Charter Lunch 2013 - The Chichester (Rawreth).

Sunday 3rd November was the occasion of our 54th anniversary, and an excuse for members to meet up with partners, guests and distinguished invitees from our Inner Wheel club, other local Rotary Clubs and, of course, our Honourary member, the Lord Petre, our District Governor Peter Dowse and Assistant Governor for our area, Steve Dempster.

We had such a good time last year that we decided to meet again in the Old Barn at "The Chichester", a long established Essex hotel and restaurant in Rawreth. It has been a fixture for so long that it is rumoured the same chef has been there for 30 years!  If so, he has got the task of providing an extensive menu down to a fine art.  The breadth of this menu would have challenged any restaurant serving the public, let alone a private dining room catering for a party of 50 all of whom seemed to choose different combinations of courses, and needed their food served at the same time.  

After a warm welcome from President Keith Wood, and Grace by Rtn Bert French, we started on our meal.  The food was excellent and was rapidly served by the waiting staff, each course coming rapidly as soon as the previous course had been completed.  A faultless performance.  

And then to the speeches.  President Keith gave the address and toast to all our guests, and focussed on his plans for the club this Rotary year.  His talked about the success of the recent October Charity concert, which together with the ladies of Inner Wheel, had raised well over