The Association was privileged to welcome a very special guest speaker to its dinner at The Shrubbery in Ilminster on 17th February. Apart from being the Member of Parliament for Portsmouth North, The Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt is a member of the Cabinet, Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Council.
Although Penny was on the last leg of a West Country tour during a week in which Parliament was in recess, and having had dinners on the previous two evenings, in Cornwall and North Devon, she showed no signs of flagging as she gave us not only an inspirational speech with a metaphorical hug of support for all that we do, but she also toured the tables between courses to speak to just about every one of our seventy-five diners. Her positive message in these challenging times raised the spirits of even the most anxious of government critics.
Penny Mordaunt talking to Major General Malcolm Hunt while others listened in.
Among those who attended this truly memorable evening were the Association’s past President, Lady Waddington, former MEP for the West Country, Sir Ashley Fox, and the Police & Crime Commissioner for Avon & Somerset, Mark Shelford. Our Chairman, Howard Bentley-Marchant, started the evening’s proceedings by welcoming all guests, and past Chairman Julian Stapleton gave an informal introduction and welcome to Penny Mordaunt.
Calling the winning number for Penny’s book, duly signed for lucky winner Adrian Stanway
Following her talk, Penny gave some fulsome answers to a number of probing questions. She then picked the 200 Club winners for January and February – with Heather Luders and Arthur Thring each winning £100. Before she left to drive back to Portsmouth, Penny picked the first raffle prize, for a copy of her book GREATER – BRITAIN AFTER THE STORM, and signed it for the lucky winner, Adrian Stanway.
Farewell and thank you Penny, with Association Chairman Howard Bentley-Marchant and Deputy Chairman Paul Dean
