The Monks Supper

August 4th 7.00pm for 7.30, All Saints Church, Evesham

2009 is the 1300th Anniversary of the foundation of the Benedictine Abbey at Evesham, destroyed by Henry VIIIth in 1539

This is the first of my charity fundraisers. A completely unique event. This is not a concert, it is supper with entertainment. The evening attempts to provide good food, wine and ale and be as close as possible to an actual Benedictine monk meal. The entertainers take us historically through the centuries and is interspersed with music and merriment. The following pictures and there are quite a lot of them, offer a flavour of the evening. You really had to be there!

Our original hope was that 100 people would attend. In the end we catered for 151 and the church was bursting at the seems. Regrettably we have to turn people away. We could have easily sold another 50 tickets had we had the space.

One of the table laid ready for the guest’s

The scene is set!

Nial Thomson, came all the way from Scotland to perform for us

The bar and raffle table showing the 35 prizes

Brother Maurice (Robinson) and Brother Phil (Duffy) joining in the monk fun

And getting on with the job

 My Chaplain Rev Caroline Homan, discussing grace with Rev Andrew Spurr

Everyone settled to their tables

The ‘Barons’ table

 Just after 7.30pm I welcome everyone and say some very important thank you’s

Including a bouquet of flowers for Wendywho worked so hard, with many others, to make this a successful, evening

Diana Raphael, the producer of the Monks Supper. Thank you is woefully inadequate. The lady is a wonder. This brilliant picture was taken by Rev Andrew Spurr

Rosemary Message, who tied all the lavender and rose bunches for tonight and has been a good friend to Wendy and me over the years. August 4th is her birthday. It’s the upside one. I will leave it to you work out how many years.

While the guest’s eat, the Avonbank Brass Band played for us

Brother Oswold (Tony Whiting) gave us an insight into monastic life

Nial Thomson entertained us once again. Picture by Rev Andrew Spurr

Magnificent

And then one of the highlights of the evening. Simon de Montfort (John Raphael) told us of his quest. Picture by Rev Andrew Spurr

With a passion that made the hairs stand up on the back of your neck

Avonbank Brass Band played in perfect tune

Everybody listened

Steven Lane, nearest the camera leads the cornet section

Martin Hammon then read the Messiah. There were tears of laughter on everybody face. Picture by Rev Andrew Spurr

Nial Thomson brought back the gentle sound of his harp

We were then treated to the Ghost (John Raphael) Picture by Rev Andrew Spurr

Then the all important raffle draw. I was able to announce we had raised £600 during the evening, on the raffle alone. A magnificent amount.

Connie Evans and her winning Toyah Wilcox signed Ready, Steady, Cook, Apron

Then with a shock, all the lights went out. Candle light ruled and in slowly walked Brother Oswold for Vespers accompanied by monastic singing. Picture by Rev Andrew Spurr

And two brother monks. Picture by Rev Andrew Spurr

They all walked slowly towards the altar, where they stopped to pray. Picture by Rev Andrew Spurr

I had warned those present earlier in the evening to be aware King  Henry’s men may be visiting us

Visit they did and cast out the monks

Eviction or death and that applied  to everyone!

And so everyone left

And after a bit of clearing up, so did Wendy and I. We had to walk, no carts to take us home and of course it rained. Did we care, not a bit of it. A fabulous evening.

Pictures by courtesy of Guy Morgan unless stated otherwise

Our thanks go to all those who have contributed, without whom, the Monks Supper would not have been possible

Sponsors
Andy and Mary Parsloe
Avon Leisure Cruises – Fladbury
Cameras Underwater – Ottery St Mary, Devon
David Snowden
Evesham Hotel
Fiesta Cakes – Evesham
Fran Webb
Gem’s Stems – Evesham
Kevin The Butcher – Evesham
Lygon Arms Hotel – Broadway
Millets Farm Shop – Evesham
Pershore College
Raphaels Restaurant – Evesham
Rily’s Restaurant – Evesham
Sarah Satchwell
Tony Sinderbury
Toyah Wilcox
Valecomputercare.co.uk
Vale Fresh – Evesham
Wayside Farm Shop – Evesham
Webbs of Wychbold
Wendy Dyke
Worcester Warriors Rugby Team
Wyre Piddle Brewery
Spiers and Hartwell

 

And special thanks to tonight’s producer Diana Raphael

 Entertainers
Avonbank Brass Band
John Raphael
Martin Hammon
Nial Thomson
Tony Whiting 

Raffle Prizes
All the prizes will be drawn tonight, the first drawn winner has the pick of the prizes and so on.

 In no particular Order

 Meal for 2 at The Lygon Arms Hotel – Broadway
Worcester Warriors Family Ticket (2 Adults and 2 under 18’s) to the first Premier match of the season against Northampton Saints on 6/9/2009
Ready Steady Cook Apron worn by Toyah Wilcox on the TV show
Hamper
Ikelite Underwater Torch
Meal for 2 at Raphaels Restaurant
Wall Clock
Bottle of Piat D’or
Gardening DVD
Box of Chocolates
Necklace
Meal for 2 at Rily’s Restaurant, Evesham
Cordless Desktop Keyboard and Mouse
Birthday Cake – made to your own design
Bottle Bianco Di Sicilia
Bottle Hardy’s Cabernet Sauvignon
Bottle Lamb’s Navy Rum
Tin of Biscuits X 2
Photograph Album
Ragdoll
Vase of Flowers
Pair of Flower/Candle Holders
Bottle Amontillado Sherry
Wall Candle Holder
Wychavon District council Limited Edition Mug/Pen/Tie X 7
Flans and Wine – Monks Cookbook by David Snowden
Wychavon District Council Limited Edition Umbrella
Evening leisure river cruise for 4 people with supper

Helpers
Andrew Spurr and All Saints Church Personnel
Bryn Walling
Evesham Town Council
John (Lord OBE) and Frances Smith
Maggie Kinge-Bennett
Maurice Robinson
Phil Duffy
Raphaels Restaurant – Evesham
Rev Caroline Homan
Roger and Margaret Millin
Rosemary Message
Support Services at Wychavon District Council