Village BBQ - 30th July 2021
Friday the 30th July 2021 was a very special day in the two hamlets of Crazies Hill and Cockpole Green. It was to be the day of the first social event that the Residents’ Association had organised for over 18 months, all due to certain a virus which had been causing problems around the world since early 2020.
Despite the chosen date being in the middle of what should have been Summer the RA committee had an anxious week watching the weather forecast with storms and heavy showers on the horizon. Undeterred though and confident it would all be all right on the night; the decision was taken on the Friday morning to proceed. As the committee members struggled in the rain and wind to put up the gazebos in the afternoon, we knew there had to be a backup plan and thus tables and chairs were set up in the village hall as well.
With the BBQ due to welcome its first guests at 5:00pm, final decisions had to be made under gloomy skies at 4:30pm. After consulting some seaweed and the met office website, it was decided to go ahead with the bar outside, but the food would be served inside. The prospect of salad leaves blowing across the lawn and burgers in soggy buns was not something we wished to experience.
Paul and Clare test the bar before the guests arrive
Over 75 villagers, old and young, were undeterred by the climatic conditions and turned up to enjoy the excellent BBQ which was cooked by Phil Davies ably assisted by Clare Donovan. Laura Lord prepared the excellent salads and prepared the food service inside, whilst Dave Smith and Paul Donovan ensured no one went thirsty serving up the drinks at the bar.
Chef Phil hard at work whilst residents gather under the gazebos
The met office forecast was for dry conditions after 5:00pm but as we were to find out weather forecasting is definitely an art not a science. No sooner did the first guests arrive then the heavens opened. However, it takes more than a deluge to put off the hardy residents of Crazies Hill and Cockpole Green. Gathering under the gazebos which had been erected for just such an eventuality everyone stood and chatted to their friends and neighbours and then after an hour, the sun came out and we were rewarded with the remainder of the evening being dry.
With the sun finally shining everyone can spread out a little
It was clear that everyone was making the most of this social occasion and it was only the fact that it became dark and it was difficult to see your drinks, that the party broke up at the village hall. Not everyone went home though, many went on to The Horns and continued the revelries until closing time.
Many thanks to all those who helped putting on the BBQ and to all the villagers who lent a hand in clearing up in the dark afterwards.
Although the main purpose of the evening is for friends and neighbours to get together and enjoy themselves the event does make a profit which is used by the Residents’ Association towards the upkeep of our village green. This year due to the residents making the most of the opportunity to socialise, there was a record braking surplus of over £700. Well done thirsty residents!