Laurentian Branch
Royal Heraldry Society of Canada
BRANCH NEWSThe Laurentian Branch of The Royal Heraldry Society of Canada gathered on December 15th at the armoury of the Black Watch to hold its annual Heraldic Christmas Feast. Gentlemen arrived in Black-tie or in Mess Uniforms. The ladies were elegant in long evening gowns. Despite the frigid weather outside some loyal, if frost-bitten Scots arrived in Highland dress.
Every year at our Christmas dinner we ask our members to come with gifts for one of Montreal's children's hospitals. This year was the turn of the Shriners' Hospital For Crippled Children. Thanks to the generosity of our members and of our dinner guests Okill Stuart and Peter William Hogan were able to bring a truck-load of Christmas gifts to the young patients. The hospital has sent our branch a letter of warm appreciation.
The dinner-dance was planned to be purely social. No speaker was invited to give a lecture. Speeches from the executive were also kept to a minimum. Couples danced the night away under the floating lights of the spinning disco ball. The Johnny Maloney Dance Combo provided the music throughout the evening. As always the band's selection of old-favourites proved very popular.
The food from the first course of cold vichsoise to the last post-dessert course of Port and cheese was delicious and presented beautifully by the serving staff of the Black Watch. Before the meal started everyone pulled Christmas crackers with their neighbor at table but only a brave few wore the colourful paper hats that popped out of the crackers. The Disco lights and the crackers were a gift to the branch from Peter William Hogan. All-in-all the night was a great success!
Our thanks go out to directors Margaret McKeown who successfully ran the raffle, to Barbara Zaharescu who sold RHSC books and memoribilia during Happy-Hour. Our Branch Secretary Peter William Hogan was Social Chairman for the evening. This will be the last dinner he runs as social convener. He will continue as Branch Secretary. Our Branch President LCol. Mark Macpherson has taken on the role of Social Chairman for upcoming events. Good-Luck Mark! We eagerly look forward to future social-events under your experienced guidance.
Special thanks also to long-time member Nemo Turner who after the Loyal Toast entertained everyone with a stupendous magic show. 2005 marks Nemo's 35th anniversary in show business. Nemo has been very generous over the years to Laurentian Branch. Whenever we have asked him to put on a show at an event he has obliged willingly. We are planning an evening to honour Melvin his assistant rabbit.
Laurentian Branch is holding a 'Roast' for Melvin early in April. Mark Macpherson is planning an entertaining evening with lots of surprises. Invitations will be in the mail soon so be on the lookout for envelopes with our logo on them.. Contact Mark Macpherson for further details.
Two of our senior members have been named Honourary Directors of Bishop's College School in Lennoxville Quebec. Congratulations to Okill Stuart and Patrick Stoker. Our Branch Secretary Peter William Hogan has been made a Kentucky Colonel.
Laurentian Branch wishes everyone a very Happy New Year!
Date: January 15, 2005