Bough Wow

Ian had secured an oak bough for us, although in terms of size and weight it was more like a junior tree. Four strong men were needed to haul it along the first leg of its journey from the Church to Fair Green.

A fine Ring O' Bells entertained the passing villagers before we moved on to Alasdair's for "refreshments". We decided the bough was too big to take along Brook Street without scraping parked cars so it was temporarily left on the green.

On our way to Alasdair's we passed the now closed Crown Hotel, a building now looking really sad following years of neglect by the owning brewery but currently for sale at only £285k.

We observed a moment of quiet reflection on what had once been a thriving hostelry, the mens' expressions conveying more than a thousand words could do.

It is worth reflecting that, in better times, Little Egypt danced at The Crown, with Belchamp, in only their second outing as a side:

We soon perked up at Alasdair's house where a fine array local ales welcomed us. Some of the men attempted to show how they could still fasten their waistcoats - well, the bottom button at least. Alasdair himself was unable to join the dancing having just undergone an operation to reattach a torn ligament in his shoulder. Luckily his left arm was still strong enough to support a glass of beer.

Back to Fair Green to collect the bough...