We had a absolutely lovely dinner last night in Windsor Castle. The last of our 40th celebrations.

I grew up in Windsor from age 7. Went to the 'Royal Free' school. As did a whole bunch of Castle and Park residents. My best friend's Dad was Castle Policeman on the Gate in the days when there was no security to speak of and his job was mostly rescuing the Guard from being embarrassed by tourists.

The Castle is a small, self-contained village, really. It is very much the Queen and Prince Phillip's home. Laithwaites is one of a handful of Companies who are of St George's. We must surely be the smallest. But we have history you see. My mother was a 'Friend of St Georges' because her friend Watty used to be secretary.

I spent long days wandering the Windsor Parks and riverbanks and seeing 'the Royals' was almost an everyday thing if you had a dog needing walks.

And of course I started the business now known as Laithwaites Wine in Windsor.

First from my bedroom in Grove Road, then from an office in Victoria Street, then (finances being zero) from a basement room in Victoria Street, then - the Big Time! - from Arch 36, Windsor Railway Viaduct.

After that we went to Slough which many did not see as progress but I quite liked. Finally Reading. But the Windsor link has never been broken; we now have a real shop in Arthur Road (previously Mrs Battersby's Sweet Shop selling soda 'Penny Drinks' that turned your tongue yellow. Today we'll give you a taste of a young syrah that will turn your tongue black! That's progress for you!)

So last night we and our guests attended Choral Evensong (I was so mortified to arrive late; there are times when you just don't want to 'make an entrance'. But the Dean was charming about it. Laithwaites even got a mention in the Service). We had good old Bruno Paillard's best Champagne in the cloisters and then dinner in the Vicar's Hall. Just where Henry II got scourged and Shakespeare is supposed to have give Queen Elizabeth I a preview of Merrie Wives.

A Falstaffian meal, then, by the Castle kitchens ... and lovely wines, of course; Philippe Bourlon brought the last of their Guibeau '70, and we enjoyed the Bujanda 1970 Gran Reserva Rioja too. Hugh Johnson brought his very own Tokaji Essencia 1996

A few speeches. Sir Michael Hobbs was really on form. And Ted Cochrane, on behalf of the customers said some really nice things about us. We hardly had to twist his arm at all.

Thank you Anne, John, and Amy. Having made your lives hell for years I didn't deserve it. But Barbara did. And she loved it.

Thank you everybody.


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