The Annual St. George's Ball

The social highlight of the year for the Society, and considered to also be one of the best events in Bangkok, is the Society's Annual Ball. Held on the nearest Saturday to St. George's Day, 23rd April each year, the Ball has the twin objective of raising funds for our many charitable projects and of celebrating St. George's Day as a truly English experience for our guests of many nationalities in such a cosmopolitan city as Bangkok. This year's Ball will be held at The Grand Ballroom, Conrad Hotel on Saturday 28th April 2007. Click here for a report and photographs of previous year's Ball celebrations.

In the period up to the late 1980's Society Members provided the St. George's Cabaret as the entertainment highlight prior to dancing until around 3.00 am to a local band. Work commitments in the 'boom' years of the early 1990's in Thailand were such that people just didn't have the time to write scripts, plan the acts, rehearse, practice, arrange the stage settings, do all the painting of scenery, etc. The Society then turned to bringing "Acts" from the UK to perform at the Ball. Over the years this has included cabaret acts, famous comedians, and most successfully, a visit in 1991 by The Baron Knights, whilst on their way to an Australian Tour.

In 1996, the Society took the decision to significantly uplift the entertainment for the Ball, and thanks to generous sponsorship, we were able to bring a 28 man Royal Marines Band from Portsmouth in the UK. World-class musicians all, the Band assisted us with fanfares at the start of the evening, the Baron of Beef Ceremony, and performed as a 20 man Chamber Orchestra during Dinner. Then followed a full 28 man Marching Display, culminating in the playing of the old favourites at The last Night of the Proms; Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory, etc - with everyone on their feet singing away, and waving their England flags as if there was no tomorrow! The Band then took turns with a local Disco, performing "Big Band" and "Blues Brothers" sets until breakfast was served at 6.30 am. By popular demand the RM Band returned every year until 2001, where due to financial and other business difficulties following the events of September 11th 2001, we were unable to raise the high level of sponsorship funds needed to bring the band plus their almost 3 tonnes of instruments, uniforms, and equipment, to Thailand for the 2002 Ball.

(The Bandit Beatles with the Society Council and various hangers-on,
early hours, Sunday morning)

So, for the 42nd Annual Ball held on 26th April 2002, thanks to some new and some old sponsorship, the Ball went ahead and 460 people enjoyed cocktails before sitting down to dinner at The Siam Inter-Continental Hotel in Bangkok.

The Baron of Beef Ceremony commenced proceedings. An over-enthusiastic Nell Gwynn managed to lob one of her oranges onto the red wine glass of the British Ambassador, and where the spillage luckily missed him but did for his butter!

The Royal Thai Army Band were a delightful Chamber Orchestra during dinner, and they finished with a flurry of old English favourites such as Jerusalem, Land of Hope and Glory, and Greensleeves - all well accompanied by loud singing and much flag waving! Meanwhile, the merry band of Raffle Ticket Sellers were doing their rounds, and as usual managed to extract monies from just about everyone - after all, there were a plethora of excellent prizes to be won!

The entertainment highlight of the evening was two sets by "The Bandit Beatles", perhaps the best Beatles Tribute Band in the UK, brought to Thailand to perform at the Ball. The dance floor was packed from the time they came on stage until the time they left, with the only break for the revellers being the door prize and raffle draws!

Following on from around 1.30 am was The Big Boy Band, whose very small but highly vibrant and lovely young lady singer with a massive voice, kept the dance floor full until 3.30 am.

Then it was time for breakfast! Over 150 people partook of a traditional English Breakfast from 3.30 am. The Bandit Beatles, by then out of wigs and costumes, had found an upright piano which was wheeled into the breakfast room, and a jam-session got underway.

Finishing around 8.00am, the last guests slowly made their way home by car and by Skytrain. A fabulous night where everyone enjoyed themselves - the English way!