Vivary Croquet & Cream Tea Summer Gathering
What could be more British than croquet and cream tea on a very warm Saturday afternoon? Well that is precisely what some of the Vivary Lodge, Taunton brethren, partners and friends got up to on the 27th June. Henry and Diane Besley hosted at their farmhouse and taught attendees “Besley Rules” of the noble game, which may have varied somewhat from “The World Croquet Federation Laws of Association Croquet”! A giant “Connect-Four” garden game also brought out the competitive streak in many and helped build up appetites for the lovely cream tea hosted in the alfresco dining area.
After the consumption of sandwiches, cakes, scones and tea, everyone sung an impromptu chorus of “Happy Birthday” to Anne Halliwell, who was caught suitably off-guard with a cake & candle. Henry then gave a guided tour of “Henry’s Hideaway”, which is a small barn converted into a farming museum over the Covid lockdown periods by Henry. Amongst many interesting articles & implements explained were a 150 year old horse-drawn farm cart, a “bier” (a wheeled handcart used to carry coffins to the local churches) rescued from a local village overgrown hedge and Henry’s grandfather’s farming hoe. A fascinating insight into the manual farming tools of old and a reminder of how farm machinery & tooling has evolved over the last 2 centuries.
Attendees kindly gave donations totalling £120, which will be added to the Worshipful Master’s chosen charity for the 2025/2026 season – Thrive https://thrivesomerset.org.uk/
Report by: Ed Richings – Vivary Lodge 8654, Taunton
