City Livery Yacht Club

LAYING-UP DINNER 2009

Once again we were made warmly welcome at the Royal Thames Yacht Club for our Laying Up Dinner, held this year with an attendance of about 65 on Monday 9 November. The guest speaker was Acting Chief Petty Officer Joe Curley, Commanding Officer of the Bexley and Lewisham Sea Cadet Unit, who was accompanied by Alexis Gamble-Beresford. The meal was delicious and John Knox ably acted as Toastmaster.

The Commodore, in her speech, referred to the conditions at Cowes and the good weather experienced at Burnham, mentioned the questionnaire that had been

The Admiral (left) and the Commodore (right) with ACPO Joe Curley and Alexis Gamble-Beresford

circulated and invited additional comments, as well as announcing a repeat of the Lymington weekend for 25-26 September 2010. She introduced Vice Commodore Roger Burroughs, who proposed the toast to the guests.

Joe Curley described briefly and amusingly his experience, as a young man of 22, of leading a team of volunteers to encourage the cadets to make the most of themselves and proposed the toast to the Club.

The Commodore then presented The Commodore’s Trophy, , for fostering fellowship in the Club, to Michael Slack and the Leslie Davis Rose Bowl, to Clifford Champion, both with a pair of engraved glass tumblers. Although the Rose Bowl, having been donated by a Thames man, strictly should go to the member who has done most for the Thames Section, she said she believed that Clifford had contributed greatly to our standing in the region through his work in raising funds for the RNLI London branch. Clifford, in accepting the trophy, commented that he hoped this would encourage greater donations!

The Maclennan Cup was awarded to James Crockatt, for his sailing achievements, as well as his longterm support for the Cowes regatta. As he was unable to be present on this occasion, a suitable future occasion must be found to present it to him.

The Admiral presented a cheque for £250 to Joe Curley for the Bexley and Sydenham Sea Cadet Unit.

The Lord Mayor of London, the Rt Hon Alderman Ian Luder, and the Lady Mayoress, joined some of the guests for a stirrup cup, at the invitation of David Church.