Strawberry Tea
From Lacey Green History
The Strawberry Tea was first organised by the Village Hall Social Committee in 1975
Report in Hallmark September 1982. 8th Year of the Strawberry Tea. This year the weather was kind, and on a glorious afternoon about 200 people enjoyed the delights of the Lane Fam, Lacey Green, garden, the music and the tea. The hot summer had brought the strawberries n too early, nevertheless Marcia's strawberry flans were delicious. Our thanks go to Mr and Mrs Plowman, the Ercol Band and all the ladies who prepared the tea. Profit to Village Hall funds of £66.65
1983 Advertisement in Hallmark by the Village Hall Social Committee for the 9th year of the Strawberry Tea.
July 10th. Strawberry teas, prepared by Mrs Prince and the ladies. Band Concert, by the Ercol Silver Band. Picturesque Garden, by kind permission of Mr. and Mrs. J. Plowman, Lane Farm, Church Lane, Lacey Green. 3.30.p.m. Bring your sun chairs.
Hallmark August 1983. Profit from the Strawberry Tea was £125.53. Thanks to everyone involved
Hallmark April 1984. by Lily Barber. Sadly Mr and Mrs Plowman will be unable to open their garden to us this year as they will be leaving the village. We know other people would be willing to open their gardens, but it can be difficult with kitchen faclities and at Loosley Row the gradient of gardens is difficult for crowds. But with kind permission of the Sports Club Committee, Strawberry Sunday will be on July 8th on the Lacey Green Sports Ground, what is more traditional than listening to the band in the park and the facilities for serving our first class Strawberry Tea will be excellent.
This is perhas the best opportunity for saying 'thank you' to Mr and Mrs Plowman for the use of their arden over the years, we shall miss them and their garden. (click John & Frankie Plowman and Harry & Lily Barber for more about Mr and Mrs Plowman and Lily Barber).
Hallmark April 1985. Advertisement. July 14th, back at the old venue: Lane Farm, Church Lane, by kind permission of Mr & Mrs Clay. (click David & Sheila Clay)
. report by Lily Barber.
1985 Strawberry Tea. report by Lily Barber. Weather damp & cold. New hosts, Mr & Mrs Clay, Lane Farm. A marginal profit
Hallmark August 1988. For only the second time in 15 years we were rained off, at least from the garden, but possibly a more attentive audience in the Village Hall listened to an excellent programme as always by the Ercl Band. The ladies (God bless-em) served the traitional strawberries and cream, and everyone said despite the weather what a lovely afternoon. £104 was made towards Village Hall funds.
Hallmark August 1989. Thanks. Lilian Curnow sends thanks to all who made scones, cakes, washed up or helped in any way with the teas at the Strawberry Tea. Once again unfortunately having to be held in the Village Hall
Hallmark July 1994. Our Thanks to Mrs and Brigadier Spurry for allowing the Village Hall Committee the use of the grounds at Speen Farm and facilities, and to all the non committee members who helped to make it yet another enjoyable and profitable strawberry tea.
Hallmark 1995. The Strawberry Tea and Brass Band Concert could have been a disaster, with the usual band letting us down only one week before the event. - - - Panic stations - where do you find a band within a week? MIX 96 (Aylesbury's local radio station) to the rescue. They advertised for us every day and 'BINGO' it was heard by a member of the 'Aylesbury Town Band' - - - -"Sunday 30th" they said - "Sorry we are already booked" - - - -BUT - - -fate or what! their booking is in Princes Risborough and they finish at 3 pm, so a quick 'pick up your trumpet and up the hill to Speen Farm by 3.30. Life Savers!
A lot of hard work by many people and again the Village Hall Committee would like to thank all helpers. A special mention must go to the cake makers who provided a great variety of delicious cakes. To Michael Solman and Beryl Wilson fr their help in the kitchen, Michael either has very soft or very wrinkled hands now, after all the washing up! A big thank you to Lilian Curnow, our raffle queen, who sat at the table for the whole afternoon selling both raffle and Tea tickets. To Brigadier Spurry for the use of the grounds and marquee at the Home of Rest for Horses, Michael Daves for the canopy and Derek Woodbridge for the loan of the freezer.
After a donaion to the band and the horses home we made a profit of just over £300, which will help boost our funds, helping to maintain the Village Hall.
Hallmark July 13th 1986. Strawberry Tea and Band Concert, 3pm at Lane Farm, Church Lane. Reported by Ray Hewinson, chairman of the Village Hall Committee at the AGM. - "We were pleased to be able to return to Lane Farm for the Strawberry Tea. (the 12th year) Unfortunately our new hosts, Mr and Mrs Clay were unable to persuade the weather gods to send us sunshine and a rather damp and cold day resulted in a marginal profit despite the hard work of Marcia Prince and her ladies. (click Geoff & Marcia Prince for more about Marcia.)
Hallmark August 1989. Liliian Curnow (Ron & Lilian Curnow) sends thanks to all who made scones, cakes, washed up or helped in any way with teas at the Strawberry Tea. Once again unfortunately having to be held in the Village Hall
Hallmark July 1997 . Strawberry Tea at the Home of Rest for Horses, Speen Farm. Sunday 27 July, report - 50lbs strawberries enjoyed, 246 pieces of cake eaten, 230 ice creams consumed plus 3 hours of sunsine and 40 members of the Aylesbury Community Concert Band playing, all added up to a super day.
Hallmark 2009. Strawberry Tea at Gracefield reported by Bette Tyler.
A delightful typically English afternoon. That's how a visitor from abroad described it in delight! And that's how it felt. It was a most successful and enjoyable event, making £423.15 for Village Hall Funds. Our most sincere thanks to Brian and Judy Wicks for proving us with the perfect setting for our Strawberry Tea. Also many thanks to all the helpers and to those who so generously provided us with delicious homemade cakes.
Hallmark 2014. Strawberry Tea at the new Vicarage click The New Vicarage for photos of the Strawberry Tea
Hallmark 2016. Strawberry Tea at Woodbyne Farm reported by Betty Tyler. West Wycombe Brass Band returned to play for this Strawberry Tea in Paul and Trish Johnstone's delightful spacious garden at Woodbyne Farm in Main Road, Lacey Green. We are most grateful to them and others in the past who allow us to use their lovely gardens.
How lucky we were to enjoy such a pleasant relaxing afternoon in comfortably sunny weather listening to the music whilst partaking of strawberries and cream, scones and home-made cakes with a cup of tea. This is an occasion when villagers can get together as they did in the past. We just need everyone's support to keep these events going.
Most participants were villagers with relatives and friends. There were even some members of the walking club, relaxing after having walked 6 miles in the morning.
Very many thanks to those wo so generously donated cakes and their time. What would we do without them?