Thames Valley Branch Annual Dinner

CIArb Thames Valley Branch has organised its Annual Dinner for the first time. The committee hosted the Dinner on 9^th July 2019 at the Windsor Suits of the Burnham Beeches Hotel, which boasts on their elegant Georgian architecture, and ten acres of manicured lawns and gardens in tranquil Buckinghamshire.

Sixty-two guests have registered, and most of them attended the Dinner. The huge lush green front garden was the venue for the pre-dinner drink.

The Guest of Honour for the evening was  Sir Rupert Jackson. Following his retirement from the Court of Appeal, Sir Rupert has returned to 4 New Square from 8 March 2018 to practise as an arbitrator and adjudicator. Leading professionals of the area and their partners/spouses also attended the Dinner. Among others the Partners of various leading law firms,  eminent Architects, RICS Fellows and Chartered Surveyors, leading Adjudicators, Chartered Arbitrators, and local business community representatives have attended the Dinner. Many Members of the Institute were present too.

Several guests from CIArb headquarters have attended the Dinner. Among others, Head of Marketing Iolanda Ghica, Head of DAS Olena Gulyanytska, and Mercy McBrayer, the  Research and Academic Affairs Manager at Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, were among the guests.

Mark Thomas of Thomas Sands Consulting and the current Treasurer of the Branch Committee has Mastered the ceremony. The Dinner began with the first toast from the Vice-Chair of the Committee, David Gwillum with a Grace. Following the Dinner, the first toast was the test of Loyalty done by Chairman Mohammed A Haque. Sir Jackson has made a short speech after that. He linked the Branch to the rich 200 years history of the river Thames and the mention of the Valley in Julius Ceaser. Sir Jackson finished his speech with a toast for the Chartered Institute of the Arbitrators.

Mohammed, in reply, has thanked various members, groups, guests, sponsors and the guest of honour, and proposed a toast for the prosperity of the Branch. The final toast of the Dinner was from Olena Gulyanytska, the Head of DAS and the Member Education, Training and Diversity of the Committee of the Branch. Olena offered the toast ‘evolving to resolve’, and brought the Dinner formally to an end.

The Branch committee hopes to make it a regular event for the future years. The event was open to members and non-members - friends, family, and other guests. As a result, a good number registered and attended. The Branch acknowledges the support of the CIArb headquarters, especially of the marketing department.

Photos from the dinner are available here.