Jewel of a Tea Party Fit for the Queen
Around a hundred senior citizens of Henley enjoyed a fantastic tea party organised by the Henley Business Partnership at the D:two yesterday to celebrate the Queen’s official birthday. Although she couldn’t be there in person, her double was there in a form of a cardboard cut out! She had her own very special moment when she seemed to faint and fall over after a big rendition of ‘Big Spender!’
Paul Westgarth from Home Instead, one of the sponsors for the event, was the host for the afternoon and welcomed the guests.
The afternoon opened with entertainment from Sadie Hellon on vocals and Simon Corser on the flute. They played and sang songs which included ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ and ‘Bright Eyes’. Members of 1st Henley Brownies then came on to perform a poem ‘When I grow up’. Each verse being a recited by a Brownie dressed up as a different person including an explorer, a sailor and an astronaut. After tea was served, The Ukes of Hazard then really got the party started with lots of well known foot tapping songs which got lots of the guests joining in.
The guests enjoyed a delicious spread of food provided by Waitrose and the Chocolate Café which was served by a great group of volunteers and members of 1st Henley Guides. The Guides also helped pack and hand out party bags at the end to all the guests. The bags and gifts were donated by a number of local businesses.
There were many generous donations of time including Hugh Legh from HDL Audio Visual Services who organised all the sound and IT for everyone, both for the rehearsal and at the party, Lady Sew and Sew for providing the bunting and Lorraine Pengilley who did the beautiful flower arrangements.
The afternoon finished with a great sing along including ‘YMCA’, Amarillo and Delilah and lastly some great renditions of songs from the Last Night of the Proms including a very tear jerking and passionate ‘Jerusalem’, and then lots of big flag waving and singing to ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ and ‘Rule Britannia.’
The Mayor, Martin Akehurst made a small speech and thanked everyone from coming and for all the parties involved in putting on such a fantastic event.
Carolyn Molyneux, the organiser of the event thought the party went very well with many happy faces from people singing and waving their flags to the Last Night of the Proms. She said, ” I was so pleased when people were leaving and collecting their party bags, that they all said how much they had enjoyed themselves.”
Everyone seemed to have had a great time. Keith Douglas, Chair of the Henley Business Partnership said afterwards, “We’re delighted with how this first event has gone, the fantastic feedback we’ve received and we’re already starting to think about next year’s event. “
