restricted to fathers and sons and this year there were as many, if not more daughters than sons.
I took Grace to her first dinner at the Hall. To give her some moral support she came with a slightly older cousin, Poppy Stevens. Both of them had been bridesmaids at Poppy's sister's wedding earlier in the year. I think Grace enjoyed herself .
The evening closed with a selection of Gilbert and Sullivan songs. The first two were performed by Past Master Antony Woodall, an experienced and attractive sounding light tenor. He sang Nanki Poo's Tit Willow, or the Suicide's Grave, from the Mikado wearing a most fetching oriental jacket. Other songs including I am the very Model of a Modern Major General - possibly some reference to myself - and He is the Captain of the Pinafore -again possibly some reference to the Clerk - were sung by members of the Royal College of Music.
An enjoyable evening and there was snow outside.
Times change. Since Lord Luke was Master, some ten years ago, the dinner has not been restricted to fathers and sons and this year there were as many, if not more daughters than sons.
I took Grace to her first dinner at the Hall. To give her some moral support she came with a slightly older cousin, Poppy Stevens. Both of them had been bridesmaids at Poppy's sister's wedding earlier in the year. I think Grace enjoyed herself .
The evening closed with a selection of Gilbert and Sullivan songs. The first two were performed by Past Master Antony Woodall, an experienced and attractive sounding light tenor. He sang Nanki Poo's Tit Willow, or the Suicide's Grave, from the Mikado wearing a most fetching oriental jacket. Other songs including I am the very Model of a Modern Major General - possibly some reference to myself - and He is the Captain of the Pinafore -again possibly some reference to the Clerk - were sung by members of the Royal College of Music.
An enjoyable evening and there was snow outside.
No comments:
Post a Comment