Chipperfield enjoyed a very special weekend back in the middle of July. Morris dancers from as far away as Cornwall and Northumberland were guests of our own Greensleeves Morris Men, who this year were celebrating their 80th birthday.  The dancing started in the twilight hours of Friday evening when the Greensleeves Morris Men danced round the tree by The Two Brewers which was planted in memory of Leslie Nichols, who was at one time their Squire.
It was the 307th meeting of the Morris Ring and the dancers spent the following day entertaining the residents at Watford, Hemel Hempstead and Chesham, beside the canal at Winkwell and in other villages in Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire. The tour ended at The Boot, The Plough and The Windmill in Chipperfield.
A hot Sunday morning saw the traditional open-air service on The Common, led by Rev. Jim Stevens, after which most of the Morris Men danced to the delight of all present.
St. Paul’s church was transformed with a dazzling display of floral arrangements created by such a lot of local talent. The theme, From Creation to Revelation, interpreted Biblical subjects as diverse as Noah’s Ark and The Last Supper.
On Sunday evening it was the turn of the choirs from Chipperfield and Sarratt to entertain and included music by Rutter, Besig, Brahms and Haydn with an oboe solo performed by David Gladstone. The choirs were led by Keith Benison, who played a marvellous improvisation on the church’s fine organ. Hyacinth Nicholls was the guest soloist and a real highlight of the concert was her magnificent rendering of “He’s Got The Whole World in His Arms”.
Terry Simmonds

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