EVEREST DINNER 1984

Report based on Glip's personal log

October  1984          Everest Dinner

Leaders         Glip, Kenneth Wallace, Graham Bolster, Peter Bennett, Tommy Boag, Guy Grant, Kenny Paton, Ian Black, Eric Wylie, John  Kerr, John Yarr(?)

Scouts            James Gatherer, Richard Terry, Stuart Dalrymple, Ross Gillespie, Mark Sinclair, Douglas MacCrorie, Roderick MacCrorie, Derek Speirs, Kenneth Blair, Ally Blair, Colin Beaton, David Gordon, Adrian Simpson

Report

The Everest year had been such a spectacular success that a proper finish was required and it was decided to present and have a formal dinner at the Tontine Hotel. The cost was £6 per head, but the Scouts were subsidized for half of this sum, out of money left over from the various weekends throughout the year. Naturally, it was in full uniform with Everest scarves (or Double Everest in Peasant’s case), and when we all gathered in the Tontine we looked very impressive. The Scouts were on their best behaviour and quite self-conscious, but at the same time looked thrilled to bits. We had a man from the Telegraph, who came to take their photos in the hallway, and we then retired to a private room for the meal.

It was quite a good meal, and afterwards, Ian Black made a short speech praising the 70th. Glip then made a speech where he slagged each Everester in turn (the outlines of the speech are ‘filed’ somewhere and might turn up in time). This went down extremely well and there was great laughter. Glip finished off with a toast to the Everesters,  then Roderick returned the compliment with a toast to the leaders,

It was then time for the review of slides and we showed all the Everest climbs to much excitement and a babble of voices as everyone remembered the various events.

Finally, and very late on, we presented certificates to a collection of extremely happy and proud Scouts. It was clearly a great night for the Scouts and it was also a great night for the leaders to see the pleasure they had all gained from this year of challenge.