Macartney Lodge Summer Gala 2010

Originally a Georgian Mansion House, Milford Hall in Salisbury, Wiltshire was the location for the 2010 Macartney Lodge Summer Gala. The hotel is quite small and has the ambience of a country house hotel even though it is located about 5 minutes walk away from Salisbury town centre: it was this atmosphere that charmed us when deciding where to go for the 2010 Gala.

This year, members of the Festive Committee and their wives decided to go down the night before the Gala began, just to make sure that everything was in order when other guests arrived (well, that's our story and we're sticking to it!). This also gave us the opportunity to have a meal in the restaurant and get the ‘lay of the land' so to speak!

On the day the Gala commenced, the majority of us decided to walk down into Salisbury and have a look round. Although it rained (for the second year running…..!) a very pleasant morning was spent wandering around the town with the WM and the SW undertaking some in depth investigations into local toy shops, sweet shops and bakers…….!

With doughnuts, bon-bons and toys purchased, we wandered around for a while but the heavens opened once again, so we made a soggy dash back to the bakers we'd bought the doughnuts from a bit earlier: the 10 of us causing good natured (!) chaos for the waitresses. I have to say that there is something about a WM, SW, SD and a PM sitting in a café, discussing the merits of tea over coffee and scones over doughnuts which seems to invite comparisons with an Ealing comedy….or should that be Monty Python!

Later that day, the other guests began to arrive and the evening's events kicked off with a fairly informal meal. Afterwards, those of us who wanted to dance were entertained by an excellent disco whilst the gamblers amongst us (you know who you are!) spent their time at the Roulette and Black Jack tables which had been set up in another part of the building. Most of us were visibly yawning by the time the evening began to draw to a close……

The following morning dawned bright and sunny: no rain - hooray!!! After breakfast, some folk went shopping; some decided to stay at the hotel. However some of us (yes, you've guessed it, pretty much the same group who had infiltrated Salisbury the day before) decided to combine a bit of retail therapy with a little sight-seeing and it was decided that we would avail ourselves of the services of the local Tour Bus which left from Salisbury at various points during the day.

Suffice to say that another bout of Ealing comedy/Monty Python type escapades, (again led by the WM, SW and SD and supported by another PM) followed as we travelled to Stonehenge and later to Old Sarum: at one point one of our number almost had to be gagged as he was making too much noise on the bus. I couldn't possibly mention names as that would be indiscreet, but he is of Italian descent…………!

Finally we all decided that we really ought to be getting back to start getting ready for the Gala, so the Wiltshire countryside was left in peace……for a while at least as we all trooped back to Salisbury.

As you would imagine, there was bound to be a hiccup: later that evening as we were all waiting for the Toast Master to begin the Reception proceedings, we found out that he hadn't actually arrived. Initial frustration turned to worry as he still hadn't arrived as we were going into dinner ……until finally he rushed in, all at sixes and sevens. Unfortunately the poor chap had been taken ill on the way and he was clearly still not feeling great but he insisted on carrying on until, eventually, the WM told him to go home with our best wishes for a speedy recovery.

After a lovely Banquet meal accompanied by piano music, we were entertained by a singer who excelled in doing routines in the manner of the ‘Divas': she was fabulous, doing songs by Bette Midler and Barbra Streisand etc and, although the evening drew to a close too soon for some of us, it was very entertaining. Many of us were absolutely shattered because we'd had such a nonstop evening the night before: mental note for next year – don't burn out too soon!!

So, on the following morning, the 2010 Gala in Salisbury drew to a close and we all said our farewells and left for home……and an afternoon nap! From the feedback we have since had, folk very much enjoyed it and they are looking forward to the 2011 Gala which will be held in Cambridge………..

Hope to see you all there!!!!

Sarah White - Summer 2010

Click HERE for some photographs of the event