No Para,
No food and drink before. The occasion is one for a celebration afterwards, hence the suggestion that NUFC takes Mrs NUFC and whoever else to the RAF Club for lunch.
Of course, as we speak (write) NUFC will be propping up the bar having invited all his mates to a celebratory drink and, if his boss is a decent cove, he will have already have received a glass or several of a decent sparkling wine.
Drifting slightly, there was a newspaper article a few days ago about a possible revamp of the honours and awards system in time for Her Gracious Majesty's 60th anniversary bash next February. The last revamp in about 1992 was an unmitigated disaster. Furthermore, any moment soon the squabbling will start over the form and eligibility for the Diamond Jubilee Medal.
O-D