Festival Diners are held in Rapt Attention

The Dean of Canterbury, the Very Revd Robert Willis, was the Guest Speaker at the 2010 Annual Dinner..

The Dean of Canterbury (left) at cocktails

The Dean addresses the assembled company

The beautiful setting for the 2010 dinner

The Dean, who is a President of the College, was joined for cocktails before the meal by residents and guests, including two College Patrons, the Lord Lieutenant and Mr Peter Ainsworth.

The audience were enthralled as the Dean spoke of the value of the College community, and compared it with the historic community of Canterbury Cathedral.

Ranging through Gilbert and Sullivan and Haydn, he reflected on the life of the Cathedral through turbulent times as reflected in the portraits of the Deans which hang in the Deanery. The College, he said, was a similar community where stability and care could be found by all who live here.

The Dean’s speech was followed by a raffle and auction which, thanks to the generosity of those present, raised a further £2000 to support the work of the College.

The evening ended with the announcement by the Warden that the speaker at the 2011 Festival Dinner, on Friday 10th June, and will be the Dean of St Paul’s, the Rt Revd Graeme Knowles.