History
Feeding the 550!
A national sports travel group asked the local tourism office who could provide an ‘old English’ supper and entertainment for 550 people. Yes, 550 international sports veterans. In October! Outside! ……we proceeded to cocoon the whole of our 22,000 sq.ft courtyard and all the walls of our barns and stables in a giant series of marquee roofs all joined together and with the inside decorated to create an Olde English village scene. The veterans came in a convoy of buses one cold dark night. We had the whole scene heated by giant gas blowers, lanterns flickered, they drank copious quantities of strong English beer and consumed £3000 of wine in 23 minutes! I had taxies scouring off-licences to buy wine in bulk. It was a good job they did drink well, as the wind blew and the rain began.
All went well for a time, until a minute sag in one of the roofs of the tent allowed a build-up of water. This then accumulated and at the exact moment that an elegant lady Australian tourist sat in her dining place, fortunately alone, that section of the roof split apart and several hundred gallons of cold water fell on her head! There was a micro second of silence during which my whole life passed before me, and then five hundred guests cheered wildly. I waited, watching the lady’s face intently. Suddenly she jumped up, waved her arms and laughed hysterically. We were saved!
The Courtyard Craft Centre, Huntick Rd, Lytchett Minster, Poole, Dorset, BH16 6BA