The annual Kent Branch Christmas Dinner & Dance took place on Saturday 25 November at its now customary venue of the Brands Hatch Thistle Hotel where, contrary to popular belief, guests were not welcomed by either Jensen Button or Bernie Eggleston, nor were their tyres changed when drawing up outside the main entrance!

Above: Peter Finch FAMU Dinner Dance Committee member.
Above Right: Brenda Oviatt - Dinner Dance Committee member.

The entire event hangs on a specific and often topical theme, but this year saw a slight diversion with the simple idea of just Christmas being the focus of the night. Entrance to the ballroom was via Santa's grotto, which was festooned with toys and decorations. Father Christmas was then on hand with his "little helpers" handing out gifts to one and all. Things became a little suspicious at this stage when he was overheard saying that nobody should look too closely at the walling - we now know what he does for the rest of the year!

Once seated in the ballroom, revellers were delighted by the table designs which were children's toys nestling on top of a drum! And of course the tables were made to look as stunning as ever as they were graced by Brenda Finch's beautiful menus and name cards, again continuing the theme of Christmas with a replica of Santa's grotto on the front cover.

The top table L-R: Janet Potton FAMU, Master of the Worshipful Company of Upholders Anthony Usher, AMUSF President Joan Milton and her husband David Hayes, Elizabeth Bon and Liveryman Roy Bond.

Traditional Christmas fayre and copious amounts of champagne and wine were followed by blessedly-brief speeches, despite the fact that Anthony Usher, current Master of the Worshipful Company of Upholders, worried the guests by saying he'd "only been asked to speak for 40 minutes"! It was a delight to see him at the event, together with the Clerk and immediate Past Master, Jean and James Cody, plus several other Liverymen, all of whom were heard to say that they had been told that the Kent Dinner & Dance was well worth attending!

The Cabaret this year was provided by a young singer called Shane Hampshire, who sung a medley of Christmas songs and other more modern numbers to get the guests in the mood. This, in truth, was not difficult as everybody attends safe in the knowledge that a good time is on the cards!

Prior to the start of the traditional disco - which was, as ever, the best in town! - A raffle was held of a variety of prizes donated by Kent Branch well-wishers and supporters. This year's beneficiary was the local children's hospice and those present dug deeper than usual for this worthy cause raising nearly £700 in little over half-an-hour. It never ceases to impress how the organisers manage to entertain their guests for a staggering seven-and-a-half hours and yet, every year without fail, 2am comes around all too quickly. Perhaps the only indication that the night has been a long one is the odd sore foot or two!

Credit and thanks go to Brenda and Peter Finch, Brenda and Derek Oviatt and Roy Theobald, the usual stalwarts and backbone of this event who work so very hard indeed to keep the spirit of the AMU alive through their sheer ingenuity, wonderful imaginations and incredible hard work.