Michael Willetts GC Memorial Day
Location: Blidworth, Mansfield
Sun 25 May 2025, 11:00
Regimental Commemoration Dinner
- Sat 14 Jun 2025, 18:00
- Location: Royal Court Hotel
Introduction
This Regimental Commemoration dinner is family friendly and open to all PRA/PFAOCA Members, wife/partners and friends. It serves as the Annual Reunion Dinner for 23/144 PFAOCA and run by Capt (Retd) Roy Hatch.
The event takes place on the evening of the 14 June 2025, following the daytime commemoration service held at the National Memorial Arboretum (NMA) during the day.
The Royal Court Hotel is now under new management and part of the Elite group on hotels, much improvement has been undertaken and is still ongoing. A number of rooms have been reserved at a discounted rate (note these rooms are for members attending the Remembrance dinner. Any other member not attending the dinner and require accommodation in the RCH will be subject to normal hotel accommodation charges and should make their own bookings accordingly
The cut-off date for accommodation and dinner bookings is 23rd May 2025 the accommodation deal is limited and prioritized to members attending the dinner therefore it is within your own interest book early to avoid disappointment
Cost
This is a one- two- or three-night package deal, individuals’ preference.
Friday 13th June Single room, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast £95
Friday 13th June Double or Twin room, Dinner Bed & Breakfast (2 sharing) £125
Saturday 14th June Single room, Bed & Breakfast £80,
(Remembrance Dinner Night)
Saturday 14th June Double or Twin, Bed & Breakfast (2 sharing) £95 (Remembrance Dinner Night)
Sunday 15th June Single room, Dinner, Bed & Breakfast £95
Sunday 15th Double or Twin, Dinner Bed & Breakfast (2 sharing) £125
The above rates have been agreed with the hotel and are for PRA/PFAOCA Members who will be attending the Saturday night dinner. Members who live locally and do not need accommodation, should not be put off attending
Room Bookings
Accommodation can be booked from 2nd December 2024 by phone direct to the hotel, contact number 02476334171; go to option 2 Events, and ask for Elka or Stacey. (Please note, events do not work at weekends)
On contact with the events team, confirm that you are booking for the PRA/PFA Regimental Commemoration dinner. No money will be taken from your account until you book in on arrival at the hotel. However, due to new hotel terms and conditions you will be asked to supply a credit card number, If, you need to cancel your room booking you can do so up to 48 hours before the event. Failure to cancel in the stated time above will result in full payment being taken from your card.
Remember places are limited, so its first come first served.
DINNER, WITH WINE
DINNER BOOKINGS CAN BE MADE ON RECEIPT OF THIS NOTICE
The cost of the dinner on Saturday evening is £45 per person, and will include Starter, Main, Dessert, Cheese board, plus wine, and music.
Payment for the Remembrance Dinner, the preferred method is by direct bank transfer BAC, however it can be made by one of the following methods
- Cash in hand at any branch meeting, (Bedworth PRA)
- Cheques made payable to 23/144 PFA OCA, and posted to my home address Mr. R Hatch BEM TD, Broadgrounds, Gibraltar Lane, Broadwell Warwickshire CV23 8EX
- Direct payment into the 23/144 PFA OCA account, this being: –
Sort code 30-91-66 Account Number 00704998 (If you use this method of payment please ensure that you put your name as the reference to the transaction)
No dinner refunds can be made after the 04th of June 2025
The final cut-off date for dinner payments is 04th June 2025
Balmoral Bars Service (Bars are Cashless/Card Only)
On Friday the lounge bar will be in use by other guests outside of our group the bar we will use on Friday afternoon and evening will be the Balmoral bar, at the bottom end of the hotel with the outside tables overlooking the garden area.
On the Saturday before and after the dinner, we will have both bars, which will be open from 1700hrs. Plus the Balmoral bar which will be open all afternoon and evening.
We have negotiated with the hotel, a ‘happy hour’ drinks costing for members attending the dinner weekend. This ‘happy hour’ will cover the whole of the weekend from Friday to Sunday.
A wristband will be issued to members on booking in at reception, (please wear this to gain the agreed discount)
£3.75 per pint of Tetley Bitter, Carlsberg Poretti or Somerset Cider
£4.50 per pint of Guinness
£3.75 Per 125 ml Glass of house wine
£3.75 per 25 ml shot of house spirits
All other drinks are served at full hotel price
Hotel Booking Reception
On booking in you will be given a welcome letter and a wrist band, to be worn when ordering drinks at ‘happy hour’ price.
Friday evening dinner will be in Jenny’s Restaurant with 2 sittings: –
1st sitting 1830hrs. 2nd sitting 1930hrs.
On booking in you will be required to request your preference on dinner sitting. Once the first sitting is full you will have to accept the alternative
Dress
Friday is Casual.
Saturday Dinner night, Lounge Suit or Blazer, Regimental tie, medals are not required. We are far too wise to tell our ladies how to dress
Hotel Facilities Leisure & Spa
The hotel has a swimming pool, gym and coffee bar, all the facilities are open to PRA/PFA members booked into the hotel, all areas have easy accessibility to wheelchairs.
Coach from RCH to NMA
COACH BOOKING CAN BE MADE ON RECIEPT OF THIS LETTER
A 50 seater coach is available for all staying at the hotel, going to the NMA Alrewas on the morning of the Remembrance event PRA/PFA, wife/partner friends; First come first served. If you / your wife or partner or friends wish to take advantage of the coach to the NMA Saturday morning a small cost will be levied at £6 per person or £10 per couple
Please confirm in your dinner returns, if you wish to travel by coach, travel money should be paid in advance along with your dinner payment ie:
* Dinner plus single paying person coach travel would be £51,
* Couple dinner plus coach travel would be £98.
Your name will then be registered for coach travel. Only those who have registered, and paid in advance, will be guaranteed a coach seat, payment on the day will be available pending seats available,
PARKING HOTEL
The hotel has ample free parking to accommodate our numbers. However, please remember to book in your vehicle on the monitors at the reception desk; failure to book in will result in a parking fine.
PARKING AT THE NMA
If you plan to travel by your own vehicle from the hotel to the NMA, please take note of the following;
- pre booked parking is £5
- parking not booked in advance is £6 on arrival
Contact number for the NMA is 01283245100
DIRECTIONS
The hotel has easy access from the M1, M6, M42, and M69. Coventry has a main line station with connections from most parts of the country. If flying, the nearest airport is Birmingham; which has a 15-minute direct train service from the Airport to Coventry.
Regards Roy
Capt. Retd BEM TD
07730977989
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DINNER MENU
A SELECTION OF SPECIAL DIETARY MEALS CAN BE MADE AVAIALABLE ONREQUEST, PLEASE INFORM ME IF YOU HAVE ANY DIETARY NEEDS
STARTER, please indicate the starter you require with dinner payment
Prawn Cocktail with a Marie Rose sauce
Pate du Maison On Focaccia
Melon
MAIN COURSE
British Braised Beef with a red wine reduction
Served with a selection of seasonal vegetables & roast potatoes
DESSERT
Apple, Cinnamon & Wild Berry Crumble served with Custard
CHEESE BOARD
Selection of British Cheese with Crackers, Chutney & Fresh fruit
Freshly Brewed Coffee & Tea and Minted Chocolates
Event Location
Royal Court Hotel Coventry
Tamworth Road
Coventry
CV7 8JG
Royal Court Hotel Coventry
Tamworth Road
Coventry
CV7 8JG
