East Midlands Jubilee Party at Thundridge
On 22nd March 2002
The latest East Midlands Mensa regional party was held in Thundridge Village Hall near Ware in Hertfordshire on Saturday 8th June. The theme was celebrating the 50th Anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne. The Jubilee.
The hall was duly decorated with red, white and blue bunting and balloons. Music was provided by CD s featuring artists including Madonna, Blondie and Abba along with typical party favourites including The Time Warp and the Macarena as well as some more recent music by artists that I have probably never heard of!
Food, and there was plenty of it, was provided by the generosity of those attending. Party goers also brought their own drinks although we were all given a welcome drink of Buck's Fizz when we arrived.
In all there were 40 or so Mensans attending, many of whom were local but others had come from London and even as far as Nottingham and Clacton.
Prizes were given to those that made (and wore) the best crowns. The standard was very high, but Ginette Taylor and Juliette Cowan each went away with a book about the Queen's reign. Prizes of a Jubilee commemorative mug were also given to the winners - Alistair, Vic, Ian and Squirrel - of a fun quiz with questions reflecting each year of Queen Elizabeth's reign.
When not jumping about on the dance floor it was nice to chat with other members some of whom I had not seen for weeks or even months. Everyone seemed to enjoy it.
When I left there was still a lot of food still waiting to be eaten. However, I have been reassured that most of this was returned to party goers with thanks with the bare minimum being wasted. Apart from a few large baked potatoes that were still cooking after four hours in the village hall oven!
My thanks to Julie Perry for booking the hall and to Maxine and Andy for doing the necessary admin, etc.
The party was preceded in the afternoon by a visit to Paradise Wildlife Park, which regrettably I was unable to attend. There was also a meal and country walk the following day, which again I was unable to attend.
Alistair Blackett