Celebrations for the Doghouse Owners’ Club 60th Anniversary were held at the British Motor Museum on Saturday 15th October 2022.
The opening Welcome address from Chairman, Emma Watts, started with “60 Years in the Doghouse is quite an achievement…” and so, they have!
60 years anniversary in any genre of life is indeed a great achievement. For a Group of individuals coming together to set up a Club, an even greater achievement.
New and old Members, invited Guests, friends and family turned out on a windy mid October evening to celebrate this wonderful milestone at a 60th Gala Celebration Dinner. The venue, the Skyline Suite at the British Motor Museum Gaydon, was the perfect setting for an event steeped with Heritage. Not only with connections within the Doghouse’s membership, but also invited Guests. Dylan and Lucas Stewart, the grandsons of Helen and Jackie. They both took to the stage and gave a moving tribute to their beloved Grandmother Helen, who was in the 60s an active member of the Club – offering support, friendship and fund raising, in difficult times to the wives and families of the drivers of that era, for which the Club was formed in 1962.
This was followed by a Grace, given by the Doghouse President, Shirley Procter, and written by Diane Ralph, referring to those we do not forget.
Dinner followed at tables decorated with clear crystals representing Diamonds. A perfect touch from the Chairman, each table was linked with a Race circuit, copy of relevant motor race programme, linking in with the likes of the Stewart family, and BRM. Trios of balloons strategically placed around the Skyline Suite alongside Doghouse Banners and pull ups. If anyone was in doubt of who and what they were celebrating.
The Kennel Prize Draw Raffle, drew plenty of attention with a long list of rather special prizes, as did the Auction for a simply stunning Limited-edition sculpture by Patricia Mitchell. All funds raised for Race Against Dementia, the chosen charity of the Doghouse.
The evening was full of like-minded conversations amongst ALL the tables, who after dinner were able to mingle, take a turn at the Casino tables, find a quiet place to reminisce or turn the pages of the superbly put together Programme, full of messages from the Stewarts, The Owen family/BRM, the President, Shirley Procter, Chairman Emma Watts, and the one and only Honorary male member Howden Ganley.
The alternative was to take to the dance floor, jiving along to an Abba Tribute Band. I am sure that during the evening many members were able to hark back to the yesteryear functions, the charity cabaret’s, performed by members, and joined by some of the more outrageous drivers.
What a wonderful event to get dressed up for, to attend, to take time out to talk to the long-standing members about the past, and to the newer members as to how the next 60 years will look like. A huge thank you to ALL concerned in achieving this milestone and for celebrating it in a certain “Doghouse Style”.
