This year the Dinner had just short of 300 members and guests attending. The evening got off to a good start with a champagne and canapés reception before moving into the newly decorated function suite at the Mercure called the International Suite. Guests enjoyed the menu which consisted of smoked salmon, black pepper cream cheese, capers and shallots. This was followed by roast fillet of pork, crushed carrot & spinach, crispy sage and Yorkshire cider jus, Irish cream cheesecake and a cheeseboard.
Prior to the Dinner Robert Brocklesby presented a cheque for £2,000 to Sally Connor, the North East Representative for the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (R.A.B.I.). Sally gave a brief but stark speech to remind us all how quickly lives can be changed in a split second and how desperately needed our donation is.
The Association holds a prize draw each year at the Dinner to raise funds for the various Charities it supports including the R.A.B.I. This year the prize draw raised £2,760 and the Executive Committee would like to thank everyone for their generous support.
After Dinner, Robert Brocklesby the Association’s President made a witty and interesting speech about the Association’s year. The guests were then entertained by a comedian called Rudi West before the concluding the formalities of the evening.
Some used the complimentary shuttle buses at mid-night to return to their hotels, whilst others stayed chatting in the bars until the early hours. There was a really good positive and happy vibe about the whole evening. Every effort is made to ensure the dinner does not clash but unfortunately it is sometimes unavoidable.
The exact date for the 2017 will be confirmed.
