Andrew and I were delighted to receive this invitation from Carl Lomas and Tracey Worth, club members who moor their fabulous Fairline at our Hampton Court moorings. They are also the Chairman and CEO respectively of the Institute of Couriers. What, never heard of the Institute of Couriers? Me neither but a cocktail party in the House of Lords is not to be sniffed at.

And we were vary happy to be there, the evening was delightful. We spent it nibbling delicious snacks and drinking champagne in a very posh heated (I like that word) marquee overlooking the Thames on the terrace of the House of Lords. In addition the information addict side of me learnt a lot about the ‘final mile’ delivery issues that challenge the express delivery companies. In addition the Institute had arranged tours of the House of Lords for it’s guests.

The highlight of my evening was meeting Staff Sergeant Sean Stevenson.

A delightful young man he is in the 29 Regiment Royal Logistics Corp, on the Postal and Courier Services side. Sounds like a cushy posting doesn’t it? But he had been  awarded a Medal of Distinction for his work on the Russian Border in Estonia last year. As Tracey said her members have to face traffic jams and parking wardens, but these guys face bombs and bullets! The Institute made him an Honorary Associate member. Sean was there with his wife who works in the same regiment. She was on maternity leave. Having had a their first baby in January 2017, he arrived home briefly from Estonia in the spring resulting in a second baby in December 2017. I think they were both still in shock (Jennie shall I give them your number?)

A final thank you to the Institute for putting on such an absorbing evening and last but by no means least to Tracey who managed the whole event with total aplomb.