Social report – Autumn 2012
A fun day of family cricket!
Beech’s traditional cricket match on August Bank holiday Sunday was once again a success, although numbers were down this year. This is perhaps not surprising since we didn’t know for sure until 10am on the day itself whether the ground was going to be playable. In the event it was a lovely day and even quite hot at times.
The regular supporters of this event – the Bembridge (Medstead Road) and Parker (Wellhouse Road) families, plus the Leechs’ son-in-law Mike – were joined by friends of villagers to give 10 players in total. As has become the tradition, they played in pairs, allowing everyone to have a go and keep involved. With a couple of dozen spectators of all ages it was once again a really fun, family day out. Thankyou Saman for organizing this event which we would love to run again next year, when we hope some blazing summer sunshine will encourage more players and picnicers!
Murder Most Foul – Who Done It???
Some seventy villagers, friends and guests attended a highly entertaining evening on Saturday, 14th September. The police costume in the lobby, and the tables decorated with crime scene tape, and the outline of a body gave a glimmer of what was to come…………
The “stage” had been set by Peter Frost, who brought the event to Beech and masterminded the play throughout the evening. Unsuspecting villagers found themselves being given characters, scripts and costumes (supplied by By George) and as each course of food was finished, so each act began. Over three acts, the audience puzzled to discover who had stabbed the Reverend Martin Peacock, played by Peter Cox, and very much alive in Act One! Was it Gladys Sunday, the vicar’s long suffering housekeeper (Ali Grafton of Lower Wield) or Brenda Buffton, continuous cake-maker (Gill Todd-Smith) or Lincoln Green (Jeremy Scott) – local Scout leader amorously attached to Brenda? Or perhaps it was Roy Chimes, the organist with a suspect limp (Stephen Millar), or the downtrodden curate, Tobias Byrne (Graham Webb) or the rambling Penny Lane (Sue Armstrong) who committed murder in the vicarage at St Ignatius the Unflappable? Detective Inspector Charlton (Peter Frost) and the Bishop’s legal representative (Sarah Castle-Smith) posed the questions and exposed the frailities of the villagers of Sleepy Willows…… Somehow a table of top sleuths – friends of Sue & Martin Armstrong – solved the mystery and deduced that Brenda was the murderer, and Tobias her accomplice, and even worked out their motives! A really excellent three course meal was provided by William’s Catering, and we were all saved from the clearing, and washing-up, by the hard work of Miles and Victoria Scott. Thank you to Peter (Frost) and thanks to the cast for your efforts on the night!
Looking ahead to the close of the year and beyond
Plans are now well in hand for our traditional Village Bonfire on 3rd November, Christmas Fair on 25th November and adults’ and children’s Christmas parties on 15th and 16th December, so make sure these dates are in your diaries! The 2013 rota for catering at the monthly Socials is also now being drawn up. We’ve had some fantastic home-cooking over the past year and Socials are very well attended and very much enjoyed. We are hoping that we can attract a few more of you to join forces and have a go at cooking for all your neighbours next year – it’s great fun, honest!
