The Association's annual Constituency Dinner, held at Hemswell Court, Lancaster Green, Hemswell, has been very successful after a substantial number of guests enjoyed a great evening.
Upon arrival guests, who looked both smart and elegant in their evening wear, were welcomed in to the Primrose Room by Chairman, Mr. Ashley Perraton-Williams and were invited to enjoy a flute of strawberry liquor and sparkling wine or orange juice. Sir Edward Leigh MP and guest speaker the Baroness Neville-Jones circulated with other guests including party members, young activists, councillors and other supporters at a preprandial drinks reception.
A little before eight o'clock guests were invited to take their seats for dinner. Cllr. Bruce Allison, who is the newest member of West Lindsey District Council, having been triumphant in the Scotter & Blyton ward by-election in the summer, provided grace. Guests enjoyed starters of either ripe melon terrine, with a fresh pear sorbet and garden mint, or fresh vine tomato and roasted red pepper soup, with Lincoln blue crouton or smoked salmon and gruyere cheese tart, sat upon pea shoots and balsamic. This was followed by a main course options of fillet of chicken en croûte, stuffed with wild mushroom pâté, or baked sea bass, sat upon roasted vegetables with a white wine and tarragon sauce, or roast Lincolnshire sirloin of beef with Yorkshire pudding and creamed horseradish or spinach, wild mushroom and cream cheese roulade. Dessert was a choice of butter pastry dark chocolate tart, with Cassis sorbet and spun sugar, or Lincolnshire plum bread and butter pudding with homemade creamy custard, or a selection of Lincolnshire cheeses, with savoury biscuits, seasonal fruit and onion marmalade. Chairman of West Lindsey District Council, Rupert Matthews MEP, for the East Midlands region, provided the loyal toast. To follow guests enjoyed coffee or tea and chocolates.
Mr. Perraton-Williams introduced the Rt. Hon. Baroness Neville-Jones DCMG who spoke about her time in government, the international geo-political context with particular reference to south east Asia and the continued rise of China. Lady Neville-Jones took questions from Mr. Daniel Hutchinson, Cllr. Thomas Smith, Mr. Brian Jones. Sir Edward Leigh provided a Vote of Thanks.
Guests were invited buy tickets for the Grand Draw and Champagne Raffle. After a thoroughly enjoyable evening the event broke up around half past eleven.
