East Anglia Branch Annual Dinner

CIArb East Anglia branch held its Annual Dinner on 13th September 2019 in Cambridge. The setting was the West Lodge and Maitland Room, Downing College. Full of character with intricate mirrors and ornate friezes, these two traditional rooms date back to the nineteenth Century. Known as the ‘newest of the old and oldest of the new’, the college was the 17th to be founded within the University of Cambridge in 1800. Hidden away in the heart of Cambridge, Downing College’s 20-acre site contains an impressive diversity of gardens.

The guests came from all walks of life including a retired judge, a medical professional, a barrister, young professionals, consultants and contractors and some with their partners. A delicious three course meal with a choice of wine was preceded by a drinks reception and followed by port and coffee.

Following the pre-Dinner drinks, the guests moved to the candle-lit room for the Dinner. Chairman Dr Al Jarratt toasted the event with a tale of a contractor’s mischief on the refurbishment of a façade on the fourth floor of an office building and breaking overnight into the boardroom to help himself to the drinks cabinet! Al invited the guests to join him in raising their glasses to enjoy the evening ahead and wished all branch members a prosperous future.
After the Dinner, a former Chairman, John Power, enlightened the guests with some of the funniest tales about disputes to end the Dinner on a lighthearted note. Guests had plenty of time to chat over a very tasty Dinner with wine and port to drink!

Dr Al Jarratt MCIArb - Chair of East Anglia Branch