The concluding night of the Arts and Literary Season found a full house at the Princes Theatre when members spent an evening in a Feast of Song with four exquisite singers from the Welsh National Opera together with their exceptional accompanist.  The audience were treated to many favourite and familiar arias, duets and quartets. Among these were the Barcarole and the delightful and funny Gendarmes duet with audience participation. Opera was not their only music as the quartet gave us some of the most famous songs from Rogers and Hammerstein, Ivor Novello and George Gershwin.   

This was a final season night to remember as the audience cheered and clapped their approval of the fabulous voices from the Welsh National Opera.  The next season is keenly anticipated. The evening was sponsored by Boydens, the Frinton Estate Agents.

  Audrey Owens Press Officer

It was one of the most interesting and exciting evenings and very much appreciated by the members and the sponsors Mark Mobility Centre of Holland on Sea.
                                                            Audrey Owens

                                                                Press Officer

 Jennifer Kersey.

`Was he for real-or was this some surrealistic dream we were all participating in?`
I refer to the presentation given by Tom Hart Dyke.
Right from the outset when he enthusiastically endorsed this unknown mentor and we anxiously awaited to find out who it was-the tension was breathtaking-then, with a rousing chant he exposed her as his 96 year old `granny` who had given him some rather insignificant gardening aid for his third birthday!
`Wow, this was some orator`-even though I(as did others) struggled to keep up with the incessant flow of words-no wonder his kidnappers somewhere in the jungle location of Panama were glad to get rid of him-he turned the tables on them and literally talked them senseless (then having the sheer cheek to return and ask them for a map,`cos he was lost!)
Stopping only briefly to invite us to join in the `granny` chant, after the interval (we all needed this break!) he went on to describe how, at the point of threatened death by his kidnappers, whilst his also condemned friend, in the next hut was praying, he was designing a `world` garden(for his domicile back in sleepy Kent)he had in mind,where trees and shrubs would be representative of their native land!
`Phew`,I cannot think what I would have been doing-perhaps checking my make up to ensure that,if I was to be shot,at least I looked presentable-most definitely NOT making notes in an old school scrapbook!?
The only thing in the evening that slightly spoilt it for me, was the occasional use of that disgusting Americanism -`Guy`(many have surrendered to this constant erosion of our beautiful language(with this and other sayings) and it has now become an appendage for people of BOTH sexes-let anyone even dare to call me a guy and I do assure you, they will be sorry!) -particularly when he referred to God as `the Guy up above.`
However, I can forgive him, looking at the `bigger picture`-it was a most entertaining evening, and if you, like me, do not know anything about horticultural matters, you were no doubt caught up in the sheer vitality of this speaker, and how he lovingly spoke with genuine adoration,of the images in his presentation.
What a wonderful evening-it made up for the fact I could not attend last week because of transport problems.
Well done again to all concerned.

Jennifer Kersey

Later on he showed us pictures of his wonderful and incredible world garden which he has created at Lullingstone Castle.   This garden was designed when in captivity during the few hours left before he was to be executed.  Fortunately, this did not happen and so this wonderful garden is there for anyone to see.   The plants and trees are placed in the country of their origin and are growing magnificently despite the eccentricities of the English climate, although some have to be dug up and put in glasshouses during the winter and replanted in the Spring.

This was a very different evening and thoroughly enjoyed by the audience and the sponsors Normal and Neill (Optometrists) of Clacton on Sea.

                                                            Audrey Owens

                                                                Press Officer

The evening was attended by the Chairman of Tendring District Council and sponsored by the Princes Theatre.
                                                            Audrey Owens

                                                               Press Officer

Audrey Owens   Press Officer

This was a thoroughly fascinating evening given by a superb showman who received the rapturous applause he richly deserved.  

The evening was sponsored by Thompson, Smith and Puxon, Solicitors of Clacton–on-Sea.

                                                            Audrey Owens

                                                              Press Officer

The evening ended with modern music from around the world and included an item of music for pieces of wood – literally played on various thicknesses of sticks.

The evening was sponsored by Countywide Letting s & Property Management of Holland-on-Sea.

Audrey Owens