BULPHAN WI went back 60 years in time at their 85th birthday celebration which had a wartime theme. In the village hall which was set out like a street party, festooned with bunting and with jamjars of wild flowers decorating the tables, 40 members and 32 guests entered into the spirit of the evening by dressing up in uniform (all the forces were represented) appearing in crossover pinafores with “turban” headscarves or transforming themselves into evacuees, complete with gas mask box. The few who hadn’t dressed up were happy to pay a £1 fine, which was sent with this month’s box of donated food to the local foodbank.
After a tasty fish supper and home-made puddings (bread pudding, jam sponge with coconut, jelly and blancmange – all with evaporated milk), guests were offered tea or Camp coffee. DJ Ray Spiller then played all the wartime hits for us to dance to.
A surprise item were the Bulphan Boogie-Woogie Beauties, (Denise, Jenny and Jo) who launched into a “flash-mob” medley of Andrews Sisters routines, followed by a singlong which included a real washing-line full of washing for “We’re gonna hang out the washing on the Siegfried Line”. Their finale was, of course, We’ll Meet Again, during which they handed out lavender bags and sprigs. They were rewarded with tumultuous applause.
Ray got us singing Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory. He gave us an idea to transform the voting at our AGM next month, as he got current President Janet to lead “The Locomotion” and asked those who wanted her as President next year to join the line!
The raffle prizes included seamed stockings, a shopping basket of wartime food, another of wartime washing-day goods, bottle of sherry, and a hamper of old-fashioned sweets.
The very next day there was a coach trip to Police Headquarters at Chelmsford, to see the musical Blitz, which was excellent.
Now back to the present day: this year’s programme is on our website (http://bulphanwi.weebly.com) or in our village shop: why not come as a visitor, 7.30 until 10 on the second Wednesday of the month in Bulphan Village Hall – we’d love to see you.
