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GRAND CHAPITRE
Southampton was the venue for the largest Grand Chapitre ever held in the United Kingdom. 177 members and their guests assembled from many different countries for this magnificent event.
The celebrations started with the welcome dinner onboard HMS Warrior. 155 diners were seated between the cannon on the main gun deck and treated to a sumptuous feast by our member chef Darren Lunn, of County Caterers.
Saturday morning was dry and bright and pleasant for the tour of the Portsmouth Royal Dockyard and HMS Victory and the Mary Rose. After this some took a ferry trip around the harbour to see the Navy whilst others went to Gun Wharf Quays to sample the delights from a choice of some 50 restaurants, cafes and bars and then to see the incredible views from the top of the Spinnaker Tower. We never heard so many "Wow"s as when the lift doors opened at the top.
Saturday evening saw the intronisation of 83 members including of course your new Bailli Délégué, Philip Evins. Marie Jones, Conseil Magistral, who stepped in at the last moment in place of Jaakko Nuutilla who fell ill just a few days earlier, performed the intronisations.
After this, Tony Cox carried out the intronisation of 20 new members of the Ordre Mondial.
Members then adjourned to a champagne reception in the attractive setting of the De Vere Grand Harbour atrium before sitting down to a fine six course dinner prepared by Clifford McCrea of the De Vere.
Sunday dawned to bright sunshine befitting our visit and tour of the P&O liner Oceana followed by a wonderful farewell lunch prepared by our member chef Trevor Glass and his able team.
Congratulations are due to Chris Lewis and his National Council and to Jenny Handscombe, Solent Bailli, and her team of Allan Jack, Richard Elliott, Jerry Maw, Andrew Crawford and Peter Protheroe, for a memorable event.
There have been many messages of thanks but perhaps the one that summed it all up best was from one of our Dutch members who said simply "It will be a very, very long time before we forget this wonderful event." Well done everyone!
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