The Donna Louise Garden Party

After over six months of planning between May and myself, we arrived at the big day for the Grand Garden Party at Buerton House, this so very soon after the untimely and sudden death of my very dear friend and colleague May Hunter.

I was torn as to should we carry on, but decided that to have cancelled the day would have made May very angry and upset. So I dedicated the day to May and the wonderful works she has done for Donna Louise and for her so willing work for the Charity Shop; for the 5A's theatre Group and our famous pantomime; for ADCA and so much more. She is very much missed by all.

The Garden Party

The stage collected – with the very wonderful help of Andy Maclintoch of Audlem Property Services – from Hankelow, a stage designed and commissioned by Peter Webb of 5 A's. It took many hours to get it assembled and ready for the displays we had planned. It weighs all of three quarters of a ton!

We set to at erecting marquees and gazebos on the 17th; setting up the now famous Beat The Goalie Game of Ian Jones of Hankelow; the Coconut shy; bunting all around – all in the glorious sunshine of a lovely summer's day.

5 kilos of cheese collected from Joseph Heler's: 7 Kilos of Kentish Strawberries from the
CooP; Pimms; China cups and saucers galore (all collected by May over the past months); loads of French sticks; tea; coffee; milk etc.

John Cooke – May's partner – working so very hard in all of this, despite his total sorrow at the loss of his May.

Then, the night of the 18th and the rain. Monsoon like, as my garden lawn flooded. Not a sign of the brief Thunder storms – just rain, rain and more rain.

All volunteers arrive to set up and to be ready for 12.00. I have to take the decision to cancel the 20 Irish Dancers headed by Catherine Fraser as it would be too dangerous on a wet stage.

Also, to cancel the wonderful Stapeley Children's choir under the direction of Catherin Acklam. (They had enjoyed a great night at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester the night before as their award winning performances continue to be heard.) I could not have them standing here in such wet conditions.

So, not a good start.

But the good folks who support all we try to do for this valued hospice did come along , albeit in much reduced numbers. John Hardy, Ian Bloor and Alix Bryson all braved the elements and came to play their music for us. Christine Johnson came with her colleagues to give us a lovely hand bell ringing performance.

Kevin Whitfield , my neighbour, sang beautifully on the stage and young Will and Emma gave us a magical display of their ballroom dancing.

So many helped: Anne Pearson, Sue Poole, Chris and Pete Webb, Karen Bradshaw, Ann and Ian Jones, Olive and Geoff Stretch, Joan Meredith, Pauline and Sarah Griffiths, Monique Hollinshead, Eleanor Liles, Bill Consterdine, Christopher Warburton, Rodney Cottrell and Haydn Christie all worked so hard too and, of course, Julia Davenport for the masses of delicious cup cakes!

Without the input of all, we could not have had the very brief day we had.

All closed with fighting to get off a muddy field so generously allowed by Trixie and Norman Bonnell.

We raised the sum of £738.15 which was superb considering how much the rain had more or less ruined the day.

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