1995 Village Day

click Village Day for list of occasions

Hallmark December 1995. Village Day Grand Total Profit - £3,788 - Donation to Village Hall £3,050; to Playground Appeal £600; balance c.f. to 1997 £138.

Hallmark August 1995. Letter to the Editor, Re 'Village Day' from Joan Bolt of Chiltern View, Foundry Lane, Loosley Row. click Charles & Joan Bolt for more about Joan. - "The Parade Excelled Itself. The spitfires were magnificent. Enjoyed the sandwiches handed to us from the V.E. day float. Loved the vintage cars.

It would take up too much space to mention everything. We paticuarly enjoyed the displays; The Lacey Green Singers and the wonderful floral display at St John's.

A big thank you to everyone who worked so hard to make the Village Day such a happy and friendly time. I felt really gateful and proud to belong."

Hallmark July 1995 Village Day. Report by Ingrid Goss-Gardner

Being a newcomer not only to Lacey Green but to village life in general, I had no idea what to expect as I left our house on the morning of the 1st of July.

The blistering heat of the day before had given way to a dull and relatively chilly morning. Would this dampen the spirits of the villagers I wondered? I need not have worried. As I walked down the bunting-decked Main Road, I was greeted by the parade of floats peopled by smiling and waving figures dressed to compliment the theme of the day, "Peace – 50 years on". I particularly liked the 'squadron' of miniature spitfires who looking rather bemused and chilly were being encouraged along by their enthusiastic parents.

After fortification with croissants and coffee at the Twinning Café (which looked suspiciously like a bus shelter to me?), I decided to try my hand at the RAF rifle range. My lack of skill was compensated for by the enthusiasm of the airmen manning the stall.

A visit to the Craft Fayre in the Village Hall was next on my schedule and I was rewarded by a wide array of crafts and tempting purchases.

After lunch a visit to the excellent dance display at the school brought back happy memories of my own participation in such events when I was at school. I was also extremely impressed by the high calibre of work in the Art Exhibition – the prize winners were certainly deserving. Then there was just time to visit the Dog Show and admire all the cute canines before I was required to 'take a shift’ in our garden which was open for the afternoon. This was an opportunity to meet and talk to many kind visitors who were generously enthusiastic about our efforts.

Later in the afternoon I managed to sneak off and look at the 4 other contrasting gardens that were open, as well as listening to the Bisham Band in the Vicarage garden and visiting the inspiring Flower Festival in the Church.

By this time, I was exhausted but, as Village Day is not for the faint hearted, I had to don my glad rags ready for the Dance in the Village Hall. As the music of Glenn Miller gave way to the sounds of the 60's even, I was to be found on the dance floor strutting my stuff along with many weary but happy villagers.

Congratulations to the organisers and participants of Village Day 1995! It certainly showed me another dimension to village life and the community spirit that exists in Lacey Green and Loosley Row.

Once again the weather stayed fine - a bit chilly in the morning, but it would have been unbearable if it had been as hot as the previous day.

Brian Lunn, long-standing Treasurer of the Village Hall Committee judged the floats this year. He decided that the Windmill W.I's was the best with their entry.

The Windmill Under 5's were awarded a special prize for all the hard work the children put into produce their 'fighter planes’.

The Randall Evans prize for the best hanging basket was presented by Jean Gabbitas to Mr Shrimpton of Eastlands. Thanks to Jean for organising the competition.

The Committee would like to thank Carole Drofiak for organising the Art Competition so well and to Brian Panter for judging the entries. There were 39 adult and 57 under 16 entries, which was more than last Village Day. Well done to all who entered. The winners were as follows:

16 years & over:

1st - Dawn Oliver

10 - 16 years:

1st – Lucy Evans

2nd – Rachel Howatson-Storey

3rd – Alexander Drofiak

Under 5's:

1st – Daniel Cutter

2nd – Peter Kerr

Again, a special prize was awarded to the Windmill Under 5's playgroup for their group entry of 'The Windmill Children’.

The Grand Draw was made during the excellent well-attended dance in the evening. The Mortlake Showband entertained us with music of the 40's & 50's and the dance floor was never empty. It was very much a family evening with children allowed to stay up to join in the fun until about 9 pm, when the adults took over the dance floor – and never left it! I'm sure that the Mortlake Showband will entertain us again in the future as everyone agreed it was such a good night.

Our thanks also to all those in the villages who got involved on the Day. Many of you donated prizes for the various tombolas, baked cakes, cooked lunches, prepared food and organised stalls.

Thanks to:

Julie Beech, April Gomme, Jan Cormack, Rachel Panter, Di Bradley, Beryl Goodearl, Betty Biggs, Tim & Dudley (for the never-ending tractor/trailer rides), Jonathon Hilder & Mark Van Revsen (for manning the bar), Derek Woodbridge for his support, a special thank you to Philip who came along on the day to visit a friend in the village and set up another face-painting stall. He raised £40 and donated it all to the fund! To Philip Cranage at Halifax Property Services, Winter-Taylors, Mayling Press, Nigel Partridge for designing the cover of the programme and to Pat Slade for managing to get the Village Day edition of Hallmark put together.

We feel the following youngsters deserve a special mention for helping Jane Clayton run the side-shows during the day and the tombola stall at the evening dance: Sarah Aitken, Ross Aitken, Rosie Clayton, Katherine Mortimer, Aidan Piercy, Kelly Stone and Rebecca Tyrer.

To all of you, too numerous to mention, who raised money for the Village Hall on Village Day, Thank you.

The accounts will be published in a later edition of Hallmark, but the £2,000 raised on Village Day 1993 will be bettered... watch this space.

Finally, my thanks to the Committee without whose hard work and enthusiasm (especially when faced with yet another meeting at The Whip – thanks Dick!), will be hard to match in future years. Most of them have intimated that they would like to get involved again in 1997.

I have now been involved with Village Day since 1989, the last two times as Chairman. I now wish to become more involved with my son's school, and have therefore decided to stand down and let someone else take over the reins. I have enjoyed being involved with our unique event and only hope that it continues - it is, after all, the main fund-raising event for the Village Hall.

Thank you all for your support over the past few years.