An unprecedented number of GROGs signed up for the 2022 Christmas Lunch, an event that has developed into a “must attend” feature in the social calendar. Like many of its predecessors, this one did not disappoint. Perhaps the presence of guest speaker, former Scotland and British and Irish Lions captain, Gavin Hastings, had something to do with it but, then, so too did the fun filled atmosphere and lusty community singing. Gavin’s popularity was well reflected in the number of GROGs who formed orderly queues both before and after lunch to purchase a signed copy of his most recent book. His publisher would have been well pleased! Among the ‘well pleased’ were all those in attendance who enjoyed a fine festive lunch and who were able to hear Gavin at his best! He was aware that his brother, Scott, had been a previous, and extremely popular, guest speaker at an earlier Christmas Lunch and he immediately got him in his sights with some comments of a sibling rivalry nature, much like the Royal Princes but with obvious fondness present! He started by acknowledging that Scott had more Scottish international caps than himself but when caps for The Lions were added, Gavin assumed his rightful position! He shouted how proud he is to be Scottish and chastised those who play down the greatness of the country with such boasts as “the best small country in the world”. Not in Gavin Hastings’ opinion. It’s simply the best and we should be proud of our nationality, he said. A trip down Memory Lane where he recalled being properly hit by Mickey Skinner and missing the easiest of penalties in the 1991 World Cup semi final resulted in a 10 second silence while others remembered these incidents too. Gavin’s Anglophobia was on display but so were his pride and his sportsmanship when he recalled those moments without bitterness. He entertained his audience with tales of his long rugby life at the top and of many of the characters he had been honoured to meet but he kept his best comments to an articulate appreciation of his son Adam and the values he had endeavoured to instil in him before ending with a heartfelt toast to the late, great, Doddie Weir. He accepted a bottle of GROGS whisky offered to him by his very appreciative audience.