they had just finished the dessert , a fruity concoction , covered in meringue and cream , and were placing their orders for after-dinner drinks , when the captain stood up , he took hold of the microphone , tapped it a few times , muttered something then , happy that everything was working correctly , said : ladies and gentlemen , members and invited guests , welcome to the golf club annual ball , as you know this is a tradition started over twenty years ago by the then captain , sir thomas brown .