Ninety four members of the St Mary Cray and Dartford District attended this dinner. It was so nice to see members from the Good Intent, Garden of England, Lord Holmesdale, Pride of Kent and about a third of them from the Flower of Kent who's celebration this was. The Alexander Suite was the venue of the event, a place we have been to many times and situated close to The Flower of Kent Lodge room. The Dinner Dance was 18:15 for 18:45 when I arrived at at 18:20 the car park had a number of Taxis dropping of those who either did not have transport, or perhaps wanted to have a drink to celebrate this milestone. When I entered the reception area I found there to be a lot already there. A drink from the bar and then greeting those we have not see for a while, some seated others stood talking. By 18:45 this room was very crowded.

Around 19:00 we were invited to take our seats in the next room for dinner by Brother Roger Burley the Toastmaster. The seating plan allowed Lodges and friends to sit together. The place mats, showed the names on, later these could be kept as a memento of the evening. There was a four course meal the menu of which is also shown below the gallery of photographs. The meal included 2 glasses of wine per head and for those not drinking there was fruit juice, which kept being topped up.

Following the meal there was a number of speeches organised by the Toastmaster. The proceedings started by Brother Graham Elliot President of the Southern District who gave a short speech to the Guest of Honour. There was the Loyal Toast to The Queen. Guest of Honour bro Ron Munro accompanied by his wife Flo, made a improvised speech explaining the importance of Oddfellowship. He made the point that our forefathers had been prudent and steady and had built up Oddfellows and is now the duty of the next generation to take us forward to the future. He had been a Oddfellow since 1965, some 45 years and had been honoured to serve his Lodge, going round the chairs four times, the District including being Grand Master of the Order. Now he is still active and is a representative on many committees.

The Chairman Brother Jim Morris came to his feet and gave an short history of the St Mary Cray and District and the Flower of Kent, which is his Lodge. He gave the history of the District including the building of the Lodge room for the Flower of Kent, then later details of the replacement modern building we see today. He explained that the Lodge is rich in ritual and now we have a complimentary social calendar. He praised Sister Pam Magee who will be provisional Grand Master for the District next year, for all of the social events she arranges with the Social Committee, this caused a ripple of applause as many agreed with him. Jim asked all of the Flower of Kent members to rise and take wine with him, it was so pleasing to see so many members of the Flower of Kent rise.

With the speeches over we were asked to retire to the reception room to allow the staff to move the tables which were over the dance floor. The disco started and many got up to dance. Brother Stephen Howden took photographs of all who attended, later these were printed and given out at Lodge. The DJ played a nice mix of music and kept a crowd on the floor, he played what the dancers wanted. Actually this DJ will be at the Flower of Kent Christmas Disco in late December where tickets are selling well, arranged by Pam Magee and the Social Committee of the Flower of Kent. Get your tickets for the Christmas Disco as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.