Ah, memories of close-downs! Back in sunny Tengah, we spent a huge amount of Mess Funds on a Ball ... all entirely free at the point of consumption! The funds had been considered for building an Officers Mess swimming pool, but the intended rundown East of Suez rather scuppered that plan! So, on with Plan B ...
The Aussies flew in from Butterworth by Mirage, with wives travelling in the RAAF Dakotas. The croquet lawn was populated by assorted makan stalls from the City, imported for the occasion. The Dining Room fed the multitude more formally. Bands played in various corners, and the Gurkha Pipe Band demonstrated their skills with the Scottish Noise Device. I don't recall any misbehaviour, but then I might have been to pi**ed to notice!