If there’s a dinner involved you can count on the Liberals. Whether it’s an RAC end-of-year bash, a random invite to another Club’s shindig, or the annual Hamilton Russell season opening dinner, the NLC Chess Circle sends its emissaries without fail. As has been often said, the NLC Chess Circle is an elaborately arranged excuse for a series of Very Good Dinners.
And so the HR Annual dinner, this year hosted by the Athenaeum, was not to be missed. The Libs outdid themselves this year, sending fully five members to represent all that is Liberal.
Now the Athenaeum do things right. It’s dinner first and chess second. An innovation that must be applauded. Quite a dinner it was.
And after dinner, the chess. Not just any chess. A simul, with GM Michael Adams taking on twenty boards.
And welcome to Mister Rhatigan, new to the chess circle – and a very decent player. But he chose a tough opponent to start with. We await his full HR debut in due course.
So all five Libs piled in, all five lost. Enthusiasm trumping ability, as is the NLC way. Great fun.
Terrific report, but as a member of the National Liberal Club who was also in attendance, can I count myself a little unlucky not to be included in the numbers counted above 🙂 Maybe I was taken en passant!
Our apologies, Mister Rosenbaum.
Upon reading your telegram I immediately summoned the hapless correspondent to my office. He failed to produce an adequate explanation, so I sacked him on the spot. He came up with some guff about needing to feed his young children, but I paid not a care. Editorial standards must be maintained, after all.
Yours,
The Editor.
Much appreciated. Glad to see you are keen to maintain high standards. I fear for the young children, however. I would be quite happy to start a fund to help support them. If you see fit, please chalk me down for six shillings.