151st MBF Festival Banquet

The Metropole Hotel in Brighton, on July6th was the venue for the conclusion to an incredible journey involving so many members throughout Sussex. The memorable events that built up to the 2019 MBF Festival Banquet included a number of holidays in Rhodes and Crete, events like the unforgettable Vegas Night, SMART’s re–enactments and many others which were fun and raised tens of thousands of pounds for the MBF Festival. W Bro Glen Coneley presenting a magnificent cheque at this year’s AGM through his various activities. There were far too many to name individually but collectively they not only raised money but kept the fund raising enjoyable for all.

The Festival committee Chaired by V.W.Bro. Roger Richardson and the Banquet team, W.Bro.’s Mike Harris and Andy Mcleod organized a magnificent conclusion, with activities throughout the day. The Prov.G.M. entertained fellow Prov.G.M.’s and V.I.P.’s on a champagne trip in the Brighton i360 to kick-off the celebrations.

In the evening, the banquet was attended by 842 members, wives and guests dining and waiting for the Grand Secretary to reveal the final amount, but for the party goers there was much, much more. The fairground theme of bumper cars and candy carts proved a popular attraction, although those chains of office looked heavy, they didn’t stop the top brass from getting stuck in.

The fine dining and exceptional entertainment led to the moment the final total was revealed. The reaction from the audience was one of genuine surprise and delight at the news that the Province had smashed its target and gone well above all expectations, with a whopping total of £1,360,163. The evening didn’t end there the revellers danced the night away to a super 8piece band and “bumped” their way through the night riding the dodgems. Yes dodgems, the curtains were moved back and doors opened to a funfair, candy floss, rock and sweets, what a night. It truly was “Sussex by the Sea”.