The Ancient
Society of
College
Youths
Est. 1637

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370th ANNIVERSARY DINNER
Saturday 3rd November, 2006
at THE TOWER HOTEL, TOWER BRIDGE
Report by Robin Hall
(Click image to enlarge)

There is something ever so slightly sinister about the start of the formal proceedings at the College Youths’ dinner. The impending entrance of “your Master” is announced in a manner vaguely reminiscent of a boxing match, and the Master then enters the dining hall escorted by his stewards bearing the Society’s ancient silverware. To add to the tribalism of the spectacle the initially warm applause of the assembled company degenerates with alacrity into a cabalistic slow handclap as the officers make their way to their positions on top table. I always wonder what on earth our guests

(particularly the various distinguished clerical persons) make of this pomp and circumstance, but they keep coming back year on year so I presume they manage to season it all with the requisite proverbial pinch of salt.

The venue again this year was the Tower Guoman hotel. In addition to offering a simply stunning close-up view of a floodlit Tower Bridge, the hotel delivers a meal of excellent quality and has responded well in recent years to the logistical challenge of slaking the Society’s considerable thirst for both grain and grape. Reflecting on this, Rev Darren Moore gave us a most apposite grace which alluded to the fact that most of us would simply be reversing Christ’s miraculous transformation of water into wine.

With the melodrama of his arrival complete, the Master of 2006-7, Chris Kippin, announced “Welcome to the … err, whatever it is.” We wondered if the pace of his year at the helm had taken its slow toll on this slow toller, but with a brief and uncharacteristic glance away from his feet he regained control and welcomed us to the 370th anniversary dinner. Attendance at these dinners has gone from strength to strength in recent years with 356 people sitting down to enjoy this year’s event. It was strange this year not to be guided through the ceremonies by Andrew Stubbs who has filled the role for many years but in Phil Rogers we have a most able replacement.

Following an enjoyable and efficiently served meal, the Master proposed the toast to the Church. Having recently confessed to using a calendar rather than a clock to know when to make calls at 19 in Stedman Cinques, it was a relief that he was true to his promise to be brief. After drawing parallels between the splendour of towers like Chewton Mendip and the secular skyscrapers of Manhattan, Chris finished with an entertaining poem which will be remembered as much for his mischievous rhyming of ‘wench’ with ‘Kench’ as for the gentle dig at the ringing served up on Wednesdays by ‘the other lot’. We were fortunate this year to welcome two speakers from America to our dinner, inspired by the recent installation at Trinity Church, New York of the first ring of 12 bells in the United States. To respond to the toast to the Church, Rev Dr James Cooper, Rector of Trinity Church, spoke entertainingly about his experiences of ringing, the importance of the Church’s mission to be seen as being seen in the world not just in the church buildings, and particularly of the remarkable project to install the ring of 12 at Trinity and his gratitude to benefactor Dill Faulkes and many other people who have worked for the success of this peal of bells. 

Our second American speaker was Rick Dirksen, a member of the Society for many years and well known to anyone who has rung in the States or took part in the UK05 tour. Rick treated us to a fascinating insight into North American ringing, particularly the early visit of a College Youth band to ring a peal on the then new ring of 10 at Washington Cathedral. He thanked some of the many people who have been instrumental in fostering change-ringing in America, paying particular tribute to Bill Theobald, Derek Sawyer, Alan Regin, Laith Reynolds, Dill Faulkes and Simon Linford. Rick proposed the toast to The Society in three parts: all those who were visiting from overseas, all those who had rung overseas, and then all present – demonstrating the international nature of the Society’s membership. The Society’s secretary has the unenviable responsibility of speaking at every dinner, but John Hughes-D’Aeth is warming to this task now and despite the close scrutiny of four past secretaries being present, he responded to Rick’s toast with a whistle-stop review of the Society’s activities over the past year. A new feature this year is the awarding of certificates to members achieving 50, 60 or 70 years’ membership of the Society. A grand certificate has been designed and produced by George Pipe for the purpose and these were presented to all those present with the longevity to qualify.

The job of proposing a toast to the guests falls to the Society’s Junior Steward, and Peter Valuks did so with a Jack Dee-like delivery. I was particularly relieved that Peter shunned the ubiquitous ploy of Googling all the guests in the hope of finding embarrassing namesakes, but instead extended a warm and well-researched welcome to all our guests. His closing joke about a defective church sound system proved rather well chosen given some earlier technical problems. Our final speaker for the evening, Tim Joiner, replied to the toast to the guests. Tim had had a sound introduction to the world of ringing being a (somewhat younger) cousin of Andrew Stubbs. Tim had clearly done his homework on the Society and gave us an entertaining speech to finish the evening, managing to hit a variety of buttons by alluding most delicately to some of the more interesting facets of Society members.

The College Youths’ dinner rarely fails to be a most enjoyable occasion and this was certainly one of the best, thanks in no small part to the tremendous hard work of many people but most notably John Hughes-D’Aeth who ensures that everything just works. As an indication of the nature and scale of the event and also of the excellent planning involved, it’s interesting to consider beer. There were nineteen 72-pint barrels of London Pride available - that’s 1368 pints, but we only drank 1361. We look forward to more of the same next year.

David Maynard and William Dawson Peter Rumley celebrated his 30 years membership of the Society with a round of brandies.  Pictured here with three Michaels: Harrison, Birkbeck and Royalton-Kisch.
John Ketteringham talking to Michael Royalton-Kish.

Philip Rogers in his first year as Toastmaster.

The Master presents certificates to members who have achieved over 50 years' membership.
David Lane receives his certificate.
The certificates were produced by George Pipe. He is seen here holding his own certificate.
The Master proposes the toast to the Church. The Revd Dr James H Cooper, Rector of Trinity Church, Wall Street, New York City, responds.
Rick Dirksen proposes the toast to the Society.
The Secretary, John Hughes-D'Aeth responds. The Junior Steward, Peter Valuks, proposes a toast to the guests.
On top table: Fr Philip Warner (St Magnus), Simon Holden (SRCY Master), John Hughes-D'Aeth, Andrew Nunn (Southwark), Revd George Bush (Bow) and the Master. Response by Tim Joiner, former Lord Mayor of Westminster
Andrew Graham with Graham Hayward
(or is it Mike Trimm?)
Christine Potter with Harold Rogers.
Brian Meads, Paul Seaman, Nick Smith and Peter Valuks Heather Kippin, David Kirkcaldy and Cathy Howard.
Jim Philips, Brenda Davies, Heather and Chris Pickford Rick Dirksen, Richard Burton and the Master.
John & Cathy Hughes-D'Aeth with Paul Mounsey Michele Ellender, Tony Clayton, Michael Uphill and John Mulvey.
Andrew Wilby, Bob and Ruth Smith.  
Rona and Tim Joiner Matching dresses: Anthea Edwards and Stephanie Warboys.
Tim Joiner with a couple of wenches... ...his wife with a couple of kenches (well, a Kench and a Rogers)
Arthur Reeves, Helen Valuks, Mark Eccleston and Claire Roulstone The hotel is just beneath London Bridge. Pictured here are Dickon Love and Michael Royalton-Kisch.
James Kenny, Colin Newman and Paul Mounsey Dill Faulkes and Wendy Bishop.
Rachel Mitchell and Edward Hughes-D'Aeth Stephanie Warboys reacts to the idea of ringing handbells...
... though she is happy to watch others do it. Leon Thompson, Mike Birkbeck and Sarah Taylor beneath the bridge.

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