Today, I had the honour of brushing shoulders, and sipping champagne with Royalty, or as close as you can get really, at the Henley Royal Regatta. Not that any members of the Royal family was actually present at the event, or that I actually got to drink champagne (the latter was ridiculously overpriced). But anyhow, it was really great fun to be at the posh-est regatta that I've ever been to, and probably will ever be.

Being a guest of a Steward friend of mine (you apparently have to go through a very stringent application process and wait about 9 years - if you're lucky, to become a member of the Henley Boat Club), I got to put on the following "ticket", which gains us access to the Stewards' Enclosure, and is a little bit like an "Access All Area" backstage pass - very cool.

Or you could fork out £32 to pay for it.

The Stewards' Enclosure: Situated on the Berkshire bank near the finish of the Course, this is a private Enclosure and admission is only available to Members and their Guests. There are three Grandstands as well as many rows of deckchairs along the river frontage.

Let me give you an idea on how "posh" this event is:

Those attending the Regatta in the Stewards' Enclosure must dress in accordance with long-established tradition. Gentlemen are required to wear lounge suits, or jackets or blazers with flannels, and a tie or cravat. Ladies are required to wear dresses or suits with a hemline below the knee and will not be admitted wearing divided skirts, culottes or trousers of any kind. Ladies are encouraged to wear hats - click here for more information. Similarly, no one will be admitted to the Stewards' Enclosure wearing shorts or jeans. Members are particularly asked to bring this custom to the attention of their Guests, to ensure that the standards are maintained and to avoid the possibility of embarrassment of a Guest being refused admission.

The use of mobile telephones is prohibited within the Stewards' Enclosure. This is to minimise the disturbance and annoyance that mobile telephones cause to other Members and their Guests.

Children under the age of 10 years and babies are not admitted to the Stewards' Enclosure.

(quoted from the Henley Royal Regatta website)

I'd write more, but I'm quite exhausted from all the packing and moving (they moved me to an ensuite room for 3 days! hurray!), so I shall leave it at this for now.

Wikipedia has a long (albeit boring) article on the Henley Royal Regatta, if you're interested.

Labels: Henley Royal Regatta, Rowing