Garden Party - Broughton Castle
June 18th 2011 was a day of pleasures, expected and unexpected.
Broughton Castle was as beautiful as it has been for centuries, delighting guests the moment they crossed the moat, and setting the stage for a very happy day.
In case of rain and at the suggestion of Lord and Lady Saye, afternoon tea and a welcoming Pimms were set up in The Great Hall. Guests, however, were astonished to find that Lord and Lady Saye’s hospitality extended to their giving extensive access to the Castle. People wandered through rooms, upstairs, downstairs and if not ‘in my lady’s chamber’ then at least on to the roof for spectacular views of the moat, gardens and wider landscape.
Outside, The Adderbury Morris Men performed beautifully, the loud thwacking of sticks in some dances attracting the special attention of small children, visibly keen to do a bit of thwacking themselves.
Our extraordinary face painter, transformed children who clearly intended to sleep in perfect Batman masks, flowering vines, butterflies and tiger makeup.
Those UCARE supporters who donated photographs of themselves as child and adult would have enjoyed the comments of guests trying to match photographs spanning several decades. Or maybe they wouldn’t...
Thanks to generous donations the tombola stall was a great success. Cakes, biscuits, jam and plants also sold well.
Simon Burnett, our patron, arrived having just qualified for the World Championships in Shanghai and bringing with him medals, a huge silver cup and a willingness to chat particularly to children and young people.
We have much for which thank Lord and Lady Saye – extensive access to the Castle and gardens, their and a welcoming presence throughout the afternoon as they mingled and talked with guests - all combined to create a very happy atmosphere. One guest described the afternoon as ‘like a gathering of old friends.’
A degree of frivolity led to a photograph of Simon Burnett, guarded by David Cranston in breastplate, spiked helmet and carrying a pikestaff. Particular thanks to Lord Saye for this improbable pleasure.
Throughout the afternoon, Oxford Fine Dining served Pimms and an endless and perfect afternoon tea. One of the servers guessed number of packets of Haribo sweets– we do hope she shared all four hundred and eleven of them.
Yes, it did rain, at times heavily. But we didn’t really notice …and no-one fell in the moat.
Our aim was not necessarily to make a profit but to celebrate and say thank you to as many people as possible who support UCARE. For those of you who couldn’t come, we missed you. Thank you nonetheless and we hope to see you at our next event.
