Events
The wide array of events we hold provide a great forum for networking with other members,
whilst taking part in fun activities and enjoying delicious food and drink.
Please click on the Find Out More button below each event for further details.
Invitations for these events will be sent out to SARWH to all members.
We look forward to welcoming you to our next event.
Past Events
President’s Weekend 2024
Friday 26th to Sunday 28th April 2024 | Hilton Cambridge City Centre
The weekend was based at the Hilton Cambridge City Centre, beautifully decorated with Tamar Nurseries stock.
Guests enjoyed a guided tour with the Head Gardener of Downing College is set amidst 20 acres of magnificent grounds in the heart of the city. President Johan Huibers gave an interesting demonstration on propagation, before guests embarked on a chauffeured punting tour through seven of the most prestigious colleges.
During a delicious three course dinner, guests enjoyed entertaining speeches by Greenfingers Patron, Horticulturist & celebrity gardener David Domoney and RWHA President Cavaliere Philip Contini, Valvona & Crolla.
After dinner entertainment included disco dancing to music by an excellent five piece Norfolk based band & on
the roulette and poker tables.
President Johan & Rachael thank guests from the following companies for joining them in their weekend celebrations.
Royal Support for Norfolk Blood Bikes’ New Car
Volunteers for the charity Norfolk Blood Bikes were proud to be joined by His Majesty The King for the presentation of a new vehicle, sponsored by the Sandringham Association of Royal Warrant Holders (SARWH), at Sandringham House in May. His Majesty spoke to the dedicated volunteers and fundraisers about the work of the charity and the fundraising efforts of the SARWH.
The Norfolk Blood Bike’s new Ford Focus was purchased after a year-long fundraising effort by SARWH and made possible by the generosity of Royal Warrant Holders, local businesses, and residents. The £15,500 donation for the vehicle was presented to the Norfolk Blood Bikes at their AGM at the end of September 2022. With the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II just weeks before, donors appreciated the opportunity to dedicate the car in memory of the much loved and respected Monarch.
The fully liveried car will be based at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn. It will facilitate the transport blood, plasma, platelets, samples, vaccines, donor breast milk and any other urgently required medical items to hospitals in Norfolk and Addenbrookes Hospital, Cambridge as well as to the East Anglian Air Ambulance. The service operates whatever the weather, 365 days a year.
Run entirely by local volunteers, Norfolk Blood Bikes has around 90 active members spread across the county. These members are the ‘lifeblood’ of the charity, the fundraisers, committee members, controllers as well as those who ride or drive, all working as a team to provide a professional urgent transport service for the NHS. Every team member donates their time and often their expenses to ensure that the NHS does not incur any cost for this service. The charity is 100% volunteer run, 100% charity funded.
In the past year, 2,208 tasks were undertaken covering 154,975 miles, 31% of which were urgent and 19% carried out for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn.
Jim Duncan, Chairman of the Norfolk Blood Bikes said, “The Sandringham Association of Royal Warrant Holders has raised an amazing amount of money for us, this has enabled us to replace one of our well used cars. The charity has a fleet of 12 motorbikes and 4 cars that are deployed across the county, so this donation has made a real difference to our objective of delivering a free out of normal working hour’s courier service to the National Health Service. Thank you for your generosity, it really is very much appreciated.”
Each SARWH member has the opportunity to be elected and appointed as President of SARWH for one year. On appointment, the President announces the charity which will be the beneficiary of the association’s annual fundraising events. At the AGM in 2021, Simon Ridgway, grantee of Simon Ridgway Ltd was elected as President and dedicated his fundraising year to Norfolk Blood Bikes.
The SARWH annual fundraising events include:
- Clay Shoot – organised by Robert Moore, Council Member/London Representative, Agri-Cycle Ltd
- Golf Tournament – organised by Michael Carter, Honorary Member, retired from Edmundson Electrical Ltd, King’s Lynn
- Sandringham Flower Show Marquee – positioned at the end of the Royal Procession at the show, offering hospitality to members and their guests, and a base to enjoy the show
- Bowling Tournament – organised by Valerie Williamson, Honorary Member and the Runcton Holme Bowls Club
Generous donations to auctions, raffles and the flower show tombola from Royal Warrant Holders, Simon’s clients, local businesses including the caterers in the marquee at the Sandringham Flower Show, Florentina, as well as those who bid at the events, culminated in an unprecedented amount of money being raised. Simon would like to thank his clients and members for their generosity in donating a holiday home on the Norfolk coast, Superbike tickets, a Fairfax and Favor handbag, a Lock & Co voucher for a hat, a Wrought Iron and Brass Bed Company voucher, plus a few others that were successfully auctioned at the Sandringham Flower Show.
SARWH President 2021-22 Simon Ridgway, said: “My wife Alison and I are delighted with the donation for such a worthwhile charity. I have Alison to thank for recognising the Norfolk Blood Bikes’ uniform worn by Paul Southwell at the retirement function of the previous Estate Manager in May 2018 at Sandringham House. Paul was on duty that day and Alison enquired about his role as a volunteer. We were impressed by Paul’s dedication as a volunteer and how the local community and NHS benefited.”
£2,000 was granted towards the President’s Charity by The Charity Fund of the Royal Warrant Holder’s Association, chaired at that time by Nick Farrow from Farrows Ltd.
A further £2,000 was donated by a generous Royal Warrant Holding company.
To find out more about the Norfolk Blood Bikes, to volunteer or to donate, please visit http://norfolkbloodbikes.org.uk/.
Photo credit: Nick Farrow – Farrows Ltd
Left to right:
Johan Huibers – SARWH Vice President, Tamar Nurseries Ltd
Valerie Williamson – SARWH Honorary Member – organiser of the Charity Bowls Tournament
Geoff Bottom – SARWH Council Member, Witham Group Ltd – contribution to setting up SARWH Marquee, Sandringham Flower Show
Adrian Cox – SARWH Council Member, Edmundson Electrical
Jan Luck – SARWH Assistant Honorary Secretary 2021-2022 & Honorary Treasurer
Michael Carter – SARWH Honorary Member, Edmundson Electrical – organiser of the Charity Golf Tournament
Jim Duncan – Chairman, Norfolk Blood Bikes
Alix Freeman – Events Manager, Norfolk Blood Bikes
Shane Finch – Fleet Manager, Norfolk Blood Bikes
Trevor Beckford – Treasurer, Norfolk Blood Bikes
HM King Charles III
Paul Southwell – Volunteer, Norfolk Blood Bikes (behind car)
Simon Ridgway – SARWH President 2021-2022
Alison Ridgway – SARWH Madam President 2021-2022
Ray Luck – SARWH Honorary Secretary 2021-2022
Sarah Haime – SARWH Honorary Secretary
Robert Moore – SARWH Council Member, Agri-Cycle Ltd – organiser of Charity Clay Shoot
Nick Farrow – SARWH Council Member & Retired RWHA Charity Fund Chairman
Lee Dawson – SARWH President, Samuel Brothers (St Paul’s) Ltd
Remembrance Service 2022
REMEMBRANCE SERVICE
Friday 11th November 2022 at Sandringham Estate
A gathering was held at the Sandringham War Memorial on Friday 11th November at 11am.
Led by Sandringham’s recently appointed rector, Rev’d Canon Dr Paul Williams, SARWH Office Bearers participated in a short act of Remembrance, oration and prayers and received a reading of the names of the fallen. President Lee Dawson laid a wreath on behalf of SARWH.
The Sandringham Gathering
On 23rd July 2021, our members met with the staff from the Sandringham Estate for a social networking evening at the Courtyard Restaurant, where a buffet supper and wine was served.
We were very fortunate with the weather, after so long without meeting. The evening was enjoyed by all.
Farewell to Sandringham Estate Land Agent
In May 2018 the Association held an evening reception in the Museum and Stables Courtyard, Sandringham House for Sir Marcus O’Lone on his retirement after 20 years as Land Agent of the Sandringham Estate.
SARWH presented Sir Marcus with a painting by Rebecca Lloyd of Brancaster on the North Norfolk Coast.
The following year a similar event was held to welcome the new Sandringham Land Agent, Mr Edward Parsons.
Business Luncheon
October 2018 SARWH held a unique and very successful Business Luncheon at the Grand Hall, St Martin’s House, Leicester, adjacent to the Cathedral, attended by over 80 members.
Dr Richard Buckley CBE, the leader of the archaeological project to locate the remains of Richard III was the speaker. Members enjoyed a lunch menu which replicated that served to Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion when she visited the Cathedral for the Maundy service. Members of the Association were also invited to the Cathedral to view the tomb of Richard III.
The event was sponsored by Paul Gooding and his company Vitax with the beautiful table flowers donated by Rosemary Mason of Rosemary Hughes Flowers.
40th Anniversary AGM
Sandringham Association’s 40th Anniversary AGM
A Sparkling Celebration
To mark the 40th anniversary, the 2019 AGM took place in Reims, France, on the 29th September 2019 and of course, it would be remiss to go to that area and not visit some champagne houses, learn about the process and taste France’s finest.
To this end, a party of 57 members visited three very different champagne houses, including fellow Royal Warrant holder GH Mumm.
The AGM was then held in Reims at the Hotel de la Paix followed by a celebratory Gala dinner.
The trip was very educational and an enjoyable way to recognise the SARWH’s milestone.
Sandringham Flower Show
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall attending the
SARWH Marquee at the Sandringham Flower Show.
Each year Sandringham Association members enjoy lunch and tea in a private marque at
the Sandringham Flower Show.
The Association are honoured that Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall pay a visit to the marque where they are introduced to the President and partner, together with the Vice President and partner, after which Prince Charles is presented with a basket of strawberries from D & F McCarthy Ltd and the Duchess receives a basket of preserves from Wilkins and Sons Ltd.
President’s Weekends
2018 President Robert Moore held his weekend at The White Hart, Lincoln, with a visit to
Lincoln Castle Saturday afternoon, followed by the banquet at The White Hart Hotel.
The Sunday service was in Lincoln Cathedral, with lunch at the Wig and Mitre, Lincoln.
2019 President John Horrell held his weekend at Kettering Park Hotel with a tour of Oundle
School Saturday afternoon, followed by the banquet at Kettering Park Hotel.
The Sunday service was in Drayton House private chapel, with lunch at the Woolpack Inn, Islip.
2021 President Paul Gooding held his much delayed President’s Weekend at the lovely Kilworth House Hotel in Lutterworth, with a visit to the Leicester Victorian Pumping Station during the Saturday afternoon. There being no church service on this occasion members and guests had Sunday lunch at The Three Swans, Market Harborough.
2022 President Simon Ridgway held his President’s Weekend at the delightful Knight’s Hill Hotel & Spa, with a visit to the Watatunga Wildlife Reserve on Saturday morning and an 80s disco after dinner that evening. Members enjoyed a church service in the St. Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate followed by Sunday lunch at the Rose & Crown in Snettisham.
2023 President Lee Dawson held his President’s Weekend at The Elvetham Hotel, Hampshire, with a visit to the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst to experience the rich history and heritage of the British Army. The British Indian Army Memorial Room in Old College hosted a Full Regimental Dinner, followed by Sunday Service at The Royal Garrison Church of All Saints, commonly known as the Church of the Para’s where every soldier who fell during WW2 is remembered with a kneeler and Sunday lunch at The Crab & Anchor.