Social report – Summer 2012
Although the Spring and early Summer weather has been trying hard to put a dampener on our Village activities, we’ve still had fun and enjoyed ourselves at several recent successful events.
Proving science can be fun…..
On 13th May, the Village Hall hosted the ‘Mad Scientist’s Tea Party’ which attracted villagers of all ages. Professor Neil Downie put on a display of interactive crazy science activities which gave everyone an opportunity to test Newton’s theories in practice. We witnessed him walking up walls, chased after rocket-fired carrots and finally just enough sun peeped through to enable us to set fire to a newspaper with a giant solar lens made of water and clingfilm! An unusual event which kept young and old captivated.
Diamond Jubilee Social – a ‘right royal’ evening!
Beech Village’s Jubilee Celebrations began in the Village Hall on Friday 1st June. Around eighty villagers attended the special ‘social’ evening and the tables were laid out in two long rows to resemble a street party. The Hall looked very festive decked with flags and bunting.
After pre-supper drinks the Village received a special visitor in the form of Her Majesty herself suitably dressed (disguised!) and chauffeured in an open top car. The “Queen” (aka Peter Cox) performed the official planting of the commemorative beech tree and everyone then enjoyed a festive meal of coronation chicken prepared by the noble ladies of Beech Social committee.
Villagers then enjoyed a commemorative “fly past” of paper planes made by the participants with a special prize and many congratulations to Roy Rattley whose plane travelled the furthest! No social event in Beech would be complete without the traditional village sing-song, and this was no exception. The evening concluded with dancing to a specially selected medley of songs from the last six decades.
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable evening and an excellent start to the weekend’s remaining festivities!
Fête defies the weather!
After much anxiety and discussion about the weather, we held an indoor/outdoor Fête this year which together with the traditional Hog Roast, were much enjoyed by all those who attended and made a substantial donation to Village Hall funds. This year we were especially well endowed with delicious cakes thanks to Melissa Shaw of Handmade Cakes, in addition to the ones prepared by our very own Beech Ladies, and had some excellent raffle prizes donated by a variety of local pubs and businesses. We even benefited from a roundabout and candy floss taking refuge from cancelled event in Basingstoke. On behalf the Village, we want to say a big thank you to all the ‘usual suspects’ who gave their time and energy once again this year to the annual Fête and Hog Roast.
