After a year of careful and meticulous planning, the day of Thornbridge Hall's annual charity garden party dawned to a sky full of dark stormy clouds, mist and rain. Nevertheless, hosts, Emma and Jim Harrison, together with their family and staff valiantly carried on with preparations to receive their first guests through the gate at 11.00 am.
Amidst battles to anchor down marquees, set up the fun fair and climbing wall, and secure electricity to the music stage, the rain came down and down and down. Castleton Brass Band played their hearts out to declare the garden party open from underneath a canvas shelter, and die hard visitors trooped up the path in wellies and waterproofs to support this worthy cause. The first band, Rio 5, hurried to set up guitars, drums and amps ready to play at 12.00 - And then by some miraculous force......... a spot of blue sky could be seen through the clouds, and out came the sun.... and everyone onto the lawns and terraces to bop along to classic soul numbers such as Sweet Home Chicago and You Can Leave Your Hat On. The band finished their set, and down came the rain. Next up were local Dronfield rock band, Junk Yard Dog - and guess what? Out came the sunshine as the skilled fingers of Russ Dennett's fantastic lead guitar playing wowed the audience with fabulous rock classics from the seventies, eighties and some of today's including Ruby Ruby Ruby by The Kaiser Chiefs. And so it went on.
Bakewell's own soul and funk singer/songwriter Romance Waddington and band, Soul Funkful impressed the crowd with her melodic soulful voice of cover numbers, as well as her own songs.
Sheffield's very own legend, Frank White followed with classic rock'n'roll and power blues, which had everyone on their feet moving to the beat, and to finish off the day The Stoned Angels raised the roof (of the tents!) with their showpiece tribute to The Rolling Stones.
It just goes to prove that music and sunshine make a fantastic partnership!
Organised visits to the Thornbridge Brewery, the open house and gardens, fantastic craft fair, and fabulous children's entertainer, Lorenzo - to name but a few of the events, contributed to a super day in spite of the rain showers.
To top off the day, a group of ladies who had been walking throughout Derbyshire Villages for five days in aid of the very worthy Bluebell Wood Charity ended their walk at Thornbridge and were paraded up the driveway by Castleton Brass Band and cheers and applause by the crowds. Other worthy charities supported by the day were the Lainey K Campaign, Helen's Trust, Child Life Support and Boots for Africa.
If you didn't make it this year, be sure to make it a priority in your diary for next year and be guaranteed and fabulous fun packed day for all the family.
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