A concert in Bildeston and picnic in Wattisham.

Yesterday evening Nick and I very much enjoyed a Midsummer Concert at Bildeston Church.

Featuring music from Bildeston Primary, Hadleigh High and Thomas Gainsborough Schools, the money raised was shared between the Church and the B Natural music festival which takes place in the village on the weekend of 6^th and 7th September.

All sorts of music was on offer.  Bildeston Primary got the concert off to an excellent start with a fine rendition of songs from the First World War, including Roses of Picardy, which always brings a lump to my throat.  It was certainly very poignant as rendered here!   The young singers were first rate and are to be commended for having learnt all the songs by heart.  Folk, songs from the shows and others followed, and the evening was brought to a terrific close by the Swing Band from Hadleigh High School.  The audience were literally dancing in the aisles!

Hadleigh High Swing Band

We learned quite a lot about the B Natural music festival and have certainly been inspired to be there in September.  To learn more about the event click here.

Today we were invited to the Summer Picnic in Wattisham in aid of St Nicholas Church Trust.   

 Wattisham is a small place, almost the smallest in the Cosford Division, but it certainly punches above its weight when it comes to event organisation.  Food and drink were copious, dogs were welcome, and all were impeccably well behaved. Helicopters from the nearby airbase stayed at home, and the weather was good.

We were entertained by a series of musicians, and the food, delivered to each table in huge hampers was first rate.  Everyone won a prize on the tombola…and Nick and I will certainly find a place for our two pairs of luminous green and purple sun glasses!

The Church at Wattisham is now redundant, but is used as a social centre by the village and is an attractive space, although much of its furniture has been removed down to Bildeston Church.   At the west end, under the tower,  there is a very odd plaque on the wall, which I will not descibe here, but the contents of which could be one of the great mysteries of Suffolk.  More on this in a later post perhaps.