This Autumn, Royal Navy Medical Service celebrated the Annual ‘Blood Red Dinner’ on HMS Warrior in Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard. The dinner has been held since 1909, with interludes during the World Wars and the Covid pandemic.
The idea of the Naval Medical Dinner first originated aboard the Royal Yacht Victoria & Albert, where Fleet Surgeon A.R. Bankart and his colleague, Fleet Surgeon J.E. Lloyd Thomas, later organised the first dinner. This resulted in 70 Naval Surgeons gathering in 1909 at the Criterion Restaurant for the inaugural event.
Over 40 Royal Navy Medical Officers, Nursing Officers, Medical Support Officers, and their guests dined on the gun deck of the mighty Victorian ship. Attendees also had the opportunity to wish their very own Surgeon Lieutenant Commander Addison Taylor RN, a Royal Navy Emergency Medicine Doctor, "strong winds and fair seas." Addison, along with three other Royal Navy Officers, is set to row the Atlantic later this year as part of HMS OARDACIOUS, raising money for RNRMC and the Submariner Community.
RNRMC provided a donation towards the RNMS’ Club Dinner for each service person. This donation helped reduce the ticket price, which were purchased by club members, to make it more affordable. The dinner has been held since 1909, with interludes during the World Wars and the Covid pandemic. The RNMS Club supports all Medical Officers, Nursing Officers, and Medical Services Officers.
The donation helped make the dinner a great success. The aim of the annual dinner is to promote camaraderie and foster support among colleagues, both old and new, in a social setting
Surg Lt Cdr David Ochiltree
Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) provided funds to subsidise the cost of the dinner, paid by attendees, to promote camaraderie and foster support among colleagues, both old and new.
The RNMS Club supports all serving and retired Medical Officers, Nursing Officers, and Medical Services Officers, as well as Civilian Consultants to the Royal Navy Service.
