The ORA Virtual Cocktail Bar was open for business on 3rd December 2020! We were delighted that so many ORs were able to take part, from as far afield as the USA and Kuwait as well as France, Spain and of course the UK.

We started with cocktail making – five cocktails with non-alcoholic variations for two were created, starting with “The Golden Hinde” in deference to our Crest and finishing with “The Lawrence”. 

We then split up into teams – Rosemary’s Running Bunnies, Noëlle’s Belles, Lois’s Luvvies, Louises Lovely Ladies and Kates Kites.  There were three rounds of questions – Roedean, Xmas Cheer and Lumps and Bumps. Going into the final round there was only 2 marks between the three top teams. The Quiz was won by "Rosemary's Running Bunnies" team who chose as their prize all the proposed charities to receive a donation from the ORA. We will therefore be donating our usual cost of the ORA Christmas Drinks shared between the following charities: dutytocare.info, honeypot.org.uk, www.refuge.co.uk, trusselltrust.org as well as St Mungo's, Wix Lane, Clapham.

It was a wonderful opportunity to meet ORs who would not usually be able to attend reunions - definitely food (or cocktails) for thought!

Mary Henderson (No. 3, 1971-76), President of the ORA

Cocktail recipe for 'The Golden Hinde'

Ingredients:

• Juice of half a lemon
• 12 ml vanilla sugar syrup
• 35 ml whisky
• 15 ml brandy
• ice

Garnish:

• caster sugar for rimming glass
• nutmeg (grated)
• cinnamon (powder or stick)

Variations:

• egg white (optional)

Method:

Mix ingredients and pour over an ice cube into a prepared glass. If using egg white, then shake in cocktail shaker and strain into prepared glass. Garnish.