Page 12 - PBCMarch2023

Pickwick Bicycle Club Magazine Volume 20 No.1 March 2023 12

The 152nd Annual Garden Party….

Tie, badge, boater, train ticket……….wallet, yep’ it
was that time of year again, and it’s off to London
for the December Garden Party. A contingent of
some 420 plus were heading for the Connaught
Rooms, to enjoy the company of members & friends
and hopefully good fare.

Clearing The Pillars

The Household Cavalry trumpeters had
done their job well, having cleared the
Hercules Pillars of waifs & strays, and got
us all to our tables on time. The Captain
was clearly in control this year having
missed last year, but, he had little need
to bring the gathering to heel, as
everyone was behaving themselves. Thus
far at least.

Our President and principle guest Mark Ramprakash were then welcomed to their
places, grace was proposed by Charlie the Pot Boy, and lunch began. As is always the
case, one bite of food, or spoonful of soup, and
we are extolled by our Captain to sing
Pickwickian choruses, this time it was for the
arrival of the Original member. This year it was
Mr Gunter, he who had won a prize at Hampton
Court for his delaying tactics. With Vice-Captain
Dumkins close at hand, he was marched to the
top table to take wine with the President, to the
accompaniment of two members of the
Household Cavalry trumpeters, competing with
The Original Member
hunting horns.