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At the conclusion of the meal and before any speeches, the Mess staff will clear all plates and glasses other than a port glass. A decanter each of Port and Madeira is then positioned in front of the President and Mr Vice. When the President removes the decanter stoppers, Mr Vice does likewise. The President and Mr Vice then pass the decanters to their left. Each Member then charges his own glass to taste. A steward will be in attendance with a jug of water while the Port is being passed for those who prefer a non-alcoholic drink. Eventually the President’s set of decanters will reach Mr Vice, and Mr Vice’s the President, the stoppers are then replaced. (The decanters should never be passed back to the right). Extra decanters will be placed at regular points around the tables and it is important that these extra decanters are handled in the same way. The tradition that the decanter should not touch the table until it reaches its final destination is obscure and is not followed by No 46 Squadron. The stage is now set for the loyal toast. The President bangs his gavel and proclaims: “Mr Vice - The Queen”. Mr Vice then rises and replies: “Gentlemen - The Queen.” The assembly rises, and if a band is in attendance the National Anthem will be played. On completion of the anthem, glasses are lifted “The Queen” is repeated by the assemblage and the Port sipped. Seats are then resumed. If there are Members or guests from foreign or Commonwealth countries, toasts will be proposed to their head of state. The President will rise and propose the toast, for example, “Mr Vice - The President of the Federal Republic of Germany.” Mr Vice rises and replies: “Gentlemen, The President of the Federal Republic of Germany”. Again, all will rise, if a band is present it will play the appropriate anthem; otherwise, Members lift their glasses and repeat the toast. If a band is present then, after the loyal toast, the President will ask the band masters to join him and the Chef for a glass of port; this intended as a token of thanks on behalf of the Members.
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On completion of the loyal toast, coffee is served and the President recommences the circulation of the Port and Madeira decanters. Members will generally have had no need to touch the Mess silver during dinner; indeed a Member may be fined for so doing. However, if he has a burning need to read a particular inscription, it is generally permitted to touch the silver after the Loyal Toast. The President will usually announce an administrative break; Members who take advantage of the break must return to their seats with alacrity. On the return of all the Members, the President will, in turn, call upon the Secretary to make the Parish Announcements and nominated Members to propose toasts to ‘The Squadron’ and to ‘Absent Friends’. At the end of each proposal, all Members rise and drink the toast, repeating the exultation. Finally, the President will propose a toast to ‘Our Guests’; only the Members rise and drink this toast. To indicate the end of dinner, the President will bang his gavel and stand, the top table will rise and, led by the President, leave the dining room. During the exit, the remaining Members stand until all the top table have left. Other Members may then leave the dining room when they wish and later rejoin their colleagues in the anteroom for post-prandial refreshment and reminiscences.
Bowdlerised and plagiarised from ‘Behind the Hangar Doors’ by Philip Congdon. Sonik Books 1985. |
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Air Vice Marshal |
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“Do you remember when we all had hair and it wasn't white?” |
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“Parish Notices” |
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Menus are signed by all as a memento |
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The “Spirit of 46” |
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“I would like to take wine with …..” |
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Our President |