Following the last-minute cancellation of our summer party three weeks ago owing to Weather (something we rarely encounter in this country), we hastily rescheduled it to this coming Saturday. At time of writing the forecast is about 22 degrees C and only 30% chance of rain, so looking good.

After the success of last year’s en-plein-air summer party, we took a sounding from a representative sample of members and have decided to do the same thing again this year, celebrating the great British tradition of picnicking, dodging the rain and batting away wasps. The event will take place in Hyde Park at the place where we’ve been having picnics for some time, just north of the pagoda-shaped Serpentine Bar and Grill. Feel free to bring picnic grub, though the bar and grill will be selling food, and there are loos there too.

Given that the Paris Olympics will have just started, we’ve taken this as our theme. Expect bouts of Onion Battle and Baguette Javelin, along with a reenactment of the Battle of Trafalgar. Our Grand Raffle will feature glorious prizes themed around France and Britain's relationship with her. Dress: vintage Olympians or anything a bit French.