FINAL SIGNAL :  Report on PSYC Trafalgar Night Dinner - 21^st October 2023

It is sometimes said that any naval power wishing to invade the shores of England, would be best placed to do so in the early hours of the morning of the 22^{nd of} October when many of that nation’s naval officers would be retiring to their bed after a good Trafalgar Night Dinner, replete with tasty food, wine and port.

The PSYC TN Dinner followed suit, did not disappoint and no foreign warships were spotted at the lock gates.

 Luckily, our President (Dave Fortey), Vice President (Susan Scott) and ‘speaking’ Table Captains (Heaton, Jump, Selley, Scott, and Bowie had planned for such an eventuality and Command HQ was set up at No 51 Bryher to ‘rehearse’ the evening’s operation. Doug Latta and Roy Clarke were called upon to back up the plan. Unfortunately, Ian Bourne was always ‘adrift’ but more than made up for it on the night!             

The battle plan was put into action early on the morning of the 21^st. Flags were hoisted, ‘walk-throughs’ executed and much ‘tooth sucking’  done by the Vice President on the risk of ‘alarms’ being sounded during the planned ‘Parade of Sail’. Calmed by a ship’s captain, who has experience in these matters, a voyage plan was filed for the route.

In the evening, ninety-two crew reported for duty. Embarked on tables of different ‘ships of the line’ and wearing finery seldom seen around the pontoons, the scene was set for a night which promised to blend tradition with fun.

Dining, fortification, a ‘touch of history’ (superbly delivered by our President and his table captains), and toasting were the standing orders of the day. As the evening progressed so did the banter, not only between the omnipresent ‘power’ and ‘sail’ contingencies but also the crew showing support for their own captains and ships.

The ‘Parade of Sail’ was introduced  by the club’s only serving RN officer, Surgeon Commander Alan Bowie, resplendent in his mess undress and wearing miniature medals as, it should be noted, were some other crew members.

With no smoke detectors activated during the spectacular parade, Madam Vice finally relaxed, so much so that she tried to offer a glass of port to all crew before the President had received his final reports  - Hooray tio! ( Horatio).

The President then delivered a eulogy to Nelson culminating in the most important moment of the evening, a toast to  ‘The Immortal Memory’.

Following a few songs led by ‘Deck & Fo’c’sle’, all crew stood to attention with a rousing rendition of ‘Rule Britannia’ which was a patriotic and fitting close to what, by common consensus, was a fabulous evening.

 

 And so for now, just one final toast….

' Mr. President, Ladies & Gentlemen’          ‘Port Solent Yacht Club’

                Yours Aye

                Susan

Proclamation on Winterfest

‘Hear ye, hear ye…’

I am pleased to proclaim that the ‘Winterfest’, thrown for the villagers of PSYC was a very well attended affair with 86 places set at the table. Fishermen and pirates alike, left their boats and ships to gather with the labourers of the land for a night of hearty comradery, eating drinking, dancing, and general merriment.

The village square was transformed by fairy lights and pennants, fishing nets stowed above, and the bench tables setup and assembled close together so that the village could congregate and trade compliments (or insults) about their clothes. What an effort everyone made; quite a sight to be seen. Some villagers were barely recognisable (you know who you are) and in a few instances , fishermen had kindly brought some fish around their necks to add to the feast:

‘Bravo Zulu’ (= well done! ed) to everyone.

The pirate group ,‘Jim & Splice the Main Brace’ kicked off the evening and kept up a good pace throughout,There was, however, an element of ‘head scratching’ before the meal when it became apparent that many in the village didn’t ‘know their knots’ and couldn’t easily establish their place at the table. It was interesting to watch some villagers take out those newfangled instruments called smart phones and photograph the knot, hoping that,the little person inside would give them the answer. This did give rise to a moment of concern for the head villager who thought people might tell her ‘to get knotted’ but, then again, her olde sea dog was on hand to help. Funny, I wonder whose idea that was?

Ration cards were handed out before the meal and the village folk made their way to the food stalls to collect their fayre, and very scrummy it was too. Sitting down to tables, bedecked with check tablecloths and tea lights, the chatter and banter continued, interspersed with laughter as ‘Ye Olde Photo Boothe’ caricaturist sketched some villagers in action.

Villagers Alan and Alison Bowie, playing guitar and drum, did a few songs to much applause and the night continued as the village dancers encouraged others into the square.

Winterfest also had a few side stall attractions to tempt the adventurous but clearly there was some ‘cheating’ on recorded scores. ‘Colouring the castle’ became a bit of a hit, particularly towards the end of the evening when a mixture of names, flowers, designs, and even a White Ensign were coloured onto the ramparts.

So, overall, ‘twas a good and memorable night in the village.

And, as someone so kindly wrote to me after the event, ‘a splendid start to the season…’

‘Hear Ye, hear ye…….’tomorrow we will sail’

Susan

Post Proclamation: A big ‘thank you’ to John S, John H, Sarah, Jane, and Steve who kindly helped with the set up in the morning. Building the castle did take slightly longer than anticipated. And in particular, to ‘my old sea dog’ who very patiently, sometimes not quite so, helped me place 258 colour coded stickers, in the correct order, onto 86 individually printed ration cards; perhaps not to be repeated!

Finally, the blue check tablecloths and tea light holders used in the village square, were pillaged by PSYC. If any rally

leaders would like to borrow them for forthcoming rally activities, then please let me know.