Events reports
Christmas
Fayre
Who
could have believed what a magical affair our second Christmas Fair was
going to be? The corridors of learning were transformed into Aladdin's
Cave on Sunday 17th November with over 30 stalls
bearing gifts and treats for all.
Many
local artisans, including several parents, took stalls
and sold everything from jams and chutneys to silver jewellery and plants
to paintings and Provencal table linen to antiques and clothes. And when
shoppers flagged there were light lunches and mulled wine to revive them.
Don
Giovanni
People
dressed up in their finery to be entertained in the elegant surroundings
of the Academy Hall by Bath Opera who performed Mozart's Don Giovanni.
Don
Giovanni is 'the one where the Don has already scored 1,96's before the
Opera begins and makes four further attempts in the course of it before
being consigned to hell'. (Good Opera Guide - Denis Foreman). In this
case, one of Don Giovanni's attempts was to seduce Kathryn Watkins - one
of Prior Park's own Mums! All the performers were in fine form with good
acting as well as singing.
Bath
Opera has just celebrated its 25th birthday and these smaller productions
(marriage of Figaro last year) are a means of earning money to support
their main raison d'etre - which is to stage a full-scale opera each year
with orchestra and perhaps using visiting soloists to give scope for their
enthusiastic chorus. These are budgeted to make a loss of several thousand
pounds. They also stage a concert performance each year.
Afterwards,
dinner was held in the Refectory - the catering staff enjoyed the opportunity
to show parents what they could do, when not serving school nosh, and
produced a delicious cold buffet - the only minor snag being for those
ladies in long dresses sitting down on the refectory benches!
Feedback
from those present confirms it was a most pleasant way to raise money
for SPF funds while having the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful surroundings
of Prior Park dressed up suitably for the occasion.
Firework
Spectacular
A
sparkling firework display delighted the assembled crowds of parents and
pupils as they watched the night sky fill with colour, crackles and bangs
above the Capability Brown gardens and and across Bath.
Thanks
to Denis Clarke and his team for such a spectacular display, to the Big
Band for playing, to the enormous number of parents, staff and pupils
and to the SPF for running a barbecue and bar - from which £500
was raised from the evening.
Summer
Fete
Sunday 16th June
If the wet and windy weather wasn't bad enough, then competing with a
World Cup match made it even worse! However, we were rewarded with sun
towards the end of the afternoon and many of you thoroughly enjoyed this
year's Summer Fete.
There
was something to do for everyone with reptiles from Bristol Zoo to the
hilarious Sumo Wrestlers and more games than ever.
Teas,
hog roast and Pimms went down well and the school choirs and bands were
a breeze - in fact a gust of wind did blow their tent off and on top of
them!
A seriously pleasant afternoon and over £2,000 raised for funds.
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If
you didn't come to the Aussie BBQ you missed a real treat - the sight of
Dr Mercer in a corked hat! Imagine the scene. Torrential rain, wind and
a BBQ being cooked under a series of Gazebos behind The Mansion - whatever
happened to that beautiful summer's evening overlooking spectacular views
of Bath? Nevertheless, with true 'British' grit everyone had a ball and
the food was superb.
Saturday
2nd February 2002
An amazing evening was had by all, and over 80 people turned up to take
part in the quiz.
Quizmaster
Simon Edwards set what some people thought were some fiendishly difficult
questions but others thought were quite easy - must have got it about right
then!
There
was plenty of wine and beer - though the red ran out and Martin Beech and
his catering crew provided absolutely excellent fish and chips and trimmings,
that everyone agreed were better than you can get at most chippies.
An interesting raffle and it looks like almost £500 was raised for
SPF causes.
Members of the committee are taking ideas on other theme events. Quiz'n'Chips;
Pasta & Puccini; Bangers, Mash and Miles Kington and Wine & Pudds
have all been roaring successes so what else can we do for you???
YULETIDE
FAYRE
The Christmas Fair in the Mansion raised over £1,000!
Who could have believed what a magical affair our first Christmas Fair was
going to be? The Academy Hall was transformed from an examination room into
an Aladdin's cave filled with beautiful things, from Provencale table linen
to silver jewellery and watches to soft toys and chocolates.
Our very own talented musicians serenaded visitors in the John Wood Chapel,
with a repertoire of Christmas music, whilst SPF committee members busily
served refreshments.
Feedback from visitors and stallholders was very positive and we know this
will become a popular annual event in the SPF calendar.
An enormous thanks to everyone who supported this event and contributed
to making it such a huge success.
