It’s been a couple of decades, I reckon, since I last joined the naval lawyers for their annual bash. I would have said “knees-up” but we are rather a more sedate and sober collection of serving and retired officers, with the odd sprinkling of august representatives of the civilian and NATO legal set.
It was a delight to return to HMS EXCELLENT after very many years. The RN was very welcoming with even parking slots for Visually Impaired People (or so I interpreted the VIP signs as we couldn’t spot those for Blue Badges).
Royal Marine drum band provided a stirring welcome, the volunteer band was super and the dinner excellent (they even cut up my meal so I could manage to eat it – always a challenge when one is blind). I’m sure that it was a truly splendid scene of dazzling gold braid, sparkling mess silver and clinking medals. Wonderful how these traditions continue.