With evergreens and brightly coloured flowers arranged in profusion throughout the main entrance hall, the Club presented a gala appearance as the first guests began to arrive. Lining the staircase, which had been specially carpeted, were lines of picturesque Beefeaters (in reality members of the 2nd. Battalion, the Regiment) and Sikh troopers of the S.M.P. both lines guests passed introduced to the President, who was standing at the head of the staircase.
Here another picture met the eye as the Committee members background of red, white and blue flowers, evergreens and national flags Meanwhile the Regimental Band of the Bast Surrey Regiment had taken its place, followed by the Club dance orchestra as the commencement of the evening's celebrations drew near.
At 10.15 p.m. Major Ford took the Presidents chair, where the official guests were formally introduced to "him and. to Mrs. Ford, having been conducted to the President's dais immediately after the reception at the Club staircase. Members of the (Committee, also, were introduced to the official guests.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.