213. Bavarian Ball Mansion House, 13 June 2024



The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress hosted the Bavarian Ball at Mansion House in aid of the Lord Mayor's Appeal, and reflected the heritage of the Lady Mayoress, Elisabeth Mainelli.


Dress code was either black tie or national costume.  There had been weeks of agonising chat on the Bavarian Ball Whatsapp group as to who was going to dare to bare their knees with lederhosen.  In the end about one-third of those present wore dirndls or lederhosen.

The evening started with a beer and bubbles drinks reception.  It was a refreshing change to be served good German beer, and even a non-alcoholic one.  There followed a Bavarian Feast created by Franz Schinagl, Executive Chef at the Austrian Embassy.  Eileen particularly appreciated the spinach dumplings, pretzels, mushroom schnitzel, cucumber salad and what might have been a creamy turnip carpaccio.

We were regularly entertained by a rousing foot stomping five-piece band, the Bavarian Strollers.  The Master of Ceremonies was an amazing authoritarian Fraulein Eva von Schnippisch, who soon taught us drinking songs including a rather active one!

During the evening there was an impressive auction conducted by Jonty Hearnden, who started his TV career on the Antiques Road Show.  I am pleased to report that we resisted the many temptations this time.  We were regularly updated via large screens on the progress of the silent auction: bidding for some items became quite competitive!

We finished the evening with dancing in the Salon to a variety of music from the Strolling Band, which was great fun.  It was exhausting and took a day for recovery.

We all thoroughly enjoyed the evening; congratulations to the organising committee.  All in a very good cause.  It was definitely an event not to be missed!

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