Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Banquet - June 11This took place in the church hall at Belbroughton and was a brilliant success. Everything was excellent - the food, the decoration of the hall and tables, the company and the music. A total triumph for Pat, Judith, Mary, Carol, Mickie and Val who had all worked very hard for a year planning and organising it. Thank you from Bill and I and from everyone else there.
Belbroughton Church Hall is a grade II listed building dating back to the early 17th century. Originally built as a tithe barn it is one of the oldest buildings in the village and was converted for use as a hall in 1915.
As I walked into the hall I felt as if I was walking into a real medieval hall, prepared for a banquet for the lord of the manor. It was very atmospheric. The date was special too - Queen Anne Neville’s 555th birthday.
Musicians were playing medieval music. The pennants we made at meetings earlier in the year and at home looked fantastic hanging across the hall. Many of the guests wore medieval costume. Phil Stone, Chairman of the Richard III Society, had come all the way from Kent to help us celebrate.
The food was plentiful and delicious. Bill and I asked for raffle ticket 13 and were delighted when that was the first number called! All the prizes were wrapped so Bill opted for a bottle shaped one and got a nice bottle of wine.
I’d taken the branch history along and also the display boards we use at Tewkesbury and Mortimer’s Cross.
It was a very relaxed and enjoyable evening. Mickie took lots of photos which are in the branch history, together with Bill’s.