The long awaited Tudor banquet took place at the town's Digby Memorial hall where over 45 residents of Sherborne, together with visitors from Australia and different parts of the UK, celebrated in style the life of Sir Walter Ralegh.
It
was 400 years ago this month since he was executed by King James 1 for treason on a
trumped up charge.
All the food was served on bread
trenchers provided by Oxford's Bakery.
The
desserts included lemon cream, fruit and cheese.
The highlights of the evening were Ralegh’s poetry, read with feeling by Hugh Walker and Elizabethan Musicians, and dancers who introduced us all to a number of dances, especially the medley of 'brawls' or in the original French 'bransles', together with a sequel of simple steps known in England as 'Old Measures'.
Many people joined in after being shown the steps.
The
New Arcadia Consort played music throughout the evening on original instruments
that are now very rare, including a crumhorn and kortholt.
The
raffle prizes were donated by traders in the town, including The Melbury
Gallery, Just Bears, Sue Adams’ Neal’s Yard Organic Consultant and Parsons the
Butchers. £92 for the two charities was raised this way.
The
evening was compered by Alistair Chisholm – the town crier of Dorchester.
The number of Tudor outfits on show
ensured a really colourful evening from the visual perspective. VIPs included
Edward and Maria Wingfield Digby, owners of Sherborne Castle, who joined in with gusto throughout the
evening.
'It all rounded off at about 11.00 pm and our happy guests wandered home,' Bob Walden told me. 'We of course didn’t follow them. We cleared the hall, washed the dishes, crockery and glasses so got home about 1.00 pm.'
Yes, these things don't happen by themselves. But the organisers' efforts more than paid off.
'All in all lots of work, lots of fun, and even a little surplus to send to our chosen charities. You should have been there!'
FOR THE RALEIGH 400 CALENDAR OF
EVENTS WORLDWIDE
