2024 01 Spring with bleed V4 - Flipbook - Page 5
The Safari Supper wasn9t a new idea! In fact, it used to
be a regular feature of Kingsnympton social life back in
the 1980s, as I was reminded when chatting to Andrew
Tucker (Tuck) at the chapel summer garden party last
summer. The question was 3 was it of its time, or would it
work as well now? While we might do it again, I suspect
it will never reach the scale
of the old ones! It was
interesting to chat to some
of those who remember
the old days, when they
used to think nothing of catering for up to 200 people!
Given the numbers, hosting was done on the farms 3
Highridge, Oakwell, Collacott, Down Farm 3 and Spittle.
`Norman Down had just built a big new barn at Spittle,9 says
David Hooper. `Norman and Pam were always very good at
entertaining!9 `In those days it was either for the Hunt or the
Church or Chapel,9 remembers Amy Bowden. `The orst
course would be a glass of sherry or port with nibbles and
onger food at one venue, and then another venue for the
main course. We did a main course at Oakwell once, and
we were always very pleased when the people who had hosted the sherry course
arrived, because that meant we had catered for everyone.9 Afterwards, everyone
would go back to the old Church Hall (now New Hall) for puddings and dancing 3
with music from Bill Hammett and his wife and daughter. For reasons no one can
explain, they were known as the Fergusson Trio, even
though none of them were called Fergusson! Later suppers
raised money for the new Parish Hall. `I think Arthur and I
hosted three or four at Down Farm,9 says Norma Latham. `In
fact, one year I cooked ove turkeys! We raised loads of
money!9 Feeding 200 people meant bringing them through
in shifts. `If people arrived before their slot, they would
have to wait in their cars9 says Amy Bowden! And what
about washing up for 200 people? `We didn9t have
dishwashers,9 says Norma. `But we managed 3 we always
had a good band of workers.9 One couple have a special
reason to remember one particular supper. `It was at
Norma Latham9s,9 says Sue Down. `It was one of our orst
dates,9 chips in John. `It was the cheapest option at the
time,9 he adds! `I was petrioed,9 admits Sue. `But 35 years
later, we9re still here!!9
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