GUILDHALL DINNER

THE AUTUMN ANNUAL DINNER

They came from far and wide, perhaps not as many as we would have liked but a good turnout all the same. I’m referring to the new Autumn Annual Dinner held late September in the City of London’s 15th Centenary Guildhall. Bob Whittington, Chairman of the Great Western Branch, wrote “… I thought the lamb for dinner at the Guildhall was superb and I had a most enjoyable evening…

”The pre-dinner sparkling reception was held in the East Crypt, immediately beneath the Guildhall and is the largest medieval crypt in London, with the dinner itself held in the adjoining West Crypt; it certainly made an unusual but atmospheric venue.

Ruth Reed, who took Office on 1st September as the RIBA’s President Elect, was the guest speaker: “The RIBA has an unusual election process and having set out my policies, run a campaign and won I now have to sit tight for a year and wait for the opportunity to put them in practice. By then of course the economy will be in a state of rapid growth… and the planning system will take 4 weeks and always say yes… and all my election promises will be pointless… well we can only hope!

To read Ruth Reed's full afterdinner speech click here.