PENGUINS AGAINST CANCER
PAC St David's Day Lunch
Market Porter
Saturday 28th February 2026
Apparently one of the first things you are trained to do in the Marines is to make your bed properly in the morning. The principle being: if you cannot manage that little task, how can you possibly achieve anything else. Moreover, if everything does go pear-shaped during your day, at least you go home to a comfy, well-made bed! In the 6th Century there was a man who gave Wales an example of altruistic living which inspired his fellow missionaries and earned him a place of special honour – that of patron saint in his own land; he was also a master of making beds in the morning.
St David spent his formative years in the Monastery of Ty Gwyn developing perseverance, dedication to tasks and focusing on how the ‘small’ things in life really matter. ‘Gwnewch y pethau bychain mewn bywyd’ or ‘Do the little things in life’ are St David’s most famous words – encouraging the people of Wales to do the small, considerate things that often make a big difference. These sentiments resonate powerfully with PAC, the philosophy behind our fund-raising efforts and the support for our research awards from regular membership subs. St David’s Feast Day is March 1st, but falling on a Sunday this year, we held our lunch on Feb 28th, so that Sunday remained a rest day.
Penguins Against Cancer took over the Market Porter and once more, the dining room was transformed into a small corner of Wales with flags, bunting, daffodils, dragons and Tom Jones on the music box. Huge thanks to the Gush Family along with early birds Simon and Andy. Thirty-two attendees: old Penguins, Alumni, PAC Trustees, new faces and Students gathered at midday to enjoy an afternoon of social discourse and mingling with old and new friends, whilst sampling a selection of fine wines and other sumptuous beverages. The excitement over at the raffle prize table and the eager chatter amongst the Auction hunters perusing the programme was reaching fever pitch so the lunch gong was a timely intervention. The atmosphere was superb and it was great to see everyone mixing regardless of age or connection.
Charlie Beardmore (President) welcomed everyone, offered thanks to the organisers and the Market Porter and reflected briefly on another busy and successful year for the charity. PAC has reached a noteworthy milestone having disbursed over £700,000 in grants to support Cancer Awareness, Cancer Research, Cancer treatment and Hospices. We have established 6 PAC Research awards, all of which were outlined in the lunch programme with details on our website. These are largely funded by membership subscriptions so please become a PAC Member, today! George Tsolakides was presented with a much-coveted Pewter Penguin for his incredible efforts in charge of the Penguin Peloton Fund Raising. He has driven this quite magnificently over the last 3 years and richly deserved the recognition and award.
The lunch that followed was excellent, the wine plentiful and chatter filled the air. Dappled sunshine streamed through the windows mirroring the warmth and joy flowing across the room. Once again, the assembled were eager to spend and thirsty for the wine to be auctioned. Mike Seare’s Claret and venison went under the hammer and after some furious bidding, Stretch bought it and hid it from Charlie. During the main Course, numerous bottles of red wine were auctioned so that the contents could be enjoyed rather than carried home.
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Dessert was of course Penguin biscuits, what else? So, as the Sauternes were passed around it was time for Andy Skyrme’s Welsh Quiz. This was very well received, and highly competitive, given that the lowest score would receive gins! Ironic as the winning pair (George & Wayne) received a bottle of Gin. As the author of this article, I shan’t mention who came last – it was a complete stitch-up, however. Plenty of competition during the main auction and delightful to see people bidding against themselves as the enthusiasm for the variety of Lots on offer was truly infectious. It was great fun and spirited engagement from the gathering made it all the more so. The last remaining beer pump handle from Guy’s Bar (c1991), made a return but I’m not sure who won that – perhaps it will appear next year!
Raffle Prizes
Welsh Whisky; Welsh Choir LP; Scented Candles (4); WRU bucket hat & Scarf; Bottle Chablis Premier Cru; Welsh Gin & WRU pen; Orange Gin; Bottle of Rose; Bushmills Whiskey & Chocolates; Late 20thC Oil on Wood of Runswick Bay by Kevin Platt; Gnome (possibly from Tenby) and an interesting book; Bottle of Malbec; Penguin Socks (5prs); Penguin Hat; Guy’s Hospital Lapel Pin; Pump handle from Guys bar c1989; Finnish Lovi self-assembly black and white wooden Penguin; Handmade GHRFC/Tropical Paradise hybrid barber’s roll; Don Doey framed print of French Quarter Lace New Orleans; Autumnal Woodland Stretched canvas on frame photograph
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Auction Items
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2026 Six Nations Tickets, England v Wales (already sold on-line for £380) – [Steve Davis]
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Shoulder, loin & leg of roe deer venison plus Bottle of Claret – [Mike Seare]
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Unique Shopping Bag made from GHRFC Sesquicentennial season 1993 South African tour training top [CB]
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Welsh Special Edition WRU Polo Shirt – [Pat Gush]
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Handmade GHRFC 1989 Canada tour spectacle case [Helen Phillips the famous Galashiels seamstress]
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GHRFC Blues Blazer buttons x 2 [Charlie Beardmore]
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Finally, the magic raffle. But not before a rendition of Penblwydd Hapus to Imogen Gush, after which, she drew the raffle tickets assisted by Charlie, Charlie and Oriele. Generous donations again made this a quality laden raffle table – apart from 2/3 of a juggling set!
It was a fabulous afternoon that carried on in the bar downstairs. And then for Imogen’s birthday celebrations with the Guy’s youngsters, in The Barrow Boy & Banker, on London Bridge. This was another joyous reunion and gathering thanks to PAC. As a charity, that grew from friends associated with Guy’s Hospital, celebrating St David’s Day, feels appropriately connected because the NHS used St David’s words as inspiration and support during Covid-19 Lockdown – do the little things: to look after each other, to keep safe and to protect the NHS. This simple lunch is one of the ‘little things’ and together we make a big difference. Diolch
The Market Porter Team were again fantastic hosts, and the Welsh-Themed event was tremendous fun. Thank you all so much for coming, for joining in the celebration and for the immense support for Penguins Against Cancer. The Auction & Raffle combined, plus donations during the afternoon raised £1900. Please become a member, if not already, so that you can nominate where the grants go and you can help secure our Annual Research Awards.
Please contact me if you have an item or experience you would like to donate for future auctions.
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Pat Gush [Vice President]
‘Dare Quam Accipere’
Attendees: Pat Gush, Charlie Gush, Charlie Beardmore, Charlotte Beardmore, Gaynor Beardmore, Dave Gush, Anne Gush, Imogen Gush, Jamie Dunbar, Jok Dunbar, Oriele Dunbar, Andy Davis, Suzi Davis, Mick Martin, Neil Slater, Mike Seare, George Tsolakides, Terry Morris, Lucy McKay, Abbi Hodgeson-Smith, Callum Owen, Luca Marsella, Wayne Llewellyn, Andy Skyrme, Simon Howell, John Murphy, Toby Davis, Sam Bridge, Pat Davis, Nicki Davis, Geraint Thomason.
