The Mess Ball was to be the highlight of the weekend, so with this in mind we set out to re-create the atmosphere of 617 SQD's wartime Mess at the Petwood, as you can see from the photo's below attention to detail was as always paramount. Special thanks go to Neil "Shag" Wright for his superb efforts with the wartime table cloths, napkins, glasses,and handkerchiefs which all gave that extra special touch of authenticity. At the end of the evening the presentations were made, those that were fortunate to become members of the Goldfish club were presented with their badges and membership cards, also the members of the WAAF barrage balloon section were awarded with their "Up she Goes" Certificates.
The Layout
The Presentation
The Mess Dinner
Fun and Games!
The Plates, handkerchiefs and cutlery
were all wartime pattern
Original Wartime cruet sets adorned the table with many other period items
The Mess dining room
Attention to detail
Place setting with RAF marked Napkin, Glass,Knife and Fork, and table cloth
The Mess dining room
Pre- Dinner drinks
After visiting the PMC of course
The Dinning room awaits the guests
The WAAF's make their way to ant-room to be Introduced to the PMC.
The guests seated and ready to dine
The "er" Gentlemans only table!
Hang on to that Barrage balloon!
OOP'S "UP SHE GOES"
The Chaps read their menu's
in anticipation.
The Evening in full swing
From all at Ops especially "Dickie" Coppin above
"CHEERS"
The WAAF'S collecting their barrage balloons and "up she goes" awards
As per Wartime RAF tradition, after dinner the "fun and Games" began, they were an integral part of any squadron and many of the veterans have told us of the many antics they used to get up to, so with tradition on our side!!!
Musical chairs in the Squadron bar
Forced Landing, "funny I could have sworn their was a chair there"
Through a haze of cigar smoke "Dinghy" Makes his decent down the stairs with his trusty tray firmly underneath him
"Septic" makes it across the landing on to the final leg!
"Septic" makes it across the landing on to the final leg!
"Sucker" makes a rather too curved approach
the penalty for wearing red sock's in the mess
the penalty for being a "sprog" and tearing your trousers in the process
Another "Sprog" on the ceiling
The WAAF Section enjoy a spell out of uniform!!
The Loyal Toast
With the port passed around and glasses charged a very special letter was read out to the members and Guests.
(click on the Buckingham Palace logo to see the message)
The PMC then asked Mr Vice to toast Her Majesty The Queen.
