The last official Royal Norfolk Regt Officers’ Dinner occurred in Jun 2000 but an initiative by David Clarke, Brian Gunton and David Jolley, with the administrative support of RHQ Norwich, for which we are most appreciative, resulted in a private dinner at the Norfolk Club on the traditional first Friday in June 2001. David Clarke was away on the sub-continent but 20 attended: Brian Aldrich, Alan Birrell, Mike Cadge, Tim Chatting, Pat Darley, John Davidson, John Denny, Tom Eaton, Paul Garman, Brian Gunton, David Jolley, John Jones, John L Raybould, Nick Reynell, William Reeve, Maj Gen Patrick Stone, John Storey, Tony Towell, Richard Watson and Dick Winfrey. It was decided not to stage a repeat of the Beer Throwing in the Norfolk Club at the 1978 dinner. Just back from Annual TA Camp at Bellerby, where Richard Watson had won the 6 R ANGLIAN March and Shoot Gaza Cup for A (Royal Norfolk) Coy, John Davidson was animatedly describing the competition to Fred Ayers who was holding a half of bitter. Most of the ale went down the neck of the late Brig Peter Barclay. He blamed Fred! However, it was noted that the centenary of the Dinner Club occurs in 2004 and, in a rare After-Dinner Address, Maj Gen Patrick Stone observed: "It would be a tragedy to let it die!"
Maj Gen Patrick Stone
