Page 10 - Flaming Cauldron – Issue 59

ACC ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
Major (Retd) Mark Harris –
Chairman Army Catering Corps
Officers’ Club
18 months has passed since I was asked to write
an article such as this for the Officers’ Club –
where has that time gone?
Since the lifting of the restrictions, we have ‘played
hard’ catching up on missed opportunities with gath-
erings in London, Farnborough and Winchester.
London saw our first event for some time
where we celebrated the 80th Anniversary and
which took place in September 2021 at Drapers’
Hall. It was certainly an event that exuded in
splendour and will be remembered for some time
to come. We welcomed our guests, Lt. Gen Sir
Mark Poffley KCB, OBE, Commodore David
Smith CBE and Colonel Jon West ADC who I
know all enjoyed the occasion as much as we did.
We were afforded accommodation at The Ned, a
5 star hotel, who looked after us all exception-
Chair Mark Harris, Wally
ally well. We marked this auspicious occasion
Vincent Secretary and Eric
by presenting Army Catering Corps cufflinks Lewis Secretary designate
to our gentlemen members and a broach for
the ladies, which all members of the club should
have received.
Following on from this was the Ladies Dinner
night held in October, at the Aviator Hotel in
Farnborough. This occasion saw more members
attend than in previous years and was a huge success
with great company, superb food and the usual ‘dad
dancing’ continuing late into the night.
The first event of 2022 saw us returning to the
Norton Park Hotel Sutton Scotney, for the Annual
Reunion Dinner held on Friday 18th March 2022.
Just under 70 club members attended, with new and
returning members included. We were honoured to
receive our guest, Paul Bayliss MBE, the General
Manager of the Brooklyn Hotel Manchester
who dined with us. After dinner we raffled (and
auctioned – thank you Nigel Marchant) a bottle of
fine whiskey (provided by Brigadier Keith Hudson
CBE) where we raised £470, which will go straight
to Rotary in Poland.
Our club continues to go from strength to
strength, demonstrated by the increased attend-
ance at those functions illustrated above, along
with those new members joining – long may this
continue.
Looking further ahead, the following events are
in the planning stages:
Summer outing to the Leander Club –
Wednesday 8th June 2022
Golf match versus Worshipful Company of
Cooks – 19th August 2022
Corps Sunday – 3rd July 2022
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Joint Officers’ Club and Sgts P&P reception
and Curry Supper – Friday 26th August 2022
Ladies’ dinner night – Friday 28th October
2022 at the Aviator Hotel, Farnborough
Opening Ceremony of the Field of Remembrance
– Thursday 10th November 2022
Cenotaph Parade – Sunday 13th November
2022 (London, National Memorial Arboretum
& Grantham)
Most of you will be aware, but it would be
remis of me not to mention the handover of the
Association and Club secretary. Wally Vincent has
done an exceptional job during his tenure, provid-
ing us all with a first-class level of service through
his communication, planning and commitment
ensuring none of us have been found wanting.
His professionalism and eye for detail has without
doubt kept our club moving forwards and for that
I would like to express my gratitude for his help to
me as your Chairman. We warmly welcome Eric
Lewis into the chair who brings with him a wealth
of experience, a great sense of humour and a real
wilco attitude – he will be a superb replacement
and I wish him well in his new appointment.
Do get in touch with me if you have any club
matters you wish to discuss or indeed if you are one
of those who just want a catchup!
Finally, please may I draw your attention to
our club website where you will find a wealth of
information including, forthcoming function dates,
membership details and many more interesting
pages. Just follow the link www.accassociation.org/
officersclub.htm
Stay safe and best wishes.
Mark Harris
SECRETARY@ACCASSOCIATION.ORG | WWW.ACCASSOCIATION.ORG