Annual Dinner and Trafalgar Celebration Night: 1st November 2025 1900 for 1930
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From counter-terrorism in Northern Ireland and NATO operations in Iraq and Afghanistan with service at sea ranging from patrol boats and aircraft carriers – now on the staff at the Defence Academy of the UK. A highly experienced sailor, RNSA Rear Commodore (Offshore), Stephen skippered the RN/RAF team to victory in the 2016 Sydney–Hobart afterwhich he led an RN team on a Circumnavigation.
Join us for an inspiring evening with stories from a truly remarkable career at sea and beyond.
The dress code will be Black Tie/Medals/Service uniform.
The prestigious Annual Club trophies will be presented as usual together with maintaining the traditions of Trafalgar Night and the Annual Dinner.
Tickets are £59.95 which includes a four-course meal and £2 Donation towards SSAFA.
MENU
Smoked Salmon with a salmon mousse, root vegetable slaw, crème fraiche and crackers (Alternative: Cured beetroot with a goat’s cheese mousse)
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Duo of beef: filet & confit beef, fondant potato, kale, celeriac, mini-Yorkshire pudding with a port jus. (Alternative: Vegetable Wellington)
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Assiette of mini Desserts: Dorset Apple Cake with a toffee sauce, dark chocolate and Cointreau mousse, Whisky marmalade brioche bread and butter pudding
Port, Stilton & Coffee
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Online Registration:
When you register and book an event online, the payment will be charged to your Member Account and collected via Direct Debit, typically three days before the event. You will receive an email confirming the date the payment will be processed.
If you prefer to use an alternative payment method, please contact the Club at 01590 672677.
Guest of Honour and Speakers
Commander Stephen WALTON commissioned into the Royal Navy in 1992, qualifying as a Seaman Officer in 1994 before extensive service at sea around the globe in a wide range of ships including Patrol Boats, Mine Hunters, Frigates, Destroyers and Aircraft Carriers. He has conducted Counter Terrorist work in Northern Ireland (1994-6), sanctions enforcement boarding operations and interventions in the Middle and Far East (1997, 2000 and 2001), anti-submarine and other operations in the North and South Atlantic and Fisheries Protection in UK waters (2004-6).
Ashore he has worked in several higher-level headquarters including Navy Command (Mine Warfare and Diving capability management), the Permanent Joint HQ (UK) (Force Protection and Operations Plans) and overseas in NATO HQs in Naples, Italy and Brunssum, Holland, mostly focused on the Middle East. His operational experience has included several tours of Iraq (2014, 2017, 2018) and Afghanistan (2001, 2021) most recently as the NATO advisor to the US 4* Commander in Kabul just prior to the withdrawal in 2021. He has just completed a 12 month research fellowship at St Antony’s College, Oxford University and is now on the staff at the Defence Academy of the UK, teaching future senior leaders on the Advanced Command and Staff Course.
Stephen is married to Camilla and they have 2 daughters, an English Springer Spaniel and a stray Italian cat. Sailing is his lifelong passion and he holds Royal Navy Dinghy, Offshore and Combined Services colours and is currently Rear Commodore (Offshore) for the Royal Naval Sailing Association. The highlight of his sailing career so far is skippering the combined RN/RAF team to success in the military division of the Sydney-Hobart Race 2016, before taking a crew of virtual novices from Auckland to Montevideo via Cape Horn.
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Two pounds of your ticket will be donated to the SSAFA.
The Armed Forces Charity’s support covers both regulars and reserves in the Royal Navy, the Royal Marines, the British Army and the Royal Air Force and their families, including anyone who has completed National Service. They know and understand the unique demands of service life, whether in the UK or overseas, and in times of need, help to enable the Forces family to thrive.
Their recent research shows that service leavers aged 25-64 need more specialised support. The challenges they face are complex – from low income to life-changing injuries or hidden wounds, like depression or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Armed with this information, the SSAFA are improving their services for younger, working-age veterans, and we will make sure they know they’re here when they need them.
Read more about the Armed Forces Charity